Calypso Jr. and Airport Security...

Mundele

Mundele

Joined
Aug 5, 2000
Messages
403
I have a question for you all. I have a Spyderco Calypso Jr. lightweight plain edge that I'd like to take with me on a trip next month. What are the chances that I will have trouble getting it past airport security? I've heard that serrated blades are bad (or are viewed as bad by the security people), but what about a plain edge?
Thanks...
--Matt
 
A plain edge Calypso Jr. lightweight should go through security just fine. Of course, there are no guaranties -- the security at Oakland International merely quotes the FAA 4" limit, while other airports have hassled people over much smaller knives.

I've carried either my small Centofante or a Benchmade 705 -- both of which look more menacing than a Calypso Jr. lightweight -- through security at 7 airports in the last year. Of course, I always suspend them vertically in my carry-on bag to minimize x-ray shadow.

Last flight (out of San Francisco) I also had an Aluminum Cricket and a CRKT Ti Mirage, both of which went into the change tray without comment from security.

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Dave

Let no one ever from henceforth say one word in any way countenancing war. It is dangerous even to speak of how here and there the individual may gain some hardship of soul by it. For war is hell, and those who institute it are criminals. Siegfried Loraine Sassoon

[This message has been edited by dsvirsky (edited 01-14-2001).]
 
Not to be the devil's advocate, but why not just tuck the knife into your checked baggage? Don't believe the movie "Castaway," if your plane goes down, you're fish food.
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by mnblade:
Not to be the devil's advocate, but why not just tuck the knife into your checked baggage? Don't believe the movie "Castaway," if your plane goes down, you're fish food.</font>
Click to expand...

Two reasons, actually: 1) because we're knifeknuts and feel naked without one, and 2) sometimes one travels with only a carry-on bag.

You are right about the fish food thing -- there's really no reason to carry more than a very small knife on an airplane, for thread trimming, tag removing, etc. (too bad the Ladybug is partially serrated).

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Dave

Let no one ever from henceforth say one word in any way countenancing war. It is dangerous even to speak of how here and there the individual may gain some hardship of soul by it. For war is hell, and those who institute it are criminals. Siegfried Loraine Sassoon

[This message has been edited by dsvirsky (edited 01-15-2001).]
 
Even though the Ladybug is half serrated, it is so small that usually isn't even opened when I go through the airport, one time a guard asked her superior, but when he saw how little it was, he said OK.
 
It's unlikely that you'll be hassled over a plain-edged calypso jr. What I do is dump my wallet, keys, knife, and sometimes a few other things in the little tray in a jumble. Sometimes the guards don't even look, just hand the tray back on the other side. Other times, they'll go through it without comment. I always carry a knife at least the size of the calypso jr., never had a problem. That's not a guarantee you'll get through, but I think it's a good sign.

Joe
 
Another reason I fly with knives on me,your baggage doesn't always land where you do!There have also been times I didn't land in the city I wanted to.Bad weather, mechanical problems and once a plane crash have all forced me to spend an unexpected night in a strange city at hotels I never would have gone to on my own.All this with just what I had with me on the plane.I now fly with a Rookie and a sak.Happy landings.
 
Thanks for all the info!!

I'm gonna carry it and see how it goes. I probably wont have any trouble, but we'll see...

 
Although I don't fly often, I haven't had any problem with my Cal. Jr. Lt. You could always carry a Dragonfly or a Navigator.
 
I wouldn't risk carrying a Calypso Jr. Lw unless I stuff it in my carry-on bag. I would rather have a Dragonfly plain as a money clip, with the money covering the closed knife while I put it in the tray. I figure that little knife with the "big-size-looking" blade would do any cutting/stabbing job that I require from it when I travel in airplaines. Why risk it, when I can avoid a hassle and STILL get to carry a useful knife?

-Flood
 
A good suggestion made in the past: Carry a padded envelope with enough postage to mail the knife back home. If airport security doesn't let it through, you can simply drop it in the post, rather than risk confiscation or missing your flight.

Glen
 
I was going to Cleveland Hopkins to pick up a friend and forgot I had my Calypso Jr. ltwt clipped to my pocket until I had to go through the metal detector. I thought fast, attached the pocket clip to the keyring and put the whole bundle in the change bin. There were only a few keys and a micro flashlight on the key ring, but the guard barely even looked at the basket before I got it back. I was relieved, and after that my knife's been either in my carry-on or left in the car.
 
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