Vintage S&W 938 Handcuffs w/Pics

kobsw · Dec 21, 2018

Just picked up this pair of 1970's S&W 938 Handcuffs in the original box.

I'm really warming up to anything 70's S&W.

It's paired with my 1971 15-3.

Anybody else collect them?

Regards Kobsw

scha · Dec 21, 2018

I collect various Handcuffs and these 938s are certainly very nice. A good find!

Xfuzz · Dec 21, 2018

Pair of airweight's..

kobsw · Dec 21, 2018

Xfuzz said:
Pair of airweight's..

Xfuzz, those Airweights are the pinnacle of S&W handcuffs.

They're very collectable and cost some real $$.

Regards,

Kobsw

kobsw · Dec 21, 2018

scha said:
I collect various Handcuffs and these 938s are certainly very nice. A good find!

Scha, thx for looking.

Kobsw

4011 · Dec 21, 2018

Have the ones I bought in 74. Now their collectible antiques. Wish I had kept the box.

les.b · Dec 21, 2018

My Smith Airweights along with a Bianchi #34 cuff case. Sure not in mint condition, though.

This set of nicle plated steel was issued to me in back in 1975, when I first began police work:

Best Regards, Les

kobsw · Dec 21, 2018

les.b said:
My Smith Airweights along with a Bianchi #34 cuff case. Sure not in mint condition, though.

This set of nicle plated steel was issued to me in back in 1975, when I first began police work:

Best Regards, Les

Les.. those cuffs are hella nice and the Bianchi has a great patina.

Kobsw

-db- · Dec 22, 2018

More 938s:

kobsw · Dec 22, 2018

-db- said:
More 938s:

db, that there are some fine looking rigs.

Kobsw

dltvette · Dec 23, 2018

Kobsw,
In 1961 S&W expanded their handcuff line and added an all "stainless steel" constructed handcuff. These were offered in two models:
Model 936, a polished stainless steel
Model 938, a regular finish stainless steel
They were both marked with the letter S on the right front & left rear jaw.
The model 936 with the polished finish was discontinued sometime between July 1971 and April 1974, according to the brochures I have. If someone has a brochure between these two dates, it can be narrowed down a little closer.
Attached is a photo of a 936 & 938 together, a 938 with two types of boxes & a closeup of the S stamping & finish differences.
Dave

AJ · Dec 23, 2018

I have blued set of S&W handcuffs that I picked up at Naval Station Long Beach. They are electro-penciled with USMC markings on them. I figured they needed to be with a Marine, not left on a Navy base..........

kobsw · Dec 23, 2018

dltvette said:
Kobsw,
In 1961 S&W expanded their handcuff line and added an all "stainless steel" constructed handcuff. These were offered in two models:
Model 936, a polished stainless steel
Model 938, a regular finish stainless steel
They were both marked with the letter S on the right front & left rear jaw.
The model 936 with the polished finish was discontinued sometime between July 1971 and April 1974, according to the brochures I have. If someone has a brochure between these two dates, it can be narrowed down a little closer.
Attached is a photo of a 936 & 938 together, a 938 with two types of boxes & a closeup of the S stamping & finish differences.
Dave

Dave, thanks for the info. Do you know of a S/N lookup for them.

I'm going to some some more research since someone has to have S/N date ranges for these.

By the way nice cuffs if those are yours.

Regards,

Kobsw

kobsw · Dec 23, 2018

AJ said:
I have blued set of S&W handcuffs that I picked up at Naval Station Long Beach. They are electro-penciled with USMC markings on them. I figured they needed to be with a Marine, not left on a Navy base..........

AJ, that's great

Kobsw

dltvette · Dec 23, 2018

kobsw said:
Dave, thanks for the info. Do you know of a S/N lookup for them.

I'm going to some some more research since someone has to have S/N date ranges for these.

By the way nice cuffs if those are yours.

Regards,

Kobsw

Kobsw,
Smith & Wesson did not record serial numbers on handcuffs like they did on revolvers. Unlike S&W, Peerless kept records of their serial numbers, any above 31000, that is.
I have a pretty extensive collection of handcuffs S&W was involved in from the beginning of the Peerless Handcuff Company 1914 - Nov. 1940, when S&W discontinued manufacturing handcuffs for Peerless. I also have examples of every model S&W manufactured under the S&W logo from 1952 through 2012.
Dave
Attached are photos of some I have.

kobsw · Dec 23, 2018

dltvette said:
Kobsw,
Smith & Wesson did not record serial numbers on handcuffs like they did on revolvers. Unlike S&W, Peerless kept records of their serial numbers, any above 31000, that is.
I have a pretty extensive collection of handcuffs S&W was involved in from the beginning of the Peerless Handcuff Company 1914 - Nov. 1940, when S&W discontinued manufacturing handcuffs for Peerless. I also have examples of every model S&W manufactured under the S&W logo from 1952 through 2012.
Dave
Attached are photos of some I have.

dltvette, very very cool and unbelievable.

It appears you you were at ground zero and those photos are confirmation.

You've forgotten more about the history of handcuffs than I ever would hope to know.

Good on you.

Best Regards,

Kobsw

boykinlp · Dec 30, 2018

dltvette said:
Kobsw,
Smith & Wesson did not record serial numbers on handcuffs like they did on revolvers. Unlike S&W, Peerless kept records of their serial numbers, any above 31000, that is.
I have a pretty extensive collection of handcuffs S&W was involved in from the beginning of the Peerless Handcuff Company 1914 - Nov. 1940, when S&W discontinued manufacturing handcuffs for Peerless. I also have examples of every model S&W manufactured under the S&W logo from 1952 through 2012.
Dave
Attached are photos of some I have.

Dave,
I would definitely say you have a "pretty" extensive collection of handcuffs! That is amazing. What are some of your favorites with some pictures? How long have you been collecting? Also, I see something that kinda has me wondering. What is the story on the door of your handcuff room?
Larry

JohnnieBoy · Dec 30, 2018

dltvette said:
Kobsw,
Smith & Wesson did not record serial numbers on handcuffs like they did on revolvers. Unlike S&W, Peerless kept records of their serial numbers, any above 31000, that is.
I have a pretty extensive collection of handcuffs S&W was involved in from the beginning of the Peerless Handcuff Company 1914 - Nov. 1940, when S&W discontinued manufacturing handcuffs for Peerless. I also have examples of every model S&W manufactured under the S&W logo from 1952 through 2012.
Dave
Attached are photos of some I have.

WOW!

I would love just ONE vintage pair! With box, of course

dltvette · Dec 30, 2018

Quote:
"Dave,
I would definitely say you have a "pretty" extensive collection of handcuffs! That is amazing. What are some of your favorites with some pictures? How long have you been collecting? Also, I see something that kinda has me wondering. What is the story on the door of your handcuff room?
Larry"

Larry,
In 2011 I was at a local estate sale when I saw this door leaning up against the outside of the shop building. I asked the gentleman if it was for sale. His wife, sitting at a table close by, said if he didn't sell the door she was going to put a for sale sign on him. I replied, that I wasn't interested in her husband, but I was definitely interested in the door.
His story was he got the exterior jail door out of a county jail in Yuba County, CA. while doing a demolition / remodel many years before.
In 2009, I had started collecting handcuffs & restraints that S&W had a connection to. This search brought me to the beginning of the Peerless Handcuff Company and the agreement James Milton Gill had with Joseph Wesson to have S&W manufacture their handcuffs for them.
It has been a fun & educational side of my S&W collecting.
The jail cell display was shown in 2013 at the SWCA symposium in Kansas City, MO.
Dave
SWCA LM #836

dltvette · Dec 30, 2018

Larry,
I have a lot of favorites, but the most unique is a Model 926 Airweight Polished Aluminum that I acquired from Roy Jinks' Collection, and is the only known pair of Smith & Wesson handcuffs that was engraved by DJ, Domingos Joaquim, S&W employed Master Engraver. Roy stated in his letter, that this is the only pair of S&W handcuffs that he knows of, that are fully engraved by any S&W engraver.
I received the handcuffs as Roy acquired them, in a unmarked S&W blue, 2-piece handcuff box.
I had a wood gun case that I repurposed to house my newly acquired handcuffs. I thought they deserved a special house.
Dave

Vintage S&W 938 Handcuffs w/Pics

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