Iver Johnson Leg Irons

Last year I was fortunate enough to pick up a set of Lovell Arms "Bean" leg irons. Nobody much seems to have seen them. Stan has a set in his collection CD.

This past weekend I picked up a set of Iver Johnson "Bean" leg irons. That is, they look just like a Bean leg iron except that they have the two bit barrel key like the the IJ version of the handcuffs. There is a "T" stamped on the clevis. Seems odd, if Tower made them. IJ was plenty capable of producing anything.

All very confusing. Does anyone else have a set?

They are pretty cantankerous and I don't have an original key. The keys I've made work sometimes and jam other times. Has something to do with the expression on my face at the time I try them. I'm thinking they need to take a vacation in Australia.

In the mean time, if anyone else has a pair with an orginal or at least working key, I'd sure like to see it. The handcuff key (I have two originals) don't fit.

Thanks for any info or pics,
Brad

I've never seen one or heard of them. On the other hand there is a barrel key Bean cuff with the Bean patent date only, stamped on the bow. Can you post a picture or send me one? I would say it is a very rare find.
Thanks.
Stan

Last year I was fortunate enough to pick up a set of Lovell Arms "Bean" leg irons. Nobody much seems to have seen them. Stan has a set in his collection CD.

This past weekend I picked up a set of Iver Johnson "Bean" leg irons. That is, they look just like a Bean leg iron except that they have the two bit barrel key like the the IJ version of the handcuffs. There is a "T" stamped on the clevis. Seems odd, if Tower made them. IJ was plenty capable of producing anything.

All very confusing. Does anyone else have a set?

They are pretty cantankerous and I don't have an original key. The keys I've made work sometimes and jam other times. Has something to do with the expression on my face at the time I try them. I'm thinking they need to take a vacation in Australia.

In the mean time, if anyone else has a pair with an orginal or at least working key, I'd sure like to see it. The handcuff key (I have two originals) don't fit.

Thanks for any info or pics,
Brad

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BRAD: i too have never seen a BARREL key bean leg iron, but as STAN said nothing would surprize me.... in my 30 years of restraints, i have had several LOVELL leg irons as well as many more of the NORMAL bean leg irons.... for honesty sake, look in the keyways etc to see if someone modified a normal bean or for that matter a LOVELL as not all LOVELLS are marked.... GREAT FIND, if RIGHT.... hopefully it is... close up photo please.... by the way, i didn't make it to the gun show again this year.... maybe i will see you next year if not before.... joe

Last year I was fortunate enough to pick up a set of Lovell Arms "Bean" leg irons. Nobody much seems to have seen them. Stan has a set in his collection CD.

This past weekend I picked up a set of Iver Johnson "Bean" leg irons. That is, they look just like a Bean leg iron except that they have the two bit barrel key like the the IJ version of the handcuffs. There is a "T" stamped on the clevis. Seems odd, if Tower made them. IJ was plenty capable of producing anything.

All very confusing. Does anyone else have a set?

They are pretty cantankerous and I don't have an original key. The keys I've made work sometimes and jam other times. Has something to do with the expression on my face at the time I try them. I'm thinking they need to take a vacation in Australia.

In the mean time, if anyone else has a pair with an orginal or at least working key, I'd sure like to see it. The handcuff key (I have two originals) don't fit.

Thanks for any info or pics,
Brad

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One side has been tinkered with, I can't tell the extent, the post is a little wobbly. The other side looks absolutely untouched.

If they are somebody's creation, they would have been from a std Bean, not a Lovell. The striations on the case finishing match the back side of the posts as well as the other rivets, so it all looks pretty good, but it could have been done a hundred years ago, too. They are about 50% nickel

I will have the mrs take some photos and send them to Joe to post in the next day or two.

They popped up here in the Central Valley. I found them, of course, at a gun show.

Joe, will let you know when the next one is.

Brad

Last year I was fortunate enough to pick up a set of Lovell Arms "Bean" leg irons. Nobody much seems to have seen them. Stan has a set in his collection CD.

This past weekend I picked up a set of Iver Johnson "Bean" leg irons. That is, they look just like a Bean leg iron except that they have the two bit barrel key like the the IJ version of the handcuffs. There is a "T" stamped on the clevis. Seems odd, if Tower made them. IJ was plenty capable of producing anything.

All very confusing. Does anyone else have a set?

They are pretty cantankerous and I don't have an original key. The keys I've made work sometimes and jam other times. Has something to do with the expression on my face at the time I try them. I'm thinking they need to take a vacation in Australia.

In the mean time, if anyone else has a pair with an orginal or at least working key, I'd sure like to see it. The handcuff key (I have two originals) don't fit.

Thanks for any info or pics,
Brad

Click to expand...

Brad has sent us a series of pictures of his Iver Johnson cuffs.


Iver Johnson Leg Iron


An edge view


Three Bean Leg Irons


Bean leg irons and handcuffs


thanks Brad

Joe

Last year I was fortunate enough to pick up a set of Lovell Arms "Bean" leg irons. Nobody much seems to have seen them. Stan has a set in his collection CD.

This past weekend I picked up a set of Iver Johnson "Bean" leg irons. That is, they look just like a Bean leg iron except that they have the two bit barrel key like the the IJ version of the handcuffs. There is a "T" stamped on the clevis. Seems odd, if Tower made them. IJ was plenty capable of producing anything.

All very confusing. Does anyone else have a set?

They are pretty cantankerous and I don't have an original key. The keys I've made work sometimes and jam other times. Has something to do with the expression on my face at the time I try them. I'm thinking they need to take a vacation in Australia.

In the mean time, if anyone else has a pair with an orginal or at least working key, I'd sure like to see it. The handcuff key (I have two originals) don't fit.

Thanks for any info or pics,
Brad

Click to expand...

Just a couple of notes to add.

On the Lovell and standard Bean versions the key holes are identical in appearance on the cuffs and leg irons. On the Iver Johnson version note that the keyholes go in the opposite direction on the leg irons from the cuffs. None of the cuff keys and LI keys interchange. Bad idea, I think.

The IJ's don't look like they could have been made from the standards as the keyway slot would still be evident from the stds. It isn't there.

The chain on the IJ's, although consistent in configuration with the Lovells and stds is noticibly larger. Definitely not the same stuff. Although the Lovell's and std's chain aren't exactly a match, either.

The IJ's are crankier than an old mule. I'm still trying to figure a key that will open them more than once in a row and not jam in them.

Whatcha think, guys?

PS: I'm having a conversation with another collector and need to know, when did Union Hardware finally succumb?

Brad has sent us a series of pictures of his Iver Johnson cuffs.


Iver Johnson Leg Iron


An edge view


Three Bean Leg Irons


Bean leg irons and handcuffs


thanks Brad

Joe

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Hi all,

First I have to say that the Cannon's show this past weekend was outstanding as always. I really enjoyed getting to see all of the old friends. My wife commented that of several different collectors groups that we go to, this one (escape artists and handcuff collectors) is the happiest bunch of folks she's ever seen. I think she's right...what a great bunch of folks. And thanks so much again to Mark and Sheila for all their hard work.

Gordon Gluff and I were having a conversation about leg irons and I told him that I said I had a set of "Lovell" leg irons. He said he did too. We got to wondering how many other pairs there could be out there and that we would start a post about them to see if we got any other info.

I finally found this old post of mine and realized that it was the "Iver Johnson" leg irons which were so peculiar.

So, we are still wondering, who all has Lovell leg irons and does anyone else have a set of Iver Johnson leg irons?

Thanks,
Brad and Gordon

Last year I was fortunate enough to pick up a set of Lovell Arms "Bean" leg irons. Nobody much seems to have seen them. Stan has a set in his collection CD.

This past weekend I picked up a set of Iver Johnson "Bean" leg irons. That is, they look just like a Bean leg iron except that they have the two bit barrel key like the the IJ version of the handcuffs. There is a "T" stamped on the clevis. Seems odd, if Tower made them. IJ was plenty capable of producing anything.

All very confusing. Does anyone else have a set?

They are pretty cantankerous and I don't have an original key. The keys I've made work sometimes and jam other times. Has something to do with the expression on my face at the time I try them. I'm thinking they need to take a vacation in Australia.

In the mean time, if anyone else has a pair with an orginal or at least working key, I'd sure like to see it. The handcuff key (I have two originals) don't fit.

Thanks for any info or pics,
Brad

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I have a lovell LI, and have never seen another Iver Johnson
Stan