Easy & convenient way to get out of handcuffs

[LOCK--MAN]

No, I don't do that routine any more. My involvement in magic is alomost exclusively limited to mentalism these days.

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b6
if its that bad then you really need the handcuffs ha ha preferably the chubb ones

on another note has any one thought what modern tech can do ie electronic code ones with a gaget at each end and the code sent by email or whatever

[disko]

Just thought I'd add something that most of you are overlooking with handcuffs.

Cuffs used by police and professional security officers have a 'double lock' mechanism, usually a removeable pin or in the case of HI LOCK as used by NSW police in australia, a seperate key, which is designed to prevent the offender being injured by the handcuff over tightening once they've been applied. The mechanism stops the cuffs from getting either tighter or looser, so regardless of whether or not you can pick the main mechanism which is usually a pretty low security key, you still have the double lock to contend with.

[digital_blue]

Common S&W handcuffs also have this double-locking feature. However, it is equally easy to bypass this before picking the lock.

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[disko]

correction on my last post: not HI LOCK, SAF LOCK

The removable pin cuffs would be next to impossible to escape however, unless you are in the habit of carrying the pins as well.

Basically, the moral of the story is don't try and escape from lawful custody, and the increased incidence of zipstrips is making cuffs redundant in first contact apprehension anyway.

[digital_blue]

...don't try and escape from lawful custody...

Obviously. Even more obvious... don't do stuff that will get you put in lawful custody.

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[vector40]

By my understanding, most of the cuffs used in the US double-lock simply by rotating the key twice.

[digital_blue]

Well, it's actually rotating the key one direction to unlock the safety lock mechanism, then the other way to unlock the cuffs.

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[vector40]

Ah... that's what I typed first, but it didn't make any sense -- wouldn't rotating the other opposite way from the locking direction unlock it?

But no, it locks automatically My bad.

[Chrispy]

Rotating the key one way (clockwise) pushes the clip that is holding the pawl down and allows removal of the arm. If you rotated the other way (counter-clockwise) it would not push the clip down, it would push it up.

If the cuffs were double locked, it would push the double locking pin out, allowing the arm to move in, but not out.

[RenderMan]

A quick bit of my $0.02

Having a spare key on you is highly unlikely to cause you any more than an inconvenience provided it's obvious your intentions were not malevolent. i.e the keyis on your keyring not taped behind your belt buckle. Being honest about the fact you have a cuff key is the best policy

I carry a number of spares in various locations, not for any particular fear of authority detention, it's just that I have learned not to trust friends when there is alcohol and handcuffs around.

Basic detention cuffs (beat cop ones, not high security) are usually by policy, double locked upon being put on, (I've asked several serving and ex cops) usually to prevent the detainee from cinching them tight and filing a lawsuit when thier hand turns purple.

To defeat the double lock, just bang the cuffs on a hard surface in the direction you want the double lock to go, i.e. away from the little hole. The inertia is enough to pop the slide into the unlocked position, leaving you to shim/pry/pick the pawl mechanism to your hearts content. Or just cut the circulation off at your wrists, whatever you want.

[Chrispy]

Basic detention cuffs (beat cop ones, not high security) are usually by policy, double locked upon being put on, (I've asked several serving and ex cops) usually to prevent the detainee from cinching them tight and filing a lawsuit when thier hand turns purple.

It's also a security concern so that the offender doesn't cinch them tighter and complain that the cuffs are too tight. The duty of care that the officer has requires him/her to loosen the cuffs if they are causing serious pain and/or damage (like cutting off circulation or turning the hand purple) and this is the most likely time that the offender would try to escape, when the officer is loosening the cuffs.

[digital_blue]

Basic detention cuffs (beat cop ones, not high security) are usually by policy, double locked upon being put on, (I've asked several serving and ex cops) usually to prevent the detainee from cinching them tight and filing a lawsuit when thier hand turns purple.

It's also a security concern so that the offender doesn't cinch them tighter and complain that the cuffs are too tight. The duty of care that the officer has requires him/her to loosen the cuffs if they are causing serious pain and/or damage (like cutting off circulation or turning the hand purple) and this is the most likely time that the offender would try to escape, when the officer is loosening the cuffs.

Didn't he just say that?

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[NKT]

No, he means that the easist way to get out the cuffs is the get the keyholder to put the key in and unlock them. To do this, you tighten the cuffs yourself, so they have to loosen them off, then you break free and do whatever ninja stuff you were planning.

By double locking them, this cannot happen.

[Chrispy]

Thank you NKT.

[digital_blue]

Ah. I see. My mistake.

db