The Thrill of the Hunt: Escape Artist Michael Griffin’s Passion for Rare Handcuffs
Escape Artist Michael Griffin Shown Locked Up Is On A Quest To Have The Largest Handcuff Collection In The World
The Ultimate Heist: Tracking Down the World’s Rarest Handcuffs
There are collectors, and then there are obsessive seekers of history. Michael Griffin, the world’s greatest living escape artist, is both. While he has stunned audiences with impossible escapes, Griffin’s true obsession lies in the artifacts he has spent a lifetime defying—handcuffs, leg irons, thumb cuffs, and every restraint imaginable.
The Search for Hidden Treasures
At oldhandcuffs.net, Griffin is building the largest, most significant collection of handcuffs ever assembled. His journey has taken him to antique shops, police departments, private collections, and even abandoned jails in search of rare and one-of-a-kind restraints. Griffin owns several of the legendary Houdini’s own handcuffs. Each find tells a story of law enforcement history and serves as a reminder of the very devices that have challenged his legendary escapes.
The Most Coveted Handcuffs in the World
Michael Griffin is on the hunt for the rarest handcuffs ever made. Some of the most sought-after items include:
19th-century hand-forged shackles
Custom-modified police restraints
Prototype escape-proof handcuffs
Antique leg irons from notorious prisons
Handcuffs used in historic arrests or escapes
Every new acquisition fuels his ultimate goal: to create a public, world-class handcuff museum where people can see these incredible pieces up close. But to do that, he needs your help.
Have old handcuffs collecting dust? Looking to sell rare restraints? Michael Griffin wants them.
📩 Contact oldhandcuffs.net to sell your handcuffs or contribute to the collection.
🔗 Related Websites: MichaelGriffinEscapes.com
FOR SALE: RARE VINTAGE ANTIQUE HANDCUFFS, 1870'S - 1940'S
FOR SALE: [VARIOUS] RARE ANTIQUE HANDCUFFS, 1870'S - 1940'S
RARE - FBI HIDDEN KEYWAY SUPER SECURITY HANDCUFFS 1930'S SCARCE 1ST MODEL
These are the scarce 1st model which was manufactured without the security milled groove that would feature so prominently in the second model. These handcuffs patented in 1934 and used exclusively for the FBI are the strongest handcuffs ever manufactured and when in place on the wrist are designed that the keyway is hidden from sight and the entrance blocked. The cuffs are in excellent working condition and come with the key!. Stamped with serial number #4380 Please see pics for more info.
Price: $150.00
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SPF Singapore Police Force - An extremely nice pair of Houdini favorite vintage Darby style adjustable handcuffs w/key! Used by the Singapore Police Force
Imagine its the late 1880's you're a young magician wanting desperately to carve out a name for yourself and you're frustrated with card tricks and bunnies and silks. You know inside you there's something great ready to escape, you visit mediums (although some are rather large) you tie them up, you cuff them up and the miracle communication across the ether still happens in the shapeless dark of the room.
You know, you just know there's something to the idea of escape. You finally come across a set of Hiatt's handcuffs at a pawn shop, you run home, you practice for hours looking at the cuffs feeling the cuffs, getting locked in the cuffs and getting out with the key, then it hits you in the face with all the magic of an instant appearance!! what if with these shackles you could escape ordinary magic and maybe rise to the top?
After all the hours of practice, you've discovered the secrets both known and not known in these cuffs and you are ready, the caterpillar shuts down, cocoons and with a new name you are reborn to the World, to history evermore and its because of these handcuffs and the secrets they hold.
Hiatt has made this style of handcuff since the early 1800s. This is a later model w / matching SPF numbered key (cuff and key marked #2035)
The cuffs are in excellent working order
The cuffs are heavy
The cuffs are stamped "HIATT" "BRITISH MADE" "SPF 2035"
The cuffs come with the original matching key
The cuffs retain approx 99% of the original nickel plating.
This is a great cuff, highly historical pattern, extremely well-made and deserves to be in a good collection.
Price: $150.00
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RARE 1920's IMITATION PINKERTON HANDCUFFS W/KEY
This cuff was a short-lived production item that was put out of business by Tower Handcuffs because they were a copy of the famous "Pinkerton" handcuff made by Tower and considered by Houdini to be the easiest cuff to ever escape from.
After they were put out of business from manufacturing these imitation Pinkertons they were sold up until the 1930s in various magic catalogs and surplus shops.
This Handcuff comes complete with key and is in excellent working condition. Please see the pics below for the condition. This will go to a good collection.
Price: $200.00
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RARE EARLY MODEL SINGLE LOCK ANTIQUE WESTERN HANDCUFFS CA. 1870'S
For sale, a very early Tower Single Locking Handcuff as used in the 1870s. Having just patented their first handcuffs a few years before, Tower put into production this exquisitely designed set of handcuffs that ended up kicking off the unparalleled decades-long reign as best handcuffs made anywhere in the world.
This was the last model before Tower started making the Double Locking Handcuff which is arguably one of the most secure handcuffs in history.
This is a wonderful opportunity to add a historically important handcuff to your collection.
Excellent working condition w/key
Price: $150.00
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I AM LIQUIDATING A PRIVATE COLLECTION OF SOME RARE HANDCUFFS. I am giving descriptions of each below and attaching corresponding pictures with the name of handcuffs at the top of each pic to help with identification. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS BECAUSE I AM UNDER TIME CONSTRAINTS TO MOVE THESE - DON'T BE SHY! I WILL ENTERTAIN REASONABLE OFFERS! AND, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS TO ANYONE YOU THINK MAY HAVE AN INTEREST. THANK YOU - MICHAEL -XXX-
Need Pandemic Cash? Escape Artist Is Offering Cash For Old Handcuffs | Michael Griffin
Need Pandemic Cash? Escape Artist Is Offering Cash For Old Handcuffs | Michael Griffin
America’s Escape Hero is looking to help folks whose income may have dried up by paying cash for your old handcuffs.
Michael Griffin, America’s Escape Hero is looking for old handcuffs and is willing to pay, sometimes big bucks for “Jail Jewelry”. It’s a way the magician can help folks out who are shackled financially by the pandemic worldwide.
Griffin admits he isn’t going to be able to solve the world’s problems but for people who are facing a temporary lack of job income and so many people around the globe investigating side-gigs, this is a unique way to bring in some income and clear out old unwanted items you may have laying around.
How much will the Escapeguy pay? according to Griffin “each case is different. I have paid $1,000.00 for certain cuffs all the way down to $10.00.”
like any collecting the things to consider are:
1) Condition (overall condition, plated or a polished finish? does it work? does it have a key?)
2) Age (is this old? some cuffs go back over 300 years)
3) Rarity (some cuffs only had a limited run or, were never put into production)
“All in all, everything is collectible. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure and I have made a lifetime of collecting old vintage handcuffs and escaping from handcuffs around the world and would love to buy your old handcuffs and in turn help you out during this pandemic.