Prison Weapon Improvisation

The list below contains a collection of information regarding prison weaponry and ingenuity. Almost all of them are deadly, depending on the person wielding the weapon, and each type may come in a variety of forms. The lesson here…stay out of prison!

Shiv or Shank — The most popular of all prison weapons, this stabbing device is often fashioned from aluminum. The stock material is usually sharpened on a concrete floor or wall until a point has been developed. The base is then wrapped in cloth or tape to form a handle. Alternative materials include toothbrushes, melted and hardened Styrofoam or plastic trash bags, and even chicken bones. Many inmates coat the blades of their shanks with human excrement to heighten the weapon’s effectiveness. Gangrene can be a son-of-a-bitch.

Soap-in-a-Sock — Using a tube-sock, place one bar of soap in the toe section and start wreaking havoc. I witnessed its use for a tobacco transaction gone wrong. The guy who sold the bogus stuff had his wig split pretty thoroughly–from the top of his forehead to just above the bridge of his nose. The altercation erupted over a measly $1.00 worth of tobacco. This weapon was made popular in Full Metal Jacket, though the movie’s claims of no bruises being left behind couldn’t be any more wrong.

Brass Knuckles – For this classic melee weapon all an inmate requires is a piece of lead piping or broomstick. Nails are then either wrapped into place, hammered, or welded.

Snickers Bar — Much like the boiling vats of animal fat poured onto medieval armies sieging castles, a Snickers bar can be a dangerous weapon. Using the plug-in kettles purchased on commissary, you can easily melt the candy bar down and splash it into the face of an intended victim. Chocolate and caramel cool very quickly and aren’t easily removed without taking a few layers of your skin off with it. Mars bars work pretty well also.

Gravity — I only included this on the list because a corrections officer once told me of an altercation he had to write a report on at the maximum security facility in Colorado. It was a 23 hour lock-down unit and the inmates were let out one at a time to take showers. A black inmate passed by a racist white dude’s cell on a daily basis for his shower. The white inmate was always waiting for him with a cup of urine or fecal matter to splash beneath his door and soak his feet.

I am assuming this went on for a few months before the black guy finally decided he had enough. He waited until an inexperienced officer was working the unit and exited his cell for his daily shower. The shit-thrower got him again, but as the black dude returned from his washing up, he stopped in front of the white inmates cell. The corrections officer assumed it belonged to the black man and opened the door from the tower. It didn’t take long for revenge to be dealt. Black-on-white crime commenced as the guy who had been stepping in shit for months picked up whitey and tossed him off of the tier–three stories–to his death. Gravity indeed.

Dumbbell — Doesn’t take much imagination for this one.

Razor-wire & Tape — There is plenty of material available to inmates for this sort of device. Picture a crescent shaped section of razor-wire with taped handles on each side. Or you could just check out this video!

Blowgun — Yes, you read that correctly. Blowguns are known for their accuracy, and with the right projectile, a pipe of some sort and gust from your lungs is an ideal delivery method. Check out the video for a convincing demonstration.

Others worth mentioning — Trash bags can be used as a suffocation device, kitchen trays are good to keep in mind while in the chow hall, and when all else fails…fisticuffs. Just make sure you don’t get shanked!

Tagged as: Other, Prison, prison fights, prison weapons