Odd Shaped Handcuff Key

[asgardschosen]

Does anybody know which brand of handcuff uses a key with two prongs with a split down the middle? As opposed to one larger prong with no split (the 'classic' handcuff). I recently watched a video by a guy named Ray on the weaknesses of various brands and models of handcuffs. He advocated using a classic handcuff key that had a hole in the center because it could not only open normal cuffs, but also open this other brand of cuffs (though he didn't specify what the other brand was).

And so I've been hand filing down one of my cuff keys so it will function in a pinch, but have no idea what cuff uses that particular key. To give you an idea of what I'm talking about, the head of a normal cuff key looks like this (Please forgive my artwork):

IIIIIIIII
IIIIIIIII
IIIIIIIII
whereas what I THINK the other key is supposed to look like would be more like this (cutting a hole in the center of the key head):
III III
III III
IIIIIII
If anyone knows the name of the brand of handcuffs or even the name of that particular kind of handcuff key, please let me. Unfortunately Google has failed me. The best I could find was a Smith and Wesson handcuff key named the "M104" which has a section taken out of it (though in a different place). Thanks.

Alternative drawings of the cuff keys, since it's a bit difficult to describe properly, with the normal one, followed by the modified, and lastly the M104.

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-------------------IIII--------------------------II-II-----------------
-------IIIIIII-------IIII---------------IIIIIII-----II-II----------------
-------II---IIIIIIIIIIIII----------------II---IIIIIIIIIIII-----------------
-------IIIIIII-------------------------IIIIIII--------------------------
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------------------IIIIII----------------------------------------------
-------IIIIIII--------III----------------------------------------------
-------II---IIIIIIIIIIIIII----------------------------------------------
-------IIIIIII--------------------------------------------------------
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[MBI]

Some cuffs use a split pawl with a ward in the center which prohibits the use of a regular cuff key. The key with the cut in the tip is made for that type of cuffs, as a regular key can't pass that ward in the center of the two halves of the cuff locking pawl. Several manufacturers have models which do this, and others use a pawl split into three parts instead of two, needing a key with two cuts in it instead of one.

The S&W "high security" cuffs use the M104 key with an undercut on it, the last one you diagrammed. It's just another manufacturer's solution to preventing the standard cuff key from opening the cuffs. You'll notice on your key that the post is also slightly smaller diameter as well, so you can't just take a regular key and reshape the tip to work on them.

[smokingman]

ASP makes a split pawl model as does a korean company, yeull(sp?) I believe.

[asgardschosen]

You'll notice on your key that the post is also slightly smaller diameter as well, so you can't just take a regular key and reshape the tip to work on them.

Dang okay. Thanks for the info though. I suppose for the high-security cuffs or warded cuffs I can always just use a shim. If I understand you correctly, the M104 is wider than the standard key, and is warded (though in a different place from the other keys). Do you know if it's the lower portion of the key tip that engages with the locking pawl on the M104? If I had a key of the right width, but was lacking the portion of the tip that stuck out from the bottom, would it work? Though since it looks like the M104's aren't in common use, I may be able to bypass them altogether.

regular key can't pass that ward in the center of the two halves of the cuff locking pawl

Do you know the name of any of those manufacturers? I'm hoping to find either a picture or some specs on those keys so that I can continue modifying my standard key to fit. It seems like they probably aren't in use much these days, since all the handcuff websites I checked seemed to use a standard key.

[asgardschosen]

ASP makes a split pawl model as does a korean company, yeull(sp?) I believe.

Awesome. Thanks!

So the ASP High-Sec cuffs use the split pawl and so do Yuil standard cuffs.

[somenewguy]

If you are interested in this, there is a good presentation by Deviant Ollam (with some other people I don't remember) that covers construction of a 'universal' key that fits a large number of handcuffs. It was designed using statistical analysis of a number of keys from different handcuffs. It covers many of the 'standard' type keys and even some 2- and 3- pawl handcuff locks. It won't work on the S&W M104 and some Clejuso, or others with keys that don't look like the standard handcuff keys, and of course won't work on the locks of the "high security" handcuffs that use pin tumbler locks. But there are many bypass methods

[asgardschosen]

That may have been the one that I watched. I believe it was Deviant and Ray (sp?). Ray is a german guy who specializes in handcuff and cuff security. I think it was the HOPE #9 advanced cuff demonstration. This is where I got the idea to try and make a 'universal' cuff key. Unfortunately he didn't specifically describe the key and I never saw a clear image of what the key should look like. I've been fiddling with one of the practice cutaway cuffs in the meantime, as you said there are plenty of bypass methods!

[somenewguy]

There is a version online where it is not discussed in detail, but there are newer versions of the presentation (and I think I even found a .PDF of his (powerpoint?) slides online) where the specifications are shown. They patented the "universal" key they came up with, and put it in the public domain for non-commercial use.

The hard part is slitting the very narrow slot they recommend in the middle of the key. I made one with a dremel diamond cut-off wheel which came out about twice as wide as what they specified and still worked on all the handcuffs I tried it on, but it takes a little jiggling to get it to work on some handcuffs. I'm still looking for a reliable way to make a very narrow slit in the key.

[Evan]

The hard part is slitting the very narrow slot they recommend in the middle of the key. I made one with a dremel diamond cut-off wheel which came out about twice as wide as what they specified and still worked on all the handcuffs I tried it on, but it takes a little jiggling to get it to work on some handcuffs. I'm still looking for a reliable way to make a very narrow slit in the key.

How "narrow" of a slit are you talking about here ?

If you had access to a band saw all you would have to come up with is a way of holding onto the key...

~~ Evan

[somenewguy]

I have a metal cutting bandsaw but the blade kerf itself is easily double the width they determined; and when you get the saw running it wobbles a little bit. Plus the spot where the band is spot welded to form the loop is twice as thick as the blade.

They mention it in the presentation but kind of gloss over it. At some point I'll find a very thin slitting disk or something. But the one I made does work...

[MBI]

Jeweller's saw.

[asgardschosen]

Do you remember what the title of the powerpoint presentation is? I haven't been able to find it through Google yet. Or if you have a link that would work too. I really enjoyed Deviants books and some of his presentations and would love to get my hands on it.

[smokingman]

Is this it? About 41 mins into it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CTUx4Z ... ata_player

[asgardschosen]

yep that's the one. Thanks. So the video I had watched talked about the key and described the key but never actually gave us the dimensions. Until now! So for anyone else interested in trying to make this key, you start with the basic Smith & Wesson cuff key, you shave away part of the bit head (thinning it), and then cut a .3mm slot in the center.

The slot is SO thin though, that I suppose I'll go look for a jewelers saw, as someone else recommended. Thanks all.

[asgardschosen]

So in the video, Deviant mentions having their dremel tools so that people can make their own. Though they don't give any further information on the tool.

-edit-
Oops, check that. In the Q&A Deviant says to use " a special diamond wheel, they call a cutoff wheel"..."or a really thin hacksaw blade".