Flying with knives?

resinguy

resinguy

Joined
Feb 19, 2006
Messages
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Randucci mentioned in another thread about bringing some of his cool toys to Blade. I'm pretty sure he is not driving, so how do folks plan on taking knives to Atlanta? I drove down two years ago, and carried a box of knives that a Hog sent me for transport. I know one could send a package to yourself at the hotel. I hesitate to put valuables in the checked bag, as there is essentially no recourse if they go missing. I have asked this over in the Custom forum, and some of the serious collectors there carry special insurance on their collection, and so are able to fly them with some peace of mind.
 
resinguy said:
Randucci mentioned in another thread about bringing some of his cool toys to Blade. I'm pretty sure he is not driving, so how do folks plan on taking knives to Atlanta? I drove down two years ago, and carried a box of knives that a Hog sent me for transport. I know one could send a package to yourself at the hotel. I hesitate to put valuables in the checked bag, as there is essentially no recourse if they go missing. I have asked this over in the Custom forum, and some of the serious collectors there carry special insurance on their collection, and so are able to fly them with some peace of mind.
Click to expand...

I will probably ship the few I want to bring down to the hotel, and either ship them home with my BLADE scores from the Waverly or take a risk and toss them in my checked luggage for the trip home. I don't plan on bringing knives with extreme value, just a few small Busse's and a SAK and maybe another folder.

There's a few things that I do that may or may not help, but it makes me feel a little better when I risk carrying my knives in checked luggage...

1.) The bag is locked. For those who haven't flown much since 9/11 or kept up on travel policies, you are allowed to lock your checked luggage again, so long as you use TSA approved locked that allow TSA to access your bags with a key for inspection. The downside? They can still get in. The upside?? Baggage handlers cannot, unless they wish to cut your locks off (just as they could before 9/11). Safe Skies, Master Locks, and others now make these locks and they can be found at places like Walgreen's, Walmart, Sears, Staples, etc. I found out about these right before BLADE last year, and ordered them online from www.safeskieslocks.com, and they had them in my hand in 2 days. They will even set your combination for you if you wish (not that it's hard to do yourself, as I chose to do).
2.) Inside the bag is another small bag with as many knives as I can fit inside, also locked with another TSA lock and a big red luggage tag from American Knife & Tool Institute (akti.org) that has my cell number on the inside. It is a big red tag that clearly states that "TSA allows travel with knives in checked luggage/ support your knife rights" on the outside.
3.) I photograph all knives that I intend to bring, and I carry the digital camera that the images are stored on in my carry on bag.
4.) I leave a note inside on top stating that all knives within are legal to possess and have been thoroughly photo's/documented, and that I have all this on my person.
5.) I check inside the bag to verify that all the knives are still present & accounted for before leaving the airport baggage claim area.

It doesn't guarantee anything, but just like with anything else, it may be enough of a deterrent to cause any thief to move on in search of an easier target... Maybe? :D
 
Depending on how many knives you want to bring along...

Quite a while ago I read a thread where somebody zip-tied their knives to the frame of their suitcase. Could be another level of security in addition to the great ideas Jaxx put out there.
 
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