Handcuffs & Restraints
The handcuffs used by law enforcement officers can be traced back over 100 years. Restraints, however, date back to the prophet Proteus in Greek mythology. Aristaeus “fixed the fetters on him” to attempt to stop him from changing into other forms so he could force him to predict the future.
You’ll find other references to handcuff-like devices dating back to the 4th Century BC when Greek soldiers found many of them in Carthaginian wagons. But the uses for handcuffs and the multiple styles we see today came from around 1850 when the Western part of the world became more mobile and developed. As the population exploded, so did the crime. Police officers needed safer ways to apprehend criminals and transport them to and from courts and jails.
And much like the law enforcement officers of the past, police officers and military police today need to restrain suspects and criminals in many different situations. Handcuffs keep officers, the suspects and the public safe, and they come in several forms–double-steel handcuffs, zip ties, hobbles and leg irons.
Hinge cuffs are usually the most secure because they reduce how much a suspect can move. But some suspects are too big to use one set of hinge cuffs on, so you need chain cuffs or link two sets together.
LA Police Gear carries a huge selection of police handcuffs from all the top brands and types, such as chain, hinge, nickel finish and double-locking handcuffs. Each police officer has their own preferences, and many times, police departments have policies on which cuffs officers can carry. Some like lighter and stronger cuffs like the ASP Steel Chain Ultra Handcuff. Others may like the traditional Peerless Chain Link handcuff.
LA Police Gear carries a variety of handcuff accessories like handcuff keys. Most keys that come with handcuffs are too small to use efficiently and are easy to lose. With multiple handcuff keys, you always have one when you need it. We carry different types of keys, so there’s something that fits every officer’s needs.
Our favorite handcuff keys are the Zak Tool ZT14 Aluminum pocket handcuff key. We also love the ZAK Tool ID Holder and Handcuff Key as it functions as two pieces of equipment in one. Check out our extensive selection of handcuffs and accessories.