odd S&W handcuffs

kennyb

kennyb

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perhaps some one can identify...a fellow officer gave me a set of handcuffs in the mid 80's as i recall...no key....the cuffs are a a brushed stainless finish,one link chain,appear to be of the high security type,have the S&W emblem and the number 849799...in no way will they accept a standard handcuff key...there is a large,raised circle,coming from the center of this hole is a large post...it looks like a LARGE circular key would fit down into the hole,over this post and turn to open...these particular cuffs are not shown on the S&W homepage and are not listed as i can see in vol3 of the book...there is no model number that i can find...anyone have any information at all on these?maybe a key or the box they came in?i certainly appreciate in information!
 
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I definitely recall those handcuffs. They seem to be the Model 104 mentioned in the 2002 and 2003 catalogs and I believe that they were made a long time before that, although not always listed in every catalog.

I would give S&W a call at 1-800-331-0852 if you need keys, and I would NOT assume that they are 104's, which DID take a different key, but yours may be MORE different.
 
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You have a set of Smith & Wesson high security handcuffs. I believe they are called the model 94. I have a set that I do not use anymore. They take a key that looks like the type used to open pop machines. Collectors will pay 100 to 150 dollars for a set in good shape. Try www.handcuffs.org you can find examples there.
 
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kennyb,

I have a set of those that I bought back in 1970. I'm pretty sure that mine aren't stainless, but the lock mechanisms are.

There are a number of different keys for those cuffs. Each series is marked with a letter and only the appropriate key will open or double lock the cuffs.

I seem to recall that a number of federal agencies used the S&W Maximum Security cuffs and had their own key series assigned to the individual agency.

I ordered some spare keys from S&W, years ago. I had to supply the cuff's serial number and the key's letter designator. Luckily, I still had both of the original keys. As I understand it, Smith used to get a little touchy about supplying keys to individuals if the key series was "owned" by one of the alphabet agencies. Some sets of cuffs with the proprietary key codes hit the market before the feds adopted them.

Since the Max-Security cuffs have been out of the S&W inventory for so long, I would think that the serial number alone would get you a couple of keys, if available. Otherwise, you may have to ship the cuffs back to S&W so that they can determine which key fits the cuffs.

Since a normal key won't open the cuffs, it would really bite to have someone get locked in them with no way, short of destroying the cuffs, to get them out.

If you get some keys, to open the cuffs, line up the key (only goes in one way), push in. One direction unlocks and the other double locks the cuffs.
 
thanks all for the information..i talked with smith&wesson...my cuffs have the letter A on the cuff arm...they only have a cuff key with the letter N....they are sending one but... looks doubtful that it will work...will keep you all posted...
 
received bear...thanks so much for the information...seems agencies from the texas rangers to federal agencies carried these years ago
 
kennyb said:
received bear...thanks so much for the information...seems agencies from the texas rangers to federal agencies carried these years ago
Click to expand...

I was a Deputy US Marshal in the early 1980's,and we had the maximum security cuffs. If I remember correctly they all took a different key.
Ed
 
We had a husband on his honeymoon call and ask if anybody had a spare key for a set of handcuffs. Needless to say, every car on the shift responded to help! Spare keys are priceless!
 
I was warned... the standard joke was to teach the rookie cuffing & leave him in his own cuffs. I carried 3 keys on me... only one on my key ring, the other 2 hidden one in front, one in back. Only standard cuffs.
Police supply used to sell more to couples than cops.
Russ
 
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I remember those maximum security cuffs, but we never used them.
As far as keeping some "hidden" handcuff keys around, that has been my habit for years now...
 
Cuffs

Agree with Fastsheriff, they are Model 94's...I just posted a pic of the correct box in Smith & Wesson Knives and Collectibles Forum, "OK Boxes What About Boxes" Thread
 
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flagman1776 said:
I was warned... the standard joke was to teach the rookie cuffing & leave him in his own cuffs. I carried 3 keys on me... only one on my key ring, the other 2 hidden one in front, one in back. Only standard cuffs.
Police supply used to sell more to couples than cops.
Russ
Click to expand...

When I was getting ready to go through my 1st academy class I took my girlfriend at the time with me to the cop shop. The messed up part was it was valentine's day and they, nor I, even considered that someone might be buying cuffs as a couple on valentine's lol.
 
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