Pocketknife for Travel

[jimfbte]

Aloha,

Like most, I put my blades in the check-in baggage. Always a Victorinox small Tinker (my EDC) and usually an extra blade such as the $20 Kabar Dozier folder.

However, I have been successful in carrying a 2 inch blunt nose Fiskars "kiddie" scissors in my carry-on and have never had it taken away. It cost less than $2.00 and will cut many things.

In a pinch, I take my Tinker's Phillips screwdriver, separate the scissor blades and sharpen one blade to a much steeper angle and use it as a knife. I carry either a pocket-pen sized diamond sharpening rod or a square of emery paper for that purpose. Or I might pre-sharpen one side ahead of time.

Jim

 

[2brothers]

I am actually surprised no one has mentioned a ToolLogic card.
I've carried one forever.
Get one with the compass/magnifier. Very sheeple friendly.
It's basically a flat SAK. Swiss A offers a card too.
I haven't read every reply here whether you are carrying on or checking your luggage
but I've taken it through checked luggage without a problem.

They are also very inexpensive in case it is taken.

mike

 

[synghyn]

I decided on a SAK Officer, about a 3" main blade and a bottle opener, the all important bottle opener . I'll probably take a couple other similar and see what I feel comfortable carrying. Now my problem is the scales on the Officer were cracked and I just couldn't put up with that, so I'm throwing some new jigged scales on it, sort of a herringbone pattern, looks good on the SAK shape.
Now I'm worried about ending up loosing it because I'm more attached to it now that I've put the work into it, hehe why oh why do we do this to ourselves?
Oh and to answer one of the later posters, yeah I'll be checking the bag through, not carryon.

Thanks for the thoughts folks, any more would certainly be welcome.

Syn

 

[eisenhower]

case sod buster jr. is nice

 

[neeman]

so it's remarkably easy for me to grab an Israeli to grill on this type of stuff, I just hadn't thought of it yet.

Thanks for your thoughts and feel free to throw out any more if you know anything useful or have any thoughts on it.
Syn

Syn,
I am living in Israel for 25 years.
I am telling you the level of daily security.
It is a real pain in the ....

So many people carry guns.
But show them a knife and they get freaked out!

If you carry, carry a small SAK.
And post how it goes.

 

[enix]

I live in Wichita. Your right it is pretty horriable, but I have been to way worse.

 

[Monocrom]

I am actually surprised no one has mentioned a ToolLogic card.

The problem with that card and the ones made by Victorinox are that they contain a small fixed blade knife.

I could just imagine the look on a Screener's face when he discoveres that among the tools contained in the card.

 

[skunked]

The last 8 countries I was in I just carried my Vic Cybertool and left it at that. And everywhere (except Dijbuti) I saw SAK for sale. As for carrying a kitchen knife wrapped in newspaper.....almost nothing would scream 'SHIV' louder..heck, here in the States one of those folding utility knives aka "Superknife" are what? 8 bucks and you could leave it with your host or just hand it off to the nearest working type guy UPS, Fedex, maint. guy etc.
My 2 cents, most of us worry too much.

 

[LukeC]

A Leatherman Juice or Squirt model would be a good travel companion. I just spent 5 months in Central Asia and a LM KF4 was always with me, and I used just about every tool on it. I wouldn't call them cheap or disposable, but I guess that's a matter of opinion...

 

[synghyn]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone, I appreciate it.

Neeman, I really appreciate your input. Being as you live there I take what you have to say very much to heart. Like I said, I decided on a SAK Officer, which is a small SAK. About a 2.5" blade, and a bottle opener. I honestly cannot think of a less offensive knife to carry. It also has carved bone scales on it now, which make it look even less scary and more heirloom pocket knife. I'll carry that and see how it goes. If the security is too bad a problem, I guess I'll leave it at the hotel. I'm also going to take along an even smaller warny, and for the absolute minimum a SAK executive, one of those 1" blade, 1" nail file, 1" scissors SAKs. I've never been a fan of the card tools, but if it seems like the pocket knife is too much of a problem, I may pick up a small leatherman or similar locally to carry. I fly out in the morning, so I'll see how it goes soon.

Syn