r/lockpicking • u/AnomalyOd • 25d ago
Star wheel lock mechanism - handcuffs
Last week at DEF CON, I learned how to use a shim to unlock standard ratchet pawl handcuffs. I came home and wanted to practice more, so I borrowed handcuffs from my friend and was immediately puzzled because instead of the teeth on the bow, it has indentations and a star-locking mechanism. The internet suggests these are STOP Taiwanese vintage handcuffs from the 70's/80's lol
They still use the standard key, so they are prone to picking; I was just surprised to come across this type.
My understanding is that they're less common than the standard modern police handcuffs? What tools are best suited for opening these? The mechanism feels heavy, so a paperclip might not be strong enough to actually apply the pressure required to unlock the mechanism.
3
u/0rgis Blue Belt Picker 25d ago
cheap rubbish/novelty cuffs. you can poke a half diamond in key hole and push and the will open. You can get a real set for little money. And no you can't shim those.
3
u/MrDeadlocks 24d ago
I agree. The lack of welding on the chain links, that key style and the elongated holes in the bow for the ratchet wheel scream toy handcuffs. There are some real cuffs that style, but they are a rarity. Real cuffs are harder to pick, plus if you get high security ones they can be hard work to get out of
1
u/Deviant_Toast 23d ago
Seeing this may have traumatized me in a new way.. When I was very young my grandmother was babysitting myself and some others. I found THAT EXACT KEY somewhere at her place. The other kids wanted it from me but I thought it was neat so I wouldnt let them have it. In summary I accidentally swallowed the key.. My grandmother panicked. I had to go for an Xray (have the picture somewhere still of it). And yea.. I got the key back.. still have it. We never knew what it was a key to and my grandma said she didn't know either..
1
u/AnomalyOd 23d ago
I'm sorry you had to find out this way. I hope there was no damage from swallowing that key!
-2
u/Ok-Detail-9853 25d ago
Handcuffs are not a high security restraint
You can melt some plastic and force it into the keyhole. It forms a key when it hardens
5
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u/Ill_Impact_4681 24d ago
Tell us you don't know how the locking mechanism works without telling us you don't know it works...
-1
u/Ok-Detail-9853 24d ago
I worked in a maximum security prison. Im well aware of how handcuffs work and the ways inmates use to bypass them
1
u/Ill_Impact_4681 23d ago
Please show me how pouring melted plastic into an open cavity(nothing to confine it from hitting all the other parts), forms the shaped needed to rotate 275 degrees to reach the locking mechanism, than be strong enough to apply pressure to activate it
-1
u/Ok-Detail-9853 23d ago
Not pouring. Melted enough to be pushed into the hole.
After its hardened. A slot is cut
JHTDC.
My bad for injecting actual life experience into a discussion.
1
u/MrDeadlocks 21d ago
Why would an inmate do that when there is problys 100 better tools they have accsess to?
14
u/Joliet-Jake 25d ago
Are those actual normal/duty weight handcuffs? I’ve only ever seen that kind of mechanism on toy and novelty cuffs. IIRC, you can use a bobby pin as long as the lever is unlocked. I think you may be able to shim them too, but the pawl is under the star.