MSU Surplus Store Hands Out 37 Knife-Pens at Teacher Sale, Flashlights Included

MSU Surplus Store in East Lansing accidentally distributed 37 knife-pens—combining ballpoint, flashlight, and a hidden blade—during its July 8 Teacher Sale, sparking waves of “Can I carry a hidden blade in Michigan?” and “What to do if I got a knife-pen?” queries. The pens, free at checkout, separate in the middle to reveal a blade. The store urges: “Check your pen; if it’s got a blade, email us.”
This unlikely fusion of school supply and concealed weapon leaves teachers and pen collectors pondering, “Are hidden knife-pens legal in schools?” and “How to identify a knife disguised as a pen?” MSU officials now await a possible parade of returned pens, while visions of faculty duels over lesson plans haunt East Lansing. The store admits, “Some had no idea they left with a blade.”
Among the free pens handed out, each features flashlight, ink, and a blade—East Lansing’s most versatile grading tool, unless your essay bites back.