Instant Alert: 21 of the strangest weapons people have tried to take through airport security

MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS   |   UNSUBSCRIBE   |   VIEW ONLINE   21 of the strangest weapons people have tried to take through airport security by Christopher Woody on Nov 28, 2016, 2:29 PM Advertisement Most travelers have a number of things to worry about during the holiday season. For TSA agents at the country's airports, there's also a variety of things to worry about — knives, fake grenades, swords hidden in canes, knives hidden in guns, throwing stars, and all sorts of other contraband. The TSA has taken to documenting some of the weapons and other prohibited items it encounters at security checkpoints, posting them on the agency's Instagram account, which has accumulated more than 500,000 followers and rave reviews. "I knew it would be popular and I knew we'd have a never-ending source of content," Bob Burns, who runs the Instagram account, told The Washington Post. "But I didn't know how popular we'd be." Below, you can see a selection of strange weaponry or look-alike weaponry that the TSA has come across and put on its Instagram, which Rolling Stone recently ranked as the fourth-best account on the social-media site. SEE ALSO: The US Secret Service seized $30 million in fake cash in the agency's biggest bust ever "We're pretty sure this isn't a letter opener. A bladed dragon claw perhaps??? Whatever it is, it should be packed in checked baggage. It was discovered in a carry-on bag at Atlanta (ATL)." Instagram Embed: http://instagram.com/p/BNVI-2jBu4I/embed/ Width: 658px   "Is this some kind of confangled rotisserie contraption for turkeys? Nope. These are Sai. If you're a #TeenageMutantTurtle fan, you'll know the Sai as Raphael's weapon or choice. If you still have no clue, a Sai is a weapon used for striking, bludgeoning and punctures. Whatever it is you use them for, please know they must be packed in checked baggage. These were discovered in a carry-on bag at Boise (BOI)." Instagram Embed: http://instagram.com/p/BNNFrK0B2po/embed/ Width: 658px   "This ornate flask of black powder was discovered in a carry-on bag at Allentown (ABE). While it is a fancy flask, the black powder contained within is an explosive and is strictly prohibited in both carry-on and checked bags." Instagram Embed: http://instagram.com/p/BM4p26zAvfy/embed/ Width: 658px   See the rest of the story at Business Insider   Share the latest business news with your network:    Email sent to:   |   Manage your email preferences   |   Unsubscribe Terms of Service   |   Privacy Policy Business Insider. 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011