TSA baby-steps it towards more rational policy concerning knives on planes

I just saw this article on Yahoo! and thought I'd share it with you guys. Here's the relevant excerpt:

According to the TSA, passengers will be able to carry-on knives that are less than 2.36 inches long and less than one-half inch wide. Larger knives, and those with locking blades and molding handles, will continue to be prohibited, as will razor blades and box cutters.
Click to expand...

I do have one question though: What in the world is a molding handle? I would be very worried if my knife handles were growing mold on them
 
This will almost work - but I think the blade is 0.6 inches tall and not 0.5. Still, it is $10 - so try it and if they take it, they take it. Or grind 0.10 off the top.

( not a paid BF Dealer ))
 
Last edited by a moderator:
wow. I thought flying with a pocket knife was gone forever. Any idea how they settled on 2.36 inches? Not 2.5, or 2, or 3, but 2.36? odd number.
 
Just took the dremel to one of my Leatherman S2s. Should make the perfect travel tool. I think the law is still ridiculous but pretty stoked I won't have to check a bag just to carry a knife and multi-tool from now on.

Juice_TSA by JLeePhoto, on Flickr
 
Probably the length of a small SAK that so many people have on their keys. That quote also doesn't specify if that is the handle or blade length.

Edit: I just found the one I gave to my wife, and including the small tab the split ring goes through, the handle is almost exactly 2.36" long according to my calipers.
 
Last edited:
I think scissors with blades under 4 inches are allowed. So bring this one, and it converts to two fixed-blade knives:

(( not a paid BF Dealer ))

You can even make a Kydex sheath to hold each blade.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
From CNN.com LINK

TSA spokesman David Castelveter said the changes announced Tuesday will not slow down the screening process by requiring screeners to measure knife blades and weigh plastic bats. Screeners will use "common sense" when applying the rule, he said.
Click to expand...
Translation: We are still going to get hosed. Our only hope is to carry a Vic Classic, a knife that is so common that the screeners will have already stolen all that they want. Don't carry anything that might catch the eye (and end up in the pocket) of a screener.
 
Last edited:
I just realized that a small latchless balisong would be acceptable under these rules, as long as the grip doesn't look "molded."
 
gomipile said:
I just realized that a small latchless balisong would be acceptable under these rules, as long as the grip doesn't look "molded."
Click to expand...

I wouldn't start hawgin' steel or frantically shopping yet, unfortunately. At one point I saw it noted the the knife in question "shall not lock while in use"which is a different matter altogether. I was thinking along the exact same lines and wondering if I could get by with a friction folder that had a long "tail" on it, that much like your balisong, essentially could not fold while firmly gripped. I guess we'll just have to hope for the best and see what passes, eh?
 
I'm sorry, but all this talk about seeing what you can get away with is about like, "Let's all dangle a peanut butter sandwich in front of a bear and see what happens." Yes, you should be able to carry a regular Swiss Army Knife or a small slip joint on a plane now. That's good news, but is your time really that worthless to you that you want to test the TSA nitwits and possibly get delayed, fined, or arrested, just to see what you can get away with?
 
Runs With Scissors said:
I wouldn't start hawgin' steel or frantically shopping yet, unfortunately. At one point I saw it noted the the knife in question "shall not lock while in use"which is a different matter altogether. I was thinking along the exact same lines and wondering if I could get by with a friction folder that had a long "tail" on it, that much like your balisong, essentially could not fold while firmly gripped. I guess we'll just have to hope for the best and see what passes, eh?
Click to expand...

I was being a bit silly. Under laws concerning flight, everything you are carrying must be legal where you land. So if your flight makes a connection or is emergency diverted to a state where balisongs are illegal, you are now breaking the law.

A friction folder which meets the TSA's guidelines would be fine everywhere in the US, though, I think...
 
jleephoto said:
Just took the dremel to one of my Leatherman S2s. Should make the perfect travel tool. I think the law is still ridiculous but pretty stoked I won't have to check a bag just to carry a knife and multi-tool from now on.

Juice_TSA by JLeePhoto, on Flickr
Click to expand...

Im gonna be doing this to one of my PSTs whenever I get time, I'm thinking a wharncliff style grind.
 
crazyengineer said:
I've looked, I think it would be ok, I have a PST that I would be chopping short, as I have 3 of them, and one is rather rough. I would be more worried about them throwing a fit over having a bunch of tools, even if they were allowed
Click to expand...

I have a PST too, I'm planning on looking for one with a smaller blade, the PST is about a half inch too long. If you have three, grind down the rough one
 
cEdge said:
I have a PST too, I'm planning on looking for one with a smaller blade, the PST is about a half inch too long. If you have three, grind down the rough one
Click to expand...

One of them is serrated...and that is my rough one, I may have a bit of work making like a recurve from that
 
See if I can get a few pictures to work...it's been many years since I've been around here. This is one of the first friction folders I designed and made with my own ten thumbs. It was aesthetically a disaster, but it still lends direction and an idea towards making myself a friction folder that was TSA compliant.


photo.php


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f..._2727020026936_1792907613_n.jpg&size=920,1632

photo.php


photo.php


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f..._2727016626851_1826412895_n.jpg&size=1632,920
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top