Editing Handcuffs (section)

=== Metal handcuffs ===
[[File:Lips handboeien.jpg|thumb|Hinged handcuffs used by Dutch police]]
There are three main types of contemporary metal handcuffs: chain (cuffs are held together by a short chain), hinged (since hinged handcuffs permit less movement than a chain cuff, they are generally considered to be more secure), and rigid solid bar handcuffs. While bulkier to carry, rigid handcuffs permit several variations in cuffing. [[Hiatts Speedcuffs]] are rigid handcuffs used by most police forces in the United Kingdom.  Both rigid and hinged cuffs can be used one-handed to apply pain-compliance/control techniques that are not workable with the chain type of cuff. Various accessories are available to improve the security or increase the rigidity of handcuffs, including boxes that fit over the chain or hinge and can themselves be locked with a [[padlock]].

In 1933 the Royal Canadian Mounted Police used a type called "Mitten Handcuffs" to prevent criminals from being able to grab an object like the officer's gun.  While used by some in law enforcement it was never popular.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=6CcDAAAAMBAJ&dq=motor+gun+boat&pg=PA27 "Mitten Handcuffs Secure Criminal", October 1933, Popular Science] middle of page 27, right side</ref>

Handcuffs may be manufactured from various [[metal]]s, including [[carbon steel]], [[stainless steel]] and [[aluminium]], or from synthetic [[polymer]]s.

Sometimes two pairs of handcuffs are needed to restrain a person with an exceptionally large waistline because the hands cannot be brought close enough together; in this case, one cuff on one pair of handcuffs is handcuffed to one of the cuffs on the other pair, and then the remaining open handcuff on each pair is applied to the person's wrists. Oversized handcuffs are available from a number of manufacturers.

The National Museum of Australia has a number of handcuffs in its collection dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These include 'T'-type 'Come Along', 'D'-type and 'Figure-8' handcuffs.<ref>[http://www.nma.gov.au/collections-search/results?search=adv&type=Handcuffs Handcuffs from the National Museum of Australia collection]</ref>

{{gallery
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|File:Handcuffs Lincoln assassination.jpg|Handcuffs which were worn by the suspects while being tried for [[assassination of President Lincoln|assassinating President Lincoln]].
|File:Hiatt104Darby.JPG|Hiatt type 104 "Darby" handcuffs and key. {{circa|1950s}}
}}