S&W Handcuffs W/Box

THREEDFLYER · #1 05-08-2023, 07:54 PM

I have this old set of S&W Handcuffs with an original box.

I have not seen this type of box before with only an end label and no other S&W markings or printing on the box.

The cuffs have a 3-digit serial number and there are two keys.

My questions are:

From what year(s) would this box with the label be from?
And are these cuff correct for this box??

Thanks for looking!

ken158 · #2 05-08-2023, 07:59 PM

I have a pair of the S&W Lightweight cuffs purchased new in about 1975 and your box pre-dates my box.

THREEDFLYER · #3 05-08-2023, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken158

I have a pair of the S&W Lightweight cuffs purchased new in about 1975 and your box pre-dates my box.

I am not up to speed on when S&W started to produce cuffs.....my books are still packed away from our recent move.

I picked these up in the box from a friend a few years ago, so no idea if the cuffs in the box are correct for the box??

dltvette · #4 05-08-2023, 08:53 PM

Threedflyer,
S&W started manufacturing S&W handcuffs in 1952. From 1914 to 1940 S&W manufactured handcuffs for the Peerless Handcuff Co.
Your handcuffs, serial number 652 are a Pre-Model 90 handcuff. S&W didn’t assign Model Numbers until 1958.
I’m not sure what serial number S&W started with on their handcuffs, but yours is early (1952), & a correct box.
I have serial number 591 that I acquired from Roy Jinks and it is in a repurposed Peerless box, before they had the S&W boxes.
Some photos of serial 591 & also some early boxes.
Dave

SGT ROCK 11B · #5 05-08-2023, 09:09 PM

Very interesting topic.

I got a pair of S&W Handcuffs in 1978 (#173582) I also have Peerless Handcuffs.

THREEDFLYER · #6 05-08-2023, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dltvette

Threedflyer,
S&W started manufacturing S&W handcuffs in 1952. From 1914 to 1940 S&W manufactured handcuffs for the Peerless Handcuff Co.
Your handcuffs, serial number 652 are a Pre-Model 90 handcuff. S&W didn’t assign Model Numbers until 1958.
I’m not sure what serial number S&W started with on their handcuffs, but yours is early (1952), & a correct box.
I have serial number 591 that I acquired from Roy Jinks and it is in a repurposed Peerless box, before they had the S&W boxes.
Some photos of serial 591 & also some early boxes.
Dave

Thank you Dave for that valuable info, I am glad to learn that the cuffs/box are correct and I appreciate learning that these were from 1952.

Here is a photo of the info printed on the inside of the box lid that I forgot to post earlier.....

dltvette · #7 05-08-2023, 09:51 PM

Tom,
That is the first time I have seen a box like yours, it’s definitely before the boxes printed on the top with the S&W logo.
The Early Peerless boxes just had end labels (with the serial number handwritten on the label, and instruction sheets inside the lid). The earliest Peerless boxes had no end labels.
Your S&W box is an early one. Great box.
Dave
Some early Peerless boxes.

Banjo 10-79 · #8 05-08-2023, 10:10 PM

Ken 158 were your lightweight cuffs made with magnesium? I had an old salty Sgt that carried a lightweight set of cuffs off duty. Always wanted to grab a set just out of nostalgia. I always preferred Peerless cuffs myself but no doubt the S&W’s are/were quite popular. I liked the way peerless double locked. You could just use an ink pen to punch the double lock. Sorry for the thread drift.