"convertible" Handcuffs. Gendarmerie. Police

The cabriolet or chain in wire rope

The cabriolet is composed of a chain formed of 9 links in galvanized wire, ending with two handles in hornbeam wood,
95 mm long.
The 7 internal links are arranged on 3 wires wide making 10 turns in the middle of each link, and forming at the ends two rings of approximately 10 mm in diameter. The two extreme links are arranged on four wires wide, making 15 turns in the middle of each link, and forming, at the ends two rings of 10 mm in diameter likewise. The free ring of each of these two extreme links surrounds the middle of the handle in a recess made 1.5 mm deep and 6 mm wide, so as to leave the handle with a diameter of 10 mm under the ring, which ensures it sufficient solidity. Article 165 of the circular of June 18, 1899, replaced the "thumbs" with a thirty-centimeter long chain link made of metal wire ending in two wooden handles, called a "cabriolet". For the police, this object had several advantages: - very low weight and bulk - very simple handling. All you had to do was pass the chain around your wrist and squeeze the wooden handles by crossing them. They were still in use in the post-war years (Circular No. 30769: Gend.M of June 12, 1945). A technical notice of August 19, 1947 prescribed the use and transport of the gendarmerie's security equipment model 1943: handcuffs, padlocks, driving chains. The law prohibits subjecting arrested persons to any mistreatment or insult, or even using any violence against them unless there is resistance (DG Article 272). Any unnecessary harshness is expressly prohibited and, consequently, it is forbidden to use the following materials: - thumb restraints, - wire rope chains, - screw handcuffs or collars, - any other materials which risk injuring prisoners or causing accidents.