How to Get Out of Handcuffs

Of course, the easiest way to learn how to get out of handcuffs is by using a key. However, as a magician, you may not have a key as an option, even a hidden key. You might, however, have trick handcuffs as part of your magic supplies. If you don't, you can still get yourself out of real handcuffs with a little practice.

How to Get Out of Handcuffs with a Bobby Pin or Paper Clip

First, it is important to have your hands cuffed in front of you. It is much more difficult to escape from handcuffs with the cuffs behind your back.

If you are using a bobby pin, prepare the pin before the trick by removing the plastic ends. You will have to hide the pin or clip somewhere where you will have easy access to it after you are cuffed.

Open the pin or clip up.

Put one tip of the clip-pin into the keyhole and bend it in one direction. Then, take the clip-pin out. Reinsert the pin-clip and bend it in the opposite direction. The clip-pin should look like it has a small "L" on the end.

Reinsert the pin-clip into the lock. Wrap the clip-pin tightly over the edge of the cuff and push it down to open the cuff and release your hand.

How to Get Out of Handcuffs with a Watch

Remove your watch. Grab the watch band's buckle. Take the piece of the buckle that slides through the band's holes to hold your watch in place and slide it into the keyhole. Lift up on the buckle part and the handcuff should pop open.

Learning how to get out of handcuffs takes practice. Once you get the hang of it, however, you should be able to remove the cuffs in much less than a minute, should you choose. If you are using a bobby pin or a paper clip, hide more than one just in case the one that you use breaks or folds in the wrong manner.

Don't forget to struggle.