Invented by Yngve Smith-Stange, The Iron Claw was the most commercially successful mechanical come along in the history of law enforcement. It also was the only one to be serial numbered sequentially. It was made for decades by the Argus Manufacturing Company of Chicago, then by Jay Pee of New York.

The Iron Claw received two patents, the first (1,950,757) in 1934 and the second (2,066,654) in 1937. This quite early one, serial number 9053, was made between 18 July 1931, when the application for the first patent was filed, and 13 March 1934, when the first patent was granted. It is stamp-marked, on one side, THE IRON CLAW over 9053 and, on the other side, ARGUS MFG. CO. over CHICAGO ILL. U.S.A. over PAT. PEND.

This fine first version model is in perfect working order. It is significantly anomalous, though.

The mechanism permitting The Iron Claw to open and close comprises a series of interlocking, sharply serrated teeth arranged in a zigzag pattern around the circumference of the handle's neck, just above the shoulder. These could pinch or cut an officer's hand while using the device. On 13 May 1935, a full fourteen months after the first patent was granted, Smith-Stange applied for the second patent, the subject of which was a protective collar to cover that section of the handle. At that time, the PAT. PEND. stamp-mark changed to PAT. 1950757 over OTHER PAT. PEND. This is known as the second version of The Iron Claw. When the second patent was granted on 5 January 1937, the stamp-mark changed again to PAT. 1950757 over PAT. 2066654. This is known as the third version. Three versions in no way affected the consecutive serial numbering of The Iron Claw. It remained consistent.

When Jay Pee acquired the Iron Claw from Argus, the serial numbers were reset, then ordered sequentially again, as Argus had done. The earliest Jay Pee Iron Claws were made in New York. Manufacture subsequently was transferred to Taiwan, where it continued until production ceased permanently. All Jay Pee Iron Claws bear both patent numbers, like the Argus third version.

What makes this Iron Claw singular and special is a strange combination of features it possesses. 1. Its serial number, 9053, and its PAT. PEND.-only mark clearly date it to the first version period, 18 July 1931 - 13 March 1934. (Some 12 to 15 thousand Iron Claws were produced then. Of the second and third versions, over 170 thousand were made.) 2. It also has the protective collar of the second patent.

Although a contradictory combination, the most likely explanation is that Smith-Stange realised early on the need to shield the handle serrations and that Argus selectively put a collar on one or more Iron Claws, well in advance of the application for the second patent being filed. This piece is unaltered and completely original. If others exist, they indeed are few and far between. As a genuine aberration of such a famed article of police equipment as The Iron Claw, this one truly has enhanced historical and collectible importance and value.

Jack Tanis, 614 Broome Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034-3837, USA
Telephone: 904.261.4628
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