Travelling Knives

M

Merek

Joined
Sep 24, 2004
Messages
738
I keep hearing about people travelling with knives (in checked luggage) and problems with a knife or knives being pilferred by baggage handlers.

I was wondering about the possiblity of protecting your locked knife case(s) with an exploding dye pack as is used to deter and catch bank robbers. Even if they open the case, they (and everything in your luggage, doh!:eek: ) will be marked with bright indelible ink. I figure there are likely laws prohibiting pressurized containers not to mention 'explosive' devices. ('Explosive' dye packs do not explode per se, they spray pressurized contents.)
Perhaps something similar to the ones used in stores to deter theft which need a special magnetic device to remove it.

If the airlines actually balk at any of these measures perhaps a simple tag attached to the case stating "Dye Pack Enclosed to Prevent Theft" may be enough to deter someone opening the case. :thumbup: ?:thumbdn: ?
 
As regrettable as it may be, I would bet that any of your ideas would land you in the airport security office at the least, and in jail at the worst. Considering you can't even have a butane lighter on a plane or in your luggage...........
 
Just pack a good but low-priced knife that you won't miss... wrap a $20 bill around it with a note explaining that it's a cheap POS and if they wouldn't mind too much, could they leave you your knife and only steal the $20. :D
 
If I'm ever flying and checking luggage, it's guaranteed there's a least one knife in there. I've flown back and forth between the U.S. and Europe numerous times during the past 18 months and I've never had a problem.
 
Hide the knife in something thieves won't be looking for - ie your underwear or socks. That's what I do whenever I've travel, which is usually to 3rd world places.

As for the paint marking idea - the mechanism used to make it spray is probably what airline rules would ban - ie if it's compressed gas don't think about it. Plus what's the point? - If you're trying to find the perp and get your knives back, you'd have to have a limited field to start with to look for someone with red hands. A rape-alarm thing (usually a pin you pull out makes start a piercing siren) might work tho, fitted to a knife security box, because the siren might make the thief drop your bag and run, or even better, put your stuff back in the bag and back on the airport luggage trolley assuming they're dishonest baggage handlers.
 
i have traveled all over the US with my sebenza. I take it apart and pad lock the blade in my check in. I carry the handles and screws in my carry on. If the blade walks off, it's about $150 to replace it, but I'll still have the handles etc.
 
Its not a real good answer, but I just toss a SAK or some equally useful, but not expensive or sentimentally valuable, knife in my checked baggage.

If I was going somewhere for a while and wanted something nicer I'd ship it to where I was going or, even better, have to buy something nice while I was there. ;)
 
All this hassel over air travel is just another reason to destroy the hate mongering Jihadist and return our freedoms.
 
I was not thinking so much about us guys who transport one or a few EDCs as much as I was thinking about makers like Ken Onion who transport larger quantities of high dollar (high risk) knives and have lost shipments.
It would be pretty hard to explain the dye stains and likely someone would remember a baggage handler with bright yellow hands. Even if they stole the whole shipment and opened it elsewhere they would still have to return to work before the dye wears off.
 
I was thinking about a similar topic today. My wife and I are planning to do some backpacking in Vietnam next winter. Since I`ll only be bringing one small pack I`d like to carry it on for fear of losing my luggage and showing up without a change of undies. Has anyone ever checked things like razors, knives, lighters on their own? I wouldnt worry about a knife getting stolen, as long as I dont worry about my other luggage not showing up.
 
I'm thinking an exploding dye pack will earn one a trip to jail. They are supposed to check your bagged its their job.Booby trapping luggage would not go well for you.

"Hiding" things in socks/underware is what everyone does, its like the key under the door mat.

I simply zip tie my knife to the frame of the luggage. Also every time I fly and bring my bags to the TSA folks they ask if there is anything sharp inside, as they prefer not to get cut while digging around inside, so not telling them about your "hidden" knife may not go well either.
 
i read somewhere on this forum a good suggestion; leave your knives at home and once you get to wherever you are going, go to the local walmart or other store and pick up an SAK or a spyderco, or some other quality, common, relatively inexpensive knife. then, just before leaving, mail the knife to yourself, and then you will have one more knife at home.

this seems like a good enough suggestion to me, and i plan on using this plan next time i fly.

neitron, as far as razors and other "dangerous" items, you can likely leave them at home and buy new ones before you start your hike in the local town...if the town is large enough to have a proper airport, they are likely going to have some knives and razors.

if you are using a backpacking stove, you may have trouble with it, unless you take it apart, or put it back into teh box and act like you never opened it. i assume you call some one at the airport and ask about things like that.
 
Siguy - No stove. We are "backpacking" not back-packing. Staying in cheap hostels, eating whatever local food. Travel by foot, boat, train. Basically our packs are of the towel, change-of-clothes, toothbrush type operation. Nothing too serious. Heh, on second thought if they lost my luggage I could just replace everything in, or around the airport. Cheers
 
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