Name/Title
Field and Son's "Darby" handcuffs c1876-1886Entry/Object ID
652Description
Darby style chrome/nickle plated handcuffs, stamped "Holborn London, Field & Sons, 2, 5", with key.Use
To restrain prisoners. This type was in use across Sussex from at least the mid 19th century until the 1960s.Context
These type of fixed handcuffs are known as "Darbies" or "D" cuffs. "Darbies" is a 17th century word used to refer to all types of hand/wrist restraints and "D" refers to the shape of this style. This type, which were made by various makers, do not have a lock in the strictest sense as they have a simple bolt which is released by screwing in the "key". This simple robust design probably explains why these type of handcuffs were in use for over 100 years.
These handcuffs are stamped "Field & Sons" and "Holborn London". Field (also known as Parker and Parker Field), was a London firm of gunsmiths and sword makers, who supplied police equipment throughout the 19th century. They are particularly famous for supplying decorated truncheons. They used a Holborn mark from 1794 until 1877, and used the name "Parker Field and Sons" from at least 1876 until 1886. After this date the company appears to have ceased trading.
On this basis it is estimated that the handcuffs pictured date from 1876 to 1886. The numbers, "5" and "2" are probably asset numbers. The provenance suggests that they were used by one of the Sussex police forces.
Similar style of Darby handoffs were used in Sussex until at least the 1960s, after which they began to be replaced with more modern ratchet designs.