Blade-less SAK confiscated by TSA?

spydie fanatic

spydie fanatic

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Nov 5, 2009
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I was looking on eBay, and there is a wenger clipper blade-less SAK the seller claims is a TSA forfeiture :confused:

It has a micro-screw instead of a blade...would this really be confiscated in today's crazy world? :(
 
I guess it would be confiscated.
It doesn't matter whether the SAK is bladeless: international rules forbid scissors, screwdriver, and pointy objects, so this might as well be confiscated as any other SAK.
I'm not giving my opinion on such rules of course. But I take my share of flights (mostly international flights) and I've seen all sort of things confiscated, including pointy nail files. My guess is that this SAK wouldn't pass the security checkpoint staying in your hand luggage.

:cool:
 
My Mom, who worked as a flight attendant for about 40 years, would sometimes have the TSA confiscate her wine cork screw that was required for her to do her job!

I have heard of pilot friends of my Mom being taken into private rooms for a complete search of all their personal belongings before flying the plane. WTF!!! If anyone is going to bring the plane down, THE PILOT has constant control to do that!!!!

There is no intelligence used in that organisation... and I use the term "organisation" loosely.
 
I saw that Leatherman has a TSA friendly tool. I'd be scared to try to fly with that, the 'agents' don't follow the published guidelines. It's up to the individual's discretion if an item flies or not. The mall cops of freedom.
 
fishshooter said:
I saw that Leatherman has a TSA friendly tool. I'd be scared to try to fly with that, the 'agents' don't follow the published guidelines. It's up to the individual's discretion if an item flies or not. The mall cops of freedom.
Click to expand...
You are basically at their mercy. If they are having a bad day, you will be having a bad day too. :(
 
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I have never flown before, so I wasn't aware of just how far things have progressed. Just seems ridiculous...

P.S. thanks Esav :)
 
Actually you can blame the Flight Attendant union. The TSA determined knives were no longer a threat to security of the plane, but the union pressured them to keep the ban up out of their fear that sharp objects could be used by drunk/belligerent passengers. Not a lot of people know this.

As a general rule, ANY product claiming to be TSA compliant is mere speculation on the part of the manufacturer. The rules are largely discretionary agent by agent; there is no due process or direct judicial oversight.
 
That is the thing, if you are asking youself if it will be allowed or not, then figure that it eventually will be confiscated. You may travel with it - whatever It is - for a couple years, and then you encounter the one screener who says no. Or you may get delayed all the time while the screeners have to discuss whether it is allowed or not, and then one day they say no.
 
Unfortunately, you are at their mercy, and that's not just in the US. Here there are rules...but they're pretty stupid rules too, and there's no point in discussing them :(
There is only one safe solution: leave your knives (and SAK, and nail files, and scissors, etc) in your checked luggage.

:cool:
 
The last time I flew, which was a couple of years ago, I checked the rules on TSA's website. They seemed pretty straightforward, although I did read them pretty carefully. In my opinion, the easiest thing is to follow the rules and if anything seems to fall into a gray area, put it in your checked luggage (unless not allowed there either).
 
spydie fanatic said:
I was referring to the fact it has an airplane company logo on the knife in the picture I posted.

Once upon a time even air plane companies used victorinox knives as gifts...
Click to expand...

I know. Just reflecting on how things had changed.
Like how I used to smoke on flights, and carry my usual Buck 110 in back pocket.

You could buy all kinds of merchandise in airport gift shops that you can't even carry on now.

- OS
 
I have a friend who works for Delta's technology division (IE not a pilot) and he was given a Delta stamped SAK classic. His wife had it on her keys and it was confiscated, on a domestic flight not an international one.
 
Per the published TSA documentation, scissors less than 4" are allowed to be carried on, as well as screwdrivers less than 7". I'm not familiar with the SAK in question, but if it fell within those guidelines, it probably shouldn't be confiscated for domestic flights...
 
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