American Munitions Leg Irons, B 51, 39 X, Chicago, ILL

I recently bought a pair of American Munitions Leg Irons. When I looked up the ones on the forum I noticed a difference. Besides what the pair on the forum has, mine has a stamp of B on both irons, and a number 51, and the number 39 X, on just one of the irons. What do I have, and what do these other stampings mean? Here is some pictures.

Thanks, James

Is it possible those are some agency's incentory numbers? One looks like it was done with hand stamps.

I recently bought a pair of American Munitions Leg Irons. When I looked up the ones on the forum I noticed a difference. Besides what the pair on the forum has, mine has a stamp of B on both irons, and a number 51, and the number 39 X, on just one of the irons. What do I have, and what do these other stampings mean? Here is some pictures.

Thanks, James

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guess they hired someone that was not to bright & they had to stamp the B on the bow to let that person know it was a BOW !!! you got what you got & there isn't any substance as to the B or the numbers that i have ever known of.... joe

I recently bought a pair of American Munitions Leg Irons. When I looked up the ones on the forum I noticed a difference. Besides what the pair on the forum has, mine has a stamp of B on both irons, and a number 51, and the number 39 X, on just one of the irons. What do I have, and what do these other stampings mean? Here is some pictures.

Thanks, James

Click to expand...

Is it possible that the "B" is for the barrel key model at a time they offered both the solid key and barrel key models in the cuff and Leg Iron, or when they switched from the solid key to the barrel key ? The numbers could also be the year of manufacture. The 39X on the leg iron in this thread is not a factory marking.
Stan

I recently bought a pair of American Munitions Leg Irons. When I looked up the ones on the forum I noticed a difference. Besides what the pair on the forum has, mine has a stamp of B on both irons, and a number 51, and the number 39 X, on just one of the irons. What do I have, and what do these other stampings mean? Here is some pictures.

Thanks, James

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Thanks, Stan, I bet your right. I have found a few others sold back in December on Ebay that had a B stamped in them. So the B seems to be a popular Stamping, so maybe the first pairs of the barrel Key had a B for that reason. The 51 could be an officer, department, or Prison stamped number also.

But the 39 X, I've seen before but I can't remember where. I think I saw that same marking on a set of American Munitions handcuffs before, same smooth 1940's style. I was just hoping to find someone who has seen these markings before. And the 51 seems like it could have been stamped after the fact, but the 39 X seems to be a factory marking. (no raised edges around the numbers indicating a stamping, and it is well done, deep, and plated the same as the rest of the irons.

I've been collecting handcuffs for awhile, but have yet to get into leg irons. I have my hands full with my handcuff addiction as it is. I can't afford to even start to allow myself to go into leg irons. So my knowledge of leg irons is pretty weak. So I enjoy your input.

Thanks, I look forward to more insight from other collectors.

James