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Main Page 2 sets of cuffs
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Posted by: AutolockMan

Iam still getting my duty belt fine tuned. I want to carry 2 sets of cuffs but Iam not sure of the best way. Should I use a double cuff case,2 cuff cases,2 cuff straps or a cuff case and a cuff strap? Also were is the best place to carry cuffs on the belt? How do you guys all do it?

Posted by:

Hey dont forget the flex cuffs and the shackles you cant be w/out them.And dont forget the bat phone and the bat cable .....

Posted by: Wolfman

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunter

Hey dont forget the flex cuffs and the shackles you cant be w/out them.And dont forget the bat phone and the bat cable .....

Here, allow me to contribute some useful advice.

I keep a set of regular chain-style cuffs in a covered case on the left rear of the duty belt, opposite my shooting hand.

I keep a second set of hinge-style cuffs on a strap on the right rear of the belt. This allows me to use the cuffs as a flashlight holder when necessary (since the flashlight is usually in my right hand).

Each method of holding cuffs has its advantages / disadvantages. A full case will protect the cuffs from dirt and contaminants and keep them from getting snagged in the puckerbrush when some mope decides to take you on a run. A full case, however, makes the distinctive "POP" sound when you open it, which will let the bad guy know you're fixing to lock him up, and he just may go ballistic at that point.

This is where the strap comes in handy, as you can open it virtually silently and have the cuffs ready to go before Joe Shit knows what hit him. As a general rule, I will use the full case and chained cuffs for someone who is being cooperative and compliant. If there's any doubt as to the demeanor of the arrestee, the silent strap and hinged cuffs come into play.

Always a good thing to practice your speed cuffing techniques with both sets of cuffs and control techniques with the hinge cuffs - the act of handcuffing a prisoner is easily one of the riskiest points in an encounter.

Posted by: biged86

I guess it would depend on what type of duty belt you are going to wear. In the MSP, we are required to wear the clarino gear. So, I currently carry 2 sets of cuffs in the same manner as masstroopers1. I believe in the MSP we are required to wear the full case on the side opposide our gun. I carry a set of exposed hinged just after my crossstrap for easy access.
When I worked for a local PD, we wore the nylon web gear. Even then, I carried two sets both on the back, one on each side. I felt that it offered a little back support in the cruiser and felt better than being lop sided.
A lot of my fellow officers there would carry a double cuff case in front opposite their mag pouch. After a few years, the big bulky case would sag and often be a mess because of its size.
Good luck!

Posted by: Bearcat

I also carry 2 sets.When i first came on the job about 4 months ago i had one set in a closed case on my left rear and one set on a strap behind my gun. I found that the ones on the strap made to much noise when i walked fast,I spend alot of time on the beat so this got to be a pain. I now have 2 closed cuff cases in the rear. If i ever get a set of hinged cuffs the strap will come back. Either way will work fine. I think a double cuff case is a bad idea since you could end up pulling out more then you need and that could come back and bite you in the ass.
I have been thinking about a set of hinged cuffs for a long time now but the part that keeps me from getting them is the fact that you have to make the shitbags wrist come to the cuff, where with chained cuffs you can swivel the cuff to the persons wrist. MT1 or anyone else that has hinged are they easy to put on someone that is fighting?

Posted by: Joe B

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearcat

I have been thinking about a set of hinged cuffs for a long time now but the part that keeps me from getting them is the fact that you have to make the shitbags wrist come to the cuff, where with chained cuffs you can swivel the cuff to the persons wrist. MT1 or anyone else that has hinged are they easy to put on someone that is fighting?

Bearcat, hinged cuffs are more difficult to place on a cooperative person rather than chain. Consider this scenario, if you manage to get only one chained cuff on a combative person you're basically in a tug-o-war with him, however if you get one hinged cuff on you definitely have an advantage over that person (kinda an amature claw

). Also, if you're trying to get the initial cuff on a combative person the hinged cuffs will stay straight in your hand where if you start to loose your grip on a chained one, it'll swivel around in your hand.

Posted by: DODK911

I wear 2 sets of cuffs. I wear one chained set in a closed cuff case behind my weapon on strong side and I keep a hinged set in an open top case up front on my weak side next to my OC. The best way for you is where and how your most comfortable.

Good Luck and Stay Safe.

Posted by: Wolfman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearcat

That's why it's important that you practice your techniques. Practice storing and retrieving your cuffs so that the single strand (the part that swivels) is always facing forward in your grip, and when storing the cuffs in the strap or case ratchet them down to the last or next to last stop before they swivel through. This way you aren't juggling your cuffs when it's lockup time becasue they're facing the wrong way, and when it's time to put shitbird in shackles, you can bring the cuff to the wrist, single strand first, hit the wrist with it and the cuff will 9/10 times encompass the wrist and lock itself.

Train, practice, train, practice, train, practice...

Posted by: PearlOnyx

I carry two sets, one hinged and one chain myself. The hinge are in a closed case on my right side just behind my weapon, and the strap is on my right side just in front of my weapon. I'm considering moving it around though, because if the strap for some reason shifts out of place, it gets kind of noisy. I used to have a double cuff case, but didn't really like it. For one, every once and awhile, you'd reach in and come up with two sets of cuffs, no matter how hard you try, and two it sticks out way too far from your belt. Good idea carrying sets though, because dirtbags come in pairs!

Posted by: Berkshire Cop

Bearcat,
I disagree with you about a double cuff case as being a bad idea. I've had mulitple arrests in a very short span of time and they were both right there-no fumbling around with a case cuff on my right side and one on my left. I think as others have said, in the academy you practice, practice, practice, with what ever equipment you have/become familar with. That being said, you have to use what you think is best for you, not what this guy uses or that guy uses. To answer your last question about a subject being combative and hinged cuffs. I think anybody in LE who has ever been in a knock down drag out with somebody that they are trying to lock up, will tell you that there is no easy way of getting any type of cuff(s) on the person--you just get them on the person. I have tried both methods and perfer the double cuff case. As Dennis Miller always said, "of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong."

Posted by: Killjoy

Bearcat: Sure, hinge cuffs are easy to put on someone that's fighting, because after one bracelet is on, they're in so much pain the mope is practically begging me to put the other one on!!!! (unless its that drunk from the other night, right MT1?)
Seriously, though, another factor to consider is that chain cuffs run slightly smaller than hinge cuffs and fit better on female types or juveniles; that's why I carry both. Also, I carry another pair of chain cuffs in my cruiser, in case its one of those nights.....

Posted by: ntvs

So far I've heard great advice.
My FTO taught me to put a couple of flex cuffs in my hat for good measure.

Stay Safe.

Posted by: RPD931

Like my quote says....

Posted by: q5_po

I carry 1 set of hinged up front in an open case on my gun side in front of my OC next to the buckle (accessable by both hands) and one set of chained chuffs behind my gun in a closed pouch. My belt is set up as follows (from right to left as I wear it):

buckle, cuffs, oc, gun, cuffs, nothing in back, stinger light, baton, radio, mags buckle. I carry 1 set of rubber gloves in my shirt pocket.

I work for 2 jobs and this is how both belts are set up. On my F/T job we wear Uncle Mikes Mirage duty gear (Beretta 92D 9mm). For my P/T job I wear Safariland nylon gear (Glock 22 .40).

This is what is comfortable for me.

Posted by: Deuce

Off topic, sorry. Mirage gear is faux leather right? Lightweight (nylon?) but looks like leather? I'm looking to lighten the batman belt and saw this in Galls. Any good?

Oh and mix of hinged and chain kept on back of belt using a sort of half pouch.. Bottom of cuffs sit in it, top is open, kept in place with a top strap... Lighter in weight.. Double cuff case is a no go (my exp/ 2 cts)..

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