Escaping handcuffs takes some skill and practice.
Escaping from handcuffs is a classic magician's trick that was popularized by Harry Houdini, who was known as the "Handcuff King," in the late 19th century. If you use real handcuffs you will need to learn pick the lock, or prepare your wrists in such a way as to allow yourself room to escape the cuffs. If you are using a magician's trick handcuffs, or handcuffs made of a soft material, escaping the cuffs will simply be a matter of releasing a catch or simple fastener. Edible handcuffs are the simplest cuffs to escape, as they may be eaten or easily broken.
Instructions
1. Use a key to escape from handcuffs.
One way of escaping from locking handcuffs is simply to open them with a key. You will need either the key that belongs to the specific handcuffs, or a universal key. This is simple to perform with a single handcuff, but takes a lot of skill and practice if you are escaping from double handcuffs.
2. Use a bobby pin to pick the lock of police handcuffs.
Escape police handcuffs by picking the lock with a bobby pin. Remove the plastic from one end of the bobby pin and bend it into the shape of a Z. Put the pin into the lock and bend the pin down toward the direction of 10 o'clock to release the lock mechanism.
3. Have the handcuffs placed over wristbands to give you room to escape them.
You can also escape handcuffs by preparing your wrists in such a way as to create extra room through which to wriggle out of the cuffs. Place padded wrist bands around your wrists before having the cuffs put on, or have the cuffs put on over thick shirt or jacket sleeves. Then you will be able to work the cuffs down past the padding and wriggle out of them. Some magicians wear a wrist prosthesis over their wrists when they use this escape method.
4. Coat your wrists with butter or oil to help slide off handcuffs.
Coating your wrists with a grease such as butter or colorless cooking oil is another way in which you can remove handcuffs. The grease will allow you to work them off in the same way that one works a too-tight ring off a finger.
5. Trick handcuffs may have velcro closures.
Trick handcuffs are fairly simple to remove, since they usually have a button release on them. These are perhaps the most common kind of trick handcuffs, and can be found at magic supply shops. Handcuffs with velcro or snap fasteners are also simple to undo, by using your mouth to grip the end of the cuff and pull.
6. Edible handcuffs can be made of sugar, chocolate or gummy candy.
Edible handcuffs are usually made of candy and are simple to escape from, as they can be chewed off. "Bridge jumpers," or handcuffs molded from sugar or chocolate and painted to look like real metal handcuffs, can be dissolved in water or bitten off. Gummy handcuffs can be purchased from specialty candy stores.
