We need to talk about ASP handcuffs. The elephant in the room left... History / Improvements / facts

[@bsaurisrex6898]

this was a genuinely excellent review! thank you for having backed information to show details that have changed and improved, so that everyone can form their own educated(underlined) opinion! we need more reviews like this online!

[@techwg]

You're welcome! Glad you liked this. I love ASP handcuffs. I do feel they could improve the security of them somehow, but over all the features, the security and the fact people should be searched prior to being handcuffed, means these are still really nice handcuffs.

[@matthewwest7906]

ASP is my favorite brand i have never had any issues with them while working in security industry i definitely plan on rocking them when I go Leo

[@Lilylol2424]

Great Video Really shows how asp really has improved over the years!

[@techwg]

Thanks :)

[@Jasshcsm]

Good stuff, thank you! I just ordered a pair of Polish Kel-Met handcuffs made of stainless steel. I'm really looking forward to them.

[@techwg]

Those are also good. They are also kind of buttery smooth. I miss the old model that used flat keys. I wish I had never sold my pair, as they don't make them any more :(. But Kel-Met stuff is nice and stainless steel which is better on some people's skin.

[@erikkarjala]

I'd like to weigh in on the ASP Ultra 550 that has the push button double lock. I've been using them daily for the last 18 months. They are by far my favorite cuffs i have ever used. The push button double lock is a bit interesting to get used to but the security of never having to present a key to the subject when double locking is a really nice ability. The hardest thing to get used to was the unlocking of the double lock. Simply i just had to train my brain that UNLOCKING the cuffs also unlocks the double lock, Counter clockwise is now the relock of the double lock. id say that took me about 2 weeks to really get drilled into my head. I've had subjects say to my face these are the most comfortable handcuffs they have ever had on (2 subjects out of many) anecdotal but i feel it is relevant. After a year plus of use they still look and behave as the day i bought them. Maintenance has been very minimal. I have never had a subject slip these cuffs. I'm highly considering adding in a hinged pair of ASP ultras into my collection to replace my daily smith and wesson hinged handcuffs.

[@SilentButDescriptive]

Thanks for commenting. Yes they do make really good handcuffs and boy are they comfortable. I think those rounded edges and the flat initial contact point go a long way to reducing injury.

[@Butcho108]

Good show mate! Have a brand new pair of ASP Sentry, they are simple and duty ready for my security job.

[@SilentButDescriptive]

Thanks. They are really nice. I am glad to have a chain and hinged pair in England.

[@edstevens6839]

My only complaint with the keyless double lock with my ASP Hinged Handcuffs is that occasionally the keyless double lock will engage itself while in my holster. Another small tip is I went to Amazon and purchased a 2 pack of nylon open top handcuff holster ($13.99 USD plus tax) and they work excellent

[@techwg]

Very nice. I can see some holsters being more prone to accidental double locking than others. Hiatt many years ago tried to make one with a push button DL but it stuck out so far that it would always double lock accidentally in the holster. Never went into wide-spread production.

[@helmetssavelives225]

Really nice review! Are you in law enforcement/security or just have an interest in restraints?

[@techwg]

Thanks :) I collect handcuffs and leg irons from around the world, as and when I can find and afford them. Last pair I bought was a few weeks ago and is an old original Hiatt darby backstrap handcuff from about 1850

[@baller562009]

I have the ultra cuffs with the high security, and it came wit split keys but the regular key works still

[@techwg]

You either have defective mechanisms or the wrong mechanisms are installed. What colour are the double lock windows? They should be blue.

[@cuffcollector]

How did you even get the hinge version in the uk?

[@techwg]

I have contacts who were able to bring them over. I was lucky.

[@cuffcollector]

@@techwg where do people normally get USA cuffs in uk?

[@techwg]

@@cuffcollector Until recently Amy on eBay was the real go-to. She has a few ASP rigid listed and others but is not likely to be able to get new stuff. You can get the chain ASP Sentry on Amazon.co.uk which will come from the USA and take time. I get most my cuffs from eBay, Amazon and other places that I have documented on the About section of my "Silent But Descriptive" youtube channel.

[@cuffcollector]

@@techwgwould you say back 40 trading on Amazon is trust worthy do you have any experience

[@Toreeee23]

would you say back 40 trading on amazon is legit?@@techwg

[@camronbay1]

You can use a seat belt to bend these open and I have used a coffee straw to unlock these not deadlocked of course.

[@SilentButDescriptive]

The polymer old ones I showed could be bent with a seat belt. But to be fair many full metal models could be sheered open using seat belt buckles. Handcuffs should always be double locked, which prevents shimming with straws and anything else. But most handcuffs can be picked with simple tools, so people are supposed to be checked first.

[@markwoolley735]

I have alcyon pro-cuff multiple pairs

[@techwg]

They are nice. Not as wide of a wrist capacity as ASP or TCH Superior size but they are nice!

[@erycdamaso_613]

The Ultra Plus models unlock the same way as the Ultras.

[@techwg]

No, they don't. They unlock the opposite way. I have seen it demonstrated and it made sense to me because of how the DL is activated by button. I know how the ASP mechanism works, I have disassembled them to see inside. I can assure you the ultra plus ones need you to turn the key in the opposite way to do the task you would on all the previous models.

[@kernowconnection]

They are aluminium and stainless steel the sentry I have a pair

[@techwg]

The sentry are mostly steel. About the only bit that is possibly aluminium is the inner body of the cuff that holds everything together. All the force-bearing parts like pawls, cheek plates, bow, chain are all steel.

[@kernowconnection]

@@techwg the bow is not pure steel you right about the body there's also a base metal like bronze or copper I can see it threw the rachet teeth a little bit

[@techwg]

@@kernowconnection The bows are forged steel that has been heat-treated. They are pure steel. The bronze or copper colour you are referring to is the primer layer for nickel plating. Nickel does not electro-plate well to stainless steel. Copper does plate well and nickel plates well to copper. This is why often nickel plated steel has a base layer plating which will adhere both well to steel and also nickel. So when the bow is moving over the pawls, the friction wears off the plating on the paw and you see a tinge of copper. Not sure why they bothered even plating the pawl tbh. www.asp-usa.com/products/new-sentry-cuffs?variant=40494531051543

[@kernowconnection]

@techwg OK thank you what do you think of black oxide cuffs that tch implant

[@techwg]

@@kernowconnection I do not like TCH black cuffs. The finish wears off fast and they rust at the drop of a hat. My 850 rusted to hell on the contact points that touch the wrist. I know someone else who has a pair of their black chain link which rusts like crazy. My first ever black TCH were also a chainlink and I had to send them back because they came brand new rusty and kept rusting. I won't likely be buying any more black TCH unless I find them dirt cheap on eBay. I have an American HIATT 2105 rigid cuff that is black and I never had that problem with those. I also have Smith & Wesson in blued black finish and never had the issue with those either. No problem with American Handcuff Company blued black cuffs either. It's just TCH seemingly with the problem.

[@jessegabel9654]

You can use those handcuffs on me arrested me lol if went to

[@Rangerfan41]

FYI The company doesn’t say A. S. P. It is sounded out aassp

[@techwg]

Not accurate. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqbOiGSHptWYgqc

[@Rangerfan41]

@@techwg Absolutely accurate. I have had a few conversations with the sales folks from ASP....

[@SilentButDescriptive]

@@Rangerfan41 I work with colleagues who can't pronounce other colleagues names properly. The official marketing videos say A.S.P. I have heard officers talk about ahsp this, usually in relation to the batons.

[@CoxysPicks]

You forgot to mention that the reason ASP used a plastic DL bar was to eliminate rap attacks. The return of the metal bar has reintroduced the rap attack - and its super silky to do..... As always, beat your cuffs at your own risk or just trust me 😂

[@techwg]

Very true. I am not sure if that was a security thing or a weight saving thing. But the thing is it certainly helped with the whack-attack as TOOOL called it. Less mass = less chance of whacking the cuff disengaging the double lock.However since 99.9% of all the cuffs out there are susceptible to this attack, I feel like it's not of too much focus. Chicago have done about the most I have seen in the west for DL, by splitting it into 2 pieces which is a simple way to add a bit extra security.

[@CoxysPicks]

The hardest double lock on a standard officer cuff I have encountered is on the chubb 1k70. It takes the difficulty to 11 and then escalates it 🤣