Escaping

[Sam Hindrichs]

Does anyone have any good info on where to get started on escape magic? I have this fascination on learning it but I don't have any idea where to get started.

[Jacob Hatfield]

What kind of escape magic?
It's funny you should ask.

Two years ago, before I left for New York, I got started into Escape Magic and had to stop cause of the cost of it. VERY EXPENSIVE.
I suggest you check out Cannon's Great Escape. It's where I get all my trick and real hand cuffs. Plus Mark is REALLY cool. He is always willing to chat with you and give you straight answers.

Check the site here:
Cannon’s Great Escapes Escape artist / escapology supplies such as handcuffs, straitjackets, chains and padlocks.

[krillco]

I think it's kinda mandatory to honor HH and read all of his books and books about him. My sons got an interest in him as elementary school students, and both learned an escape bit we designed together by reading Harry. We would use gaffed thumb cuffs, standard hand cuffs, siberian chains around the ankles, and a padlocked chain running from the siberian chains up through the cuffs and around their neck. Then, into a heavy black canvas bag with a square knot in it. The boys worked hard on the research and practice with a stop watch, and I advised and became their 'assistant'. They secreted a key in their mouth, and the rest was rather simple as well. I would shield them from view with a large, painted cardboard screen, and they would be out, holding the locked chains and cuffs, in under a minute....all at eight years old! Helping them become 'stars' was very satisfying. I could not do the bit with them without getting tears in my eyes. Magic is a wonderful way to connect with your kids.

[Jacob Hatfield]

I agree with the HH books.

I have three VERY VERY old copies. So old..they are falling apart.
Magic for Everyone by Hereward Carrington (Published 1927) with HH references.
Magical Rope Ties and Escapes BY Harry Houdini (British Edition-No Publish Date)
Houdini's Escapes and Magic By Gibson (Gathered from Houdini's personal notes and sketches)

Each one (especially the last two) have a LOT on escape art and HH's methods and ideas.
These books will never leave my possession.

-Jacob

[Misjief]

Sam-

I can tell you how to make a lock pick set and how to use it to open handcuffs or locks, if you like. If you get really good with at you can open most locks with anything ... but to start you are probably better off buying a set on the internet. Don't get anything fancy just get a basic set.

If a set of handcuffs are not double locked ... You can take a long flat and flexiable piece of metal and force it between the hasp and the teeth. You force the wire into juncture where the handcuffs close. Cops know this can be done, but I am not sure how many actually double lock their prisoners. A lot of escape artist carry a set of pass keys with them. Houdini hid his in his throat. Supposedly he started learning to do this by taking a piece of potato and piercing it with a strong string. Then he would swallow it in the back of his throat. If you lock your diaphragm down it will repress the gag reflex.

Hmmm.... Maybe you can make some money on the side using that skill in another way!

***
Here is a true and embarrassing story about when I was much younger and stupider. I got 'arrested' for public intoxication. They didn't put me in jail but it was a locked down facility run by a private corp. At the time I was into being a secret agent ninja or what ever and had weapons and survival gear all over me. Which should have cue them in that something was up. I had throwing stars in my jacket, a fighting chain sewn into my scarf, butter fly knives in each pants pocket, & a lighter that shot a foot flame! It was just silly. I even had fishing line and hooks in my wallet. As they frisked me stuff kept coming up! But I was really drunk and fairly docile. So much so that I remember the guy saying "What is a sheep doing with all this gear?" LOL! They found most of it but I had a set of lock picks hidden in the seam of my pants that they missed. The wire was sharpened on one side and so I cut the zip tie they had on me while I was being processed and then I managed to get through three or four locked security doors and into a broom closet where I was so drunk I passed out. The staff spent the whole night looking for me. When I woke up I didn't remember any of it, and therefore didn't know to be quiet or run. I walked out confused and went to the front desk where they lady put out on the intercom that she found 'houdini'. They were so embarrassed that a drunk 20 year old 130 pound geek slipped through their security system that they pretty much let me go with a slap on the wrist. Mostly I think To do anything about it they would have had to admit their mistakes and that would have cost them the contract! I don't know how many guards i ducked and i managed to slip past their most of their cameras. I paid a $5 dollar fine for the whole episode. Shortly after that I decided that I had a drinking problem and laid off the booze and partying for a couple of years. Remember this was back in the day when if you got pulled over for drinking the cop would most likely follow you home and all but tuck you in bed. I shudder to think what would have happened if I tried that today (nor was I driving).

There is my escape story...

-misj-

[Alex Hess]

You can pick up a ton of Houdini books that went "PUBLIC DOMAIN" and are published on Google for free.

Check them out: Harry Houdini Collection (Library of Congress) - Google Books

I sifted through some and didn't see any Escape books, but I will keep looking and let you know if I find anything in the book archive.