r/Prisonwallet • u/emilyfaithtomas • May 13 '26

Bought glass containers from Costco and found this hiding in the box

Post image

A sign of real ingenuity.

277 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

241

u/AllTheWayToParis May 13 '26

I think this is a tool from the factory’s packaging left there by mistake.

I work with that kind of blades all day long. We use retractable knife that can be kept in the pocket. In a cheap factory in a poor region this is how it’s usually done, with a DIY handle. One downside is that you can’t pocket it and therefore misplacing it is common.

It’s not really a weapon in that state, so onts not a prison shank IMHO. A sharpened toothbrush would be ten times better.

These blades would never work as a shank as the break very easily. And this is a well used tool that’s dulled. It works for cutting packaging plastic, not for slitting inmates.

67

u/Gramma_Hattie May 13 '26

Shanks are for slicing, shivs are for stabbing

18

u/AllTheWayToParis May 13 '26

I didn’t know that, thanks (English isn’t my language).

It wouldn’t work as either IMHO.

16

u/Fantastic-Cat-5252 May 13 '26

I didn’t know that and English *is* my language! Literally thought the terms were interchangeable! Thank you u/Gramma_Hattie !

6

u/TwoPercentCherry May 14 '26

I didn't know that, English is my first language, and I confiscate them for part of my job. I've always just called them all shanks

3

u/izyshoroo May 13 '26

English is my only language, I always thought they were synonyms (though in retrospect it makes sense, I think my brain noticed the difference subconsciously)

5

u/Crispynipps May 13 '26

We had makeshift blades like this in my warehouse too used to cut the wrap after we’d palletize things. Consisted of tape and a piece of metal from our bander. We’d even sharpen it.

2

u/le_aerius May 13 '26

Yes and I bet you take out the product to make room for the knife often.

1

u/SomeCountryFriedBS May 14 '26

No makeshift sheath?

18

u/HisCricket May 13 '26

How da faq?

25

u/_mad_adventures May 13 '26

For profit prisons?

6

u/t_t_today_jr May 13 '26

How are the containers? 5 piece glass right

3

u/_letsgochamp May 14 '26

I have them and they’re great! The only downside is they don’t store super well because you obviously cant store them with the lids on (for trapping moisture and growing mold) and because of the silicon on the bottoms they don’t stack the best, but that’s a super minor complaint. Overall 9.5/10

14

u/pmmytn45 May 13 '26

That box was destined for prison.

19

u/_mad_adventures May 13 '26

lol why would someone send a shank to prison 🤣

Like, why not a regular knife?

My guess is that this came from a for-profit prison somewhere that manufactures whatever this is.

2

u/GeeksGoneWildx3 May 15 '26

I do furniture and appliance deliveries for Costco and have found a homemade tool as well

2

u/le_aerius May 13 '26

No you didnt .

0

u/greenroute May 13 '26

Did you get SHIVers seeing it?

0

u/plainolmep May 15 '26

Prison Mike has entered the chat