portable mini-tool sans knife?

S

SpyderJon

Joined
Jan 27, 2002
Messages
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Howdy! I'm wondering if anyone can give me a good suggestion for a mini-tool (pliers based) that doesn't have a knife? I travel quite a bit, but the frustrating thing about this is you can't take a LM on planes, and many other multi-tools also feature knives. Heck, SOME security checkpoints even give you grief and confiscate anything with Scissors. I've looked at the Serbertech stuff but people say the metal they're made from is too soft, and looked at the SwissTech ones, but the handles really look like they could cause some bad pinching if they folded. Any thoughts? what do YOU take on the plane? Thanks!

Sincerely,
Anthony
 
Hi. I don't know if this would help but on the SOG power pliers you can loosen the retaining nuts and remove the knife blades. You'd also probably have to remove the awl while you were at it. Hopefully you could then carry the tool in your carry on. Good thing is you could put the knife blades and awl in your check in luggage and reinstall them on the pliers when you get to your destination.
 
SpyderJon said:
I've looked at the Serbertech stuff but people say the metal they're made from is too soft,
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They may have repaired this problem. I know 2 people that have them. 1 bought his when they first came out. It seemed to wear out very quickly. The other person bought his a year ago and is happy with it.
 
Has Victorinox ever put out anything without a blade on it?
Bottle opener, very blunt screwdrivers, hook, round-tipped file. Maybe some funky no-point substitute or a corkscrew.
Oh yeah, and pliers. Could be called "The Castrato".

Or are they hoping this BS will end someday? :mad:
 
I take a Swisstool Utili-key.

If they have a bird and confiscate it, no big loss.

So far, so good.
 
Thanks for the responses so far! I worry about the Utilikey simply because in order to use the bottle opener and the phillips (sp- brain no work good today) you seem to have to grasp the sharpened blade part of the tool.

AFAIK Vic DOES make a model without blades, but I think it has scissors. Say, anyone know anything more about the possible upgrades at serbertech? Thanks again, and please let me know.

I don't really want a full-size multitool, simply because I don't do anything that requires one. I was just hoping to get SOMETHING that works but doesn't get the hairy eyeball from the TSA toughs.

Sincerely,
Anthony
 
even without a blade, you probably wont get your multi tool on a plane....the pliers part alone is more than enough to seriously harm someone....remember-- 9/11 thugs had only a box cutter
 
SpyderJon said:
Thanks for the responses so far! I worry about the Utilikey simply because in order to use the bottle opener and the phillips...
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When using the cap lifter on the utilikey, you grab and prize up using the philips end, not the blade. The philips driver is best used with the utilikey opened at 90 degree. Works fine.
 
Unfortunately, you effectively can't take any useful tool on board a plane in these "enlightened" times. Pliers are out. Screwdrivers are out. So you need to eliminate more than just a blade.

Signs of the times I guess....
 
I have a list of all the things the FBI considers "concealeable weapons". The stamped metal things are on the list so I the screeners have a copy I would guess anything on it would be verboten. Some of the things are really kind of silly but somebody at the FBI has done their homework.
 
I've seen that document... I think all it'lld do is encourage people to get a lot of those plastic razor blades *sigh*
 
madhaha said:
I know this isn't what you're asking about but you can get "multitools" which are just flat pieces of stamped steel like this:
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I picked up one of those about 25 years ago, and I've still got it, with the woodland camo plastic cover -- my "combat credit card"

I used to use it as a straight edge for lining out empty boxes on documents :D
 
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