Akil wrote:New to the hobby; neither security consultant or "operator". I do, however, write fiction. Would like to get some feedback on the technical details of a scene.
A character's older brother taught her the basics of lock-picking. Which led me to take up the hobby, BTW. The book is Middle Grade age, Science Fiction Action Adventure. She, her friends, and that older brother are captured by space pirates and tossed into a "brig" that's a converted stateroom. They are handcuffed with low grade cuffs.
Older brother has several trick buttons on his jacket. One has a hidden pick and turning tool since low tech is often found in high tech places. The character breaks open the button and is able to free herself and the others.
Possible?
To add to what Divinorum said, which is spot on, a button would have to be comically large (as buttons go) to fit even a compact lockpick and turning tool into it. Even some of the most compact picks I've seen, such as an original Bogota pick but modified to have a ring shaped handle, or some of the concealable picks sold by Serepick, would still be VERY conspicuous in something like a button.
In the scenario you describe, a button which simply incorporated a concealed handcuff key would be much more realistic, effective, and easy to use. In fact, there are already commercially made options for concealing hidden cuff keys in clothing, so incorporating one into a button would be pretty easy.
If your character NEEDS to have a lockpick concealed on him for other scenes and not just a handcuff key, it would make more sense to hide it in a belt buckle, wallet, necktie, behind a lapel, or inside a large seam in an area which isn't subject to bending.
Good luck, and once you publish this book please post the title/ISBN here so we can take a look.
