Question on flying with a knife

I travel internationally often, and usually through what are considered 'high crime' airports; Manilla, Bangkok, Jakarta, Miami, etc., and found the safest way to carry anything important is locked up inside a "Pac-Safe" travel bag locked to the inside frame of my suitcase. These bags are made with strong steel mesh sandwiched between heavy cordura nylon so are slash proof, have secure locking closures, and can be locked to other things such as the internal frames of a suitcase or backpack, or to water pipes or radiators while you are in your room or dormitory sleeping. They stop the petty thievery by airport personnel, and are great for securing your passport, cash, traveler's checks, etc. before having them locked into the hotel's lockbox or storage room. I've been using these systems for years and never lost a single item. "Pac-Safe" makes a lot of different products for travel, and some of them, such as the butt-pack that is secure against 'razor artists' on crowded busses and trains is another great item.

Stitchawl
 
I have heard of folks doing what you originally suggested (put blade in packed bag, carry on the frame) but I have not done it. I don't know why someone would confiscate the frame, or why you would not be able to discuss it with the TSA supervisor if any questions arose.
 
Don M said:
I have heard of folks doing what you originally suggested (put blade in packed bag, carry on the frame) but I have not done it. I don't know why someone would confiscate the frame, or why you would not be able to discuss it with the TSA supervisor if any questions arose.
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Do NOT expect logic when dealing with the TSA. And don't think they are above confiscating something of yours and dropping it in their pocket. It has happened and will continue to happen.
 
One more time: you may observe the inspection of your checked bag and then lock it with whatever lock you want to. When you check your bag, just request this. Sometimes, the ticket agent will say this can't be done; this is because the agent is in a hurry and doesn't want the hassle. Just insist. Ask for a supervisor. I have done this in about every major airport in America and always succeeded.
 
What Gollnick sayd is right.

And wrap you bag in plastic wrap. Its just to much of a hastle to get through it I believe. here is a link to one such machine.
http://baggagewrapping.tripod.com/

I always do it and it works well. Just struggle to take it off since you do not have a knife with you!
 
HLN news had a report on airlines that did not compensate for lost luggage. Appearently it is the law that they pay you for every cent of your property that they lose.
 
I agree with those who suggested taking your Sebenza apart and putting the parts in different areas of the bag. Wrap the blade and stick it in your pants. Keep the handles with in your socks. Put the washers, screws, and Allen wrench in a plastic bag and keep it in your shaving kit. This should deter anyone but the most determined thief as it would take too much time to find all the pieces and increases the likelihood of getting caught.

Don't forget that you are still risking losing the knife if your luggage get misplaced.
 
Kaizen1 said:
I read a funny and interesting idea where the guy said that he rubs a chocolate bar onto some underwear and wraps his knives in the underwear.
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That's a creative idea, although I'd still worry a bit about the sniffer dogs being attracted to the chocolate. ;)

There is a company (or was, I'm not sure if the manufacturer is still in business) that marketed some fake skid-marked skivvies, called 'Brief Safe', with a 'fly-accessed' secret compartment for stashing valuables. Here's a link with description:

http://www.shomer-tec.com/product/the-brief-safe-293.cfm


I like the other idea posted here about pad-locking through the hole in the Spyderco blade. Add one to the list on the other thread I saw here on BF, regarding the many uses of the 'Spydie Hole'.
 
Knives are very cheap here. Bringing a knife to the US is a little like bringing your own coffee to Columbia. Just stop at Wally World and get a 110.
 
marthinus said:
What Gollnick sayd is right.

And wrap you bag in plastic wrap. Its just to much of a hastle to get through it I believe. here is a link to one such machine.
http://baggagewrapping.tripod.com/

I always do it and it works well. Just struggle to take it off since you do not have a knife with you!
Click to expand...

Many airports are using this these days. Also using the heat-sealed strapping tape around the two dimensions. I had a problem getting into my own bags when I'd reach my destination so I began carrying a small piece (about the size of a large postage stamp) of nicely colored Flint in my pocket. Doesn't set off any alarms, and when put through the X-ray machine with my keys, wallet, watch, pen, cell phone, etc., never gets noticed or questioned. It's certainly sharp enough to cut through strapping tape or plastic wrap, costs nothing if you can find a piece on the ground, only $3-$4 USD if you have to buy it.

If you have an old worn out Arkansas stone in the workshop, they can be chipped down just as sharp as flint...

Stitchawl
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys!

The last time that I put my Sebenza into my checked luggage, I just put it in the front pocket of my jeans, and put a ziptie around the pocket from the inside. I couldn`t ziptie it to the suitcase (one of them regular plastic Samsonites), so I`ve figured that this might be a good way to "secure" it. Any potential thief would have had to find the knife first, and then either to cut open that jeans pocket or steal the whole jeans.

Of course this method is far from being theft proof, but it should at least slow down potential thieves and maybe get them to reconsider bothering with my knife.
 
A paraphrase from the Accidental Tourist: "Never travel with ANYTHING that you wouldn't be willing to lose."
 
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I personally would leave it or shipp it ahead of time to my destination. It can be waiting on you that way. Some years ago I traveled all over the country fishing everywhere I went. Never had any trouble until Miami. All of my knives where stolen there. I always like the idea of buying a new knife when I travel and usally do as my present to myself.
Ship that one back when I am ready to go home.
 
if you must travel with a knife, just take cheap sak, tug that into luggage. States are heaven for knife a holic. You can get quality knives cheap in the states. Just stop by big mall and get thing that fancies you and before leaving, mail it to yourself before taking flight back.
 
It's easy to say just buy a knife when you're on vacation but since i've owned my sebenza roughly one year i'm not really interested in any other knives. Carrying anything else seems kind of pointless to me now
 
I recently went through 3 US and 3 European airports with a few knives in my luggage without any problem. What I did was put one in my pants pocket, one in my shorts pocket and packed those in one of those space-saver vacuum-type bags. The other I threw in with the toiletries. Basic strategies were: if they don't see them, they won't take them (pants pockets), if they blend in they won't notice them (toiletries), and if I put them in different places, I should have at least one left.

Don't know if it worked or was needless trouble. I wouldn't risk my Sebenza or any other expensive knife though just on general principles.

How does the wrap work? I mean, I saw the machines but what if they decide to check your bag? It's not like a TSA lock- do they just cut it off and you wasted your money?
 
I took my Spyderco Delica 4 apart; handle + lock bar with me and blade in the check luggage. TSA stopped me and checked my D4 handle and Sharpmaker; I told him that's the handle of my knife and the blade was in the checked luggage. They played with my D4 handle with lock bar hanging/spinning. Nothing bad happened :) .

Safe trip.

akubra said:
I will be flying to the US in a few weeks, and would like to bring my large Sebenza. I`ve went the checked luggage route before, and it worked fine. However, I would like to minimize the risk of losing it/getting it stolen from my checked luggage. Hence I am considering to take it down, put the blade into checked luggage and the handle into my carry on.

What I`d like to know is, has anyone tried this, and how did the TSA people react in case that they`ve noticed the empty knife handle?
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I like the other idea posted here about pad-locking through the hole in the Spyderco blade. Add one to the list on the other thread I saw here on BF, regarding the many uses of the 'Spydie Hole'.
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I'm the guilty part on this one. It was my first reply to 101 things to do with spydie hole.

I have padlocked thumb hole knives on every trip I have taken in the past 5 years.
PROBLEM SOLVED!
champ_trophy.gif
 
stitchawl said:
I travel internationally often, and usually through what are considered 'high crime' airports; Manilla, Bangkok, Jakarta, Miami, etc., and found the safest way to carry anything important is locked up inside a "Pac-Safe" travel bag locked to the inside frame of my suitcase. These bags are made with strong steel mesh sandwiched between heavy cordura nylon so are slash proof, have secure locking closures, and can be locked to other things such as the internal frames of a suitcase or backpack, or to water pipes or radiators while you are in your room or dormitory sleeping. They stop the petty thievery by airport personnel, and are great for securing your passport, cash, traveler's checks, etc. before having them locked into the hotel's lockbox or storage room. I've been using these systems for years and never lost a single item. "Pac-Safe" makes a lot of different products for travel, and some of them, such as the butt-pack that is secure against 'razor artists' on crowded busses and trains is another great item.

Stitchawl
Click to expand...
This is quality info!!! Thanks.
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