Lack of guidelines for Airport Security

Don't assume a metal signature is all they're
looking for these days... a density detector
is designed to look for objects with a highly
dense composition that could be weapons. This
could take all the fun out of a non-metallic
alloy, ceramic, or composite knife...

T.
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Gollnick:
A year or so ago, a US boarder guard got a "hunch" about a fellow wishing to enter the US from Canada. There was "something about this guy" that seemed odd. So, she opened his trunk (a search that would, under most other circumstances be totally illegal in the US but is accepted at boarder crossings) and found it full of powerful explosives and other bomb components.
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Thought you might like an interesting update on that incident. I have paid attention to this one a little, since the offending gent crossed the border from my town (in Canada).

The fellow apparently was a wacko sent to blow stuff up by his islamic cronies. The border guard uncovered the trunk full of explosives and timing divices made from hot-wired timex watches. Seriously.

The "hunch" that tipped off border guard was that when he was asked for "proof a citizenship" he handed the border guard a Costco Membership card. Clearly not the swiftest fellow on the planet.

 
Put yourself in the shoes of the border guard
and try to imagine the absolutely mindblowing
"HOLEEEEEEEEEEEEE S--T!!!@#@!" feeling when
this dude's trunk was popped...
smile.gif


T.
 
I remember researching this officially for Spyderco when I worked there (choke..hairball). I searched for the response I posted, but cant find it. Anyone?

Grr.

I do remember that the FAA told me the legal limit was only a recommendation to individual airports, and that they were free to use their own protocol and regulations, and that most used the city law for the location of the airport. But our airport here in Denver told me that they give carte blanche to individual security personnel based on their own judgement. Bottom line, if you look weird, unusual, suspicious, whatever...you're gonna be targeted more often than say someone like..oh..i dunno... ME! I have walked through security with everything from a pink delica to an Endura. The most anyone ever said was "whats a cute little lady like you doin with a big ol knife like that.." Sad but true, we are judged by how we appear to others on the outside.

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http://i.am/Danelle
 
If I'm going through an Airport Security checkpoint the first thing I usually do is put everything in my pockets in my carry-on and let them just x-ray it. Then my first thing to do is head for the nearest bathroom and redistribute my gear on my person. I've never had a problem with this method or with dropping even my Leatherman Wave in the change bucket.

However, I read this in another post and was going to suggest it myself also....carry a postage paid envelope with some packing wrap in your carry on so you can drop your blade in a mailbox if you happen to find an airport rent-a-cop who thinks you are going to hijack the plane to Cuba using your Sebenza.
 
The would-be terrorist landed at Port Angeles, WA, not too far up the road from my location. I don't read much news, but am pretty sure that I recall hearing/reading that the guy was also literally sweating buckets. Drenched. And, to answer the earlier question, it was US Customs, not some rent-a-cop.

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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Gollnick:
On the other hand, it can work for us. I've said it many times, but I'll say it again since I just made a trip to Dayton, Ohio and back with my AFCK just dropping it in the change tray at each check point with no problems. I use a technique that I call "innocence by association." If you look like a gentleman, act like a gentleman, and talk like a gentleman, then any knife that you might have in your pocket becomes, by association, just a gentleman's pocket knife.
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Was this a mini-AFCK?

 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Steelhed:
One time though, I was traveling through Philly airport during the National Democratic (I think) convention being held there, and security confiscated my knife. I protested, even asked for the supervisor, but security just claimed special circumstances. </font>
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Yeah, I'll bet those "special circumstances" were, "Wow, cool knife. I want it."

It's amazing and sad just what security can get away with in the name of "security."
 
So I was dropping my dad and stepmom off at the airport. They're both collecting social security. I commented on the possibility that I'd have trouble with security for my black 3.5" lock-bladed SAK. They seemed to ignore it with the pile of other stuff I put in the tray. My stepmom said that one of her friends, a 75-year-old great-grandmother, had her knitting needles taken away by airport security because they were metal. She was pissed since she likes to knit on the plane. I sure feel a lot safer.


[This message has been edited by Jeff Clark (edited 06-04-2001).]
 
i recently went through a terminal checkpoint with my crkt classic kiss on my keys. i plopped it into the tray, saying "i have a pocket knife on my keys..." with a puppy-dog face. the woman smiled and semi-reluctantly said ok.
biggrin.gif

as to a ceramic knife: how would they be able to tell if you just kept it in your pocket? people don't go through xrays, so if it's not metal, it won't beep.
aleX.

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"i flip you... i flip you for real..."
 
Folks,

This morning I went on a shuttle from LaGuardia in NYC. Forgot that I had my Terzuola folder with titanium handles and a 3.5" plain edge blade in my carry on bag. Airport security did not pick it up. Or, the security person looking at the screen saw it, but it didn't appear to be a knife since it was folded.

If I have enough time before the flight back to check the bag if security objects, I will try this again.

Will report my results.


Alan
 
They are particularly vicious in LGA. One security officer told me "no knives allowed." "No knives at all?" I asked sheepishly. "No."
 
I must have very good luck because I almost never have any problems getting through security with my knives. I admit, however, that I never carry large knives through security. Almost everything that I ever carry is well under 3" like a BM 330 or a WH Kestrel or an Umfaan. Realistically, all anyone needs on a flight is a very light duty gents style knife. Get your tactical out of bagage when you land. At least that is my approach.
 
The bottom line is that you are at the mercy of the rent-a-cops. You have far better knowlege of the current knife laws than they do. There are two pieces of advice: 1) carry a small knife that you are not afraid to lose. 2)Carry a padded self-adressed stamped envelope to mail your knife back to you. I have easily gone through a security checkpoint with a Cold Steel 5" Gunsite and had no problem. I have also had my 1.5" SAK questioned. It is the luck of the draw.
David

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AKTI# A000150
NC Custom Knifemakers Guild member
NC Knife Knuts member
 
More scariness:

1) A friend of mine--a dealer, went to a gun shop with a small bag. He set it down on the floor, spoke with the salesman, picked it up & went to the airport.

He flew to Miami. When he got to his hotel room he opened the bag, which was his carry-on. He had picked up a bag identical to his own which had a fully loaded S&W Chiefs Special in it. No one said a word, and his flight originated here in the Peoples' Republic.

2) An acquaintance who used to work part-time for my friend described above routinely carried 2-3 Vaquero Grandes in his carry-on just to mess with the security people. He was never hassled. On one occasion he DID make an error as to his carry-on contents, though: he had just picked up an AR-15 upper after going to the Vegas SHOT Show and forgot it was in his carry-on. It wasn't spotted, either.
 
The security folks at National (aka Ronald Regan) didn't notice either. Similar thing happened to me with a Spyderco Goddard going to and from Boston about 1 2/3 years ago.

Are these reports worth posting, at least for now?

Alan

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Alan Antopol:
Folks,

This morning I went on a shuttle from LaGuardia in NYC. Forgot that I had my Terzuola folder with titanium handles and a 3.5" plain edge blade in my carry on bag. Airport security did not pick it up. Or, the security person looking at the screen saw it, but it didn't appear to be a knife since it was folded.
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