Getting Khukris through customs

Sylvrfalcn

Sylvrfalcn

Joined
Jun 4, 2002
Messages
3,930
Time is going by in fast motion, and before you know it I'll be on a plane headed to Bagram, Afghanistan. Just got my absolutely exquisite 20" Sirupati (by Sanu), and the horrifying thought has flashed through my mind of some beady eyed customs inspector deciding that's way too much knife for me.
I'd appreciate any pointers from folks who have traveled with their khukris. My rough and ready plan of wrapping it in my sleeping bag/extra clothes, and stuffing it in my duffel bag worked fine for Desert Storm. However, "flying the friendly skies" has changed a lot since then. I don't want to leave my Khukri behind, either at home, or in Germany, Turkey, etc.. Any thoughts?



MSgt Gregory M. Sikes
 
Greg:

I carried an 18" Siru domestically in my checked bag every week for many months. I didn't have any problems until about two weeks ago. On that occasion, someone broke the lock off my bag. I'm guessing that it was to take a look-see (whoever it was put the broken lock in a side pocket of the bag). Nothing was taken. I haven't had to travel since then (a welcome change), but I'm hesitant to pack a big blade after this.

We had a thread on this topic about two months back. IIRC, some folks have done the int'l.-thing with them. Hopefully, they'll provide some info.

S.
 
Thanks Spence,
The monetary loss of having my Sirupati "abducted by aliens" doesn't bug me much, I can always order another (although Sanu did a really nice job on this one). In fact, I'm already planning on picking up a "standard" 14", 1 lb. villager when I get back to carry around in the "wilds of central Texas".
My big concern is that my big beautiful blade won't be worth a handful of spit to me over there if it doesn't make the trip. I'm going to stick my little 12" Sirupati in one duffel bag, the 20" in another, cross my fingers/eyes, and hope for the best ;)
 
Originally posted by spence .... someone broke the lock off my bag. I'm guessing that it was to take a look-see
Click to expand...
I'm sure someone finally x-rayed your bag
and decided that looked like a VERY BIG knife.

Not trusting the x-ray they decided to check to
make sure no one was hiding in the bag to hack
thru the floor plate into the passenger compartment.
 
Originally posted by ddean
I'm sure someone finally x-rayed your bag and decided that looked like a VERY BIG knife. Not trusting the x-ray they decided to check to make sure no one was hiding in the bag to hack thru the floor plate into the passenger compartment.
Click to expand...

LOL!!:D :eek: :D

I'll be "packin" this July on my trip out west. We'll see what happens...
 
Fly in uniform with orders at the ready. If anybody anywhere tries to grab anything from you call Washington.
 
I've on;y done road trips with my Khukuris so I can't be of much help. Hope you and your Khuks make it safely.

Originally posted by Bill Martino
Fly in uniform with orders at the ready. If anybody anywhere tries to grab anything from you call Washington.
Click to expand...

Thou, Uncle Bills idea sounds perty good to me.
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino
Fly in uniform with orders at the ready. If anybody anywhere tries to grab anything from you call Washington.
Click to expand...

When I flew cross-country on gubmint orders in January I had my badge in my carry-on and presented a brand new "smart" Army civilian ID at the ticket counter - this is the latest DoD creation with the micro chip, barcodes and holograms and such. Nobody at the counter knew what the he11 it was and they asked to see my drivers license. :D

The 21" GS in my checked luggage caused no concern. :cool:
 
Originally posted by raghorn
The 21" GS in my checked luggage caused no concern. :cool:
Click to expand...

Do you have to declare that your Khuk is in your checked luggage?
 
Originally posted by pendentive
Do you have to declare that your Khuk is in your checked luggage?
Click to expand...

Correction to my last post: The GS did not fly with me in January, it flew with me in March. FWIW.

I've never declared any blades in my luggage. Firearms have to be declared though. But here's the big contradiction I have not yet figured out how to solve:

In the past (pre september 11) firearms had to be declared and checked in a locked container that could not be opened by anyone except the owner. But nowadays they want to be able to open all containers for search, even when they are out of your direct control. How does one reconcile this? :confused:

I suspect it's another one of those insidious ploys to discourage lawful firearm owners from exercising their constitutional rights. :mad:
 
raghorn,
i almost always fly with a Glock 17, flashlight, knife, ammo, holster...the whole rig. i think the reason it's OK to lock the pistol case is that you've already unlocked it for examination at the ticket counter and placed the "unloaded" x-ray tag in the case. it cracks me up when the lady at the counter (usually northwest) makes me take my gun out of the case in front of a long line of passengers and show here that it is unloaded...i have yet to encounter a ticket agent who seemed to have any idea what they were looking at when i display the pistol with open action. the first time i flew after 9-11 with a gun i thought the other people in the line or the agents might freak out about it, but everybody seemed cool and i could hear people making comments about me probably being a cop (which i'm not)...all in all a surprisingly uneventful event.

e.
 
gearGOON,

The same thing happened to me...except I was the guy in line! :eek:

Guy in front of me loads up a bunch of hard cases onto the scales to be weighed. She tells him she has to see the contents. He pulls out a massive 9mm as well as a long barrel rifle. I nearly crapped my pants. :eek:

Once I figured out what was going on, I had to pry my hands out of the grip-of-death lock I had on my kid & wife. It was just one of those moments I guess...
 
I never had a problem traveling with a 12" fixed blade divers knife (haven't traveled with a khuk yet) but it approximates a 15" AK.
On international travel the question was never with the airline or leaving the US it was at customs at the destination that I ran into a variety of questions and inspections...and always managed with an explanation. Travel included Germany, France, Italy, India, Thialand, Indonesia and Singapore.

Good Luck, I imagine the uniform and marching orders will help.
 
pendentive,
i once flew home with this big black Barney-Badass Mossberg 590A1 military shotgun (20" barrel,heatshield, ghostrings, bayonet lug...the works) that i was giving my dad for his B-day. i carried it one of those big hard shell cases...boy did people in line got wall-eyed when i pulled the mother out! :)

good times, good times...

e.
 
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