Spears have been used throughout history as a hunting tool and as a weapon. They are lightweight
Spears have been used throughout history as a hunting tool and as a weapon. They are lightweight

and span several feet long, which provides a deadly reach advantage. Spears are popular
and span several feet long, which provides a deadly reach advantage. Spears are popular

choices among prisoners due to how easy they are to create as all that is required is a
choices among prisoners due to how easy they are to create as all that is required is a

handle which can be made from the metal post of a bunk bed and a sharp end which can be
handle which can be made from the metal post of a bunk bed and a sharp end which can be

made from a piece of sharpened steel. In 1985, several inmates at San Quentin prison in California
made from a piece of sharpened steel. In 1985, several inmates at San Quentin prison in California

counted the number of steps prison guards would take to pass their cells for several
counted the number of steps prison guards would take to pass their cells for several

weeks and on one day, when an officer by the name of Sgt. Howell Burchfield walked by,
weeks and on one day, when an officer by the name of Sgt. Howell Burchfield walked by,

one of the inmates thrusted a handmade spear, made using rolled-up newspaper and a piece
one of the inmates thrusted a handmade spear, made using rolled-up newspaper and a piece

of metal through the bars of his cell, hitting Burchfield straight through the heart, killing
of metal through the bars of his cell, hitting Burchfield straight through the heart, killing

him.
him.

Shivs, also known as shanks, are improvised bladed weapons used commonly by inmates in
Shivs, also known as shanks, are improvised bladed weapons used commonly by inmates in

prisons across the world. Toothbrushes are usually the go to choice for inmates due to
prisons across the world. Toothbrushes are usually the go to choice for inmates due to

their accessibility and they can be filed down to create a sharp point. Razor blades
their accessibility and they can be filed down to create a sharp point. Razor blades

can be added to the ends of toothbrushes to deal even more damage if it wasn’t already
can be added to the ends of toothbrushes to deal even more damage if it wasn’t already

bad enough. In a prison in Wolfenbüttel, Germany, a shiv was found concealed in a wooden
bad enough. In a prison in Wolfenbüttel, Germany, a shiv was found concealed in a wooden

crucifix. Just look at the weapon, a great deal of infliction can be caused with it.
crucifix. Just look at the weapon, a great deal of infliction can be caused with it.

Stuff garlic, you can probably stab a vampire straight through the heart with this thing.
Stuff garlic, you can probably stab a vampire straight through the heart with this thing.

In the prison, lots of crucifixes were being made in the workshops but it was only a matter
In the prison, lots of crucifixes were being made in the workshops but it was only a matter

of time until prison guards realised what they were truly being made for.
of time until prison guards realised what they were truly being made for.

Zip Guns are crude homemade firearms. They are small, easy to conceal and can be disassembled
Zip Guns are crude homemade firearms. They are small, easy to conceal and can be disassembled

and reassembled in a matter of minutes, which makes them extremely dangerous, especially
and reassembled in a matter of minutes, which makes them extremely dangerous, especially

in the hands of a prisoner. It’s that dangerous that new recruits working in Canada’s penitentiary
in the hands of a prisoner. It’s that dangerous that new recruits working in Canada’s penitentiary

systems are given manuals detailing how zip guns can be manufactured and what dissembled
systems are given manuals detailing how zip guns can be manufactured and what dissembled

components may look like. There have been many cases of zip guns being found in prisons,
components may look like. There have been many cases of zip guns being found in prisons,

such as a double-barrelled pistol that was confiscated from the cell of two prisoners
such as a double-barrelled pistol that was confiscated from the cell of two prisoners

in 1984. The pistol was made in a metal workshop of a prison and could be loaded with scrap
in 1984. The pistol was made in a metal workshop of a prison and could be loaded with scrap

metal. In another case, a zip gun was found in Folsom State Prison in California, constructed
metal. In another case, a zip gun was found in Folsom State Prison in California, constructed

from a staple gun and it was capable of firing .22 calibre bullets.
from a staple gun and it was capable of firing .22 calibre bullets.

Prisoners may go to great lengths in order to plan the perfect escape and in 1998, one
Prisoners may go to great lengths in order to plan the perfect escape and in 1998, one

prisoner in Stony Mountain Institution in Manitoba, Canada did just that by creating
prisoner in Stony Mountain Institution in Manitoba, Canada did just that by creating

a fully functioning crossbow. Yes, a freakin’ crossbow! The crossbow was intricately built
a fully functioning crossbow. Yes, a freakin’ crossbow! The crossbow was intricately built

using an assortment of parts including 10 toothbrushes, a cigarette lighter, a part
using an assortment of parts including 10 toothbrushes, a cigarette lighter, a part

of a ballpoint pen, a wire coat hanger, a section of aluminium cafeteria tongs, pieces
of a ballpoint pen, a wire coat hanger, a section of aluminium cafeteria tongs, pieces

of yellow rubber gloves, some toilet paper, string and a few screws. Even the darts themselves
of yellow rubber gloves, some toilet paper, string and a few screws. Even the darts themselves

were intricately made, using tightly rolled paper, cotton swabs, aluminium foil from cigarette
were intricately made, using tightly rolled paper, cotton swabs, aluminium foil from cigarette

packets, pieces of wire and masking tape. Whether the crossbow was used is unclear,
packets, pieces of wire and masking tape. Whether the crossbow was used is unclear,

however, what is clear is that the crossbow can inflict some serious damage. When prison
however, what is clear is that the crossbow can inflict some serious damage. When prison

guards eventually discovered the crossbow, they decided to test it out and much to their
guards eventually discovered the crossbow, they decided to test it out and much to their

surprise, the crossbow fired a dart 40 feet away with accuracy.
surprise, the crossbow fired a dart 40 feet away with accuracy.

A remarkable feat of engineering allowed two prisoners to escape from a prison in Celle,
A remarkable feat of engineering allowed two prisoners to escape from a prison in Celle,

Germany. The prisoners created a fully functioning handmade shotgun that was constructed out
Germany. The prisoners created a fully functioning handmade shotgun that was constructed out

of iron bedposts and lead. The gun used an electrical charge that was made of lead from
of iron bedposts and lead. The gun used an electrical charge that was made of lead from

curtain tape and match-heads that were ignited by AA batteries and a broken light bulb. Pretty
curtain tape and match-heads that were ignited by AA batteries and a broken light bulb. Pretty

impressive, right? On the 21st May 1984, the two prisoners were able to demonstrate the
impressive, right? On the 21st May 1984, the two prisoners were able to demonstrate the

effectiveness of their ingenious creation by firing at a pane of bullet-proof glass,
effectiveness of their ingenious creation by firing at a pane of bullet-proof glass,

causing it to crack. That was not all, as the prisoners used the shotgun to take a prison
causing it to crack. That was not all, as the prisoners used the shotgun to take a prison

guard hostage before making an escape after stealing a car. Still to this day, it is unclear
guard hostage before making an escape after stealing a car. Still to this day, it is unclear

whether the prisoners were ever caught.
whether the prisoners were ever caught.