Traveling with a Busse

backpacker123

backpacker123

Joined
Apr 7, 2006
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314
Got a question. I'm traveling to Central America next spring and was wondering if anyone else had traveled with a Busse in a checked bag international.
Was wondering if customs confiscated your knives. Is it worth the risk?
 
You can check current laws but yes, it is very common to carry knives down there. The anti knife stigma is not an issue in central and south america. You can actually pick up a machete when you get there and travel around with it attached to your pack. Still need to check current travel laws, but it should not be a problem. However, since people like knives down there, they may just want yours, lol. If you are going as part of a larger guided packing group or part of some survival group, then you would likely be fine. If you are going as a just a few gringos, you may just want to pick up a machete when you get there.
 
Went to Venezuela a few years back and brought a few knives but didn't want to risk losing one of my Busses. Like Coalt said, machetes are really common and easy to find in Latin America. Almost everyone carries one down there.
Surfsidemel
 
Good advice given above, but given the chance I'd pack my INFI, life's too short to live in fear of losing a blade, IMHO...

It's on my bucket list to get in the Cent. Am. jungle with my own Mistresses... for real, not fake. :)

I've always wanted to save a tree from a strangulation fig...just baton right thru that sucker...:p
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FozDcoz.jpg
 
If it were me I’d take them! I’ve never had a problem as long as their in your checked baggage lol. However, I usually open carry very little in public if I think it could draw the wrong kind of attention. Just keep it high on the belt or in the pack, that sort of thing. Safe travels to you either way! :)
 
Gentleman, thanks for chiming in.
Gonna check with local laws down in Costa Rico.
Thinking about my HH or my BB13
 
Generally, checking items makes it go a lot smoother. If you have a destination in mind and you trust the recipients, you could ship in advance. I know a lot of people do this with really long, destination bicycle tours (not a loop back home). That's more a cost thing as they're pricey to bring on a plane (free on amtrak I guess) but similar concerns for theft or lost.

Me, personally, would take it along if i thought I was going to use it a lot.

If anything, getting it back into the US might get more questions but probably still not a concern in a checked bag.
 
I took my B11 to Montenegro last summer - I checked the airline and customs regs and nothing prohibits knives in the checked luggage.

It made it there and back safely, but next time Im going to go a step further and secure the knife with a steel cable and tsa approved combination padlock, just to keep the honest baggage handlers/inspectors honest.
 
backpacker123 said:
Gentleman, thanks for chiming in.
Gonna check with local laws down in Costa Rico.
Thinking about my HH or my BB13
Click to expand...

Costa Rica is beautiful— but Costa Rico sounds even more exotic ;)

I’d bring the BB13. Less expensive than the Heavy Heart (in case you lose it or worse) and better suited for trail clearing in that environment. However, like others have said — a cheap machete would do the trick also.

If you’re not clearing trails and cutting through dense green brush, bring the Heavy Heart — because it’s a damn Heavy Heart. I’ll never part with mine!
 
Bring it! it's absolutely fine to pack knives in checked luggage, just google TSA rules or made your travel agent earn their money by doing 5 minutes of research for you. DamascusBowie had a great idea of securing the blade in his luggage with a TSA approved cable lock. That Busse deserves a vacation too ;)
 
I think you don't really even have a choice, how do you leave a B13 at home! Cable lock is a great idea, isn't that what the talon hole is for?
 
I have traveled with fixed (mostly Busse ;) ) and folding knives (always have one of each) into and out of the US, Canada, England, New Caledonia, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, South Africa and Mozambique, plus probably a few others I have forgotten now. All in checked baggage and never had a single issue.

For peace of mind just check the Customs regulations/laws for the country you are visiting (bearing in mind Customs/Import laws can be different than local possession laws !!). There are some countries (Haiti being one i looked at based around a similar internet forum request recently) where the import as an individual is illegal but you can walk outside the airport and buy a FBK at the first marketplace you come across. That, and in many such places the "screening" of inbound luggage is not that which you may be use to in the US, far far more lax, so being "caught" is less of a risk, though actually being in trouble with the local third world police/military types at the airport is not what you want either.

An interesting thing called "the internet" can answer many questions with a search or two :D

https://costaricalaw.com/costa-rica...ctions-about-carrying-a-knife-on-ones-person/

https://www.crstours.com/costa-rica-info/important-facts/
 
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sometimes when I travel in and out of the city and I have to take a Busse I put a heavy zip tie through the talon hole and through the sheath then cinch it all the way down so it needs to be cut to take the knife out. I go to cooking contests or camping sometimes and have never been stopped or searched but crazy things happen and this way it's clear that the knife is packed for transport and not "use".
 
Our gardener in Venezuela would cut the grass with a machete. Local equipment and tools are almost always better for the region. I bring a small belt knife but buy local. Great way to grow your collection.
 
backpacker123 said:
Got a question. I'm traveling to Central America next spring and was wondering if anyone else had traveled with a Busse in a checked bag international.
Was wondering if customs confiscated your knives. Is it worth the risk?
Click to expand...
I can't speak for Central America but I travelled through south america a few times with assorted gear which definitely included my old straight handled battle Mistress ( the same one I used to kill my first dinosaur ) and a smaller Lighfoot.Greg is a great knifemaker from the Greatv White North, Travelling internationally wasn't a problem with customs or even the baggage handling, although it does make you nervous. Sometimes the whole bag doesn't show up, but I've had that happen to me in Canada. But whenever you can, keep your bag with you.

Absolutley positively number one, know the laws and the customs in the place you're going.
Actually, somebody should start a thread or a subsforum on that.
Not me

For sure, be very careful about carrying in some places. If you are en route to a hunting trip or a kayaking trip or even camping, having a Busse is even expected, and they like good knives, excuse me, great knives like these, the bigger the better. Some may like them too much. I always kept the smaller Lightfoot on me, but that isn't necessarily smart. If you are carrying in a city or even a town, assuming it is legal to do so of course, and if your Busse is not in a bag or it isn't apparent you shouldn't be robbed, then you are asking for trouble.
 
PeteyTwoPointOne said:
Good advice given above, but given the chance I'd pack my INFI, life's too short to live in fear of losing a blade, IMHO...

It's on my bucket list to get in the Cent. Am. jungle with my own Mistresses... for real, not fake. :)

I've always wanted to save a tree from a strangulation fig...just baton right thru that sucker...:p
img_3289-jpg.1012902


FozDcoz.jpg
Click to expand...
Beauties.
 
A piece of advice if you do take a busse with you. Buy a 14" tramontina before you go and pack it with your Busse. When the baggage handlers/opportunist thieves look at your bag they see cheap knives and will let it go most likely. One pretty knife by itself draws more attention than a bunch including cheap blades. Trust me stuff gets stolen all the time from your bags down there.
Blades are usually left alone unless they stand out. My SHBM never drew attention because it looked like a cross between a cleaver and a machete and there is tons of that down there.
 
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