Blog – TIHK

What is a Trip Wire and How Do You Use It?

What is a trip wire? As its name suggests, a trip wire is a thin line of wire (or other material) that is intended to cause an intruder to trip... Read more...

What the COVID-19 Pandemic Teaches Us About Being Prepared

News began trickling into the states at the tail end of 2019 of a novel virus spreading rapidly in China. By February, many in the States were closely watching the developments as the virus had quickly begun to spread. By March, the first stay at home orders were issued in states across the country. People began to lose their jobs, and grocery store aisles emptied. Now several months from the beginning of this disaster, though nowhere near the end, we can look back and learn a few lessons about preparation. ... Read more...

What are my rights during a state of emergency?

In recent months nearly every state in the country has declared a state of emergency in order to address COVID-19. Although emergencies can be declared for many reasons, the pandemic is unique in the memory of every currently living generation. The sometimes heavy-handed restrictions have caused a lot of trepidation for many. In addition to losing livelihoods, many have been greatly disturbed by the limitations on their ability to freely travel. We've put together a short primer on what a state of emergency is and how it affects your rights.... Read more...

Why did a pandemic result in almost 2 million gun sales?

A global pandemic strips us of our feelings of control over our own lives. When forces beyond our control take such an acute toll on our daily lives, people respond... Read more...

Is your internet connection secure? Why you need a VPN

If you're stocking up on survival gear, don't forget about virtual protection as well. Consider signing up for a VPN service to protect your data and your identity. What is a VPN? A Virtual Private Network is secure connection method used to add security and privacy to networks like the Internet and WiFi hotspots. VPNs are used by corporations and discerning individuals alike to protect sensitive data. How Does a VPN Work? A VPN lends the user a temporary IP address and masks your true IP address from every website... Read more...

The most basic survival need (can you guess what it is?)

If the SHTF tomorrow, there would be just three things you would need to survive. It's food, water, and shelter, right? It's the most basic things you will have to... Read more...

You Should Be Carrying a Lockpick Set. Here's Why.

The items you carry with you every day are a reflection of your expectations for life. You expect to receive text messages, to get on the bus or drive your car, to unlock doors and use your debit card. But what about when things don’t go the way you expect? This is why we carry other stuff too- stuff like a pocket knife, a mini flashlight, maybe a multi tool. Just in case. Now consider all the times you have the potential to get locked out during the day: your... Read more...

Can You Shoot Open a Pair of Handcuffs?

For any seemingly impenetrable object out there, there's someone who has looked at it and thought to themselves... "I should shoot that." Handcuffs are no exception. Supposedly this video is a myth-busting endeavor meant to prove whether or not handcuffs can be shot open like they occasionally do in the movies, but we're pretty sure the underlying motivation is... well, it's fun to shoot stuff. Shop Urban Survival Gear In this video we found thanks to Guns.com, Edwin Sarkissian uses a Glock to try and shoot open a pair of... Read more...

When Disaster Strikes, You Only Need 6 Things

A prepper in Ohio apparently surprised the press by divulging that he's purchased farmland with a small group of other preppers as a sort of "insurance policy" should it all hit the fan. This behavior doesn't really surprise anyone in the prepping community. Being able to buy rural land to escape to in the event of a total societal breakdown is every prepper's dream, but obviously it's not a reality for the vast majority of Americans. The article acknowledged this as well, and the interviewee shared the top 6 items... Read more...

Think Your Hotel Room is Secure? Think Again.

Forbes recently reported on a press release from F-Secure sharing that researchers had discovered a hack that would allow them to create a master key card that could open any hotel door with a single card. Yes, you read that right. Any hotel room. One key. The only material the researchers needed in order to create the master key was a single discarded key from their target location- it didn't matter how old or expired the card. They were able to use information still on the card to create a... Read more...

Do You Ever Travel? You're Going To Want To See This.

Motherboard just shared a video in which locksmith and YouTuber MM Developer shows how easy it is to break into a hotel room. It's so simple, in fact, that you can do it with the takeout menu you usually find by the phone in your hotel room. It doesn’t even have to be a plastic one; as you can clearly see in the video below, he simply uses a paper menu folded over. This method of lock picking is not actually picking a lock at all, but rather... Read more...

Could You Escape Handcuffs With Nothing But a Hair Pin?

Over on SOFREP there's a new article up on how to pick handcuffs with nothing but a hairpin. It's a really helpful tutorial with step-by-step photos showing how a simple bobby pin can be used in a pinch to unlock a pair of handcuffs. He also explains the easier method of shimming, which is a really useful skill to have as well. The caveat is that a shim cannot be used on double-locked handcuffs. Double-locked cuffs are very common now, so you want to be sure that you have practiced... Read more...

Why Everyone Should Have an Escape & Evasion Tool

These stories are so common it's scary. A 24 year old woman was minding her own business in her apartment at 4:30 in the afternoon when a man forced his way in, attacked her, and tied her up. Fortunately, he left and she was able to run to a neighbor's house for help. But there are so many ways that this scenario could have gone much worse. Keeping a multi-tool on your person that gives you the ability to saw through cord, cable, and rope can give you a fighting... Read more...

Man's Best Friend... or Man's Final End? Prepping for a [Weird] Future

By now you've probably seen the commotion online about those Boston Dynamics SpotMini robots that can open doors. The internet has gone a little ballistic over how advanced the robots are (and how much they resemble the killer robot dogs in a recent episode of high-tech twilight zone TV show Black Mirror). Get ready for the weird robot future with urban survival gear And while obviously there's some hype going on, the fact remains that... wow, those are creepy. Whether those robots will ever be used for something... Read more...

It's the End of the World... Do You Have Beer?

Delaware brewery Dogfish Head has recently debuted a new brew aptly titled “It’s The End of the Wort As We Know It”. The 9-percent ABV fruit ale includes blueberries, acai... Read more...

Selling survival shelters is a million-dollar business now- what does that mean for you?

CNBC recently reported on doomsday prepper Clyde Scott- he expanded his storm shelter business to build underground bunkers during the Obama administration, selling to people who feared their liberties would be taken away. Do you fear this too? Be prepared for anything and get your peace of mind back. The surprise came with the new administration, which brought with it an unexpected- and massive- influx of folks all over the political spectrum fearing impending nuclear war. Clyde's business has skyrocketed. After Trump's election in the fall of 2016, Scott's business... Read more...

Urban Survival 101: How to Adopt a Survival Mindset

As much as specialized skills and helpful gear are important to helping you survive a catastrophe in an urban environment, the correct mindset is the real key that will mean the difference between life and death. An effective survival mindset strikes a delicate balance between a realistic knowledge of the danger of a situation, and the ability to choose to survive and remain hopeful in spite of bad odds. A common survival saying says that you can survive 3 weeks without food, 3 days without water, 3 minutes without oxygen,... Read more...

Urban Survival 101: How to Build a Bug-Out Bag

A bug-out bag is an important element of everyday preparedness. You can go down a pretty deep rabbit hole of various types of bags you can build, including get-home bags which you would keep at your place of employment, emergency bags specifically for keeping in your car, and go-bags for your children. But today we’re going to focus simply on the elements of the basic bug-out bag, which is the bag you’ll grab in the event that you need to evacuate your home, and quick. Let’s assume for the purposes... Read more...

Urban Survival 101: Becoming the Gray Man

You may have heard the term “grey man” mentioned before in the context of urban survival. It’s a concept that surmises that you’ll have a better chance of surviving an urban emergency if you are able to seamlessly blend in and be utterly forgettable. What NOT to do Imagine a stock photo of a burglar or criminal. He has a dark hoodie on with the hood up, maybe a sneer on his face. Perhaps he’s looking around suspiciously, lurking in a corner glaring up from under hooded lids. As we... Read more...

Urban Survival 101: It's Better to Look Like a Threat Than a Target

Imagine you’re doing your thing in the city. Maybe you live there, maybe you commute there for work. It’s just another day. You pass a large group of political protesters outside as you make your way into work. These days that’s just par for the course. But around mid-morning, you start to hear shouts and loud noises coming from the direction of the street. You look outside and see turmoil. It’s a riot, and the rioters are becoming increasingly violent. They’re not letting people past them. They’re breaking windows, attacking... Read more...

You Don't Have to be a "Prepper" to be Prepared

“Prepper” is a strong word with strong connotations attached to it. You might visualize a paranoid bearded man standing in a garage stuffed with canned food and rifles. (That is, of course, a stereotype.) You may be concerned about the state of current events at home and abroad and wonder what you could do to be prepared, but balk at being called a “prepper”. Maybe you just feel so overwhelmed by it all that you don’t know how to start. You don’t have to stockpile a year’s worth of food,... Read more...

The Hank Earl Carr Argument

The Hank Earl Carr argument is an argument used to dispute the lawful possession of handcuff keys. It’s a hasty generalization (a logical fallacy) made in reaction to a terrible event that took place on May 19, 1998. A hasty generalization uses an unrepresentative sample to conclude a general rule. In this case, the sample is Hank Earl Carr, a murderer who possessed a handcuff key. He is unrepresentative of the population at large of individuals who possess handcuff keys. But because his actions were so reprehensible, the knee-jerk reaction... Read more...

20 Awesome Lockpicking Resources for Beginners

Are you just dipping your toes into the world of lock sport? We've compiled a list of helpful videos, powerful downloads, and useful articles for lockpicking beginners. (First things first,... Read more...

Bad Guys Don't Use Handcuffs. TRUE or FALSE?

A complaint we receive a lot is that we must be marketing a product directly to criminals. After all, police are the ones who use handcuffs. Bad guys are desperate,... Read more...

How Do I Buy a Handcuff Key?

Buying a handcuff key is not a difficult process. You do not need to be a law enforcement officer or show proof of any kind of certification in order to purchase one. You don’t need any proof of your occupation to buy a pair of handcuffs either… that’s why it’s so important that as a prepared citizen you have access to a handcuff key. You can obtain a handcuff key in two ways: Buy a Pair of Handcuffs All handcuffs naturally come with a set of keys. These will typically... Read more...

Are Lock Pick Sets Legal?

Even in the survival and prepping world, there is a common notion that lock pick sets are illegal to own. It’s ultimately up to the individual state, but in general... Read more...

7 Reasons You Should Learn to Pick Locks

Even If You’re Not a Criminal It’s time to let go of the antiquated idea that only criminals and locksmiths know how to pick locks. If you’ve ever locked yourself... Read more...

3 Things You'll Need to Pick Your First Lock

If you’re ready to take the plunge into lock picking but are unsure of how to start, rest assured that you don’t need a huge arsenal of weirdly shaped picks... Read more...

How Hard is it to Pick a Lock?

Lock picking is a practice that requires patience. Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, more advanced lock picking will naturally come more easily. The challenge lies in the initial mastery. In... Read more...

Why Lock Picks Should Be Part of Your Everyday Carry

Why would anybody bother owning lock picks? If you’re not a locksmith, doesn’t carrying lock picks around imply that you intend to commit burglary? Isn’t it a little paranoid to... Read more...

How Do You Pick a Lock?

Although some locks can be incredibly tricky to pick, the fundamentals of picking a basic pin-tumbler lock are fairly simple. The key to success, and eventually speed, is practice. With the exception of clear trainer locks (which are a great investment as you are building your lock picking skills), you’re not going to be able to see what you’re doing when you pick a lock. You’ll have to rely solely on tactile feedback, so the key to training your hands is repetition. 1. Obtain Your Lock First, there are two... Read more...

What Are Lock Picks?

And why every survivalist, prepper, and regular person needs one. What is a lock pick? Can you picture in your mind’s eye what a lock pick set looks like? What... Read more...

You Aren't Fully Prepared Until You Have This Item

Here at TIHK we very often receive the question- why would anyone who isn’t a criminal need to carry a handcuff key? The answer is simple: anyone can buy handcuffs.... Read more...

What's the Point of a Plastic Handcuff Key?

Most handcuffs come with two metal handcuff keys. These keys are perfect for locking handcuffs, but what about when you need a more covert option? It may seem to the... Read more...

How to Prepare for an Urban Emergency

America under Trump is vehemently divided in a way few living citizens have seen. Tensions are high, and violent outbursts by and against both sides seem to be on the... Read more...

What are the Benefits of Owning a Handcuff Key?

With low cost and virtually zero risk, owning a handcuff key as part of your everyday carry is a no-brainer. But just in case you need a little extra convincing,... Read more...

Is it Illegal to Own a Handcuff Key?

In the business of urban survival gear, we frequently receive the comment that handcuff keys are, or should be, illegal for the average citizen to own. There is a lot... Read more...

What Kinds of Handcuff Keys Are There?

Standard Universal Handcuff Key The most common type of handcuff key found on the market is the standard universal handcuff key that will accompany the purchase of a pair... Read more...

What Types of Handcuffs Are There?

The modern standard of handcuffs is the design popularized by Peerless in the early 1900’s, with few alterations since then. Most handcuff brands now bear a similar design, with only... Read more...

Are All Handcuff Keys Universal?

The purposeful design of the universal handcuff key means that most handcuffs can be opened with the same basic universal key shape. This is intentional; it allows for easy transport... Read more...

How Do Handcuff Keys Work?

Basic Escape & Evasion Methods A pair of swing cuffs can easily be placed with one hand with a little practice, but handcuffs still need to be placed properly to... Read more...

What is a Handcuff Key?

Most models of today’s standard-issue handcuffs can be opened with a universal handcuff key, even across different brands. A universal handcuff key, while a little counter-intuitive at first thought, is... Read more...

You Should be Carrying a Handcuff Key: 7 Reasons Why

A handcuff key seems like an unconventional thing to carry with you every day unless you are paranoid, or maybe a criminal. Some may even argue that the only people... Read more...

Prepare Dad for Anything With These 5 Survival Tools

This Father’s Day, give dad the gift of preparedness with one (or all!) of these slick survival tools. 1. Universal Handcuff Key Whether he’s in law enforcement, the military, or... Read more...

What is a Bona Fide Locksmith?

If you are interested in lockpicking, you may from time to time see the disclaimer on a website that certain lock picking items will only be sold to “bona fide”... Read more...

Choosing the Best EDC For You

Questions to Consider As You Build the Perfect Everyday Carry The items you choose to carry on your person every day are an extension of your identity and can reveal... Read more...

Lock Pick Legality

For lock picking enthusiasts and survivalists alike, the legality of lock picks is a tricky subject. The good news is that in most of the United States and many countries around the world, the sale, transfer, and possession of lock picking tools is not illegal. The Language of Legality The language we use to discuss the legality of lock picking can be a breeding ground for misunderstanding, so let’s take a moment to clarify what we mean by some of the phrases we use. Not illegal: There are no specific... Read more...

How to Cut Through (Just About) Anything

If you're a professional who travels abroad often or otherwise find yourself in dicey situations, you need a rod saw. What other device allows you to cut through almost any... Read more...

The 6 Most Common Lock Picks (And 2 You Shouldn't Be Caught Without)

The world of lock-picking is complex. For the novice hoping to jump in, figuring out where to begin can be a daunting task. Let us make it a bit easier for you with this handy and simple guide to the 6 most common lock picks! Among them are the two most popular tools that no lock picking enthusiast should ever be caught without. First Things First: Get Thyself a Tension Wrench. This one is so essential it's not even part of the actual list. If you hope to use any... Read more...

The Best Super-Slim EDC Items for Your Wallet

Disclaimer: All recommendations and links listed here are for reference only. TIHK products are intended for use in accordance with all local, state, and federal laws. Improper or illegal use of TIHK products or other products obtained through links provided here is not endorsed or encouraged. Use of all products is at your own personal risk and discretion. When it comes to everyday carry, your real estate is precious and limited. Make the most of your wallet space, with very little added bulk, with these 5 super-slim EDC items. Readyman... Read more...

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