[MUSIC PLAYING]
Hi.
What do we have here?
They are--
RICK: They're disturbing is why they are.
They're disturbing.
I'm coming into the pawnshop to try
to sell my antique handcuffs.
I bought these at a flea market for 100 bucks.
I didn't know what they were.
I thought they'd be good for a gag gift.
My daughter was going to her prom
and I thought I'd get it for her boyfriend.
RICK: Do you know a lot about them?
ELIE: Not a lot.
Some sort of bizarro handcuff?
That's what it looks like to me.
They're from 1925.
There's a parent date right on them.
I thought these things were from the Middle Ages.
To find out they were so recent makes them even creepier.
Have you ever put these things on?
Yes I have, a couple of times.
I'm always afraid they're not going to come off.
Would you like to try them on?
Not really.
Come on.
Get your thumb down there.
[GRUNTING]
Yeah.
That's, that's not going to work.
[GRUNTING]
Yeah, these are miserable.
[LAUGHTER]
These would definitely keep you from doing anything.
They sure would.
Give me a price, we'll take them off you.
Yeah, whatever.
These handcuffs hurt.
For a guy like me, it's cruel and unusual punishment,
I'm telling you.
These are the most miserable evil things I've ever seen.
I mean, they're right up there with an iron maiden.
But honestly, I have never seen anything
like this before in my life.
I'm racking my brains just to figure
out what they were used for.
I can't think of any reason why you would have to put someone's
hands in that position.
I do have someone who knows about these, though.
OK.
Maybe he can tell us what these things are
and what they're worth.
OK. Appreciate it.
Thanks.
All right.
Thanks.
These are the handcuffs I called you about.
And what the heck are those things?
They're like really disturbing.
I've worked my entire adult life as a locksmith.
I'm an expert in police memorabilia and handcuffs.
These are very rare McKinsey mitts.
They were made in 1925.
And they only got used just a very limited time,
bout less than five years.
RICK: What were those used for?
This was for prisoner transportation.
This blocked the entire hands so that escape
was virtually impossible.
Why did they stop using them?
Well there was two or three good reasons why.
It took the cooperation of the prisoner to get
these applied upon himself.
And once they were on him, they became very formidable weapons.
RICK: OK.
And the main reason they didn't last very long
was that during railroad days and transportation,
they had a steadfast rule that the prisoner
could never ever be unshackled.
So if that prisoner had to go to the bathroom,
guess what the guard had to do.
You mind me asking how much you paid for these?
No, not at all.
$100.
You did extremely well.
These are very rare and highly collectible.
They made approximately 50 of these.
Wow.
In an auction setting, these could
be worth $3,500 to $4,000.
Wow.
The moment I heard the experts say there were $3,500,
I almost fainted.
I couldn't, I never imagined they'd be worth that much.
Thanks for coming in, Mark.
Really appreciate it.
I like that they're real.
I like that they're rare.
I like it when people walk in my store and say, what in the hell
is that?
Well that was some good news.
Yeah.
For you, maybe. - Yeah.
Yeah.
So how much do you actually want for them?
Well if they're worth $3,500, how about $3,500?
You want $3,500?
I mean, I wouldn't turn it down.
I'll give you 1,500 bucks for them.
Can you go up to maybe 2,500 bucks?
RICK: I'd go meet you in the middle at like $1,600.
That's not the middle.
Depends on what kind of math you're using.
I was using real math.
Have you ever heard of a McKinsey handcuff auction?
No, I can't say that I have.
Neither have I. 2,000 bucks is the best I can do.
All right.
RICK: All right, deal. - You got it.
Let's go do some paperwork.
All right, thanks.
I just made $1,900.
I'm feeling lucky.
I'm going to go to a Casino and put it on red.