"Heads up" on these NOT-SO-DANGEROUS Spydies!

[Heyns van der Merwe]

Hi all,
here's some tongue-in-cheek humour regarding the airport "laws" as far as knives are concerned. I really could not believe all of this and thought to share it on this forum:

I've started to experiment a bit with the various airports' interpretations of what comprises a "DANGEROUS" knife, i.e. one that you may NOT fly with on a commercial flight (in South Africa).

I've always had the problem of different interpretations of the "laws" in this regard, as they would complain about a specific knife at one check point, but would let me go through at the next... This made NO sense at all!

So I packed my Military, Wegner and Starmate into my carry-on baggage, as well as my Cricket on my keychain. I also had two Victorinoxes in my handbaggage, as well as the MF204 SharpMaker with diamond speedsleeves.

I placed the carry-on luggage on the conveyor belt at the checkpoint, ready to start explaining about all the knives, BUT HEY, they didn't even give it a second glance!!!! HOW NOW, BROWN COW????

As I was a bit early for boarding, I decided to have a chat to the security officer in charge of the whole shebang. I asked him what the "law" was for this kind of situation and he replied that the knife should not be "dangerous". I then told him that I've just passed through the checkpoint without a problem and asked him if he would like to have a look at the knives that were just cleared by security (STUPID ME!!). At the first glance of the Military, he got quite jittery, confiscated it and said that it must be booked in and would be handed back to me at our destination. I immediately saw where this was going, so I did not even show him the Starmate or the Wegner which were in plain sight right next to the Military (and took these on board after moving them from my handluggage to my pockets where they are normally carried!).

I boarded the plane with the Starmate and the Wegner, as well as the SharpMaker MF204. They served us breakfast, which included a VERY nice (but blunt) stainless steel cutlery set. As I had my MF204 with me, I started thinking about what they'd do if I would sharpen this knife for them right there on the plane, but let the thought go. Heaven forbid that I take this "SAFE" knife to a "DANGEROUS" one in this manner!!

Last week I've flown to Cape Town again, but this time I've taken the Rookie and the Wegner Junior, carrying these in my pockets through the checkpoint. They picked up the knives with the metal detectors, but after looking them over, declared that I could go through with them.

This brings one to make one of the following conclusions:

1. They are so fed up with me

(and know me so well) that they don't really care WHAT I take aboard, as long as I don't argue with them about the "laws" concerning knives...

2. The Rookie and Wegner Jnr. are obviously just not "DANGEROUS"

(!!!), so it's quite safe for me to take them aboard...


[This message has been edited by Heyns van der Merwe (edited 16 November 1999).]

 

[anthony cheeseboro]

I share your frustration at the often arbitrary way that security decide what is dangerous and what is harmless. I therefore leave my large pieces at home or in baggage whenever I go through airport security. I am not brave enough to show my knives to people who can take them!

 

[leroys_45]

i don't know about south africa, but here in the u.s., i have carried my native through with no problem. they can't say anything because it is legal. but i had a friend who had a little POS knife shaped like a derringer, a little chinese/taiwanese thing, and they took it, because they siad it looked too much like a gun. the thing was about 1.5"closed. go figure.

 

[James Y]

I haven't yet had the guts to carry on a locking blade folder on a plane. My biggest knife so far has been a regular-sized SAK.
I read in Tactical Knives that Steven Dick once was not allowed at L.A. X to carry on his plain edge Calypso Jr. because it locked open.
Jim

 

[pyrguy]

I used to carry a SAK Officerand two Gerber LST's, a 200 and a 400. Never had a problem getting on a plane. Just put the knives in the basket with the usual pocket stuff. I didnot make a big deal of them and neither did security.

Dwight

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This post is a natural product.
The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.

 

[leroys_45]

my information comes from either guns magazine or american handgunner, don't remember which. massad ayoob, no stanger to many of you, said that FAA regulations stipulated no larger than 4" blade, could be locking or not, could be serrated or not. HOWEVER, individual airlines can set their own rules and not allow you to board or make you check it in if it doesn't sit well with them. i've only flown on 4 different airlines, but their rules were 3" blade. i contacted one that said 2.5" and plain edge only. so before you fly, check with the airline. like i said above, i carried a native with no trouble. don't try to sneak it in, you shouldn't have to. you put it in the basket with your keys and wallet. i would avoid anything racy anyway. for example, i didn't carry my G-10 harpy, though i normally have it on me. it looks too evil for some, so i bent a little bit.

so basically, contact your airline, use common sense in choosing an airline knife and don't try to hide it.