97 lines
6.8 KiB
Plaintext
97 lines
6.8 KiB
Plaintext
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The Care and Feeding of Handcuffs
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Handcuffs as restraints have been around a long time. It is, perhaps, safe
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to say that only recently have they become an adjunct to intimate sexual
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contact. The handcuffs discussed here are not the tin toys that can be found
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in a toy store, nor the "mink-lined love cuffs" we often see illustrated
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in adult oriented catalogs. The handcuffs I refer to here are those intended
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for use by police and security officers - heavy duty equipment.
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Expensive? Yes, they are. But then they won't fall apart at the slightest
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bit of feigned (?) resistance to them. The more expensive variety are intended
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for long, reliable use, and, importantly, safety. The two leading brands of
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quality handcuffs are Smith & Wesson and Peerless. For these brands, you can
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expect to pay between $20.00 and $50.00, depending on the material (steel,
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stainless steel or [hard to find] the aluminum model that Smith & Wesson used
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to offer). Another factor affecting price is the finish (steel, brushed chrome
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or black phosphate). Also, a new offering by Peerless and a few other companies
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is the hinged handcuff that restricts movement even more - these being the
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top-of-the-line and state-of-the-art.
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A word of warning, one of many to come, is that handcuffs cannot, CANNOT,
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be merely slapped on the wrist as we often see in movies and on television. The
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human wrist is made up of numerous small bones. To strike the wrist with the
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edge of the hinged bow would subject the recipient to bruises, at the least,
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and fractures, in the worst case. The proper method of application (especially
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with a subject willingly allowing their application) is to push the bow arm
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through it's ratchet phase and free it. Open the cuff and PLACE it on the
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wrist, then close the bow. The bow should be closed on top of the finger or
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thumb of the person applying the handcuff - no more. Damage to tendons,
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ligaments, nerves, bone and the blood supply may very well result. If your
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subject's wrists are too small use another restraint method because the
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handcuffs will merely fall off the first time the wrists are lowered. Wrists
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too large for handcuffs? Then use either leg irons, the larger capacity
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handcuffs to be found through some sources or a non-handcuff restraint.
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After the handcuffs are applied, leaving that space between the inside
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of the bow and the subject's wrists, they can still close up to the point of
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being dangerously tight. To prevent this from happening, a device called a
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'Double Lock' is provided with good handcuffs. There is a small pin visable
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on the top edge of the handcuff body. This pin is pressed down with the
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extended tip on the handcuff key. Activating the Double Lock will prevent
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the handcuff from both closing any tighter or being opened without the key
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in most circumstances. To deactivate the Double Lock, the key must be turned
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first in the direction opposite the ratchet release and then back to the
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ratchet release position. The Double Lock will keep the handcuffs from getting
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tighter when even great pressure is placed on it - use it to prevent injury.
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Handcuffs are pretty forgiving devices. They sometimes do require some
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slight maintenance. Kept clean and dry, no further attention is needed. Any
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moisture or contaminating material will require cleaning and lubrication. A
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mild lubricant such as 3-In-1 oil or WD-40 sprayed into the lock hole and
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onto the bow hinge will keep the handcuffs operating reliably. Excess oil
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or lubrication is to be avoided as this attracts dust and is rather messy.
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If you manage to find used handcuffs, buy with care. Handcuffs marked
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as being made in Japan, Mexico, Spain or Taiwan are to be avoided. English
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and West German handcuffs are now appearing here and, though used, are quite
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reliable although they may have a unique key that would be difficult to
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obtain a replacement for. Another oddity is the Smith & Wesson 'High Security'
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handcuff. This uses an Ace-type lock and key and was to be the ultimate for
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high-risk prisoners...until an enterprising felon found he could pick them
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with a metal pocket clip for a ballpoint pen. This 'cuff was dropped from the
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S&W line but may be around in flea markets, gun shows and such.
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The leg irons I mentioned are designed as basic handcuffs but they are
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larger to accomodate the ankles and they have a long length of chain as opposed
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to the 3 - 4 links that most handcuffs have. Peerless is the only manufacturer
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to produce these and they cost approximately $40 - $50.00, if purchased through
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a police supply outlet. To purchase any of these items at an Adult or Novelty
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Store can add a great deal to the price.
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All quality handcuffs, purchased new, are supplied with 2 keys. Don't
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take either of them for granted. Anyone knowing any Police Offciers has
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probably heard of the 'classic police call' of having to go to someone's
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bedroom to free a lover in jammed handcuffs or handcuffs for which they
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discovered there was no key! Police do not hand over their own key at your door
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to let you use it and come back - they are duty bound to see who is handcuffed
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and assure their safety...regardless what the subject is or is not wearing,
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regardless if the subject is restrained in the little dungeon room the two of
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you built for play, no matter what - the cop will take the cuffs off himself.
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DON'T LOSE THE KEYS! DON'T APPLY THE HANDCUFFS UNLESS YOU KNOW WHERE BOTH KEYS
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ARE! DON'T USE TOO MUCH PRESSURE TO UNLOCK THE KEY - you will jam the cuffs
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with a broken key!! (Night & weekend calls for locksmiths usually run $60.00
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and up and the locksmith may have to contact the police). Keys are sold in
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police supply stores but you will probably need a badge to get them. The small
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lip on the key, the vertical post in the handcuff keyhole are all weak links -
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don't abuse them.
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Finally, don't leave handcuffs anywhere where children can reach them.
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Children will hurt each other with them or lock each other up in them
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(thigh-cuffing themselves, as Bill Cosby once said) and then jam the lock
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with anything from chewing gum to a screwdriver. Don't leave your sub in
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the handcuffs, unattended. Common sense? Yes, it is, but many people need to
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be reminded of this basic, inviolable, rule. Don't leave your handcuffs out
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in the open, on your car seat, or <!> hanging from your rear view mirror.
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Cops are a suspicious lot and would love to jack you up and question you as
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to why you have them...to determine if you are a terrorist or stick-up man
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(or woman).
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As with any other piece of hardware we adapt to our "Special Needs" and
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uses, common sense will take you a long way if you stop to think first. The
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writer declines any liability for your misuse of this information and further
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strongly suggests you use this information with common sense and caution,
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in addition to a degree of concern for your sub.
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