Picking Handcuff locks
The Rifleman
them?
bill nelson
: How difficult is it to pick handcuff locks, supposing that you're wearing
: them?
If you have the proper pick, and are fairly dexterous, not at all hard.
It is much easier if you can step through and get the cuffs in front of
you.
Bill
mno...@uwpg02.uwinnipeg.ca
Yes, handcuff locks are quite easy to pick. I have spent some time in the
retail detective business and came across an individual who did just this!
The person had a bic pocket pen with the ink cartridge removed. On the tip
of the pen he had a 'L' shaped paperclip that was attached to the pen. As
I was awaiting the arrival of the police, Houdini the Shoplifter was working
on his escape. He did manage to get one cuff off before I noticed. That
prompted me to try on my own. I have used all sorts of devices, including
paperclips, to open cuff locks. I have done this in both the front and back.
Obviously the back is much more difficult.
Just a note, I have seen a number of older British handcuffs. Although all
handcuffs have the same lock British keys will not work on North American
cuffs. The blade on the key is about 1mm too long and hits the edge of the
cuff preventing the turning of the key. I recified this by filing the key
down.
Marshall
Dan D
>How difficult is it to pick handcuff locks, supposing that you're wearing
>them?
A lot depends on the nature of the cuffs. The standard Peerless or
Smith & Wesson cuffs (which use the same key) can be picked with
just a paperclip... or you can go buy a handcuff key and keep it
on your keyring, in your wallet, etc. The wiser cops will double
lock the cuffs, preventing them from getting tighter AND making
you pick them effectively twice. To unlock a double-locked cuff,
you turn the key one way, then the other. If possible, get the cuffs
in front of you by bringing them under your legs. You can pick up
a nice set of Peerless or S&W cuffs for about $22. Practice. :)
BTW, there are other types of higher-security cuffs, but they cost
more. Most of the cuffs you'll see use the standard key.
-DanD
--
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Daniel J Mitchell
And if you've got astonishingly low-security 'kinky' handcuffs (which I
assume are not the same as 'real' handcuffs) then you don't even need a
pick, just a paperclip.
How do the locks in 'real' handcuffs work? Do they have thicker bodies
to allow a sensible depth for the cylinder, or is it something entirely
different?
--
Daniel Mitchell = ke9...@ox.ac.uk = skinny bi lycra-clad furry juggler
= Fenthe Marten = snailmail: 18, High St; Earls Colne; Essex; CO6 2PA
I don't mean to brag // I don't mean to boast // But we like hot butter
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Heikki A. Levanto
> And if you've got astonishingly low-security 'kinky' handcuffs (which I
>assume are not the same as 'real' handcuffs) then you don't even need a
>pick, just a paperclip.
>
> How do the locks in 'real' handcuffs work? Do they have thicker bodies
>to allow a sensible depth for the cylinder, or is it something entirely
>different?
I have seen two types of 'kinky' handcuffs. One had a fairly
large keyhole, and little holes in the cuff. A spiked wheel
turned in them, and the lock mechanism stopped the wheel.
I've heard that the pins in the wheel may get bent in some
violent situations, effectively blocking the whole
mechanism, but I can't say for sure.
The other type is what I have heard referred as Smith&Wesson
[imitations]. These use a fairly small key (say 2.5mm cylinder
with a 1.5mm 'leaf' (what's the correct term?) in it.) The
loose end of the cuff has a sort of staircase structure on
the outside, and matching steps in the mechanism prevent it
from opening. The lock lifts the steps inside.
Both kinds of cuffs come with a 'back-lock' to prevent them
from tightening too much, in the better kind is it a little
hole where you stick a pin (often a part of the key), or a
simple lever you move back and forth. To unlock this
feature, you need to twist the key in the 'wrong' direction
first, and then in the 'right' one.
I have heard people saying that it is possible to force the
S&W type cuffs by inserting a thin spring between the cuff
end and the mechanism, effectively smoothing out the stairs
and lifting the mechanism, allowing the cuffs ot be opened.
All this is based on hearsay and wild rumours. Could someone
here be kind to give qualified opinions to these questions?
--
Heikki Levanto <hei...@lsd.ping.dk>