Bringing knives home on a plane from a knife show

KellyGlanzer

KellyGlanzer

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May 4, 2005
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What are the rules around bringing a purchased knife home when you have to fly? Are they allowed to be in your checked bag? Should you send them in the mail or with a courier? What is best?
 
KellyGlanzer said:
What are the rules around bringing a purchased knife home when you have to fly? Are they allowed to be in your checked bag? Should you send them in the mail or with a courier? What is best?
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You can put them in your checked luggage, but the higher the value, the more likely you should consider insured mail. If you have to check it in your luggage, try to hide it in your socks, shaving kit, or zip tie it to your luggage frame (take zip ties with you). Making it hard to find or remove; lessens the chance of airport theft.
 
I've been mailing them home. I don't want to risk the baggage handlers taking them. Insurance may cover the cost of the knife, but that doesn't mean you'll be able to get a duplicate. Things like the figure of the wood used, the depth of the MoP, the color and pattern of the stag, the activity in the hamon, etc., all of which can't be duplicated again. Not to mention if it's by a maker that has a really long waiting list the insurance money won't be able to cover the wait for his next piece.
 
Do not check them in your luggage. It specifically states in the airline's small print that they are not responsible for knives in checked luggage. Continental pointed that out to me recently. And don't expect any help from TSA either in case of a loss.
Overnight express mail is best. A package does not set in one place long enough to get stolen and it's accounted for at every stop along the way.
 
sounds like Overnight express mail is the way to go. :thumbup: :thumbup:
thanks for all the info.

Kelly
 
The only difference between a TSA employee and a common thief is that the thief doesn't have to wear the dorky uniform. I can't tell you how many of my friends have had their luggage lightened by these jerks. The worst part was that they did this to one of my buddies returning from his first tour in the sand box. They lifted the knife he carried over there with him on duty. I know this is painting with a broad brush, but when I hear about this and see them wanding the elderly lady I make my best effort to be as frustrating an obstinate as I possibly can.
 
I've done a reasonable amount of flying with knives in my checked luggage, but this year I'll be mailing most of them to my destinations. Just have a buggy feeling that they're too tempting to TSA guys & gals, who seem to get a free ride stealing this stuff.
And also, I see too many TSA confiscated knives recently on ebay.
 
I have put knives in my checked lugage 8 or 10 times with no problems but the odds are, sooner or later, one or more will turn up stolen. Best bet is USPS Express overnight mail, in over 10 years and many knives I've never lost a knife with this method of shipping.
 
I'm with Don on this. ( Sunfishman) I have had very good service with them. Which I cannot say about Fed-EX, and UPS. Mike
 
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