How To Unlock Handcuffs With A Bobby Pin

Step 1: Houdini

I'm going to show you how to escape from a set of professional handcuffs, just like the escape artist Houdini did.

Step 2: Double Lock Handcuffs

Here's a set of Smith and Wesson Model 100 double lock handcuffs. Now all you need is a regular bobby pin.

Step 3: Technique

You want to peel away the protective plastic covering on the ends of the bobby pin so it will work right.

Now after you've removed the concealed bobby pin, you want to open it up. Put the end of the bobby pin in the keyhole and bend it one way, and then take it out and bend it the other way. You should end up with a shape that looks just like this.

Step 4: Unlock The Handcuffs

Let me show you a close up of how the bobby pin actually unlocks the handcuffs. Insert the bobby pin in the keyhole, and at the very edge, you want to take the bobby pin and bend it down.

This will release the ratchet, which will open the jaw on the handcuffs. Now if they've been double locked, you just put the bobby pin in the keyhole on the other side, release the double lock, and then turn it around to release the ratchet and open the jaw.

As you can see here, I'm handcuffed in tight, and in about 5 seconds, I've opened up the handcuffs. And that's one simple way that escape artists unlock handcuffs.