{"id":4760,"date":"2017-08-02T08:45:04","date_gmt":"2017-08-02T15:45:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fightfast.com\/blog\/?p=4760"},"modified":"2021-03-31T15:29:35","modified_gmt":"2021-03-31T15:29:35","slug":"special-agent-technique-how-to-escape-from-handcuffs-using-a-ruler-by-derek-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fightfastvideos.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/02\/special-agent-technique-how-to-escape-from-handcuffs-using-a-ruler-by-derek-smith\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Agent Tactics: Escaping From Handcuffs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Break Free<\/h4>\nAs an agent I used handcuffs on bad guys quite often. It was one of my most essential tools of the trade. However, there was always a possibility that my handcuffs could be used against me or the bad guy may have handcuffs of his own, especially when I was undercover. Because of this I had to learn how to get out of handcuffs as well as I knew how to put them on a person. Before I tell you how to escape cuffs I want to make this little disclaimer:\n

DISCLAIMER<\/h4>\nWe DO NOT suggest you do this if slapped into cuffs by police.<\/strong> I warn you that you must not attempt this against law enforcement officers or they will either shoot you or beat you with their batons. This is for use only if you find yourself needing to escape an emergency situation, such as a terrorist attack or kidnapping.\n\nWith that said, hopefully you\u2019ll never have to experience being held in handcuffs someplace against your will, but if you find that you are, you will be glad I shared this little trick with you.\n\n[dfads params='groups=292&limit=1&orderby=random']\n

Common Tools<\/h4>\nBefore I show you how to get out cuffs, let me share a little information with you. In my work, I have seen all types of devices people used for getting out of cuffs, from hidden keys to improvised tools. I have also found these devices hidden in just about every crevice on a person\u2019s body that you can think of. Here are a few of them:\n
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Sim Rings<\/h4>\n\n\n<\/div>\n
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Shoe Lace Keys<\/h4>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Pen like devices<\/h4>\n\n\n<\/div>\n
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And many others!<\/h4>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

An Uncommon Tool<\/h4>\nOne of several techniques I learned was to use the metal edge of a wooden ruler<\/strong>. Although I am teaching the use of a ruler, you can apply this technique to any piece of metal that you can use as a \u201cshim\u201d type device.\n\nStandard-issue police handcuffs, or even hinged cuffs, can be rendered useless in a matter of seconds if you know what you\u2019re doing. Read on to learn how to escape standard and hinged type cuffs.\n
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Shimming<\/h4>\nShimming<\/strong> works by inserting a thin piece of metal in above the ratchet, closing the ratchet a few clicks tighter, enough to slide the shim under the pawl. At this point, the ratcheted cuff swings free. I illustrate this below.\n
    \n \t
  1. Find a wooden ruler with a metal edge like the one in the photo. Remove the metal edge from the ruler. This bit of metal will be our \u201cshim.\u201d<\/li>\n \t
  2. Insert the metal \u201cshim\u201d between the locking mechanism and the teeth. Slide it up into the locking mechanism so that it runs along the teeth; you\u2019re essentially sticking it into the cuff along the rim.<\/li>\n \t
  3. With the shim in place, tighten the cuff just one notch.<\/li>\n \t
  4. Push the shim as you\u2019re tightening the cuff, push the shim. The cuff should unclick.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nNow, I leave you with a secret that other people don\u2019t tell you. Handcuffs typically include a double lock feature which prevents the cuff from tightening once engaged. Shimming doesn\u2019t work on cuffs that have been double locked.\n\n[dfads params='groups=292&limit=1&orderby=random']\n

    Double-Locking Cuffs<\/h4>\nDouble locking a pair of handcuffs prevents the locking mechanism from moving in either direction, therefore stopping the locking arm from moving and making the closed cuff tighter. Therefore, a shim of any type will not work if someone has double locked the cuffs.\n\nA standard handcuff key has a short barrel with a single tooth at the end for unlocking the cuffs. However, at the opposite end of the key you\u2019ll find a short, blunt spike. Below is my standard issue key that accompanied the cuffs above.\n\nOn each cuff is a small slot in the locking mechanism housing. The slot is usually on the side of the cuff, perpendicular to the side where the keyhole is (see red arrow in picture below<\/em>).\n\nIf you\u2019ve ever watched \u201cCops\u201d on TV, you\u2019ve probably noticed that when they slap the cuffs on a bad guy, they get out their key and seem to mess with each cuff. What they are doing is double locking the cuffs so they don\u2019t get any tighter when the suspect sits in the car, and leans into the cuffs behind his back.\n\nWe used to do this to prevent lawsuits should the bad guy say we somehow caused nerve damage to his wrists from the cuffs closing too tight on him.\n

    \n Click here for more training by Derek Smith!<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Break Free As an agent I used handcuffs on bad guys quite often. It was one of my most essential tools of the trade. However, there was always a possibility that my handcuffs could be used against me or the bad guy may have handcuffs of his own, especially when I was undercover. Because of Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9565,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,11],"tags":[209],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fightfastvideos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4760"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fightfastvideos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fightfastvideos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fightfastvideos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fightfastvideos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4760"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/fightfastvideos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4760\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12800,"href":"https:\/\/fightfastvideos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4760\/revisions\/12800"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fightfastvideos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fightfastvideos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fightfastvideos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fightfastvideos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}