Knives in suitcase must STAY in suitcase!

fulloflead

fulloflead

Joined
May 3, 2002
Messages
6,192
Anyone found the ULTIMATE solution yet for keeping your knives from being stolen out of your checked suitcase by baggage handlers while traveling by plane?

Every time I travel, I buy a luggage lock and lock my suitcase, and every time TSA cuts the lock and takes a looksy inside. :rolleyes:

I found this:
http://www.pac-safe.com/product.aspx?pId=646
but there's something I don't like about them. The suitcase model is opaque black. I wish it were transparent so TSA can "inspect" without having to actually get inside.

Any other ideas?
I'm only going on vacation, so I'm only traveling with a handful of knives... maybe a nice watch and some good cigars. ;)

.
 
You may watch while TSA inspects your bag and then apply whatever kind of lock you want to. The exact procedures vary from airport to airport, but every airport has some procedure for this.
 
Gollnick said:
You may watch while TSA inspects your bag and then apply whatever kind of lock you want to. The exact procedures vary from airport to airport, but every airport has some procedure for this.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm not talking about the "official" inspections. I do see a lot of reports of people getting things stolen out of their checked luggage.
 
As I said, once your bag is inspected, you can apply whatever kind of lock you might like.
 
What are you carrying?

My Perrin La Griff goes with me everywhere. I take it with me on a plane every time I travel-it goes in my carry-on bag. Nobody has ever been sharp enough to spot it. I also carry a Priority Mail stamp and a small priority mail envelope (cardboard) self-addressed. That way, if anyone ever spots it, I can just say I forgot it and mail it to myself. Honestly, I don't travel much (about 3-4 dozen flights this last year), mostly from LAS to JFK. If I were to pack the Griffe in my check in bag, I would just get a padlock and chain it to the inside of my suitcase.
 
Almadjian said:
What are you carrying?

My Perrin La Griff goes with me everywhere. I take it with me on a plane every time I travel-it goes in my carry-on bag. Nobody has ever been sharp enough to spot it. I also carry a Priority Mail stamp and a small priority mail envelope (cardboard) self-addressed. That way, if anyone ever spots it, I can just say I forgot it and mail it to myself. Honestly, I don't travel much (about 3-4 dozen flights this last year), mostly from LAS to JFK. If I were to pack the Griffe in my check in bag, I would just get a padlock and chain it to the inside of my suitcase.
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The "oopps I forgot that I packed that" excuse hasn't worked for a few years now. When they do find it, you will be leaving the airport in handcuffs, for your extended vacation.
 
Lil Timmy said:
The "oopps I forgot that I packed that" excuse hasn't worked for a few years now. When they do find it, you will be leaving the airport in handcuffs, for your extended vacation.
Click to expand...

That was what I was going to say- Definitely a bad idea. At the very least you will say goodbye to the knife. Likely you will be detained at least long enough to miss your flight. Fines are a good bet if you somehow manage to avoid the clink.
 
as to keeping your knife protected, I would want some sort of bracket that I can lock the knife to on the inside of the bag, with a cable lock or something. The security chumps could search the bag, but they wouldnt cut the knife free. Thieves would be SOL, unless they tore the bag into pieces, used box cutters, or stole the entire bag. It would be simple to rig it up.
 
Here's mine. The metal ring is welded closed, but could be cut with chain cutters. It will stop the "quick and stealthy, leave no trace" disappearance.

lock.jpg
 
Almadjian said:
Honestly, I don't travel much (about 3-4 dozen flights this last year), mostly from LAS to JFK.
Click to expand...

Forty eight flights is, "...don't travel much..." ?!?! :confused:

With only fifty two weeks in a year, I'd say forty eight flights is, "...travels a lot." :eek:
 
my definition of dont fly much is 1-2 times per year maybe 3-4 on a busy year but 3-4 dozen!!!!
 
Drive.......

Never flown, no fears against it, just never have. I plan on going to Key West, Montana, Maine, Novia Scotia, British Columbia, and other places that I am sure my truck could not take me, and I don't have enough money to rent a car to head out there.

I would either pack my less expensive knives, or have them mailed to the hotel I was staying at.

I love to travel, but I drive.
 
I do what Walkabout does - but with a large, heavy duty electric "zip" tie. I carry several and use the SAK in my shaving kit to cut them. This prevents the "casual confiscation" by "officials" along the way - because if someone really wants your stuff - zip tie or steel chain - they'll take it! :mad:
 
You guys have got the idea. I'm looking at probably 5 folders.
I do have metal cross bars in my suitcase that I can lock them to. Maybe something through the lanyard holes of all of them?

That's kinda putting all my eggs in one basket, though. ;) In the past, I've stuck one in my shaving kit, one in a shoe, one in a suitpants pocket...

If I could find something like the heavy zip-tie idea that can't be cut I'd be in business.

Gollnick,
I guess I'm just not understanding you. They usually don't inspect my luggage upon check-in. Should I REQUEST an inspection at that time and then apply the lock?

In the past what has happened was no inspection upon check-in and then when I got to my desination my lock would be inside the suitcase in a little TSA ziplock bag that said "Opened and inspected" with a little note that basically says, 'don't bitch that we cut your lock because it says in the rules not to lock your bag anyway'.

.
 
I think this is what you're looking for:

http://blujay.com/item/Search-Alert-Classic-Luggage-Lock-16030000-1309783

That's just the first site that came up on Google. Do a search for Search Alert luggage locks.

They lock to keep out baggage handlers but can be opened by a key that all TSA (security) employees should have. The ones at the above link also have a feature that allows you to see when a TSA official has "overridden" your lock.

Good luck.

Edit: Just found better deals on eBay. Search for "luggage lock" there.
 
fulloflead said:
Gollnick,
I guess I'm just not understanding you. They usually don't inspect my luggage upon check-in. Should I REQUEST an inspection at that time and then apply the lock?
Click to expand...

Almost all checked luggage is inspected these days. It's usually done by X-ray machines. However, your bag may be opened either because the X-ray operator saw something either suspecious or unclear or because it is randomly-selected.

The exact arrangements vary from airport to airport. At Portland's PDX, the massive CTX X-ray machines are installed in the ticketing lobby across from the ticket counters. When you check in, the ticket agent puts a tag on your bag and then directs you to carry your bag to the CTX machine area where it is inspected, put on a cart, and taken to the plane. You may, if you like, observe the inspection and then lock the bag once it's complete.

In other airports, the inspection is done in a different area. It just depends on how that airport has figured out how to use its space to accomodate the inspection requirements.

This is why I say it's best to call ahead to the ticket desk at the airport you'll be leaving from (not the airlines national 1-800 number, but to the actual ticket desk) and ask what procedures you should follow. But there is a procedure at every airport to allow the passenger to observe the inspection and then lock the suitcase.
 
You are not allowed to lock you luggage anymore. I would venture to guess that the fact that you have a lock on your luggage is the very reason why they choose yours to inspect it. What you are allowed to do is to protect you luggage using zip-ties. Yes doesn't sound very secure, but at least you are not inviting anyone not authorized to take a peek inside....and potentially steal something.
 
Now I'm confused, a bit. Last time I flew (about a year ago), I inquired on these forums about the legality, logistics, etc. of putting any folder (e.g. SAK) in checked-in (NOT carry-on) luggage, and basically remember getting "...shouldn't be a problem..." types of responses.

Is it no longer legal to carry knives in checked-in luggage?? Or does this thread have more to do with making sure they're not confiscated? Seems like if they're confiscated, then they're not legal to put into checked in luggage in the first place... :confused:
 
One more time:

It is perfectly legal to carry otherwise legal knives in checked baggage. Knives will not be confiscated from checked baggage unless they are otherwise illegal.

Your checked baggage will be inspected at least by x-ray and is subject to opening and search.

If you request so when you check in for your flight, you may observe the inspection process and then put whatever sort of lock you wish on your checked baggage. The bag will be marked as having been inspected and should not be subject to subsequent searches.

The exact procedure for observing the inspection process and then locking your bag varies from airport to airport.
 
HoB said:
You are not allowed to lock you luggage anymore. I would venture to guess that the fact that you have a lock on your luggage is the very reason why they choose yours to inspect it. What you are allowed to do is to protect you luggage using zip-ties. Yes doesn't sound very secure, but at least you are not inviting anyone not authorized to take a peek inside....and potentially steal something.
Click to expand...

Now there's an interestig post. I bet you're right.
It'll obey the rules and look like I'm keeping an eye on them without screaming "There's something valuable in here!"
I like it. :)
 
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