Ever wonder where those TSA confiscated knives go?

flameboy · Nov 28, 2006

Check out this auction and prepare to be horrified:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280049602706#ebayphotohosting

All the auctions from this person are items from NTSA seizures and he admits it in the description.

Bob W · Nov 28, 2006

Old news.

What did you think they were going to do with them? Or what do you think they should do with them?

-Bob

flameboy · Nov 28, 2006

not remove them from the luggage in the first place?

Bob W · Nov 28, 2006

Uh... knives aren't confiscated from checked luggage.

-Bob

Jeff Clark · Nov 28, 2006

I expect that he cherry picks out the valuable knives before he sells them.

Bob W · Nov 28, 2006

I expect that he cherry picks out the valuable knives before he sells them.

Additionally, LEO agencies can "shop" at the NTSA warehouse. So I imagine most piles have been pretty well picked over.

Anyway, the "horrifying" news is about five years old.

-Bob

flylock · Nov 28, 2006

I see a few decent knives in that picture. I can tell you, that here in pennsylvania the state government is selling confiscated knives themselves right on ebay and have been for some time. Apparently this is a big business for them. And, it is not just the knives but common hand and power tools that folks try to take on planes. http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.d...surplus&include=0&rows=200&sort=3&completed=1

DaveH · Nov 28, 2006

State of CA used to divide the knives into reasonable categories, all spyercos, all leatherman multi tools, etc.

Might be fun to spend a few hundred to get a batch of knives and see what you could turn them over for.

Bob W · Nov 28, 2006

I can't believe how high the bidding is for that 21lb pile of knives. Since people were carrying them, I doubt there's a mint or even unused knife in the entire pile. Probably most were worthless even when new.

I'd bid $10, just on the chance of there being a couple of fair-good condition vintage knives worthy of being carried.

-Bob

Whoever Wherever · Nov 28, 2006

On top of everything else they allow you to mail the knife to yourself as opposed to throwing it in there bin if you show up at check in with it. That means anyone who had a good knife shipped it back to themself and it didnt go in this pile. At least thats what they did for my wife when she left her SAK in her purse on accident.

pogo · Nov 28, 2006

Bob W.. You are wrong.. at least in my 3 years experience in buying NTSA knives. I find them hardly used & almost never sharpened & in near mint condition. One tends to forget the average knife buying "idjet" does not think about sharpening as they never need sharpening according to the idjet.

Bob W · Nov 28, 2006

One tends to forget the average knife buying "idjet" does not think about sharpening as they never need sharpening according to the idjet.

[chuckle] That's something I didn't consider. So your buying experiences have been positive? And based on your experiences, in a 200-count pile of undescribed knives, how many would actually be collectible? Usable? Chinese crap?

Just wondering,
-Bob

pogo · Nov 28, 2006

I usually don't buy that lage of quantity but, your right a few are pure crud & have to be disposed of. Overall my buying experience has been positive on NTSA knives. They have almost never been used or sharpened & are in near mint quality in my experience. The average Joe just carries the dang knife & hasn't a clue as to sharpening or maintaining a knife & this goes for oiling the joints....they are almost always dry as a Bone!

bladeprince · Nov 28, 2006

Bob W said:
Uh... knives aren't confiscated from checked luggage.

-Bob

Tell that one to Ken Onion and see his response.

Bob W · Nov 28, 2006

Tell that one to Ken Onion and see his response.

Yes, well... I think the correct phrase for that would be "stolen", not "confiscated". Thieving is nothing new either.

-Bob

bladeprince · Nov 28, 2006

Bob W said:
Yes, well... I think the correct phrase for that would be "stolen", not "confiscated". Thieving is nothing new either.

-Bob

Using the correct definition, I admit you are right. It just made me think of Ken's tragic situation...again.

Regards

mp510 · Nov 28, 2006

Selling off confiscated property really is not a new concept. Cops have done it for decades. My EDC SAK came from a TSA Siezure, as have several knives that I own.