The Peerless Model 1 Version 2 handcuff was the last of the “Single Elongated” chain link joining the right & left hand cuffs together and also the last to have MFGD. BY SMITH & WESSON stamped on them. The Version 2 was also the first to have the Peerless logo stamped on them. The word TRADE was stamped above the logo and the word MARK was stamped below the logo.
What is unique about this example of the Peerless Model 1 Version 2, is that it has the Model 1 Version 3, short 2-Link chain joining the right & left hand cuffs together. The 2-Link chain was not introduced until 1917 as noted in the Peerless Handcuff Manufactured by Smith & Wesson parts list, operation & parts price list dated March 1917, and a August 1917 advertisement showing the New Model with Two short Twisted links in place of the one elongated link. These are shown in my eBook, two volume set of Smith & Wesson Handcuff History.
This is the first example of a Peerless Model 1 Version 2 that I have seen with the 2-Link chain joining the cuffs together. I suspect that a right and left hand cuff of the Model 1 Version 2 was in a workers box, and maybe a elongated single link was not available at the time because of the current transition to a new handcuff with a 2-link chain, so he used the 2-link chain to complete that pair of handcuffs instead of scraping them. I acquired this set after the publication of my eBook.
Attached are photos of the production example of the M-1, V-2 with the elongated single link connecting the two cuffs (top) and the example of the rare 2-link M-1, V-2 (bottom).
David Teeters
S&WCA LM #836
S&WHF Founding #142
Rare Peerless M-1 V-2 Handcuff
Linear Mode
