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Airports and Knives
- Thread starter HG
- Start date
I don't know about the States, but up here in the Great White North the airports are really strict. No knives of any size (you might get away with a SAK) can be carries on board. You can take a sword in your luggage but nothing on your person or in your carry on luggage.
That's the official line, the practical truth of it is that it depends on the airport security. Some airports are so tight the tinfoil on a pack of gum will set off the detectors. Other places would let you walk in with a claymore. If you plan to travel with a knive, contact the airline and ask, but don't give your name
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"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n"
John Milton
There are only two types of people; those who understand this, and those who think they do.
That's the official line, the practical truth of it is that it depends on the airport security. Some airports are so tight the tinfoil on a pack of gum will set off the detectors. Other places would let you walk in with a claymore. If you plan to travel with a knive, contact the airline and ask, but don't give your name
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"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n"
John Milton
There are only two types of people; those who understand this, and those who think they do.
Welcome to BF, HG. The question has been covered a number of times. I don't mean to discourage new discussion here, but I suggest you do a search of the Year-1 General Discussion Forum. Lots of very good info there.
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Cheers,
--+Brian+--
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Cheers,
--+Brian+--
Gollnick
Musical Director
- Joined
- Mar 22, 1999
- Messages
- 29,258
There is a search feature on the forum you can use to dig up previous threads on this topic. We've had some good ones.
Mr. Ptpalpha quoted one part of the regulations but forgot another: the guard has total discretion about what he allows past the check point and what he turns away. If he doesn't like the fact that your 2" SAK has red handles, then he can turn it away based totally on that. On the other hand, many people will tell stories about carrying blades well over 4" without a problem.
At a busy checkpoint, the security guard screens hundreds of people an hour making a go/no-go decision about each one. He has a matter of seconds to decide what he thinks about you. Obviously, they don't make these decisions based on fact. There isn't enough time to gather facts. He makes the decision based on prejudices and profiles. I have found that if you dress like a gentleman, act like a gentleman, speak like a gentleman, conduct yourself like a gentleman, than your monster knife, by association, turns into a little gentleman's pocket knife and passes right through.
As with any situation, you have to ask, "What are the motivations of the players?" Your motivation is to get through security unhassled and with your knife, board your flight, and get on with your trip.
What's the guard's motivation? Well, of course, to protect the public for hijackers, criminals, and terrorists, right? Wrong. The guard's motivation is to keep is job. It's a good job, airport security. It's indoors, airconditioned, not much heavy lifting, and, unlike this poor guy's previous job, it doens't involve raw sewage. Every now and then, there's a test as an official tries to slip through with a weapon. If he messes up more than a few times, he could loose his job. But, the real risk for him is complaints from the public.
Remember that you and the guard are not the only people involved in this situation, though. There's a whole crowd of people around you.
Here's where it gets tricky. If the guard turns your knife away, he knows you might complain (complain formally to his boss, that is). If you've attracted the attention of everyone around, though, and he let's you through, then all of those people might complain that the guard let this mad man with a huge knife through. So, you have to leave the guard the option of quietly allowing you to pass. The only way to do this is to keep it low-key.
If asked about the knife, don't flick it open quickly with one hand, open it slowly with two. Don't allow it to lock. Never talk about your knife as a weapon.
If the guard does turn you away, return to the ticket counter and check the knife through. The agents at the counter have boxes or padded envelopes for such thing.
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.4cs.net/~gollnick
Mr. Ptpalpha quoted one part of the regulations but forgot another: the guard has total discretion about what he allows past the check point and what he turns away. If he doesn't like the fact that your 2" SAK has red handles, then he can turn it away based totally on that. On the other hand, many people will tell stories about carrying blades well over 4" without a problem.
At a busy checkpoint, the security guard screens hundreds of people an hour making a go/no-go decision about each one. He has a matter of seconds to decide what he thinks about you. Obviously, they don't make these decisions based on fact. There isn't enough time to gather facts. He makes the decision based on prejudices and profiles. I have found that if you dress like a gentleman, act like a gentleman, speak like a gentleman, conduct yourself like a gentleman, than your monster knife, by association, turns into a little gentleman's pocket knife and passes right through.
As with any situation, you have to ask, "What are the motivations of the players?" Your motivation is to get through security unhassled and with your knife, board your flight, and get on with your trip.
What's the guard's motivation? Well, of course, to protect the public for hijackers, criminals, and terrorists, right? Wrong. The guard's motivation is to keep is job. It's a good job, airport security. It's indoors, airconditioned, not much heavy lifting, and, unlike this poor guy's previous job, it doens't involve raw sewage. Every now and then, there's a test as an official tries to slip through with a weapon. If he messes up more than a few times, he could loose his job. But, the real risk for him is complaints from the public.
Remember that you and the guard are not the only people involved in this situation, though. There's a whole crowd of people around you.
Here's where it gets tricky. If the guard turns your knife away, he knows you might complain (complain formally to his boss, that is). If you've attracted the attention of everyone around, though, and he let's you through, then all of those people might complain that the guard let this mad man with a huge knife through. So, you have to leave the guard the option of quietly allowing you to pass. The only way to do this is to keep it low-key.
If asked about the knife, don't flick it open quickly with one hand, open it slowly with two. Don't allow it to lock. Never talk about your knife as a weapon.
If the guard does turn you away, return to the ticket counter and check the knife through. The agents at the counter have boxes or padded envelopes for such thing.
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.4cs.net/~gollnick
(The following applies to U.S. airports only...)
Speaking from experience airport rules vary not only from airport to airport but from one security person to the next. Do NOT depend on FAA determined regulations. You're at the mercy of local laws, the airport's own rules, the amount of traffic at the checkpoint, the security officer at that checkpoint and even what kind of day he/she's been having...
So, use common sense. Try to stick with blades under 3 inches - those are legal just about everywhere in the US. One hand openers are more likely to cause problems than traditional knives and NO SERRATIONS! I've been fine with a small Benchmade Gent's Knife (model 330), and I actually went through the detectors clean with a small Victorinox Mini-Champ. That same airport gave me a hard time about a 50/50 serrated Spyderco Delica.
Another trick that seems to help is attaching it to a big keychain. 'Seems to lessen most pocket knives' threatening appearance.
If you insist on carrying something that might be suspect carry a self addressed padded envelope so that you can send it home.
Jon
Speaking from experience airport rules vary not only from airport to airport but from one security person to the next. Do NOT depend on FAA determined regulations. You're at the mercy of local laws, the airport's own rules, the amount of traffic at the checkpoint, the security officer at that checkpoint and even what kind of day he/she's been having...
So, use common sense. Try to stick with blades under 3 inches - those are legal just about everywhere in the US. One hand openers are more likely to cause problems than traditional knives and NO SERRATIONS! I've been fine with a small Benchmade Gent's Knife (model 330), and I actually went through the detectors clean with a small Victorinox Mini-Champ. That same airport gave me a hard time about a 50/50 serrated Spyderco Delica.
Another trick that seems to help is attaching it to a big keychain. 'Seems to lessen most pocket knives' threatening appearance.
If you insist on carrying something that might be suspect carry a self addressed padded envelope so that you can send it home.
Jon
Ghecko's advice is sound for Canadian airports too. I like the idea about the self addressed envelope. I've not yet had any problems, but that might just be luck. A sub 3 inch spyderco gets thru every time, but I attached a keychain to it. I've accidently left a 41\2" Polkowski in my carryon and that passed. That must have been luck. My favorite airports are north of 60. If you're going north, there's no security check. If you're going south, there is.
- Joined
- Sep 20, 1999
- Messages
- 178
When it comes to airport security checks, I think that a knife lover should simply carry an inoffensive knife. In other words, a small knife that clearly would be perceived as a personal tool to the average person. At the risk of sounding like a non-knife person, no one needs an AFCK or Military while flying on a plane. If you think you will need one when you land, just pack it in your check-in luggage and take it out when you arrive.
On another topic: I almost always carry serrated knives into airports. The catch is that the blade is usually a Spyderco Ladybug.
Sometimes I even have two, a clip point and a sheepfoot on a keychain. Last week when I was going through an airport, I remembered that i had a small Case lockback in my wallet (it is a Case wallet that comes with a lockback) I took the knife out of my wallet and put it on my keychain. I then had my Case and two Spydercos plus a Leatherman Micra on my keychain, the guard didn't even notice them. My point is that these small and genuinely useful knives rarely cause any problems. Afterall, even if you do get take your large tactical through the security check would you really feel free to flick it out and clean your nails while waiting for your flight?
On another topic: I almost always carry serrated knives into airports. The catch is that the blade is usually a Spyderco Ladybug.
Sometimes I even have two, a clip point and a sheepfoot on a keychain. Last week when I was going through an airport, I remembered that i had a small Case lockback in my wallet (it is a Case wallet that comes with a lockback) I took the knife out of my wallet and put it on my keychain. I then had my Case and two Spydercos plus a Leatherman Micra on my keychain, the guard didn't even notice them. My point is that these small and genuinely useful knives rarely cause any problems. Afterall, even if you do get take your large tactical through the security check would you really feel free to flick it out and clean your nails while waiting for your flight?
- Joined
- Oct 19, 1998
- Messages
- 426
In regards to carrying a Military or AFCK on a plane: there's an old story about Massad Ayoob getting some grief at a airport security checkpoint about a SureFire (or similar) flashlight, and replying, in a LOUD voice, so EVERYONE nearby could hear, something to the effect of, "Yes, it is a flashlight -- if this plane should CRASH, and I SURVIVE, I will use this flashlight to find my way to SAFETY!" And, well, they suddenly decided it would be a good idea to hurry him past the checkpoint and out of earshot as quickly as possible
So, yeah, I can see a similar explanation for carrying a Spydie Military on a flight, though I suspect a similar outburst in relation to a knife would be somewhat more likely to end up with some shiny new bracelets and a nice pastel room to sit in
One of the primary reasons I carry a knife is, "be prepared" (for what? who knows -- that's the whole point). Why should that be any different on an airplane?
Not to get on a soapbox (okay, not for long anyway), and I don't subscribe to the idea that the media is responsible for all our troubles, but they have done a bang-up job of helping reinforce the government's continuing message that a citizen in possession of anything that is, or could be used as, a weapon, is armed and dangerous, and can only be up to no good.
(ObParanoia: they don't want serrated blades on the plane, because then you might be able to free yourself from a jammed seatbelt during a crash.
)
-- Carl
AKTI #A000921
Wanna save tens of thousands of lives a year through object control? Ban cars.
So, yeah, I can see a similar explanation for carrying a Spydie Military on a flight, though I suspect a similar outburst in relation to a knife would be somewhat more likely to end up with some shiny new bracelets and a nice pastel room to sit in
One of the primary reasons I carry a knife is, "be prepared" (for what? who knows -- that's the whole point). Why should that be any different on an airplane?
Not to get on a soapbox (okay, not for long anyway), and I don't subscribe to the idea that the media is responsible for all our troubles, but they have done a bang-up job of helping reinforce the government's continuing message that a citizen in possession of anything that is, or could be used as, a weapon, is armed and dangerous, and can only be up to no good.
(ObParanoia: they don't want serrated blades on the plane, because then you might be able to free yourself from a jammed seatbelt during a crash.
-- Carl
AKTI #A000921
Wanna save tens of thousands of lives a year through object control? Ban cars.
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 3,264
Among "inoffensive" looking knives, the Boye folders are under three inches, and their claim to fame is their ability to cut fiber (rope, seat belts) with what amount to micro-serrations in the crystaline structure of the blades.
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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
- Joined
- May 8, 1999
- Messages
- 759
Here is my solution for travelling with a folder:
If you don't want to put it in your checked baggage, or if you didn't check your bag(s), put it in your carry on. I clip mine to an inside pocket, so when it goes through the x-ray machine (which "looks" from the top), the profile of the folder is at it's smallest (and least threatening). I also carry a Leatherman tool, and a Streamlight Scorpion in the other inside pockets. I have never had any problems doing this. It works because you are not presenting the knife to a guard. Thus, you (and your knife) are not a threat. Just my experience. I flew to Las Vegas from Portland last weekend, and none of the security people gave me or my CQC-7 a second look.
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"They sicken of the calm, who know the storm."
RFrost5746@aol.com or Robert_Frost@ars.aon.com
[This message has been edited by rfrost (edited 20 October 1999).]
If you don't want to put it in your checked baggage, or if you didn't check your bag(s), put it in your carry on. I clip mine to an inside pocket, so when it goes through the x-ray machine (which "looks" from the top), the profile of the folder is at it's smallest (and least threatening). I also carry a Leatherman tool, and a Streamlight Scorpion in the other inside pockets. I have never had any problems doing this. It works because you are not presenting the knife to a guard. Thus, you (and your knife) are not a threat. Just my experience. I flew to Las Vegas from Portland last weekend, and none of the security people gave me or my CQC-7 a second look.
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"They sicken of the calm, who know the storm."
RFrost5746@aol.com or Robert_Frost@ars.aon.com
[This message has been edited by rfrost (edited 20 October 1999).]
Yup...put it in your carry-on. I just flew in from Florida, and had a Crawford folder in one of the pockets. It was in its cordura sheath though. No problems...
by accident, I also had a Livesay Ti Tiger around my neck; I forgot I had it on! I didn't even notice until I was on the plane that I had made it through security...
once my JSP Credit Card Blade set off the alarm at O'Hare airport, but it was inside a money clip, so the security guard assumed it was the metal of the clip that set off the alarm...
by accident, I also had a Livesay Ti Tiger around my neck; I forgot I had it on! I didn't even notice until I was on the plane that I had made it through security...
once my JSP Credit Card Blade set off the alarm at O'Hare airport, but it was inside a money clip, so the security guard assumed it was the metal of the clip that set off the alarm...