diff --git a/src/game.cpp b/src/game.cpp
index 2ba4ebb564305..511f2ea8f8d00 100644
--- a/src/game.cpp
+++ b/src/game.cpp
@@ -8569,6 +8569,11 @@ void game::wield( item_location &loc )
     loc.remove_item();
     if( !u.wield( to_wield ) ) {
         switch( location_type ) {
+            case item_location::type::container:
+                // this will not cause things to spill, as it is inside another item
+                loc = loc.obtain( g->u );
+                wield( loc );
+                break;
             case item_location::type::character:
                 if( worn_index != INT_MIN ) {
                     auto it = u.worn.begin();
diff --git a/src/handle_liquid.cpp b/src/handle_liquid.cpp
index b038c0b3939cf..7aaae6912d8c6 100644
--- a/src/handle_liquid.cpp
+++ b/src/handle_liquid.cpp
@@ -349,6 +349,7 @@ static bool perform_liquid_transfer( item &liquid, const tripoint *const source_
                         case item_location::type::vehicle:
                             g->m.veh_at( target.item_loc.position() )->vehicle().make_active( target.item_loc );
                             break;
+                        case item_location::type::container:
                         case item_location::type::character:
                         case item_location::type::invalid:
                             break;
diff --git a/src/item_contents.cpp b/src/item_contents.cpp
index 82f7884cd34ff..985d51678c670 100644
--- a/src/item_contents.cpp
+++ b/src/item_contents.cpp
@@ -138,6 +138,28 @@ std::list<const item *> item_contents::all_items_top() const
     return ret;
 }
 
+std::list<item *> item_contents::all_items_ptr()
+{
+    std::list<item *> ret;
+    for( item &it : items ) {
+        ret.push_back( &it );
+        std::list<item *> inside = it.contents.all_items_ptr();
+        ret.insert( ret.end(), inside.begin(), inside.end() );
+    }
+    return ret;
+}
+
+std::list<const item *> item_contents::all_items_ptr() const
+{
+    std::list<const item *> ret;
+    for( const item &it : items ) {
+        ret.push_back( &it );
+        std::list<const item *> inside = it.contents.all_items_ptr();
+        ret.insert( ret.end(), inside.begin(), inside.end() );
+    }
+    return ret;
+}
+
 std::vector<item *> item_contents::gunmods()
 {
     std::vector<item *> res;
diff --git a/src/item_contents.h b/src/item_contents.h
index 781008462a14f..3b83b001a2004 100644
--- a/src/item_contents.h
+++ b/src/item_contents.h
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ class item_contents
         /** returns a list of pointers to all top-level items */
         std::list<const item *> all_items_top() const;
 
+        // returns a list of pointers to all items inside recursively
+        std::list<item *> all_items_ptr();
+        // returns a list of pointers to all items inside recursively
+        std::list<const item *> all_items_ptr() const;
+
         /** gets all gunmods in the item */
         std::vector<item *> gunmods();
         /** gets all gunmods in the item */
diff --git a/src/item_location.cpp b/src/item_location.cpp
index e8d1c4f7e8a35..e8028f775aa2f 100644
--- a/src/item_location.cpp
+++ b/src/item_location.cpp
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ class item_location::impl
         class item_on_map;
         class item_on_person;
         class item_on_vehicle;
+        class item_in_container;
 
         impl() = default;
         impl( item *i ) : what( i->get_safe_reference() ), needs_unpacking( false ) {}
@@ -72,6 +73,9 @@ class item_location::impl
         virtual ~impl() = default;
 
         virtual type where() const = 0;
+        virtual item_location parent_item() const {
+            return item_location();
+        }
         virtual tripoint position() const = 0;
         virtual std::string describe( const Character * ) const = 0;
         virtual item_location obtain( Character &, int ) = 0;
@@ -478,6 +482,97 @@ class item_location::impl::item_on_vehicle : public item_location::impl
         }
 };
 
+class item_location::impl::item_in_container : public item_location::impl
+{
+    private:
+        item_location container;
+
+        // figures out the index for the item, which is where it is in the total list of contents
+        // note: could be a better way of handling this?
+        int calc_index() const {
+            int idx = 0;
+            for( const item *it : container->contents.all_items_top() ) {
+                if( target() == it ) {
+                    return idx;
+                }
+                idx++;
+            }
+            if( container->contents.empty() ) {
+                return -1;
+            }
+            return idx;
+        }
+    public:
+        item_location parent_item() const override {
+            return container;
+        }
+
+        item_in_container( const item_location &container, item *which ) :
+            impl( which ), container( container ) {}
+
+        void serialize( JsonOut &js ) const override {
+            js.start_object();
+            js.member( "idx", calc_index() );
+            js.member( "type", "in_container" );
+            js.member( "parent", container );
+            js.end_object();
+        }
+
+        item *unpack( int idx ) const override {
+            if( idx < 0 || static_cast<size_t>( idx ) >= target()->contents.num_item_stacks() ) {
+                return nullptr;
+            }
+            std::list<const item *> all_items = container->contents.all_items_ptr();
+            auto iter = all_items.begin();
+            std::advance( iter, idx );
+            if( iter != all_items.end() ) {
+                return const_cast<item *>( *iter );
+            } else {
+                return nullptr;
+            }
+        }
+
+        std::string describe( const Character * ) const override {
+            if( !target() ) {
+                return std::string();
+            }
+            return string_format( _( "inside %s" ), container->tname() );
+        }
+
+        type where() const override {
+            return type::container;
+        }
+
+        tripoint position() const override {
+            return container.position();
+        }
+
+        void remove_item() override {
+            container->remove_item( *target() );
+        }
+
+        item_location obtain( Character &ch, int qty ) override {
+            ch.mod_moves( -obtain_cost( ch, qty ) );
+
+            item obj = target()->split( qty );
+            if( !obj.is_null() ) {
+                return item_location( ch, &ch.i_add( obj, should_stack ) );
+            } else {
+                item *inv = &ch.i_add( *target(), should_stack );
+                remove_item();
+                return item_location( ch, inv );
+            }
+        }
+
+        int obtain_cost( const Character &ch, int qty ) const override {
+            if( !target() ) {
+                return 0;
+            }
+            // a temporary measure before pockets
+            return INVENTORY_HANDLING_PENALTY + container.obtain_cost( ch, qty );
+        }
+};
+
 const item_location item_location::nowhere;
 
 item_location::item_location()
@@ -492,6 +587,9 @@ item_location::item_location( Character &ch, item *which )
 item_location::item_location( const vehicle_cursor &vc, item *which )
     : ptr( new impl::item_on_vehicle( vc, which ) ) {}
 
+item_location::item_location( const item_location &container, item *which )
+    : ptr( new impl::item_in_container( container, which ) ) {}
+
 bool item_location::operator==( const item_location &rhs ) const
 {
     return ptr->target() == rhs.ptr->target();
@@ -563,7 +661,23 @@ void item_location::deserialize( JsonIn &js )
         if( veh && part >= 0 && part < static_cast<int>( veh->parts.size() ) ) {
             ptr.reset( new impl::item_on_vehicle( vehicle_cursor( *veh, part ), idx ) );
         }
+    } else if( type == "in_container" ) {
+        item_location parent;
+        obj.read( "parent", parent );
+        const std::list<item *> parent_contents = parent->contents.all_items_top();
+        auto iter = parent_contents.begin();
+        std::advance( iter, idx );
+        ptr.reset( new impl::item_in_container( parent, *iter ) );
+    }
+}
+
+item_location item_location::parent_item() const
+{
+    if( where() == type::container ) {
+        return ptr->parent_item();
     }
+    debugmsg( "this item location type has no parent" );
+    return item_location::nowhere;
 }
 
 item_location::type item_location::where() const
diff --git a/src/item_location.h b/src/item_location.h
index 3dee2a76aee53..92ded34492bfb 100644
--- a/src/item_location.h
+++ b/src/item_location.h
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ class item_location
             invalid = 0,
             character = 1,
             map = 2,
-            vehicle = 3
+            vehicle = 3,
+            container = 4
         };
 
         item_location();
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ class item_location
         item_location( Character &ch, item *which );
         item_location( const map_cursor &mc, item *which );
         item_location( const vehicle_cursor &vc, item *which );
+        item_location( const item_location &container, item *which );
 
         void serialize( JsonOut &js ) const;
         void deserialize( JsonIn &js );
@@ -85,6 +87,9 @@ class item_location
 
         void set_should_stack( bool should_stack ) const;
 
+        /** returns the parent item, or an invalid location if it has no parent */
+        item_location parent_item() const;
+
     private:
         class impl;
 
diff --git a/tests/item_location_test.cpp b/tests/item_location_test.cpp
index d302f3492c1a3..8ea770a3c9074 100644
--- a/tests/item_location_test.cpp
+++ b/tests/item_location_test.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <memory>
 #include <string>
 
+#include "avatar.h"
 #include "catch/catch.hpp"
 #include "game.h"
 #include "item.h"
@@ -64,3 +65,28 @@ TEST_CASE( "item_location_doesnt_return_stale_map_item", "[item][item_location]"
     m.add_item( pos, item( "jeans" ) );
     CHECK( !item_loc );
 }
+
+TEST_CASE( "item_in_container", "[item][item_location]" )
+{
+    avatar &dummy = g->u;
+    item &backpack = dummy.i_add( item( "backpack" ) );
+    item jeans( "jeans" );
+
+    REQUIRE( dummy.has_item( backpack ) );
+
+    backpack.put_in( jeans );
+
+    item_location backpack_loc( dummy, & **dummy.wear( backpack ) );
+
+    REQUIRE( dummy.has_item( *backpack_loc ) );
+
+    item_location jeans_loc( backpack_loc, &jeans );
+
+    REQUIRE( backpack_loc.where() == item_location::type::character );
+    REQUIRE( jeans_loc.where() == item_location::type::container );
+
+    CHECK( backpack_loc.obtain_cost( dummy ) + INVENTORY_HANDLING_PENALTY == jeans_loc.obtain_cost(
+               dummy ) );
+
+    CHECK( jeans_loc.parent_item() == backpack_loc );
+}