Guys,

Thanks for all input.

cordelli, I had seen that thread but as it's very old I thought that a) it's likely out of date and b) bumping it would be against FT rules

To be clear, I'm not looking at ways of getting around this (packing them at angles, taking them to pieces, using plastic cuffs) - they cost $5, and if I have to buy a new pair now and again it's no biggie.

I'm really just trying to understand if there is a consistent policy on cuffs as there (more or less) is on liquids. Even within the USA there seems to be confusion, viz posts from TSORon and N830MH - as I said in my OP, I thought that I had seen them on an updated 'allowed' TSA list, but now can't find it.

In practice I'm not seeing any consistency at all - even within the UK, LHR has no problem while MAN tells me that 'it is an offence to carry .. into the aircraft cabin... Restraining Items - handcuffs..

Wonder if the toy shop has a loyalty card...