Checking in knives

[Ankerson]

Have not been on a plane since 1992. Airliner that is. I do have a Private Pilot License and have flown small aircraft here and there without hassle. But I am VFR only, not IFR. That kind of limits when and where you can fly.

My eyes aren't good enough for me to get a pilot's license, I was checked out back when I was in my 20's.

Would have been nice though.

 

[street soldier]

There is one forumite, who may drop in later, who posted that he zip tied his knives to something solid like the suitcase frame to prevent theft.

Good thinking.

 

[FTO_dude]

Let them try to cut that off or break the case open.

Wouldnt an angle grinder take that thing out in like 30 seconds?
having that much security makes it look like you have something to hide

 

[elkins45]

There is one forumite, who may drop in later, who posted that he zip tied his knives to something solid like the suitcase frame to prevent theft.

THis is a serious question that I haven't heard an answer to yet: once you get there how do you cut the zip tie?

If you put something to cut it with in your luggage can't the baggage thief use it too?

 

[Kenix]

Stuff a folder into some socks and stuff said socks into something else. You should be good as long as you put some effort into making the knife hard to find in the luggage. Just don't pack a pricey blade.

 

[orca8589]

Ken Onion's knives were stolen when he flew from HI to the states:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=427647&highlight=onion

Old news, but still relevant.

And this happened in September here at SFO:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/12/BALN19LPCN.DTL

A friend of our works for Alaskan Airlines, and he says there have been dozens of stories of people having things stolen from luggage from every airline. The sad thing is, apparently, TSA can't be sued, or otherwise held accountable.

This is the reason I won't fly. I might in an absolute family emergency, but otherwise, no.

thx - cpr

 

[Bowie Mike]

Wrap your knife up in a pair of heavily stained underwear. You can either make the staining real (recommend using a zip-lock bag), or use some brown wood stain or something that resembles a good morning after a bad night of cheap beer. Make sure the staining is visible.

Think about it, would you unwrap a pair of greased up shorts, just to see what is inside. Even if you did, would you keep the knife?

 

[Charlie Mike]

beershits are savage... good advice

 

[sweet_hitch-hiker]

i recently made a few flights w/ a few of my knives in my checked bags and had no problems. i did bury them in the verry bottom of my packed to the brim duffle bag. they would have had to take almost everything out, which if you werentt perticular about doing it wouldnt fit back in.

 

[Charlie Mike]

I kept mine at the way bottom of my issued duffel bag.

 

[Nimick]

I've flown a number of times checking multiple knives, all if which were worth more than $200, multiple bottles of whiskey, and flashlights. I put a picture of the packed bag in the suitcase, lock nothing, and make sure it has no reason to rattle.

I have never had a problem. I consider baggage security to be a logical fallacy (but not quite an oxymoron).

 

[cgmblade]

THis is a serious question that I haven't heard an answer to yet: once you get there how do you cut the zip tie?

If you put something to cut it with in your luggage can't the baggage thief use it too?

---Just to clarify, the purpose of the zip tie is to slow down a thief so that stealing it takes more time than it's worth or more time than he has.---

You ask a very good question. Not having done this myself I guess you'd just have to put a cheap knife or pair of nail clippers in the suitcase and hope they don't get stolen. The person who originally posted that idea made the point that he used it for quality knives that someone might be more tempted to steal.

 

[Kenix]

THis is a serious question that I haven't heard an answer to yet: once you get there how do you cut the zip tie?

If you put something to cut it with in your luggage can't the baggage thief use it too?

Use someone else's knife or scissors when you get to the destination. Nail clipper may work too I suppose.

 

[Cisco Kid]

Use nail clippers to clip the tie, you can carry those with you (you EDC nail clippers, don't you?). I just loop the zip tie on the outside of the suitcase, where you would normally put a padlock.

cgmblade is right, the zip tie just makes it a bit more difficult for anyone to stick their hands inside the bags quickly. It's just a "speed bump", the idea being to have something discrete but with some stopping power.

 

[stitchawl]

THis is a serious question that I haven't heard an answer to yet: once you get there how do you cut the zip tie?

I fly often, and have found very easy ways to deal with the problems.
For security of small items inside the suitcase I use a product called "PacSafe" http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php?_room=3&_action=detail&id=18 It's a small secure bag lined with wire mesh so it can't be cut, and locks with a wire drawstring. I can wrap the drawstring around the hanger support inside my suitcase so the bag can't be removed. All my small valuables go inside this stash. (I have a larger one that I use when I bring a camera or such with me.) I use these bags for storage of my passport, extra cash, etc., kept inside my locked suitcase which is usually locked to a water pipe (without being overly noticeable) in the room when I've checked into the room or have the locked bag put inside the hotel's lockbox if possible. In the past 20 years flying all over SE Asia in some pretty seedy locales, I've never had a thing stolen. All of this wouldn't stop a dedicated thief but it will stop a baggage handler, room porter, or cleaning maid from dipping into your goodies.

As for removing zip ties (or even the stronger heat-sealed tapes that some Airlines secure bags with) I always carry a small 1" chunk of flint and a mini striker in my pocket. Once, and only once, during a pat-down, a guard asked me about it. I showed him how it made a spark, he shrugged his shoulders, and passed me through. The flint is more than sharp enough to cut through zip ties, plastic package wraps, just about anything I've ever needed it for before I could get my EDC out of the suitcase.

Stitchawl

 

[stitchawl]

Something else you might want to keep in mind... If you are using soft luggage with 'self-repairing zippers' you can't protect your gear even if you lock it with a Kryptonite U-Lock unless they lock TO the suitcase and can't move. That is because of the nature of the self-repairing zippers.

Imagine... you've brought your two zippers together in the middle or at the top of your bag and locked them together. No way to separate them, right? No need to. Just slide them to the end of the zipper track out of the way, and with a pen or pencil, push through the zipper in the middle of the bag, spreading the zippers wide open. After rummaging though everything, fold the bag together, and run the tightly locked zippers back over the opened bag to re-seal/'repair' the zippers. Voila! A closed, locked bag looking for all the world as if it's secure.

Some suitcases have a locking station that the tabs of the zippers lock into so the two can't move around the bag. That helps.

Stitchawl

 

[Cisco Kid]

Something else you might want to keep in mind... If you are using soft luggage with 'self-repairing zippers' you can't protect your gear even if you lock it with a Kryptonite U-Lock unless they lock TO the suitcase and can't move. That is because of the nature of the self-repairing zippers.

Imagine... you've brought your two zippers together in the middle or at the top of your bag and locked them together. No way to separate them, right? No need to. Just slide them to the end of the zipper track out of the way, and with a pen or pencil, push through the zipper in the middle of the bag, spreading the zippers wide open. After rummaging though everything, fold the bag together, and run the tightly locked zippers back over the opened bag to re-seal/'repair' the zippers. Voila! A closed, locked bag looking for all the world as if it's secure.

Some suitcases have a locking station that the tabs of the zippers lock into so the two can't move around the bag. That helps.

Stitchawl

Damn! There goes my misplaced sense of security.

 

[tradja]

What steps do you take to prevent theft?

I pack my expensive knives in the hard case with my declared and checked firearms. Never had a problem.

 

[midnight flyer]

In the last five years I have had two trips to Vegas, and two to Lake Tahoe. I have no idea how anyone got away with locking their luggage. When I flew (including two weeks ago) they told me NO locked luggage. Period. If I wanted it locked, I was welcome to leave it behind or make arrangements for shipping.

It was that way here, and that was back and forth to both of those destinations on all trips.

Personally, I don't have to try to make the system bend to meet my needs. I am not going to take a chance with something valuable, sentimentally or dollar-wise as I am sure the boys in security will mess it up. An unlocked bag means they look if they are interested, zip it up, and drop kick it back onto the beltways or luggage trams.

Anything of value gets UPSed or USPS confirmation priority before I leave here. It is just as easy to return goods the same way from your hotel or wherever you might be staying. I learned about this on a trip to California when I was to go hiking and some of the hikers already there going to Yosemite had shipped ALL their equipment via UPS so it would meet them there without the hassle of the airport.

I thought that was ballsy. But as one said to me "How many million packages do you think UPS ships a day? How often have you heard of one being completely lost? We always allow an extra 5 days for shipping. Now... how often do you hear of the airlines losing luggage of all sorts, or destroying it while it goes on your trip?

I thought that was an excellent point. I'll take my chances with UPS.

But before that hassle even starts, I try to decide what I will need to take. On the last trip to Vegas the only contraband I needed was a small lockback for my pocket for routine utility use and to cut my cigar ends. I took a 3 1/2" Winchester lockback I got as an appreciation gift from one of the vendors I frequent. I can hold a good edge for a few days with no problems. And at $12 retail, I would be more annoyed than anything else if it sprouted legs.

I think you guys are making this waaay too hard.

I like easy. The less stress the better.

Robert

 

[lk3331]

most stories of knives or other valuables being stolen were in third world countries, with mostly poor emploees