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Knives on Airplanes Question
- Thread starter Burke
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- Nov 24, 1999
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I think you can put about anything short of bombs and biohazards in luggage. I've even seen special cases designed for rifles to be carried on planes as general luggage so the sighting and everyhitng doesn't get messed up. I took a couple of knives that would have been illegal as a carryon in my luggage a couple months ago. They gave me no problem at all.
As for the bombs, there's a 1 in a million chance of getting on a plane that has a bomb on it. And 1 in a hundred million chance of getting on a plane that has 2 bombs on it. So obviously, the safest thing to do is bring the 1st bomb yourself
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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
As for the bombs, there's a 1 in a million chance of getting on a plane that has a bomb on it. And 1 in a hundred million chance of getting on a plane that has 2 bombs on it. So obviously, the safest thing to do is bring the 1st bomb yourself
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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
- Joined
- Oct 7, 1998
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Please don't think you can just toss a handgun in your luggage, or check in a rifle in a hard case at the luggage counter. You have several forms to fill out first. If they discover an undisclosed firearm in your luggage, they may well confiscate it. Further, ANY ammunition is absolutely forbidden.
Some items are also forbidden which are not firearms. Mace, stike-anywhere matches, flares, flammables; things like that. Get a list from your carrier if you have questions.
Hope this helps, Walt
Some items are also forbidden which are not firearms. Mace, stike-anywhere matches, flares, flammables; things like that. Get a list from your carrier if you have questions.
Hope this helps, Walt
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I wasn't trying to say you could just toss a gun in your bag and not have anything happen when they find it. I was just saying that if you follow the proper guidelines you can take guns with you on a trip.Like Walt said the best thing to do is call ahead and get the information before the gaurds are tackling you for your unloaded gun.
If all you want to take is your military, leatherman, and butterfly knife I think your fine. There isn't any special paper work for the military and leatherman. Depending on which model leatherman you have, you may be able to take it on the plane. The wave, supertool, and pstII are all banned from carry on because they have either partially serrated or fully serrated blades. The original could go as long as the blade is less than 3 inches long. I saw a guy carrying one at the airport last time I was there. The military isn't allowed on the plane, too big and its serrated.
The butterfly knife is a totally different story. I don't know what status they are at airports. You definitely can't get them on a plane, but I don't know if they can be checked with luggage without paperwok or not.
Hope this helps. I'll have to think some more on the bomb problem. They probably won't accept the "I have to take it so someone elso doesn't " excuse
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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
If all you want to take is your military, leatherman, and butterfly knife I think your fine. There isn't any special paper work for the military and leatherman. Depending on which model leatherman you have, you may be able to take it on the plane. The wave, supertool, and pstII are all banned from carry on because they have either partially serrated or fully serrated blades. The original could go as long as the blade is less than 3 inches long. I saw a guy carrying one at the airport last time I was there. The military isn't allowed on the plane, too big and its serrated.
The butterfly knife is a totally different story. I don't know what status they are at airports. You definitely can't get them on a plane, but I don't know if they can be checked with luggage without paperwok or not.
Hope this helps. I'll have to think some more on the bomb problem. They probably won't accept the "I have to take it so someone elso doesn't " excuse
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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
you have to know that butterfly knives are really illegal. really...
i think almost everywhere classifys those as gravity knives and i know around here, you can have it in your house as long as nobody can see you with it. (perhaps that was a little exagerated
)
you need to know the laws where you land is the long and short of my post.
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Knives and Cars...
Simple but EXPENSIVE.
i think almost everywhere classifys those as gravity knives and i know around here, you can have it in your house as long as nobody can see you with it. (perhaps that was a little exagerated
you need to know the laws where you land is the long and short of my post.
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Knives and Cars...
Simple but EXPENSIVE.
- Joined
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Hey Walt, I think the ammunition thing depends on the airline. I have checked in my Glock 19 and a box of Federal Hydra-Shok 9mm ammo, and the Southwest Airlines people said they allow up to 100 rounds to be stored with the firearm, just not loaded in a magazine. It had to be in it's own box. I had mine locked in one of those plastic pistol boxes, with the pistol disassembled (required) and the box of ammo in there with it, locked with a padlock (also required). I had to fill out a VERY short form, and a tag was thrown in the box with the gun. No problems at all. I've also done this with Frontier Airlines with the same kind of restrictions, and again, no problems. Hope my experiences help...
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"They sicken of the calm, who know the storm."
RFrost5746@excite.com or Robert_Frost@risknetworldwide.com
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"They sicken of the calm, who know the storm."
RFrost5746@excite.com or Robert_Frost@risknetworldwide.com
- Joined
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I've had trouble with some awfully funny things and airport security. Anything that can't be opened and is unfamiliar tends to trouble people. Back a few years I transported a core memory module and had to switch airlines to hand carry it with me. I had a special program in the module and couldn't afford to have people messing with uncertain xray equipment around the unit.
The weirdest one was when an airline wouldn't let me bring a diamond bench hone on a plane in my briefcase. It was basically just an 8"x3"x.25" aluminum plate, but they just didn't trust it. Gee, it's not like I was sharpening knive with an unfastened seat belt or anything.
The weirdest one was when an airline wouldn't let me bring a diamond bench hone on a plane in my briefcase. It was basically just an 8"x3"x.25" aluminum plate, but they just didn't trust it. Gee, it's not like I was sharpening knive with an unfastened seat belt or anything.
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Rfrost; very interesting. I thought ammo was strictly verboten. Goes to show you, check with your carrier. Thanks, Walt
fracmeister
Petroleum Engineer
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I never have had a problem with a Speedtech Synergy on a plane (in the US). They took a 3.5" blade on Lufthansa, put it in a pouch and had it waiting for me when I got off. But coming back from the UAE where I had been given a huge scimitar looking thing and a heavy silver looking bird (don't remember what they are called... a local point of pride) the gatwick security x-rays couldn't see through the bird and had multiple "experts" examining it ...when I finally said that I was in a hurry and they could keep it or throw it away they promptly returned it... and I walked on the plane with a knife with a 12 inch blade!
Finally, a new spin on that old "can I take X knife on plane/through security". I believe that firearms and related items (e.g., ammunition) must be declared (if allowed at all) and the proper forms must be signed. Otherwise, the passenger faces possible federal prosecution if the items undergo scrutiny.
On any metallic items being discovered in your luggage: your departure airport may have additional scanning equipment, but AFAIK, it will be obvious and before check-in. The only problem I could see is if you have a dense, obviously shaped object (perhaps a bomb, but more likely a firearm) you were NOT planning to declare. Any knife that won't spontaneously burst or explode should be fine.
On a side note: I know positively of one case, and I think there were at least two more in other states, where butterfly knives/balisongs were found by the court not to be gravity knives. The latch and the necessary manipulation distinguished them from being fully gravity-actuated. That said, butterfly knives ARE illegal in many places under their own heading. If one is not stupid and does not carry the knife on one's person nor manipulates it in public, that person should be fine.
On any metallic items being discovered in your luggage: your departure airport may have additional scanning equipment, but AFAIK, it will be obvious and before check-in. The only problem I could see is if you have a dense, obviously shaped object (perhaps a bomb, but more likely a firearm) you were NOT planning to declare. Any knife that won't spontaneously burst or explode should be fine.
On a side note: I know positively of one case, and I think there were at least two more in other states, where butterfly knives/balisongs were found by the court not to be gravity knives. The latch and the necessary manipulation distinguished them from being fully gravity-actuated. That said, butterfly knives ARE illegal in many places under their own heading. If one is not stupid and does not carry the knife on one's person nor manipulates it in public, that person should be fine.
Brian_T
Gold Member
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Burke,
I flew from Chicago O'Hare to Fort Lauderdale twice between November and December and each time I intended to get together with Mike Turber to do some knife testing.
I checked my bag with three rather large fixed blades and never heard anything about it from the airline.
On the way to my gate, however, the security guards at O'Hare confiscated my Spyderco Dragonfly but let me keep my Native with a much larger blade.
You can check just about anything in your luggage these days because the airlines know that you can't easily gain access to the cargo section of the plane.
Brian_T
brianthornburg@home.com
I flew from Chicago O'Hare to Fort Lauderdale twice between November and December and each time I intended to get together with Mike Turber to do some knife testing.
I checked my bag with three rather large fixed blades and never heard anything about it from the airline.
On the way to my gate, however, the security guards at O'Hare confiscated my Spyderco Dragonfly but let me keep my Native with a much larger blade.
You can check just about anything in your luggage these days because the airlines know that you can't easily gain access to the cargo section of the plane.
Brian_T
brianthornburg@home.com
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- Sep 21, 1999
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- 1,819
Howdy!
I've flown about 10 times this summer, each time carrying some sorta blade and ALWAYS with my Leatherman WAVE.
While going through security, I've removed both items and place them in the "place your metal thingies here" tupperware deal and haven't had a second glance.
I should also say that I set off the metal detector every time due to my steeltoe boots, so I get looked at more closely.
I'm not sure, but carrying my little "anyone-can-get-one" EMT Badge in my wallet psyches the guards out, but I can't be sure.
Off to hug a 5 year old grizzly cub, I remain,
VG
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Vampire Gerbil: Nosferatus Rodentus Moderatus; similar to a domestic gerbil, except for the odd accent and little black cape.
I've flown about 10 times this summer, each time carrying some sorta blade and ALWAYS with my Leatherman WAVE.
While going through security, I've removed both items and place them in the "place your metal thingies here" tupperware deal and haven't had a second glance.
I should also say that I set off the metal detector every time due to my steeltoe boots, so I get looked at more closely.
I'm not sure, but carrying my little "anyone-can-get-one" EMT Badge in my wallet psyches the guards out, but I can't be sure.
Off to hug a 5 year old grizzly cub, I remain,
VG
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Vampire Gerbil: Nosferatus Rodentus Moderatus; similar to a domestic gerbil, except for the odd accent and little black cape.
Eric Isaacson
Pirate
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- Dec 19, 1999
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Am I understanding this thread right, No serrated blades? Is there any particular blade length that is the cutoff to carry on. What about ceramic blades? Do these get detected by the metal detectors and if you do carry one on and it is detected is security going to think you are trying sneak something on because it is ceramic.
Eric
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Outside of a dog, a Knife is man's best friend. Inside a dog it is very, very Dark.
Eric
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Outside of a dog, a Knife is man's best friend. Inside a dog it is very, very Dark.
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From what I have read in other posts, there is supposed to be a rule of absolutely no serrations. And the blade length is supposed to stay under 3 inches. Vampire Gerbil probably winked at the attendant to get his Wave through security
Or they were they were to lazy or didn't think it looked threatening enough to check the blades.
Ceramic blades will probably set off the alarm. My Dad flys about once a week on bussiness and said that he has seen people with titanium hip replacements set off the alarm. Since titanium is non magnetic, I'm guessing that the machine uses something like mild X rays of some sort to see if there is anything with the density of metal.Thats a guess, I could be and probably am wrong.I hope they don't use X rays, they're supposed to cause cancer if your over exposed to them.Any body know how that thing works? Or can you not ell us since we'll figure out how to make knives that will go through it? for utility purposes of course
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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
Or they were they were to lazy or didn't think it looked threatening enough to check the blades.
Ceramic blades will probably set off the alarm. My Dad flys about once a week on bussiness and said that he has seen people with titanium hip replacements set off the alarm. Since titanium is non magnetic, I'm guessing that the machine uses something like mild X rays of some sort to see if there is anything with the density of metal.Thats a guess, I could be and probably am wrong.I hope they don't use X rays, they're supposed to cause cancer if your over exposed to them.Any body know how that thing works? Or can you not ell us since we'll figure out how to make knives that will go through it? for utility purposes of course
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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
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The metal detectors don't particularly detect magnetic materials. They are detecting conductive materials (mostly metals). They use alternating electromagnetic fields and are in essence detecting field disturbances caused by electric currents induced in metal objects. These currents cause metals to reflect electromagnetic waves. If a ceramic knife has a non-metalic handle it should not set off the detector. The airports don't xray people.
I work at an airport and i know that you can check in your bags as many knives that you want. on your person you can carry , but im not sure of the law. so i carry the new spydrcard .i leave it in my wallet , and put it in the change bowl while going through the detector
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Big sign at local airport sez "No knives over 4 inches". Sign sez that is FAA or federal law, not sure which now. They let me through with Comboedge AFCK 3.9" blade. Guard measured it and let me right through. Some places are picky about serrations though but they just quote some dangerous crap that is not clearly defined.
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Sounds like a ceramic knife with a G10 or Micarta handle would be no problem depending on the the pin material.
You won't beleive this.My Dad just got back from a trip and said that the woman in front of him at security got caught with a knife. It had about a 9" blade, 2" spike pommel, and brass rings from the gaurd to the pommel to work like brass nuckles and protect your fingers from another knife. She couldn't beleive they wouldn't let her take it on the plane. It was in her purse too, not a suitcase or anything, right in the top of her purse.
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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
You won't beleive this.My Dad just got back from a trip and said that the woman in front of him at security got caught with a knife. It had about a 9" blade, 2" spike pommel, and brass rings from the gaurd to the pommel to work like brass nuckles and protect your fingers from another knife. She couldn't beleive they wouldn't let her take it on the plane. It was in her purse too, not a suitcase or anything, right in the top of her purse.
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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !