Modern Rigid Multi-Point Restraints
This item is alternately said to be made of stainless steel (it's not), aluminum alloy (maybe) or magnesium alloy, which is what I was told after asking a seller and telling him that if it wasn't made of what he said it was made of, I would make it my life mission to get a full refund.
This device is what I call "Rigid Body Shackle #3". I purchased this on eBay for $307.91 in 2020. It is made of several layers of stainless steel and highly polished. The fit and finish on these is beyond amazing. The surfaces are completely smooth and almost mirror finished.
A demonstration of the second, much harder position for this device.
This is a more compact wrist and ankle restraint available on eBay in two sizes. It is made of stainless steel and locks with a single hex key on one end. It has a hinge at the other end and slots together between each cuff. This one looks like it would be significantly more uncomfortable than the rigid Body Shackle #2 above which provides much more 'freedom' to move the limbs around a bit. It's available for about $120 from several sellers, as you can see they have recycled the same stock photo.
This is a very expensive semi custom design available on eBay for about $1,000. These machined aluminum restraints are color anodized and have an option for an integrated lock with key, as pictured above, or the standard pin and padlock. They also have the option for sized rotating inserts, like the premium modern Rigidcuff models. What luxury!
This odd device is a bit different than the other restraints here, but as it secures more than one pair of limbs, I think it belongs. This rigid wrist to neck restraint is available on eBay for about $147 in two sizes. It is made of stainless steel and secured with hex bolts. This position looks like it would be very uncomfortable and highly restrictive. I'm not sure if I could get into it, even if it had snap shut locks. I would like to try it on of course.
Regardless, this is a soft, smooth metal which scratches easily but polishes up just as readily. The numerous bolts do serve a purpose, other than aesthetics, for this restraint is made of five layers of metal bolted together. There are no nuts, but the bottom layer is tapped.
The way this restraint goes on and comes together, it only needs one padlock on a locking pin which passes through both sides of the device and holds them together. The cuffs also slot in to the body of the device as you close them, so this is a very secure restraint.
The wrist holes are oval and fit snugly. The hands are held in front of the face, angled with the palms slightly turned towards the wearer. This position can become painful/tortuous, and the best thing to do, aside from not getting stuck in one of these things, is to just accept it and relax your arms and body as much as possible.
If the padlock is on the bottom, it is NEARLY impossible for the wearer with a key to escape. It seems impossible, but there have been reports of it being done, and I believe it can be done because I actually managed to lock myself IN to this device, with the padlock on the bottom. I couldn't get back out but I didn't try for too long, and the fact that I could insert and close the padlock tells me that someone with long hands and fingers and thin arms would be able to get a little closer and get the key in and turn it.
The version above has either rivets or caps over the hinge pin. The one I got had another bolt there. I didn't like the idea that it could be unscrewed, so I tightened it up snug and then sealed it over with steel epoxy. This was also helpful because although it makes no difference while locked, the hinges has become a little loose. I'm not sure if the hinges with covered hinge pins are able to tighten up.
This heavy device is also known as a cangue, pillory, glyph restraint, or portable stocks.
The device secured with three pins which are then padlocked. There is one lock at the neck and one at each wrist. Again, with the lock on the bottom, it is very, very difficult but not impossible for the fingers to touch the padlock. Maneuvering the key INTO the key hole and turning the key enough to open the lock is even harder still, but I imagine some people can do so.
This device is incredibly uncomfortable. The wrist openings are oval shaped. The elbows are held at less than 90° with the palms facing the head. I found it to uncomfortable around ten minutes and painful after about 30 minutes. I was able to take some of the strain off my arms by sitting on the floor and pressing one elbow against the couch and the other back with my knee. And then I just whimpered and begged to be let go, lol 😂
The device above is "Rigid Body Shackle #2". I got it for $271.59 in 2021.
This device is probably the least tortuous of the three, at least for me. The arms rest between the spread open, bent legs. The openings are oversized enough that it's possible to shift the limbs around a little bit.
While it's still very restrictive, I found this to be the most "tolerable" of the Rigid Multi-Point Body Restraints. It does become frustrating and boring, but it didn't become painful at any point.
With the device secured with the two pins and padlocked, it's pretty difficult for a wearer with a key to escape, but I was able to unlock the padlock and escape, albeit I did this with only the right side of the device on, (right hand and right leg). This can be avoided by orienting the restraint with the moving portions downward, so that the padlock is on the opposite side from the hands, as well as at the bottom of the restraint, nearer the floor, instead of near the top where the fingers can curl and reach over.
While this device is very restrictive, I found that I was able to move around fairly well by "walking" hunched over, one arm/leg pair at a time. The ankle openings are big enough that I was able to hold the device a bit higher around my lower calves with my hands so that I could "walk" to the other room and ask to be free.
A very interesting secondary position exists for this device! While it's only possible for the most flexible and enthusiastic among us, this restraint can be worn "behind the back" as a sort of rigid in-line hogcuff.
Behind the back with the palms facing outwards and unable to rotate, this position becomes inescapable with the padlocks on the opposite side from the hands.
When I got in this behind my back, it only took five minutes before I said the safe word. I didn't even bother to ask or beg. I would have been able to endure the position itself longer, but I had *insisted* on going in with my wrists rotated outward (palms facing out) which ended up being really painful where the edges dug into my wrist.
Rigid Body Shackle #2 and #3 are made the same way, of multiple flat layers of stainless steel with flush ground rivets and a near mirror finish. There is also a Rigid Fiddle available in this same style, as opposed to the thicker, but lighter, magnesium alloy version I have.
Additionally, there are numerous variations on these restraints on eBay from many Chinese sellers as well.
These glyph restraints/ pillory models are available with the Chinese core lock, the tubular press lock, or a hex bolt. These are not the same "layered" design that the other stainless steel restraints above use. These are tall and thick monolithic stainless steel cuffs (the same ones are available as handcuffs with a chain, see 'Chinese Stainless Steel' page) welded to stainless square stock with integrated locks.
This is a #2 (hands and feet) with a few different sizes depending on which hole you place the pin in. These have some futuristic looking cutouts and relief details as well.
And then there are these super cool futuristic/detailed versions as well. These secure with pins and padlocks. It's interesting to note that the glyph/pillory model has the locking tabs on the edges of the arm restraints. It looks like they use the same parts and are just put together differently.
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Here is the Rigid Fiddle model in black. It closes with FIVE pins and padlocks. Very, very secure. Even if you were able to pick or unlock BOTH padlocks holding the cuffs closed, there is no way to reach the two padlocks for the pins holding the arms of the device together, and certainly no way to reach the lock by the neck! This is a rigid metal device! If you can't unlock the padlock and remove the pin at the neck, you won't be able to get your hands out of the cuffs, EVEN IF you're somehow able to pick or unlock the padlocks at the wrists. All FOUR of them.
These last two only come in small. I am disappointed. They have two colors but only one size. They should have made one color in small and the other color in large. These Chinese makers have always provided two sizes for their restraints.
I love the way these look. Note the Chinese characters on the arm near the collar and the two different textures. They could be used in a sci-fi thriller on a kidnapped ingenue to good effect.
Then there's this odd version. These Chinese press locks are alright but they can be easily damaged if you rotate the key to far. They have a tubular key. They are the only key/tool-free closing lock on this range of Chinese restraints. The others are all hex bolt, core lock, or pin and padlock. These you can just apply them and press the center pin to lock them. Not quite 'snap shut' but what are you gonna do. These are made of quality materials but I don't like how the collar lock and ring is on the side!
Here is yet ANOTHER Rigid Fiddle. This one looks heavy and simple. The cuffs bolt together to the center pieces with one hex bolt at the front. It looks pretty good. If I had the hex key I think I might be able to get out of this one.
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