Info on American Munitions (Leg Irons)

I recently bought a few sets of American Munitions Leg Irons. What was interesting about them, at least to me, was the fact they they were all different.

Where did AM start out? In Chicago or Fond du Lac, Wis.?

When did they move?

When was the riveted style with a smaller link chain introduced (are they the newer type)?

The Chicago type looks a bit more simplistic (keyhole, etc.)

Cheers
Nils

They started in Chicago (1940s-1950s)...with both "barrel-key" & "solid-key" models...all smooth finishes.

"American Munitions" (Fon du Lac) bought them in early 1960's, and then changed to the exposed-rivet models...reducing the former (Chicago) nice solid quality workmanship...into a cheap product. Ultimately, they never could compete against Peerless or S&W.

Late 1960's--"American Munitions" (Fond du lac)...changed their name to "American Handcuff Co." (Fond du Lac), to dis-associate their name with the military/Vietnam war.

I recently bought a few sets of American Munitions Leg Irons. What was interesting about them, at least to me, was the fact they they were all different.

Where did AM start out? In Chicago or Fond du Lac, Wis.?

When did they move?

When was the riveted style with a smaller link chain introduced (are they the newer type)?

The Chicago type looks a bit more simplistic (keyhole, etc.)

Cheers
Nils

Click to expand...

Joe,
Are you saying that they offered the bit and barrel key models at the same time?
I had always assumed that the bit key version was first and later replaced with the barrel key a few years later. Interesting!

L

I recently bought a few sets of American Munitions Leg Irons. What was interesting about them, at least to me, was the fact they they were all different.

Where did AM start out? In Chicago or Fond du Lac, Wis.?

When did they move?

When was the riveted style with a smaller link chain introduced (are they the newer type)?

The Chicago type looks a bit more simplistic (keyhole, etc.)

Cheers
Nils

Click to expand...

The "Chicago" -stamped cuffs & legirons were in two models: "solid-key" and "barrel-key". They were nice irons!

The barrel-key model came after the solid-key model; unless anyone here knows if both versions were offered-manufactured at the same time?

btw-the "Fon du lac" restraints first had printed text on them...and then changed to a "scripted text".

If I recall, the printed text was on the early smooth-finish "Fon du lacs", and the scripted text was on the later exposed-rivet "Fon du lac" models.