What happened to the American Handcuff Co?

[K-9 Aussie]

Hi

For the past 8yrs I've carried and used (over 300 times) my chained linked set of ultralight handcuffs made by the American Handcuff Company. From memory they were made out of the same material the Stealth bomber is made from, making them extremely light weight yet exceptionally strong.

I've recently found out they have been ou of business now for some time.

I've also received information that they went out of business due to their products failing in the field? I don't always beleive everything I hear and simply thought others might have better more correct information?

I've never had an issue with my set, and the extremely light weight of them makes them even better for carrying.

Does anyone else have a set?

[K-9 Aussie]

Just thought I'd let you people know the following.

I purchased a pair of the new ASP chain linked handcuffs yesterday. Within hours I used them for the first time to make an arrest. These are an exceptional product. They are still lightweight, comfortable to grip and hold plus they have the added benifit of dual keyholes and double lock holes which are bright yellow until you engage the double lock on each cuff. We all get taught to cuff "keyhole up", but lets face it in the field we're usually just trying to get them on and the keyhole often turns up on the wrong side.

I carry them in my Bianchi Accumold Elite double handcuff pouch, they do fit only just but the swivel does seem to want to push out the bottom of the pouch a little.

For the price they are, for the features they have they really make an excellent handcuff. I'll go as far to say that these are the best value for money handcuffs on the market.

P.S. I don't work for ASP nor receive any financial benifits etc.

[Mall Director]

I beleive Galls bought the press containers from them when they went out.. Now they lable them as their own. The nickel plating on their standard sets tends to nick off, and allor a rust type build up, so you have to keep an eye on em once in a while.

[Andy Taylor]

btt for the sales jerk

[Bill Warnock]

I beleive Galls bought the press containers from them when they went out.. Now they lable them as their own. The nickel plating on their standard sets tends to nick off, and allor a rust type build up, so you have to keep an eye on em once in a while.

Mall Director:
They had a military contract and quality control was horrible. They were scrapped and the only way some folks did not go to jail was the intervention of a US Senator.
When I was in the Air Force, American recommended they be oiled at least once a month and not be stored in their leather cases for more than eight hours. Fine, but our shifts lasted for more than 12 hours. Ever try to manipulate greased metal? That is akin to a greased pig!
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[Mr. Security]

Hi

For the past 8yrs I've carried and used (over 300 times) my chained linked set of ultralight handcuffs made by the American Handcuff Company. From memory they were made out of the same material the Stealth bomber is made from, making them extremely light weight yet exceptionally strong.

I've recently found out they have been ou of business now for some time.

I've also received information that they went out of business due to their products failing in the field? I don't always beleive everything I hear and simply thought others might have better more correct information?

I've never had an issue with my set, and the extremely light weight of them makes them even better for carrying.

Does anyone else have a set?

.....Try ebay.

[K-9 Aussie]

Mall Director:
They had a military contract and quality control was horrible. They were scrapped and the only way some folks did not go to jail was the intervention of a US Senator.
When I was in the Air Force, American recommended they be oiled at least once a month and not be stored in their leather cases for more than eight hours. Fine, but our shifts lasted for more than 12 hours. Ever try to manipulate greased metal? That is akin to a greased pig!
Enjoy the day,
Bill

You know I had this horrible gut feeling they went out of business due to their products not being up to standard. As I said in my opening post I'd never had an issue with mine but to me a company that had such supposed excellent products should have been a market dominator but nearly everyone I spoke to had never heard of them.

This is the reason I bought myself a set of the new ASP's. The last thing I wanted was a failure in the field of my handcuffs so for a bit over $70AUD they cost me over here it's a small price to pay for peace of mind. Least I know that ASP are still around if they do fail etc.

That really is rather scary! How many people in law enforcement worldwide still leave their handcuffs in their leather pouches at the end of their shift. Not to mention having to oil them. Mine are slippery enough in the wet trying to apply them little lone attempting to oil them.

MALL DIRECTOR:- You were spot on too about the rust! Now mine are suppose to be the made from the same material the stealth bomber is made from yet there are definate signs either the coating is coming off and/or they're rusting. Only problem is there is none of the "redness" you normally associate with rusting but there is some sort of chemical reaction effecting the coating tho.

Thanks for the feedback. Glad I made the swap!

[Mall Director]

Good greif yes!

Yes sir.. A bought a few sets a while back, an dso did a couple of my officers. I created a "sterilization pan" that sits in our office. 90% Isopryponol Alcohol, 10% Hydrogen Peroxide. When you got done playing with a "delightful" subject, and needed to clean off your restraints, we drop them in this pan, close the lid, get another set out of lock-up, and go off to continue on. Later, you come back, and take them out. Dry em off, re-lube and oil them (using the synthetic all purpose indoor/outdoor silicone grease). Well, we had a couple set a day later get a rust coat on the teeth parts of the lock ring. Upon closer inspecion, the plating was coming off from the teeth.. Not kewl at all!