Czech RALKEM 9927 Hinged Black Secure Police Handcuffs (Looks very cool!) Identical to Alfa-Proj

These are the RALKEM or "RALK" 9927. They are still made today under the newer brand name Alfa-Proj and have the same model number. I am unaware of how old these handcuffs are but they had some rust on them that I had to contend with before they were properly functional. They were really so stiff I thought the double strand might have been pinched, ASP-style. But turns out it was just gunk and rust.

These are fantastic and very secure handcuffs. They use an abnormal flat key that has a split bit on it. The locking mechanism has 3 aspects that make this a particularly secure cuff in my opinion...

Security Point 1: The locking mechanism has 2 separated pawls. This inherently makes picking them much harder and at least more time consuming.

Security Point 2:  The keyway has a spinning one-way ward which must be aligned correctly and the key inserted correctly. If someone is handcuffed behind their back (or in the dark) the chances of unlocking the handcuffs even if they had a key would be very low, unless they had practised meticulously.

Security Point 3: In order to unlock the handcuffs single lock, while turning the key it tightens the handcuffs by 1 click before releasing. This means if someone is wearing the handcuffs and is struggling around, trying to pick them, they will have to fight the level of force they are putting on the bow (single strand) of the cuffs. Their own wrist position is actively working against their ability to pick the cuffs with flimsy tools and making it more difficult to use a key.

The hinge is very sturdy indeed, but has a degree of movement that can help with the comfort of the wearer, rather than them be too inflexible. This hinge also adds to the over all security by making it more difficult to manipulate the lock, since you have less ability to adjust your arms position for optimal picking.

A key thing to remember about all RALKEM / Alfa-Proj handcuffs like this is never apply them overly tight, because to unlock them, it needs to get tighter by one click!

They also feature the typical security feature you tend to find in most modern handcuffs of what I call "the peg and groove" system, whereby the body of the cuff has protrusions that mate with grooves in the bow, so that when the cuff is locked closed, if a very strong person were to pull outwards, those protrusions would grip the bow to add more strength to keep the bow in place and locked in with the pawls. There are few exceptions in the world that lack this feature and usually it's because they are constructed so stoutly that an incredibly strong person would not be able to deform the bow in those cases. Obviously most toy and "up-market professional-like" toys like Viper, Kombat, Vipertek lack this feature.

These handcuffs are my first full set of handcuffs of this kind. I have the briefcase handcuff from this company (the newer branding Alfa-Proj) and you can check my channel to see a video if you wish. These are very smooth in operation, after having cleaned them up to remove rust and lubricate them. All Alfa-Proj / Ralkem seem to be very very smooth in operation. And they easily lock closed with the lightest press on the wrist.

Some info from Google Gemini AI:
"RALKEM 9927 handcuffs marked for both the Prague Police (P.P.) and the Slovak Ministry of Interior (MVS), dating from the post-1993 era.

The Context: P.P. stands for "Policie Praha," which is Czech for the Prague Police. This marks the cuffs as property of the police force in the Czech capital. MVS stands for "Ministerstvo vnitra Slovenské republiky," which is the Czech name for the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic. This indicates the cuffs were part of an order for a Slovak government agency.

Dating: The use of these specific national and city-level police markings places the handcuffs' manufacturing after the January 1, 1993, "Velvet Divorce," when Czechoslovakia split into two separate countries. The presence of both markings on one item makes it a unique piece of police equipment from that historical period."

These are pretty comfortable and very secure handcuffs from the Czech Republic.

Enjoy

HIATTS 2103 British Police Handcuffs with Original Smooth Grip Design (Is old design worse? 🤔)

These are the HIATTS 2103 police Speedcuffs. They are British rigid handcuffs. Though this pair is an earlier pair which had the original smoother grip design. By smooth, I mean a nice flowing ergonomic design with no harsh steps.

These have the usual HIATT pin-push double lock, they have backloading capability and mechanically identical to all my British 2103 HIATTS.

I have 4 pairs of these now, though each one has differences. The grips on this early model are fantastic! The thumb naturally slides into the concave sections of the grips very nicely. Whereas the more modern (and even the new American HIATT ones) have the tear-drop shaped protrusions where the thumb goes. There may be some benefits to the tear-drop models but I find them not as comfortable to grip as this old pair with the nice ergonomic design. Very very nice indeed!

These have 3 pawls, though like every other British HIATTS I have tested, there is no split-spring, meaning if you go to lockpick your way out of these, you only need to pick or shim one of the pawl bars and a tiny squeeze on the bow will make all the other pawls drop. Modern TCH have a split spring so that the only way this is possible is if you hit the exact middle pawl, making the TCH slightly more secure.

I have wanted a pair of these with this grip design for a long time and was lucky enough to find a pair being sold by rusthut2020 on eBay. I have bought several cuffs from them now and it's always been a pleasure. Very accommodating and decent people. Very recommended.

ASP model 300 Folding Rigid Handcuffs

These are the old polymer ovemold ASP Model 300 folding rigid handcuffs.

These are pretty decent, though they are not as solid as a TCH or HIATT folding rigid. They are fit for purpose, though a strong person when cuffed in a certain way may be able to snap them. I saw a video of this being done years ago, but I do not know if they had been modified or were genuinely as-purchased. If these are used in a stack position, they should be very secure.

These are the standard "yellow" pawl configuration, which means there is only a single pawl, like most American handcuffs.

I have wanted a pair of these for ages, but never found them at a good enough price. I planned on not buying any handcuffs this month because money is tight, but I could not pass up buying these and the red training ones while they were available. I am happy to have them in my collection.

Enjoy!

Crockett and Kelly Model 1 (Version 2) American DoD Military Police Handcuffs Mid 1980s

These are the Version 2 of the model 1 Crockett and Kelly handcuffs. It seems the US DoD (Department of Defence) placed an order for them because they were a lower cost handcuff. So these would have been destined for military police, most likely.

They are a spitting image of American Handcuff Co handcuffs, but with double strand designs that are similar to the South Korean company Kyung Chang. The bulge in the double strands gives them a unique look.

These have 1 pawl (as you would expect with most US handcuffs) and they double lock. There is no backloading feature for the single strand.

The build quality is quite decent, except that there is a bit of a gap between one of the cheek plate sides and the body of the handcuffs, reminiscent of how Russian handcuffs are very often. Like it was not quite riveted together as tightly as it should have been.

The branding looks nice on the single strand / bow.

I like them! Another American handcuff in my collection.

South African Republic Arms Model 65 Hinged Handcuffs Aircraft Restraints from plane's lockbox

These are Republic Arms model 65 hinged handcuffs in a black oxide / blued finish. They are South African and were taken from a plane's lock box with an "in case of emergency break glass" access to the key. They are for use on unruly passengers who need restraining. I have an unboxing video on my techwg channel if you would like to see me take 5 minutes standing in an awkward angle to pick a simple lock to get into the box!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U75E_AV3AUQ&t=0s

These were rusty. When I opened the bag I thought they were a write-off. But luckily it was mostly just some surface rust and the front faces look great!

They have 2 hinges which each consist of 2 sandwiched pieces of metal. They are very nice quality handcuffs. They have a Smith & Wesson style double lock, but you activate the double lock by moving the bar in the opposite direction than you would on most other window double lock cuffs.

The double lock and single lock are disengaged with the same turning motion, similar to how ASP handcuffs work.

They are non-mirrored, meaning they use the same cuff piece for both sides, so as both keyways are facing outwards, one of the bows closes over the top and the other closes at the bottom. I prefer mirrored cuffs but this is an interesting design. I mainly like mirrored for having the keyholes facing out in the same direction. This keeps that aspect, while just alternating the direction the bows move. Not bad.

The keyway is at an odd angle, which makes it more troublesome to get out of the handcuffs on your own. They are not perfectly horizontal like Peerless, nor are they vertical like Smith & Wesson. So that could throw off someone trying to escape from these!

Given that these are black and I recently bought some orange scrubs to make an image without using copyrighted material, I decided to wear them for the on-person demo. They are a bright redy-orange and plain, so no camo patterns or dark colours to blend in with how the cuffs look. Also I have done some closer views to add clarity. If you think this bright orange would be advantageous in more demos, let me know and I may do it more often when it's convenient.

I like these handcuffs a lot. I did some work to fix up and restore the finish, since they were a bit hideous looking. This is the first actual South African handcuff in my collection. I do have the Takeda Japanese ones that were used in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in Africa but they are still Japanese handcuffs. These Republic Arms are legitimately South African, which is a cool addition to my collection.

They have been cleaned, oiled, PTFE lubricated and waxed with my usual Renaissance Wax polish.

Enjoy! Please like and subscribe.

Quik-Kuf Pre-assembled HIATTS 2003 handcuffs with Bolt-on Hard QK Grips. Strong pseudo-rigid

This is the original Quik-Kuf. It was initially trialled by the British MET Police in London in late 1992 for 3 months, to see if having a rigid handcuff would provide an advantage for officers in terms of restricting arm movement as well as offering more control over suspects.

This pair of cuffs consisted of a pair of HIATTS 2003 chain-link handcuffs, which are the 17% larger wrist size model (same size used today on modern British rigid cuffs) and special hand grips, designed by Quik-Kuf were then bolted on over the top, encasing the chain-link handcuffs in hard polymer or FRN type material. This made a pseudo-rigid handcuff. It is not a true rigid, because if someone could use leverage or extreme strength they "might" be able to snap the casing and gain more movement. Maybe... But they are very strong and a decent rigid handcuff.

So as you would expect, using a pair of standard HIATTS chain handcuffs, they have all the usual features, 3 pawls, back-loading, double locking.

After the trial, it was determined that this rigid style was excellent at helping control dangerous individuals as well as performing the typical functionality of securing arms. Later in 1994 a specific rigid handcuff was made from the ground up and manufactured by HIATT in partnership with Quik-Kuf which had a rigid steel bar connecting the bracelets and then a similar set of grips (though different style) bolted over the top to make handling of the handcuffs ergonomic and easy.

So this is pair is a nice (and as-is complete) pair of handcuffs to add to my British Police history of handcuff usage box, because it represents a turning point, going to rigid as standard instead of chain-link.

I hope you enjoy the video 😀

ASP Rigid Ultra Cuff 600 TRAINING Red pawl handcuffs

Just got back from a dog walk, please excuse my Darth Vader sound! This is the training version of the ASP model 600 rigid handcuffs. They are made from forged aluminum or aluminium as known in the UK, with steel bows. The red pawls and red body indicators signify that this is a training model. If that is not sufficient, it has in 5 places stamped on it TRAINING ONLY in case anyone does not know the meaning of the red colouration.

This handcuff is designed for easy training, to speed things up, since when single locked, the wearer can pull them off without the operator having to use a key on each bracelet. This can speed up training. Also for people interested in picking handcuffs, it offers a safety feature so that the wearer can get out of them in case their picking attempts fail.

This technology is commonly referred to in the magic/escapology community as "Gimmicking". The concept of gimmicking is that there is an alternative mechanism to get out of the handcuffs without having to properly use a key. Usually a quick mechanism. This particular type of gimmicking is referred to as "bridge jumpers" because it was used by magicians etc to escape handcuffs in an instant when jumping from a bridge or building into a body of water, where every tiny moment matters. Some types of gimmicking are more elaborate and able to withstand audience inspection etc. This style is very basic and makes a loud zipping sound when you escape them, so they are not best suited for magic tricks, though they work great as a safety feature during training or lockpicking experiments.

Long ago there were some red-pawl ASP handcuffs made which were NOT "escapable" training models. So if buying second hand, ask the seller and test them yourself to be sure they are what you expect.

They are very nice. The body of the handcuffs is absolutely identical to any other of their similar handcuffs. The only difference is the fact that red is ONLY used for training models and they also have TRAINING ONLY stamped on them. If you were to remove the red locksets and replace with a standard "real" lockset of yellow, green or blue, you would have an entirely secure and fully functional handcuff. The magic of this capability is entirely in the pawls / locksets which have the red double locking window.

Anyway, hopefully this has enlightened you as to the purpose and capabilities of the red "training only" models of ASP handcuffs.

Enjoy! (please like and subscribe :D )

🇺🇸 ASP 700 Ultra ankle cuffs aka leg irons (incorrect stamping) with nice carrying case

These are a nice pair of model 700 ASP ankle cuffs, better known as leg irons. They are the Ultra line which are made from FORGED aluminium or aluminum. Very strong and very sturdy.

This pair has incorrect stamping on which would normally be used on a pair of handcuffs. It says "Model 400". Which should actually read "Model 700". I wonder if this was an early run?

I love ASP handcuffs and these leg irons are a nice addition to my collection. If you are reading this, stay tuned because I have a different pair of leg irons being sent to me!

I love the carrying bag these come in. It's of very nice quality. When you interleave the leg irons as I have shown in the bag, they kind of stay together as a nice solid piece rather than floating around and scratching up against each other.

I do wish ASP would increase their QC Quality Control. This is not the first time I have heard of incorrect model numbers stamped on cuffs. My pair of these ankle cuffs has a little bit of an issue with the locking mechanisms, in that the centrally located keyways did not work to disengage the single lock using the key provided.  When the bows are not locked in the body of the cuff, the key would work but when they are closed, even by a single tooth, the key would not work. This is due to the presence of the bow in the mechanism pushing the pawl down a little bit. The central keyways have less travel room than the keyways that are on the edge of the cuff. So in my case, the key would stop at 45 degrees. I have filed my key to accommodate for the issue.

All in all though, I really do like these ankle cuffs. The central round ring in the chain is for use to be connected to the expensive ASP transport system, to connect them to the handcuffs. I do not have this and while I did create a DIY belly chain to demonstrate the transport rigid handcuffs, I'm not going to lengths to put anything together to connect these leg irons with the handcuffs as there's no real point for me.

They are comfortable.

By the way, in case you didn't know, ASP stands for "Armament Systems and Procedures"

Anyway, enjoy and I will see you next time 😀

(The little lioness guest appearing is our cocker spaniel, Amber. We've had her just over a year. She's about 6 and a half I think)

Smith & Wesson M100-1 M&P (Military & Police) Chain Handcuffs in Black Melonite Finish NIJ

These are a standard pair of Smith & Wesson M100-1 handcuffs which have 2 special things about them. This is the M&P model, which stands for Military and Police. These have a Melonite (Carbon nitride) finish which provides a similar look and feel as a blued finish and also provides protection from rusting, but also further hardens the exterior metal face to offer scratch resistance etc.

Another thing which makes these special is the fact they have a lever action double lock. Smith & Wesson do some models where you dig the end of your cuff key into the side of the handcuff to double lock, they have their classic window slot where you use the back of the key to slide the double lock across and the M&P have a lever which you can pull using your finger, without needing to use a key.

The double lock lever should work even if you have bitten your nails off too!

Aside from this, they are just another excellent pair of Smith & Wesson handcuffs. Yes, they only have 1 pawl bar like most standard US handcuffs, but these are top notch build quality, tolerances and quality control. A really, really nice handcuff. I like it a lot! Smith & Wesson are trusted by police officers, amongst other brands like Peerless, Chicago, ASP, Hiatt, CTS Thompson and many more.

Enjoy!

ASP Ultra Cuff Model 600 Rigid Transport Handcuffs & DIY Belly Chain Demo of Transport Feature!

These are the ASP Ultra Cuff Model 600 Rigid Transport handcuffs. These have the blue high security mechanism which uses a special key (normal keys can be modified to work with them).

These rigid handcuffs are very nice. The most comfortable of all rigid handcuffs I have tried. They have great features like rounded edges, keyhole activated access to the double lock activation and they can fit a larger size wrist compared to conventional handcuffs.

They have a rectangular hole in the middle which is for use with the official ASP Transport Kit, which consists of either a chain model or a nylon webbing belt version. These transport kits are not cheap, so I made a make-shift DIY belly chain which performs the same basic feature of securing the handcuffed hands close to the body. This helps stop a suspect or convict from strangling someone or attacking a guard or police officer etc. The official kits have options to connect them to leg irons also for added security, though it looks a bit weird with how that system works. (See official free ASP youtube videos on their transport kits to see them in action).

These handcuffs are really nice. You can put whatever security level of locks you want into them. Mine came with green European 3 pawl locking mechanisms, which I swapped around my mechanisms and put a blue set in these and moved the greens into a different pair. I love the blue because they are more secure and less common. The yellow are very basic and I am not a big fan of them. I don't know why they bother even making the basic yellow mechanism when they make the green one which is slightly better while still using standard keys.

My DIY belly chain / waist chain,  consists of a 4mm thick 316 stainless steel chain with long links, a 5mm thick Dee shackle and some JB Weld MarineWeld epoxy which I put on the threading and openings of the Dee Shackle to ensure it never unscrews ever again once installed onto the chain. Before I installed the Dee Shackle, I used a hacksaw and cut off the thumb-turn area, to make it more flat. Then I mixed and appliex the epoxy and screwed the bar in place using my pliers on the exposed sliver of the thumb-turn I left. Once fully cured in 24 hours, this epoxy is waterproof, acid proof, chemical proof. So I figured that would be more than adequate. I might keep this belly chain or one day I might sell it, so I wanted it to be a decent job.

One last thing to mention, I did have to do some small amount of grinding on the outer edges of the tall parts of the Dee Shackle and I had to use a dead-blow hammer outside to bend the shackle to allow it to slide in the transport hole on the cuffs and then to straighten it, I clamped it in a vice and used a pipe wrench to bend it back into being a nice even shape, while still fitting into the cuff's transport hole. It took a little bit of effort, but it was not hard to achieve.

The links to the exact Dee Shackle and chain that I used are below:

Chain: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164917122044
Dee Shackle: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3735316615...

Anyway, I hope you found this video useful or interesting, please like, subscribe, share and I will see you next time :D

Enjoy

American Handcuff Co Model N100 Black Chainlink Handcuffs. Issued in 1983 during The Cold War

Since I unfortunately sold my old pair I videoed, this is another pair of N100 black American Handcuff Co handcuffs, with the Fond Du Lac stamp. They also came with 1 of the original keys.

This particular pair was issued to someone in the United States Air Force who was attached to Royal Air Force base Greenham Common during the cold war. They were issued to them in 1983 for base security, brand new in original packaging. By 1985 they had been sitting in a drawer until I acquired them the other day! They had been used only 2 or 3 times on protesters at the "Peace Camp", when some of the protesters against nuclear weapons illegally got onto the base.

Very nice handcuffs. I did have to do some work on them since they had slightly rusted, but I've cleaned them up pretty decently, re-lubricated with PTFE and due to the age and finish I also used a bit of penetrant oil to add a bit of internal protection for the future. Normally I don't use oil in handcuffs.

Enjoy!

ASP 575 Blue Line Hinged Ultra Handcuffs Ultra cuff chain (secure, restrictive, yet comfortable)

These are the newer model of ASP hinged handcuffs. The model 575 Blue Line model. This range is known as the Ultra Cuff or Ultra Handcuff because of the "Forged Aluminum" construction for strength.

This forged aluminium construction is a vast step up from the old polymer over-mold "plastic" bendy models of days gone by. They are relatively light weight (230 grams) however are more bulky in size, so normal pouches might not fit.

All ASP handcuffs are designed to protect the officer/police force by protecting the person wearing the handcuffs. No sharp edges, ability to safely undo to loosen and quickly double lock again via the key, easy access to the keyholes no matter how they were applied to he person, a flat contact area on the bow which increases surface area when applying the cuff, minimising a pressure point which would normally happen when the curved edge would normally hit the wrist. Just well designed handcuffs for security and comfort.

This pair has the high security locking mechanisms, as indicated by the blue double lock indicator. Yellow is basic, green is medium (europe grade), blue is maximum security (normal keys do not work) and red are training models which can be pulled open without having to use the key.

When I received these they originally had the basic Yellow security installed. I changed this and put a set of Blue in for added security, since a hinged handcuff is more restrictive and therefore more secure anyway, so I figure I would put one of my sets of high security mechanisms in it.

Very very comfortable handcuffs.

ASP handcuffs are NOT CHEAP, however I wonder if police forces around the world might save more in the long run by using them, in the sense of not having to pay compensation for handcuff injuries, especially in the UK where rigid handcuffs are standard. It's easier to injure someone with rigid cuffs with angular edges than it is with hinged ones with nice rounded edges and easy adjustability options.

ASP handcuffs (other than the blue mechanism) are easy to pick, however all models of mechanisms of ASP handcuffs can have the double lock disengaged easily with a small paper clip and then be shimmed with a thin bit of metal. I feel they could improve this somehow. However police/military/security should be checking someone anyway, so if they do their job, it should minimise anyone having keys or tools on them to try and escape.

Hope you enjoy this!

Please like and subscribe and comment what you think and feel about these Ultra Handcuffs :)

Hiatt 2105 Black Rigid Speedcuffs Police Handcuffs USA made

These are the USA made Hiatt 2105 rigid handcuffs (speedcuffs) in black "blued" finish. Identical to the nickel plated model 2103, only in a blued black finish.

These are an early pair from America, after a US company acquired the British company Hiatt. They have the typical modern (old style) Hiatt speedcuff grip, with the exception that the central circle has no branding or patent information. Also if you unscrew the handcuffs and remove the plastic grip, this pair has no branding stamped into the metal either.

Over the years the American Hiatt has had various branding styles from blank like mine, nice [ HIATT ] stamped into the bows and eventually moving to a laser engraving or similar.

Essentially these are almost identical to the old British Hiatt speedcuffs in every way, except these were made in the USA and from what I can tell, the double locking actuator in the handcuff has an exterior rectangular angled shape instead of being circular.

These are a high quality handcuff, as you would expect from Hiatt. They do rattle though. Every Hiatt speedcuff I have ever handled has rattled quite a bit. TCH speedcuffs can rattle but not as loudly and easily as Hiatt. But this does not detract from their quality.

They have 3 pawls, back-loading capability and are generally a high quality and secure handcuff.

Enjoy!

British Police Quik-Kuf Rigid Handcuffs Speedcuffs (prior to Hiatt speedcuffs being made)

These Quik-Kuf rigid handcuffs were introduced to the British police force in 1994 and were a landmark new design, since (to my knowledge) the police had not used rigid handcuffs prior to this.

They have 2 pawls, use standard handcuff keys and are lighter weight than today's modern speedcuffs by TCH. Instead of a full-width steel connecting bar on the inside, they utilise a much smaller rectangular "rod" which connects the two sides of the handcuffs, reducing the weight. They also have zero rattle and you shake them.

This is a matt black pair, and are blued black using a process called bluing which oxidises the metal to turn it black. These are nice. They came in different variations. Some variants have 3 pawls, others 2, different plastic grip styles. I believe this is one of the later symmetrical ones.

Also, here's a fact for you. The Quik-Kuf keys have a small hole size, which only accommodates keyposts of very small diameter. These do work in the old Hiatt, but they do not work in modern TCH. Nor do they work in Peerless. I have not bothered trying any other brands because it is very very clear from looking, the QK key is mostly only useful for use in their cuffs, not as a general-use handcuff key.

Enjoy!

ASP Ultra Cuff Model 650 Rigid Forged Aluminum Lightweight STRONG Handcuffs

These are the rigid ASP Ultra Cuff model 650 handcuffs.

These are what they call forged aluminum or aluminium, which means they no longer have polymer overmold models which used to bend out of shape and annoy police officers and possibly create risks since their cuffs were non-functional if they got bent. The kind of aluminium they are made from is 7075-T6, which is as strong as mild steel without the weight. These are VERY strong handcuffs. They are pretty lightweight also, a good chunk lighter than TCH model 840.

This model is the aluminium bow model, indicated by it being all black. ASP handcuffs are designed to minimise injury to the wearer. They have all smooth edges and corners. They accommodate a wider range of wrist sizes than regular American handcuffs, though TCH Superior size handcuffs open a bit larger and close a bit smaller. But ASP is doing a good job with this. One thing to note is that these handcuff bracelets are slightly further distance from each other than TCH model 840, meaning a tiny bit less comfortable in the front, more comfortable in the back when palms are out and would be more UNcomfortable in a rear stack because one arm is forced higher up and one lower down.

As usual, keyholes on both sides, double lock can be engaged via the window or the key it's self. Which brings me to my big issue with this model of handcuffs. The double locking pin on the back of their handcuff keys is not long enough to properly work in their own handcuffs!! When I try and double lock via the window, it makes the clack sound like it has double locked, but that clack sound is the double lock pin on the key slipping off the plastic window double locker and hitting the metal. So you think they are double locked but they are NOT which in my mind is a BIG design oversight. If you have other keys like Zak Tool which have taller double locking pins on them, then you are able to properly use the window method to double lock, else you will have to insert your key and turn the opposite direction to engage the double lock. I cannot believe they have overlooked this, it astronomically boggles my mind. EDIT: ASP got back to me, they are aware of the issue and are designing new keys. If it pans out, they said they will send me a replacement key(s). But since I am in the UK, we shall see if they will send it/them to me.

That said, all in all I love these handcuffs. SO smooth, lovely, strong and high security due to me buying the blue pawl version. I would highly recommend them to US law enforcement if they want better control over subjects and more restriction of movement. Most comfortable positions are a stack in the front (as shown on the video) or would be a rear palms-facing-out position (not shown)

I LOVE these cuffs, but it is a shame about their design not taking into consideration the short length of their keys double locking pins. Remember with the 2-pawl blue double lock versions, normal handcuff keys do NOT work in them... You have to modify your keys with a split to allow them to work.

Enjoy!

#handcuffs

Smith & Wesson M300-1 Black (blued) Hinged Handcuffs

These are Smith & Wesson M300-1 handcuffs in a Blued-black finish. They are the M300 model with external rivets, which is what the -1 means in the model number.

These are very very strong indeed. The centre links are thick steel and feel very secure. They offer only a very little amount of freedom of movement outside of the intended hinge direction.

They are identical in operation to the regular chain link version, just with a more restrictive connection between both bracelets.

Why would you want hinged cuffs? Well they offer even more restrictive movement for dangerous people and they can be easier to hold when applying since they do not flop around everywhere since they are connected so well. The downside of hinged handcuffs is they can be problematic to apply with a combative suspect because you have to get the person's other wrist into the right area to let the handcuff secure them, whereas a chain link handcuff can be manipulated in various angles to get the other wrist secured in the position it is at.

These are very nice. I have wanted to get a pair of these for years but never got around to getting one till now. I am able to do my little trick I came up with where I can put the keyholes facing my body and use the key and get it into the keyway and turn to get free, so if you do bets and things, it is possible with these cuffs!

Different handcuffs have varying tolerances. My pair have one side which is easy to pick and the other side has a very slightly mis-aligned keypost which does NOT hinder it's operation in any way. But this small mis-alignment reduces the space for tools to get into the keyway, so it is much harder for me to pick one side :D

All in all, Smith & Wesson handcuffs are top notch quality and do the job well. The blued finish is an oxidation which provides some protection from rusting as well as making them black. This finish wears over time and blued cuffs need a bit more frequent care to ensure they do not rust up when they get worn in. I prefer non-blued handcuffs where possible but these are the best, cheapest option I had available to get regular M300-1 cuffs and they are the genuine article as used by police in the US and elsewhere.

Enjoy.

🚨🇷🇺 Russian Police BRS-3 BK ( БРС-Ш ) Hinged Handcuffs in Black

These are the Russian BRS-3 handcuffs in black. Apparently in Russian they are called БРС-Ш and are apparently in current use by police and other law enforcement in Russia.

These are really heavy duty handcuffs from Russia. They have great security features, a hinge to reduce freedom of movement but offer some comfort, double lock which can be activated by the push pin or by turning the key AND they unlock in a similar way that ASP does, where you keep turning in the same direction to both disengage the double lock and then keep turning to undo the single lock. They also have a ditch and peg system which grabs the handcuff arm when it is locked onto the wrist, so a strong person could not pull outwards to disengage the teeth, thus keeping them locked!

These are really cool and are relatively comfortable, actually. They are NOT a large wrist capacity, they are probably similar to what you'd expect from regular Smith & Wesson sizing. They do close pretty decently small though.

Being black, they are imbued with a tactical "These mean business!" look to them. I have heard that some serious air-soft people use these to add authenticity to their games. While the locking mechanism seems more complicated than a "normal" pair of handcuffs, whether you are into airsoft or not, the simplicity of a single direction turn to unlock them is a bonus.

Normal handcuff keys work well, including the #TOOOL​ ultimate handcuff key. You only get one key with them and it's a dumpy little key which I am not a fan of. The low height of the key makes it more difficult to use to unlock yourself.

Speaking of difficulty, when placed downwards onto the wrists with the keyholes facing the body, the keyholes are on the upper area of the cuff, making it probably almost impossible to use the key-balancing-on-finger technique to undo them. So you may have to experiment having them upside down where you press them on the wrist from the under-side of the wrist so that the single arm is on the top!

I am very very happy to have a pair of these in my collection.

Additional experience after making the video. The bracelets have a slight angle to them. So in a similar way as the Clejuso 13 are more comfortable when placed in a particular way up, these too also will provide a slightly more comfortable experience when placed on the wrists from one direction (wrists placed down and the bows swung over the top to close) vs pressed down onto the wrist as "normal" kind of thing. So you could experiment and figure out which is the best method of application for your goal.

S.P.E Transport Handcuffs (For Dutch SWAT Teams etc) by Sain Professional Equipment aka SPE

These are S.P.E or SPE handcuffs that I have seen marketed as transport handcuffs. They are made by a company called Sain Professional Equipment hence the SPE abbreviation. They are a company that have been in business since the mid 1990's and have manufactured handcuffs and other equipment for Dutch SWAT teams, Dutch Ministry Of Defence and Dutch Ministry of Justice. Dutch means The Netherlands.

They are functionally exact in every way based on what I have seen from other people and images of the more widely known LIPS handcuffs which are usually shown in a silvery grey colour and are used (or have been, not sure if they are still used but I think they are) by the Dutch police. Literally the only difference seems to be the branding printed/engraved on them, that's it.

These use a special key which are not that easy to come by online. They have a proper 3 or 4 lever lock, similar to Chubb mortice locks. Usually the handcuffs come with 2 keys when purchased brand new, one long key and a short key. My pair are a used pair and came with 1 short key. I have since made myself a couple additional keys. There are some keys on eBay and if I am successful at making more I may list them on eBay at a more sane price than the ones someone else has listed.

These handcuffs restrict movement very well and allow a decent amount of movement within the cuff, as seen in the video where I can spin my hands around in them in a similar fashion as I can with TCH "superior" sized handcuffs. They do not have a regular double strand where the rotating arm swings through, the double strand has been replaced by a very thick single strand, which is very odd looking but works well. Very robust...

They have no ditch in the rotating arm which usually is added on modern handcuffs to prevent a VERY strong person pulling outward and disengaging the teeth. This seems to be because the body metal is significantly thicker and wider than most modern handcuffs, which my guess would mean it has MUCH more strength than "typical" handcuffs.

They fit a similar wrist capacity as TCH 840 police handcuffs which come in the Superior size and they close decently small too. They are VERY comfortable.

They have 2 methods of double locking, either via the nice levers on the back or you can use the key in the opposite direction to double lock.

They are decently secure compared to most of the more modern police handcuffs in use, though they can be picked by someone with the right tool and knowledge, BUT it is hard to pick them while you are wearing them. I can pick them relatively easily but I have never managed to do it while wearing them.

They are on eBay UK now. There are cheaper, more worn models for about £60 I think, models like mine which look in a bit better condition for £70 and there's a few brand new ones for about £150 or more.

ASP model 400 Steel Bow with Forged Aluminum Body handcuffs with Green 3 Pawl Euro Security [NIJ]

These are the newer ASP steel bow handcuffs, model 400. They have steel bows compared to the aluminum / aluminium bow that the model 450 has. This adds a bit more weight to the handcuff but I believe adds a slight bit of extra security since if someone were to try and saw them off, it would take longer to saw through steel than aluminium.

They have all the same usual high quality of any other ASP handcuff, though the older polymer overmould models were susceptible to deformation and failure from officers falling onto their cuffs. These new "forged aluminum" models are FAR more robust.

These have the green locks installed, marketed for European use. They have 3 pawl bars instead of 1 chunky one, which makes them slightly more secure.

ASP handcuffs are really good quality, though they could make them more secure. I know handcuffs are a temporary restraint, but All the range of ASP locksets for their handcuffs can allow someone to easily disengage the double lock and then easily shim them. Including the high security blue split 2-pawl model!

These are NIJ certified and while they do cost more money, they have rounded edges and a flat wrist contact point to make them more comfortable to endure being in and minimise chances of injuring people. I would say they are worth it if you value humane restraint. The fact they have keyholes on both sides makes them well suited for easy removal and adds more safety for lockpickers and other users who are experimenting with handcuffs and want to ensure they have access to keyholes no matter which way the handcuffs were put on. The fact that there are keyholes on both sides means if one side had a defect (I doubt it would happen) or someone jammed something in trying to escape, you could always use the other keyhole.

Nordhandel Oversized Black Handcuffs

These are the non-certified (so not NIJ) model of their handcuffs, in the oversized wrist capacity. Nordhandel is a German security equipment website who sell handcuffs and a myriad of other things.

They sell certified handcuffs (NIJ I assume or similar) and non-certified. These are NON certified.

These are very very cheap at about €17 and I would say are good for practising lock picking or for use by kids, purchased by parents who do not want to spend a lot, but they want them to have something of decent quality and reliability. Of course they could be used in the bedroom also if you are into that.

They have a smooth action and have no sharp edges. The teeth are pretty shallow and so is the ditch in the arm. All in all, they are a good quality non-official pair of handcuffs. I would not trust this particular "non-certified" line of their handcuffs for any professional role where you need to use handcuffs. Go for the "Certified" models or buy a big brand name.

While these are sold in Germany, these handcuffs are made in Taiwan, but the quality is actually very good. These are better in quality control than UZI from what I am seeing. Just lovely!

Eventually I may buy a pair of their certified handcuffs for comparison but that will have to wait.