NTSA Confiscated Knives

Rudderjt

Rudderjt

Joined
Apr 9, 2005
Messages
442
Just curious, but I seem to see lots of NTSA confiscated knives on eBay. Does anyone know how a person gets a hold of NTSA confiscated knives, who gets the money, or what's the story? I know airport security is picking these up and I'm smart enough to leave my knife at home when I fly, but I know oversights happen and folks forget and I'll bet a lot of them come out of ladies purses who didn't even remember they had a SAK. Just seems like highway robbery to me and I don't know how to cash in on it.


Jack
 
This is a really important topic for me as I had to surrender a leatherman wave at LAX a little over a year ago...and I had to do the same with a couple of small SAK's before that. I personally think this practice should be illegal...not in the surrendering part...but in the reselling part. Don't you think it would make more sense for TSA to offer mailers so that you can just pay a dollar or two and then address your envelope so that it can be sent to you?
 
aza77 said:
Don't you think it would make more sense for TSA to offer mailers so that you can just pay a dollar or two and then address your envelope so that it can be sent to you?
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It would cost more than a dollar or two.
1. the packaging
2. storage of packaging
3. space allocation at checkpoint for packaging
4. handling and transport of goods to facilitate processing

By confiscating it and then reselling it, they don't require packaging and related expenses.
They just throw everything into a bucket and then compensate their time and effort by selling it off in large lots.

Not trying to be a killjoy, but they don't care about the flying public.
Otherwise they would not make ridiculous rules like not being able to carry more than 4oz in a container, but you can have 5 containers for 20oz. Don't try bringing through a 20oz soda though.
 
They could put a letter postbox and just carry a SASE with you having sufficent postage and put your high dollar EDC that you forgot to put in checked lugage in it and all done no sweat . I can rember back in the early 70s I was seeing my wife of at the airport and knifes were not allowed I left it with the security guy for 15 minutes when i can back the supervisor had it in his pocket on his way out the door sending your knife to yourself wil help stop security from becoming thiefs.
 
Shaman,

I was envisioning a usps collection box with something similar to the automated usps machines they have for spitting out the postage. I really think it's a better solution...the federal government still gets a benefit (forced postage) and it seems like less work for all involved...without many passengers getting too mad...
 
my wife had this happen to her in portland me. they told her she could mail it to our home.they had a post box there so no problem.so please put the blame where it belongs[like uno yes]
 
aza77 said:
Shaman,

I was envisioning a usps collection box with something similar to the automated usps machines they have for spitting out the postage. I really think it's a better solution...the federal government still gets a benefit (forced postage) and it seems like less work for all involved...without many passengers getting too mad...
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TSA is a Gov. contracted agency with a chip on their shoulder. Not all, but enough.
Smaller airports, like Portland (where I fly out of on Tues.) have Airport personnel that advocate for consumer interest as they compete with Manchester and Boston. Your larger airport is not going to bother, especially since they can MAKE money by confiscating your goods and turning them around to bring back money into their system.

Just stating the reality of the world.
I work in public service and I know first hand how hard it is to do something that is customer service oriented when everyone else just wants the easy way out.

I'm not arguing on their behalf. Sheesh.
You don't have to argue with me about WHY they are doing what they are,
or how nice it would be if they cared more about you. It just 'is'.

Want to make a change? Go to your representative and advocate for 'Flyers Rights'.
Do a search for NTSA on eBay and look at all the little cuticle scissors and crap they confiscate.

Two piece (to hide the profile) poly-carbonate knife can be easily hidden and do way more damage than a SAK.
The whole policy is fear mongering at its worst and a public show of concern that amounts to nothing in the way of avoidance.
 
Small knives from Manchester go to the "White Farm" state surplus
sales barn in Concord. I never saw anything bigger than a swiss army knife
as far as edged tools when I visited, and only saw one Leatherman multi tool
which was pitted. No Leathermans or Buck knives makes me wonder what
they do with them in NH.
 
If the TSA inspectors had a brain they would be dangerous. It is not just knives, it's everything. I recently flew out of a large east coast airport and was subject to a "hand check" of my carry on stuff. Well, I thought I had complied with all the rules but when the guy emptioed out my little plastic baggie of toiletries he came across a "95% squeezed out" travel size of toothpaste. I mean it was empty and should have been replaced before I left. Well he looks at the tube and informs me it was 3.3 ounces and that was over the 3 ounce limit. When I pointed out it was empty he said it didn't matter, it was still over the limit.

Next time I fly I will have at least a half dozen tubes of toothpaste (3 ounce tubes) and according to "Mr brainless" that would be o.k. P.S. he did give me the option of returning to the ticket counter and checking the empty tube.......so I presune the same option would be avaiable for a knife.
 
If y'all come across a little wood scaled Boker whittler it's mine and I want it back. :mad:
 
you can talk to your representative until you are blue in the face and it will do no good.This government has got us exactly where they want us.they are going to take more freedom in the name of safety until we are a complete police state.
 
BOXCAR said:
you can talk to your representative until you are blue in the face and it will do no good.This government has got us exactly where they want us.they are going to take more freedom in the name of safety until we are a complete police state.
Click to expand...

"They who would give up an essential liberty for tempoary security, deserve neither liberty or security."
-Benjamin Franklin

I like Buck knives.
 
Shaman said:
It would cost more than a dollar or two.
1. the packaging
2. storage of packaging
3. space allocation at checkpoint for packaging
4. handling and transport of goods to facilitate processing

By confiscating it and then reselling it, they don't require packaging and related expenses.
They just throw everything into a bucket and then compensate their time and effort by selling it off in large lots.

Not trying to be a killjoy, but they don't care about the flying public.
Otherwise they would not make ridiculous rules like not being able to carry more than 4oz in a container, but you can have 5 containers for 20oz. Don't try bringing through a 20oz soda though.
Click to expand...

A couple of years ago, I flew from New England to Las Vegas forgetting that I had a Leatherman Micra in my pack. It made it out to LV :) However, they found it when I was leaving to head back home. They were fairly cool about it, showed me where I could put it in a mailer to send back to my home address. Putting it in my checked bags was too late as they were checked at the curb. It cost about $8 but I got to keep it. I know the laws, just forgot it was in my pack... I still remember traveling with my pocket knives on flights and it was not an issue.

Oh, and those knives in NH, I'm sure they are in somebody else's home - lol
 
"Just seems like highway robbery to me and I don't know how to cash in on it"
it is :)
last time they took a very dangerous deodorant because it was over 100ml :D
 
I used to work at an airport. By the restroom near our office was a storeroom in which we found 3 copier paper cases full of scissors that had been confiscated from passengers. Most were cheap junk but a half dozen choice pieces and a hemostat managed to follow me home.
 
I doubt the TSA is trying to make money confiscating stuff. The guys at the bottom who actually search your bags will never see the money. At best, they might be able to pocket something nice when nobody is looking. Selling the stuff off is a better way of getting rid of it than just thowing it in the trash. Somebody might use it some time.

Some commerical companies have set up kiosks with pre-paid mailers. Unfortunately, the ones I've seen have been outside of security, so once you get into the line you're out of luck.

The 3 ounce rule is the dumbest thing ever. 99% of the travel-sized items and empty bottles I've found are 4 oz (about 100 milliliters).

A year or two ago, I had a multitool show up in my carry-on AFTER I got off the plane and was unpacking. That got checked on the way back. ;)
 
Tohatchi NM said:
A year or two ago, I had a multitool show up in my carry-on AFTER I got off the plane and was unpacking. That got checked on the way back. ;)
Click to expand...
Yeah that highlights the inconsistency. The last time i flew (a few years back but well after 9/11) they were very diligent and closely checked the boots i was wearing, my cameras and the old discman i had in my carryon. A friend of mine flew a few months ago and used his regular backpack as a carry-on. Everything went through no problems. He landed at his destination drove to his lodgings and settled in and unpacked his bags.At the very bottom of his bag what does he find? His Spyderco Endura! He had been hiking the day before and had forgotten to put it away before going to the airport! Needless to say he put it in with his checked baggage on the return flight.
 
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