ABSTRACT
Harry Houdini became famous as The Handcuff King because of his ability to escape from handcus. He later became famous as an escapologist and a magician. He is rumored to have worked undercover as an operative for the U.S. Secret Service, the London Metropolitan Police Force Criminal Investigation Division (CID or Scotland Yard), and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the United States and Great Britain. He was also a close friend of Dr. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery novels. (See Infamous Murders & Mysteries by Dr. Robert Girod.)
ere are various methods of picking locks on handcus that are used by locksmiths, magician-escapologists, and criminals. Many begin by using a common bobby pin with the plastic tip removed. Bend the end that had been concealed and put it into the key hole. Take it out and bend it the other way making an angle shape having two bends. en insert it into the keyhole of the handcus. Bend the edge of the bobby pin down and release the latches that will open the jaws of the handcus. If you have a double lock, put the bobby pin in the keyhole on the other side and turn it around to release the
double lock latches and open the jaw. Use care, as the pick may break while you are working on the double lock because of the additional force needed, causing you to be in worse shape than before.
