I agree with you about the chain, Dean. A webmaster for a handcuff site said the chain doesn’t date properly. I know many slave shackles were made from a single piece of bent steel and were often riveted for life as opposed to hinged. That’s what made me think it was a slave restraint. Of course, it’s rather small which also ruled out a prisoner restraint.
My nephew repairs houses for one of the national homebuying companies and they found this thing in the dirt in one of the sheds behind the building. I just finished the penn foster locksmith course and he thought it might interest me.
The keys are correct for the lock and the lock functions. Unfortunately, the lock was demonstrated for me before this came in my possession, so it’s a bit late to soak it with pen oil. I’m still gonna spray it down with pen oil anyway.
Next concern is I had considered spraying the whole thing down with rust remover, but I feared that may hurt the value. Just incase this thing is somewhat valuable, I don’t want to hurt the value by a misguided restoration attempt.
