TSA laws changing, now I need another pocket knife...

M

madchild1

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Nov 13, 2011
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As Im sure you all know, the TSA has recently approved taking a knife under 2.36" x 1/2" thick through security.

I travel A LOT for work. Sometimes my trips are long enough that I have to check luggage, and will throw one of my many EDC knives in to carry about when I arrive at where ever I am going. However more often than not, my trips are short and I dont check luggage. For years, I've hated not being able to have a knife on my person.

Ive recently been looking at smaller knives that would be TSA approved, like Victorinox and Case Peanut's. What I really want is something that conforms to TSA, but also has a pocket clip, but I cant find any.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
 
Most Vic SAKs don't meet the TSA limits either... As far as I can tell, the only ones that would qualify are the Classic / keychain-sized ones.

91mm SAK (Super Tinker) measures 2.75"
SAK_91mm_blade_full_800x434.jpg


85mm SAK (Cadet) measures 2.5"
SAK_Cadet_Length_800x309.jpg


If you only count the cutting edge, they they qualify. But if you read the TSA prohibited items list, it states "The blade length is measured as a straight line extending from the tip of the blade to the forwardmost aspect of the hilt or handle."
 
Nothing I know of with a pocket clip but there are usable "tiny" knives that will work. The biggest SAK that will make the blade limit is the Executive. It has 2 blades, scissors and a wierd but useable citrus cutter with a tiny "guthook" a serrated edge and a screwdriver tip also a pointy nailfile that you cabn abuse. Not big but very handy. There a numerous small slipjoint patterns like Peanuts, small stockmen, tiny trappers etc that will work.
I wonder if the TSA standard will get readjusted to allow basic everyday SAKs, that is what most people travel with anyway, not really a weapon but a great tool.

AG Russell's Ultimate Penknife and SOG's Microns are tiny but useful too. Too bad a Gerber LST is not gong to pass; inexpensive but useable.
I am actually having fun looking into what I will be able to fly with soon. Not my usual BM Ritter-Grip but still a blade.
 
I've always checked baggage just so that I could have a knife when I traveled. But that doesn't help. I'm hoping at Sal Glesser will design a TSA Spec knife and put it into production soon.
 
There's already a thread of over 100 posts discussing it, but I'll throw my 2c in here anyway:
I'll try my SAK Executive or CASE Swayback Jack, but neither has a clip.

If that's what I wanted: clip, non-locking, under 2.36"
Spyderco: Squeak or Pingo. From the specs it looks like Sal DID design a TSA knife, with Anso and Voxnaes. Pingo is a two-hand-opener, but has a clip.
 
My work knife is a Victorinox Stylus. No clip, but it has a lanyard ring. Can't see the benefit of carrying it instead of tossing it in the checked luggage with my work gear. :confused:

Seems like a total PITA otherwise. If it's in my carry-on bag, then I gotta wonder if the inspectors have to go digging through there to find the knife and measure it. If it's in my pocket, it's yet another headache like shoes, change, watch, wallet, computer... Not to mention international flying - landing and going through customs should be OK, but what about connecting flights in the foreign countries and their restrictions on sharp tools?

Not worth the hassle.
 
Just don't bring anything nice in your checked on luggage. The TSA will steal it. I'm waiting for the American people to snap out of the apathy and protest the TSA. It would only take a few days of boycotting airports to have the TSA kicked out.
 
Emerson Knives is making a TSA compliant knife called, "The Hummingbird." I don't know when the ETA is. You may want to check their sub-forum if you're interested.
 
The most productive area to find good selection of knives meeting their qualifications is in traditional pocket knives. Several good choices.
 
madchild1 said:
Ive recently been looking at smaller knives that would be TSA approved, like Victorinox and Case Peanut's. What I really want is something that conforms to TSA, but also has a pocket clip, but I cant find any.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Find a Vic small enough to conform to rules and slap a clip on it

Clip2.jpg



Clip3.jpg
 
Chris Pierce said:
I'm hoping at Sal Glesser will design a TSA Spec knife and put it into production soon.
Click to expand...

He's probably looking into it, but I don't know if it's likely that such a knife will happen. The TSA requirement isn't just <2.36", it's also <.5" wide. Spyderco could do it, of course, but it would make putting a Spyderhole on the blade purely ornamental, not functional. I don't know how wide the Bug is, and that's their smallest.

Might as well go with a Case Peanut, Sway Back Jack, or some other small slipjoint.
 
What I'll do when I get a chance, is I will take my UTX-70 blade, make a realistic looking folding handle, and keep my real handle separate, and when I'm on the plane, I'll reassemble the X7 and see how it flies.
 
HALO V said:
What I'll do when I get a chance, is I will take my UTX-70 blade, make a realistic looking folding handle, and keep my real handle separate, and when I'm on the plane, I'll reassemble the X7 and see how it flies.
Click to expand...

That sounds like an exceedingly bad idea to me.
 
HALO V said:
Ehh, I don't have much to lose but a small beat up knife.
And, I doubt they'd say anything about it.
Hell, I may not even make the handle at all.
Click to expand...

You want to take a prohibited item aboard a plane (illegal), turn it into a switchblade and take it across state lines (illegal), and you think all you can lose is your knife?:confused:
 
Planterz said:
You want to take a prohibited item aboard a plane (illegal), turn it into a switchblade and take it across state lines (illegal), and you think all you can lose is your knife?:confused:
Click to expand...

First off, I'm pretty sure nobody will give a damn about a 1.9 inch little knife shorter than a Swiss Army knife that looks like a USB drive, SECOND, it is legal to take an automatic knife across state lines, and who's to say I'm not flying from Flagstaff to Tucson?
Or, I could be flying in a private jet...
 
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