Today, February 20, is: Clean Out Your Bookcase Day; Love Your Pet Day; World Day of Social Justice; National Cherry Pie Day; National Student Volunteer Day; National Day of Solidarity with Muslim, Arab and South Asian Immigrants; Northern Hemisphere Hoodie Hoo Day; and National Handcuff Day. In the interests of brevity, today we’ll discuss National Handcuff Day.
On February 20, 1912, George A. Carney received a patent for a swinging arm type of adjustable, ratcheting handcuff. The Days of the Year website notes:
To celebrate this historic occasion, organisers present the Annual Handcuff Day Contest. This takes the form of a quiz which tests a person’s knowledge on handcuffs. Successful participants have the opportunity to win a collectible 100th Anniversary Peerless Handcuff. Questions are asked about some of the following handcuff trivia:
- the amount of nickel handcuffs produced by the Peerless® Handcuff Company
- when the Peerless® Handcuff Company started selling handcuffs with their own original trademark
- what country other types of handcuffs, for example Rivolier handcuffs, originate from
- what kind of handcuff replicas are used in China
- which handcuff brand(s) were discontinued, and then brought back, and why
- who introduced the Gill Flash Action manacle and when that happened
- how much standard and other types of handcuffs weigh
- how many pairs of thumbcuffs (yes, you read that right: thumbcuffs) have been produced by the Peerless® Handcuff Company
- which handcuff models are made from stainless steel
- what kind of handcuffs people suspected of conspiring against Abraham Lincoln wore
The collectible 100th Anniversary Peerless Handcuff to be one is a unique gift item. Although it is a limited edition collectible, this handcuff is built to withstand the daily rigors of law enforcement use. It has a highly polished nickel plated finish with special engravings and unique serial numbers, which makes it a really exciting prize for people interested in the history of law enforcement.
For fanciers of bondage, handcuffs are actually not a recommended toy, because they can cause nerve damage if worn too long. There are alternatives available. Yes, lots of sex toy companies sell them, fur-lined or whatever. That doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.
Want to celebrate National Cherry Pie day and National Handcuff Day at the same time? Why not try this Cherry Pie Smoothie? While you’re at it, learn more about National Handcuff Day.
