I have run out of locks and have been practicing on a old pair of handcuffs. Does anyone have links or advice in picking them? I have been using wire, similar to a paperclip in length and width. Any info would be wonderfull.
Thanks
Not to be obnoxious, but buy a handcuff key. Or find a picture of one online and fabricate one. To the best of my understanding (and my understanding doesn't extend beyond the US) it's the same key all over.
In the U.S. almost all of the handcuffs are the same. In Europe Chubb makes a model that is much better from a pick resistance standpoint.
U.S. handcuffs are very easy to shim unless the locking pin is set (if your handcuffs have one). I am sure some Internet site would have all the info you need.
The lock itself is a very simple lever mechanism (basically one lever). I would take CitySpider's advice and view/buy/make a key to get an idea on how to pick it.
A word of caution. VERY old handcuffs have completly different locking mechanism........ ie some kind of lever lock, and NOT the same key everywhere. Some newer "high security" cuffs also do not use the standard key.
smith and wession and peerless can be picked even when double locked with a safty pin with the tip slighly bent and it is harder to do behind your back
yepper . just for fun ! i have a clean record. in the early 1980s i owned some smith and wession hancuffs and i would pratice shimming and picking them behind my back,riding a bicycle :0)
Grudge made a good point that you cant shim hancuffs that are "double locked" also you will have to pick them twice. in one direction to unlock the locking pin and in the oppsite direction to open the handcuffs.
here are 2 Escapology links with good info on handcuffs ,HANDCUFF MANIPULATION TRAINING KIT" (H.M.T.K.)
cutaway hancuff,pick,and shim
http://www.cannonsgreatescapes.com/books&videos.html http://www.elknet.net/ime/handcuff/esc.html
thanks for the info everyone. These are old handcuffs-(1955) And I do have a key. Very hard to pick behind back =P Salute to those with flexible wrists!
I own two handcuffs and one pair of leg shackles. I've picked them all using a hook pick from a cheap Majestic pick set... I haven't tried shimming though.
Its real easy for me to shim a hand cuff cos i have pretty small wrists. I just push the cuff in all the way to make room for the shim i made out of a hair pin, slip it in and pull the cuffs open. You can also use that tool to pop open the locking pin by sticking the hair pin shim into the key way.
If a lock is a puzzle, then its key is the complete picture
i aint got a clue what type mine are... but i won them at a fair... (im 16 btw) and i can open them with my hands behind my back, with the keyholes facing towards my elbows (near enough impossible..... always check beforehand....i learnt the hard way )
Renotesse - find some hinged cuffs (just hinges, no chain). I have some Hiatts "tri-hinged" handcuffs that, if put on so that the keyhole faces the elbows, are impossible to get out of even if you have the key[1].
[1] I've found one way, but it's rather difficult and requires using something other than your hands to get out. What, I'll leave "as an excercise to the reader." Hint: It's not your mouth.
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