Six Strange Items Found At Airports By TSA

By John Dodge

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Workers for the Transportation Security Administration find the darndest things in the bags of the traveling public.

Everything from bear attack spray, to martial arts tools, to Mace guns and more.

1) Fireworks, of course, were a popular item found last week, like this cache of firecrackers found at Chicago's Midway Airport.

2) Also at Midway, these octagonal sais (top) and shukos (bottom) were discovered in a carry-on bag.

According to Wikipedia, the sai is typically used in pairs, with one in each hand. It is primarily used as a striking weapon for short jabs into the solar plexus but it also has many defensive techniques.

Shukos are worn on the hands and are used by nijas as a climbing tool.

3) This pepper spray gun was discovered in a carry-on bag at the O'Hare International Airport. According to the TSA, one 4 ounce container of mace or pepper spray is permitted in checked baggage if it is equipped with a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge.

4) This dagger was lifted from a carry on bag at O'Hare.

All knives no matter how small are prohibited from carry-on bags, TSA says.

5) A gun that looks like a knife (quite versatile) was found in a carry-on bag at the Yuma International Airport. All knives, and that includes guns that look like knives, are not allowed in carry on luggage.

6) While it can be quite useful in the wilderness, bear attack spray is not allowed on board an airplane mostly because bears aren't allowed on airplanes. Actually, bear spray is prohibited because it exceeds the 2 percent tear gas limit. This was captured at Sky Harbor International Airport.

The TSA launched an Instagram account to showcase the items.