Forcible Entry Basics- The Shove Knife



The shove knife is a simple tool that can be used to gain entry in quick, non-destructive fashion. As lock technologies have progressed, the tool has lost some of its value. It should not be assumed, however, that the shove knife will not work on any door. Proper door size-up will provide the needed insight into the tool's effectiveness on the particular door in question.
 
Two situations must be present in order to gain access through a locked door using only a shove knife:
 
1. The sole locking device engaged in the door must be the slam latch.
 
2. If a tamper pin is present, the pin must be able to be moved into the latch keeper, whether by leaning on the door or otherwise.
 
Should either of these conditions not be met, another means of forcible entry will be required.

The majority of doors that can be defeated by the shove knife will be outward swinging. A gap will need to be created between the rabbet stop and the door jam, allowing access to the latch, in the instances where the door is inward swinging; metal door frames prevent this from occurring as they are constructed as a single unit.



Shove knife position when opening an outward-swinging door

Tips:

• The shove knife can be inserted above or below latch. I found that I am more comfortable with entering below the latch. From this position, it was less likely that my momentum carried the tool beyond the latch after it exited the keeper.

• Placing a foot against bottom of the door will move the latch into a position where it is not resting against the keeper, allowing for a smoother pull. Doing so may also move the tamper pin into the keeper, if a pin is present.

• Twisting the head of the knife into position over the latch assists in gaining entry with greater success than what is achieved by only applying horizontal force. 



• Avoid the urge to pull the door open too early in the process. When a tamper pin is present, the tamper pin has the tendency to exit the keeper and prevent the latch from depressing. 

 
Attached is a video that covers the specific use of the shove knife in greater detail.

*Credit for the video tip of using the shove knife in the initial door size-up goes to Task Force 1, Inc.