Handcuffs.

[Gelmar]

From what I've read it seems like handcuffs are some of the simplest types of locks to pick. Is this true? I like to perform card and "magic" tricks for my friends and family. But I'm having trouble figuring out a common house hold object I can use to pick a pair of cuffs. Or what to pick them with in general. Help me out if you can

[niksoft]

Well, a good steel paper clip would do the job, besides it depends on whether you are picking the handcuffs, or shimming them. If you choose to pick, then a steel paper clip, a regular but thick paper clip or a bobble pin are probably your best friends, bend them in an l-shape (similar to the key), hide it in the belt area of your pants, or a sleeve of your sirt, though when i perform (only for close friends, and i dont do cuffs, though now it is more of a thought), i like to keep my sleeves up to keep the suspicion down, have someone hand cuff you then turn around and do magic.....

You can also shim cuffs, for this most people would probably recomend more pliable, but fairly strong materials, like an automotive feeler gauge (the thinner ones) would probably work well, you would need to cut a stip of one (length-wise) that would fit your hand cuffs (where the locking mechanizm locks the "shackle"), then once again hide it in the belt-area of your pants, once again have someone shackle you, then turn around, and shim the hand cuffs. With this one though you may run into a situation where someone (who knows hand cuffs in operation) locks it with the extra lock that prevents shimming, and in that case the l-shaped thingy will help you better (because in order to unlock that, you need to first turn the key a quarter rotation in the opposite direction of the unlocking rotation, and after that, you can unlock the cuffs like you normally would)

Don't know though, lets see what others recommend

[Gelmar]

Are all handcuffs generally the same principle? With 1-2 lever locks in place? Or are there certain types that have a more complicated mechanism?

[MBI]

Are all handcuffs generally the same principle? With 1-2 lever locks in place? Or are there certain types that have a more complicated mechanism?

Most handcuffs are the same, that being said, there are a few exceptions which are coming into increased use:

ASP makes several models of handcuffs and they have redesigned their lock which supposedly makes it harder to pick, although they still use a standard handcuff key.

Smith & Wesson makes a high security handcuff with keys that are slightly modified and smaller than regular handcuff keys. I have a key for one but not a set of the cuffs so I can't tell you how they are to pick, although they are supposed to be quite a bit more difficult.

Peerless makes a high security handcuff which incorporates a pick-resistant locking mechanism made by Medeco.

Hiatt has high security cuffs which accept a standard handcuff key, but also have a pick-resistant 7 pin lock which overrides the standard key hole when it's engaged.

Now this last one doesn't have a more complicated mechanism, but they aren't always compatible with standard cuffs. They are the cheap knockoff handcuffs. I'm not talking about the toy metal handcuffs with unwelded chain links and which use a key that is about triple the diameter of a regular handcuff key. I'm talking about crummy made in china handcuffs that sell for $15 to $25 that you commonly see in the mall "smoke shops" that sell pot pipes, or at gun shows on the tables next to the rows and rows of $20 fantasy knives. They look very similar to real handcuffs and are often sold in stores as such, particularly to security guards, wannabee cops, and S&M fans. The components used in these are generally thinner than standard cuffs making them noticeably weaker. I think they were designed to be compatible with standard cuff keys, but the manufacturing tolerances are so poor that a significant percentage of the ones I've seen can't be used with standard cuff keys, and vice versa.

[int3grate]

The most common handcuffs used by American police can be picked with a bobby pin, with the very tip of it bent at a 90 degree angle.

If you're going to be doing magic though, what you have to worry about is getting to the lock hole in the first place. If you are correctly handcuffed (with your palms facing outwards) it is hard to get a tool into the position to unlock the handcuffs. Most escape artist use a tool like the "Articulating Extension Tool" to allow them access to the key hole. You can see a picture of this here: http://www.cannonsgreatescapes.com/imag ... onTool.JPG

To be totally honest, most magicians just use hidden keys. They have belt buckles with hidden keys, keys built into finger rings, secret compartments in handcuffs that hold keys, etc... If you get any books or videos on escapology you'll find what I'm saying is true.

-Int3grate

[FFVison]

There is a video on youtube which a guy demonstrates picking handcuffs using paper clips and if you want to be really sneaky, he shows that you can pick them using the metal tab that goes into the loop of a wristwatch strap. I have never actually tried this, thankfully, but I thought it was interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4faQuJL6ZY

I was actually at an adult novelty shop with my GF a little while back and I saw a pair of handcuffs that they had for sale. I was examining them to see the size of the keyway. After a moment, I noticed that my GF was looking at me all weird and I KNEW she knew what I was looking at it for. She was just shaking her head as if to basically call me hopeless.

[Gelmar]

Thats kinda nifty...seems like neither of those are the double locked kind though.

[FFVison]

If you have seen the video, Lockpicking for the New Millennium (no this isn't a plug for it :-p) it demonstrates that the double locking mechanism is easily defeated by simply picking the opposite way first. Now, from what I understand, the proper way to handcuff someone is palms facing out and with the cuffs tight enough that they can't be rotated so that they face otherwise. If this is done, it would probably make things a LOT more difficult, although, if you want to use this for a magic trick, the general audience wouldn't be any wiser if you were to be cuffed with your palms facing in.

[LeeNo]

I was actually at an adult novelty shop with my GF a little while back and I saw a pair of handcuffs that they had for sale. I was examining them to see the size of the keyway. After a moment, I noticed that my GF was looking at me all weird and I KNEW she knew what I was looking at it for. She was just shaking her head as if to basically call me hopeless.

LOL!!! I can totally picture this. Here you guys are in an "adult novelty shop" and you are looking at a piece of merchandise that could be used for some really interesting role-playing scenarios but she knows you are only interested in how the locking mechanism works. Priceless!!!

[Gelmar]

I'll have to find myself a pair of cuffs and see if I can reach with my palms out. Would be interesting to do it that way just for bragging rights i suppose.

[ThousandThugs]

theirs not really a video or anything showing the technique to picking the lock..it just shows the paperclip going in and then out..anything usefull in case i get arrested?

[Jaakko]

theirs not really a video or anything showing the technique to picking the lock..it just shows the paperclip going in and then out..anything usefull in case i get arrested?

You are so much on the wrong site buddy. I have a tip if you are arrested: Your own fault.

[reenignE]

Well I actually had a chance last night to practice "escaping" from handcuffs.

Bobby pins work wonderfully. Break it in half, and use the hook formed on the broken end to push the internal lever down, and out you go.

However, if handcuffed properly, behind your back, with your palms out, keyholes facing opposite directions, and with the cuffs tightened all the way, it becomes near impossible to even reach the key holes with a bobby pin.

If you're trying to use it as a trick though, odds are the person cuffing you won't know how to do so properly.

[ThousandThugs]

o ok..thanks for the help

[eurolock fan]

Does anyone on here know how the Gotcha handcuffs locking mechanism works? Its supposibly pickproof.