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 outsider that a handcuff key that can pass through a metal detector is prima facie evidence of the bearer’s intent to commit a crime. But the choice to carry a handcuff key is completely logical when you consider all the reasons why you may need one.

Handcuff keys made from a strong polymer have a leg up on metal keys for several reasons:

They draw less attention.

Particularly if they have a matte finish. They won’t reflect light and potentially draw the eye the way a metal key will.

They are lighter than metal keys.

The best everyday carry items don’t weigh you down.

They won’t set off a metal detector.

This is useful for people whose work or travels take them through metal detectors often, but who feel more comfortable not removing or disclosing their gear with every check point. As always, we recommend that you comply with your local laws.

Pick up covert handcuff keys here.

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 rise. It doesn’t matter who you voted for, or whether you side with the elephant or the donkey (or neither)... now more than ever it’s important to be prepared for the possibility of an urban emergency.

What Will It Look Like When It Happens?

An urban emergency is going to look vastly different depending on the location, the kind of people perpetrating the violence or causing the unrest, and what their purpose is.  It could be a riot, a terror attack, or the appearance of marshall law militias. There’s the very real possibility that you’ll see neoliberal extremists attempt to use force to take away your rights.

How Can You Prepare?

Even if you can’t predict exactly what shape an urban emergency will take in Trump’s America, you don’t have to be paranoid or a full-fledged prepper to recognize the need to be prepared.

Do you have a plan to get home if you’re stuck in the city when violence breaks out around you? What if you can’t get to your car, or the route home is blocked? Do you have the skills you need to take shelter in an urban setting? What if you find yourself the target of someone else’s violence?

Make a Plan

One of the most important things you can do is develop a plan for a variety of scenarios. Talk through them with your loved ones, and rehearse them in your mind. When SHTF, you won’t be caught entirely by surprise and you’ll have a plan in mind.

Carry Gear That Will Help You Survive

We can’t all be MacGyver. If you aren’t prepared to get yourself out of a sticky situation with nothing but duct tape and a length of shoestring, do yourself a favor and enhance your everyday carry with some low-profile urban survival tools. For all-around preparedness we love the EvadeClip, a tiny tool made to get you out of the hairiest of situations.

If you everyday carry for urban survival, you’ll want a small lockpick set. Check! The EvadeClip features a set of heat-treated stainless steel picks including a tensioner, a w-rake and a half diamond pick.

In addition to the lock picks and a carbide glassbreaker tip, the EvadeClip includes two saws for escape and evasion. The carbide grit rod saw can cut through just about anything, even chain link, and the stainless steel rod saw is perfect for hacking through ropes and cords.

As its name suggests, the EvadeClip includes a sturdy clip for attaching to gear or clothing, so you always have it handy. Just in case. Pick yours up here!

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, consider these facts:

Defense against the fact that anyone can buy handcuffs.

There is no background check or special license necessary to carry handcuffs. You don’t have to provide proof that you’re in law enforcement or security. If you care at all about being prepared for the unexpected, this knowledge alone should be all it takes to convince you that it’s prudent to carry a handcuff key on your person.

Preparedness for home invasion.

A search on the FBI website for “home invasions” brings up 2,289 recent results. These incidents happen everywhere. This isn’t about fearmongering- it’s about being aware of the risks of living in modern society. A universal handcuff key should be a part of your everyday arsenal of self-defense and Escape & Evasion items, for the safety of both yourself and your family.

Protection from violent crime.

Violent crime in the US increased by nearly 4% in 2015. According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, this category includes murder, rape, aggravated assault and robbery. Any of these crimes can easily involve handcuffs, which means carrying a handcuff key and knowing how to use it gives you a serious edge against becoming a victim.

Handcuff keys are easy to use with a little practice.

Other self-defense and E&E tools require a lot of practice and possible even professional training to master. While you do need to practice with the handcuff keys until your hands are adept with them, the learning curve isn’t so steep that your wife and kids can’t learn to use them too.

Peace of mind when traveling.

A handcuff key is especially important if you’ll be traveling to unstable areas, or any place where you don’t know the language. Between the chances of being taken advantage of as a traveler or a severe misunderstanding due to language barriers and cultural differences, a handcuff key could save your life.

Handcuff keys are legal to carry in most states.

A few states consider a handcuff key “prima facie” evidence that you intend to commit a crime, but the vast majority allow them with little-to-no questions asked. Add to this the fact that it’s easy to purchase a key that is practically invisible and won’t even set off a metal detector, and you’re very unlikely to run into legal trouble for carrying one.

It doesn’t cost much to be prepared- but it can cost everything if you’re not.

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 of confusion about who can and cannot legally purchase and possess a handcuff key. Regarding the question of whether anyone should be allowed to carry a handcuff key, our stance is a resounding yes. Anyone can legally and easily purchase a pair of handcuffs, therefore anyone should be able to legally and easily purchase a handcuff key as well. It’s a simple matter of being prepared for anything.

Legal Gavel and Closed Law Book by Blogtrepreneur is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Handcuff Key Legality

    The legality of handcuff keys is fairly straightforward. With the exception of the state of Florida, which does have some specific restrictions on handcuff key possession, handcuff keys are legal to possess in the United States. Again, with the exception of Florida, there are no Federal or state laws restricting the ownership of handcuff keys. Of course just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s always a smart idea. We recommend that if you choose to carry a universal handcuff key on your person and you find yourself in a brush with law enforcement, you immediately inform them of the location of the key to avoid the implication of any intent on your part to escape or do harm.

    We do not encourage any illegal use of handcuff keys. However, we do believe that all individuals, particularly law enforcement, military, and security professionals but not excluding prepared citizens, have the right to purchase, own, and carry a universal handcuff key in the interest of self-preservation. Handcuff keys are legal and easy to obtain and carry. There is nothing to lose from being prepared, there is everything to lose if you are not.

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 of handcuffs. The design is very simple- a barrel shape with a single tooth at one end, and often a small pin at the other. The tooth end is inserted into the keyhole and turned to disengage the ratchet mechanism on a standard pair of handcuffs, and can also be used to disengage the double lock by turning in the opposite direction first.

    The pin on the end of a standard universal handcuff key is used to engage the double lock on some handcuffs, but is not necessary in order to unlock the cuffs, even if they are double locked.

    Your average universal handcuff key can be used to unlock just about any standard pair of modern handcuffs. The most basic universal handcuff keys are most often made of metal.

Covert Handcuff Key

    A popular item among law enforcement and survivalists alike, the covert handcuff key functions in the same way as a standard universal handcuff key, but is designed to be a secretive everyday carry item that can be hidden in various locations on one’s person or in one’s gear. Covert handcuff keys are often made of nylon or another reinforced plastic. This reduces visibility, makes the key exceptionally lightweight and allows the bearer to pass through metal detectors.

    Covert handcuff keys vary widely in design- you can find them on the end of tactical pens and shoelaces, inside zipper pulls, belt buckles and paracord bracelets, etc. Some have a tiny clip on the end to allow you to clip them to your clothes or gear.

    Because covert handcuff keys are intended to be used as an emergency item, they sometimes do not have a pin on the end for engaging the double lock. However, they can often still be used to unlock double-locked handcuffs, by simply turning the key in the opposite direction first.

Handcuff Shim

    Though not technically a key, handcuff shims are a valuable emergency item for law enforcement and security officials to prevent them from being restrained with their own handcuffs. They are simply a strip of flat metal about the width of a standard zip tie, and when purchased commercially often look very similar to a standard universal handcuff key or the metal clip that one might see on a ballpoint pen. A handcuff shim is inserted directly into the ratchet mechanism of the handcuff, which is then tightened a notch or two and released. The primary purpose of the double lock on handcuffs is to prevent shimming, because when cuffs are double locked they cannot be tightened.

High Security Handcuff Key

    High security handcuff keys are different from universal handcuff keys in that they are intended to unlock only a single type of handcuffs. High security handcuffs cannot be opened with a universal handcuff key- because of the increased security and higher resistance to tampering like picking and shimming, they are favored for use on suspects and inmates who are known to be aggressive or likely to try to tamper with their cuffs. High security handcuff keys come in different designs: some have two small teeth on the end, while others have a single hooked tooth.

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 minor variances amongst the locks themselves. The design is known as a swing cuff, which features a freely swinging ratchet arm that allows law enforcement to secure the cuffs with just one hand, improving speed, agility, and safety. The most significant differences between handcuffs are found in the way the cuffs connect.

Chain Handcuffs

    Chain handcuffs are the most widely used among law enforcement for everyday arrests due to their ease of application. The two cuffs are attached by a short chain, just one or two links long. This chain allows the cuffs to be folded in half for improved portability. The ratchet arms on chain cuffs are usually swing-through for ease and speed of application: they can be applied to the subject’s wrist with just one hand.

Hinged Handcuffs

Hinged cuffs are very similar to chain cuffs, but they are connected with a large hinge rather than chain links. Hinged cuffs are shorter than chain cuffs when extended, which allows for less hand/arm mobility. This makes hinged cuffs potentially more secure, but somewhat more difficult to apply to a testy subject. Many law enforcement officers find that the solution to this problem, if one wrist has been cuffed but the subject is non-compliant, is the ability to apply uncomfortable torque on the cuffed wrist as a method of persuasion. The hinge adds some overall strength to the cuffs as well. Though it’s very rare, the occasional Hercules (probably somebody on drugs) may be able to snap the chain links between traditional handcuffs, but with hinged cuffs on he’s going nowhere. Like chain cuffs, hinged cuffs can be folded in half.

Solid Bar Handcuffs

    Solid bar handcuffs provide the same level of tamper-resistance as hinged handcuffs and even less mobility, but they come with the caveat of being harder to carry because they cannot be folded in half. Their appeal lies in the ability for an officer to apply pain-compliance techniques. Handcuffs connected with a solid bar are most likely to be used for prisoner transport of individuals who are known to be non-compliant.

Waist Chains

    Though not technically a type of handcuffs by themselves, waist chains are worth noting here for the added security they bring. The purpose of a waist chain is to further reduce a subject’s mobility. They are unable to bring their hands higher or lower than their belly, thus preventing violence and tampering.

High Security Handcuffs

    High security handcuffs can take the form of any of the three basic types of handcuffs listed above. The primary difference is that high security handcuffs cannot be opened with a standard barrel-shaped universal handcuff key. High security handcuffs are keyed individually and are more pick-resistant than their lower security counterparts. Some high security cuffs include an additional locking position to increase the security of the double lock.

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 of prisoners between locations, jurisdictions, facilities, etc. However- as with all rules, there are a few exceptions.

High Security Handcuffs

    For your basic non-malicious misdemeanor sort of bad guy, a normal set of handcuffs is fine. But there are some people that you just can’t afford to let loose. For the really bad guys, there are high security handcuffs. High security handcuffs cannot be opened with a universal handcuff key. Many high security handcuffs include a waist chain to further impede the prisoner’s mobility. These cuffs are pick-resistant with restricted key control systems, and some even include a secondary mechanism that increases the strength of the double lock. High security handcuffs are keyed individually.

Thumb Cuffs

    Thumb cuffs are not anywhere near as common as handcuffs, in large part due to the increased risk of injury associated with them. Some thumb cuffs may be able to be opened with your standard universal handcuff key, but many come with their own personalized set of keys. Don’t count on being able to open them with a universal key.

Handcuff Key Brand Variations

    You may find some variation amongst handcuff brands and find that your “universal” handcuff key doesn’t work with a particular brand. This may change even from model to model within a brand. But by and large the simple universal handcuff key design and a sturdy, well-made key will open just about any pair of standard modern cuffs you can get your hands on (or in).

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 avoid tampering or escape. Handcuffs placed in front make it much easier to attempt to pick the lock or open them with a universal handcuff key. If you are handcuffed unlawfully, you need to be aware of the following methods of escape.

Hand Positioning

Escaping from handcuffs is very difficult if your hands are behind your back whether you’re using a handcuff key or another means of escape, so do everything possible to ensure that your hands are in front of you. If your captor insists that your hands be behind you, try the following maneuver:

Sit or lie down and fold your legs and feet as close to your body as possible.

Pull your hands down, under your feet, and up to the front of your body. You’ll be in a better position to perform this maneuver if you keep your body flexible and in good shape.

Practice this regularly if you are in a line of work or often find yourself in situations where being unlawfully detained is a threat.

Once your hands are in the front, produce your handcuff key (if you keep it on your back belt loop, you’ll want to grab it while your hands are still behind your back). Insert the key as far as you can into the keyhole. With a firm grip turn the key clockwise, just far enough to disengage the locking mechanism.

Pick the Lock

Because the ratchet & pawl mechanism of most modern handcuffs is simple by necessity, picking a handcuff lock is a pretty simple maneuver. This doesn’t mean you don’t need to practice, a lot. In a tense situation you’ll largely be relying on muscle memory.

Most handcuffs can be unlocked with a single universal handcuff key. Because most types of cuffs can be unlocked with the same key, they can also be picked in much the same way. All you need is a very thin length of wire, and patience.

Keep in mind that this will be much easier if your hands are in front of you. If you are using a bobby pin, straighten it and remove the rubber cap on the end. If using a paperclip, straighten it. It’s wise to keep a prepared bobby pin or other length of wire on your person so you’re not fumbling with getting it ready in the moment.

Bend the end into roughly a 90 degree angle- the easiest way to do this is by inserting the pin or clip halfway into the upper portion of the lock and bending it. This will allow you to wiggle the wire into the lock and apply tension in the appropriate place.

Insert the newly-bent pick into the upper portion of the lock, the curved portion of the pick heading toward the center of the cuffs. Apply enough tension to release the lock. The wire is mimicking a handcuff key pressing against the locking mechanism.

Shimming

A shim is any small, flat piece of metal about the width of a credit card and narrow enough to fit into the locking mechanism. You can purchase pre-made shims that look very similar to a handcuff key, or even create one from a length of cut soda can. Insert the shim in between the locking mechanism and the teeth. Push on the shim and tighten the cuff a single notch. The cuff should unclick. (This method will not work if the cuffs are double locked.)

Preferred Method: Use a universal handcuff key

The surest method of escaping handcuffs is with a universal handcuff key. Using a handcuff key removes the stress and guesswork of trying to use a shim or pick the lock with wire. You’ll want a handcuff key with an easily-concealable design- a key you can clip onto your clothing or gear is ideal. A tiny inconspicuous handcuff key is a valuable addition to any survival toolkit.

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 intended to create a smoother process for both officer and suspect, and that means a tactical advantage for the average citizen as well.

Universal handcuff keys all have the same simple design: a hollow barrel with a small tooth on the end. When the key is turned, the tooth wedges between the ratchet and the pawl, disengaging the lock mechanism.

Breaking Down Handcuff Key Design

The simplicity of the handcuff key design is surprising when you compare it to a house key or a car key, but it’s for a very good purpose. Imagine the hassle of requiring a different unique key for every single pair of handcuffs: it would unnecessarily slow down what can be a very tense and dangerous process for law enforcement officers.

A suspect may be passed between several different officers from initial detainment to prisoner transport to the moment when the cuffs are removed. A universal handcuff key allows for this transition to occur smoothly, and as safely as possible for everyone involved.

Some handcuff keys include a pin on the back end; this is used to engage the double lock on some handcuffs. However, the pin is not necessary to unlock cuffs that have been double locked.

What are Handcuff Keys Made Of?

Handcuff keys can be made from metal or certain types of strong plastic (like reinforced nylon). Metal handcuff keys may last longer, but may be easier to see on your person and cannot pass through a metal detector without setting it off. A handcuff key made from a material other than metal can be useful for those who travel frequently to volatile areas and prefer to be prepared for anything.

The fact that anyone at all can purchase handcuffs, and the knowledge that they can be easily overcome with a tiny key of simple design should be reason enough to keep one on your person at all times.

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 who carry handcuff keys are up to no good. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Here are 7 reasons why you should be carrying a handcuff key every day:

1. Anyone can buy handcuffs. Let’s do a little experiment: open up a new tab and navigate over to Amazon.com. Do a quick search for “police issue handcuffs” and see how easily you can add a pair to your cart and initiate the checkout process.

2. A search on the FBI website for “home invasions” brings up 2,289 recent results. These are not isolated incidents- they happen everywhere, in every neighborhood. This isn’t about fearmongering- it’s about being aware of the risks of living in modern society. A handcuff key should be a part of your arsenal of self-defense and Escape & Evasion items that you keep on hand for the safety of yourself and your family.
3. Violent crime in the US increased by nearly 4% in 2015. This is a category which according to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program includes murder, rape, aggravated assault and robbery. Any and all of these crimes can easily involve handcuffs, which means carrying a handcuff key and knowing how to use it gives you a serious edge against being victimized.

4. They’re easy to use with a little practice. Other self-defense and E&E tools require a lot of training to master. While you do need to practice with the cuff keys until your hands are adept with them in order to be sure they’ll serve you when you need them, the learning curve isn’t so steep that your wife and kids can’t learn to use them too. The list of excuses for not carrying one just grows shorter and shorter!

5.  If you travel you need to be extra prepared. A handcuff key is especially important if you’ll be traveling to unstable areas, or any place where you don’t know the language. Between the chances of being taken advantage of as a traveler or a severe misunderstanding due to language and cultural differences, a handcuff key could be a life-saving part of your travel EDC.

6. They’re legal to carry in most states. While a few states consider a handcuff key “prima facie” evidence that you intend to commit a crime, most allow them with little-to-no questions asked. Add to this the fact that it’s easy to purchase a key which is practically invisible and won’t set off a metal detector, and there’s a very low risk to running into legal trouble for carrying one.

7. 7. It doesn’t cost much to be prepared- but it can cost everything if you’re not.

A set of two TIHK handcuff keys is just $12. Pitted against the cost of everything of value in your home that thieves could make away with- or worse yet, your life- it’s a no brainer.