Ubiquitous knife to pick up after plane flight...

S

Straightedge

Joined
Nov 14, 2006
Messages
12
Here's the question. You fly for business several times a year, and of course you'd like to have a knife on your person but are unable due to the TSA rules. You prefer to fly with carry on luggage only. Are there any reasonable quality, inexpensive, versatile, fairly good sized knives that are easily available everywhere that you could pick up for the duration of your trip then ditch without being out much? It would be great to identify both a good choice at Walmart, Walgreens, etc. and also one that is available at some shop found in most airports. I'd also like to identify a good quality multitool that meets TSA criteria that I could take with me as a carry on. I usually carry a Leatherman micra, but of course those are known to be dangerous weapons and verboten. I might consider just mailing myself a knife to my destination, but thats not much help on the quick several day jaunts I usually experience. And go easy on me, as this is my first post.
 
Yeah. It's called a friggin' piece of checked baggage.

The path of least resistance, least effort, and least idiocy is typically the best one. If you're willing to throw away a knife before every flight then losing one to the Big Bad Checked Baggage Monster shouldn't be all that scary.

*EDIT*
Oh, BTW, most guys here are nicer than me. Welcome to the forum. ;)
 
Thanks for the response. Of course the checked baggage route is always there, but I've often found it much less trouble for short trips up to several days to avoid checking anything. Any problems with checking big, mean (tactical) knives? In any event, I'm still hoping for some more info-packed responses, either with recommendations for a flight worthy multitool or the "ubiquitous and cheap" piece of cutlery.
 
Welcome to Bladeforums! :)

The "ubiquitous and cheap" piece of cutlery is probably a small Swiss Army Knife, preferably a model you would find pretty much everywhere, so you could get used to having that model.

When you leave, give it to one of the people you were working with.

I doubt there is a multitool you could bring on board. Even if you break off the cutting blades (knife, saw) they would worry about you dismantling the plane with the can opener. :p
 
That's a good question Straightedge. Aside from a cheep Wally-world knife the only thing I can think of is a small fixed blade kitchen/paring knife. Then you need a sheath duct tape maybe?
 
Straightedge said:
Thanks for the response. Of course the checked baggage route is always there, but I've often found it much less trouble for short trips up to several days to avoid checking anything. Any problems with checking big, mean (tactical) knives? In any event, I'm still hoping for some more info-packed responses, either with recommendations for a flight worthy multitool or the "ubiquitous and cheap" piece of cutlery.
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People don't even have problems checking firearms. Tell the airline personnel up front that you're carrying a couple of knives in your checked baggage. They might have you sign something or give you a double-swipe with the wand but the fact is it would be much less of a hassle than finding someplace to buy a knife in a town you've never been to before would be.
 
How about one of those $3.00 Chinese knock-offs of a Spyderco Delica or Endura?...The type that you buy at the check-out counter at your local 7-11 or Shell Mini-Mart.

By the time that it's time to take a return flight back home, this wonderful $3.00 "knife" will be so dull or busted in-two that it won't matter anyhow that you'd have to throw it away.:).
 
FedEx Overnight P1 the knife of your choice to yourself? :D

Seriously: Check Wal*Mart. Many of them carry a relatively decent selection of pocket folders. Some even have some decent Spydercos.

I'm with you on the checked baggage issue. I do the same thing. Or did when I was still flying. Now I avoid the airlines like the plague. Don't trust the airlines. They treat their customers like cattle, anyway. And the carry-on restrictions are simply stupid. On the rare occasions when I absolutely must fly (luckily, hasn't happened since 9/11), I would never put anything I truly valued in checked luggage. Never.
 
I travel a lot, and always take two knives with me. I do check it in, though. I won't take anything too valuable (I've 'lost' a Benchmade 705 that I had hidden in my shaving kit that was in my checked luggage...friggin' TSA thieves!). I do take a Spyderco Native or some other 'holed' folder (Which I think I'm going to replace with the Vex) and a full-sized Griptilian with the opening hole. I secure them to the inner frame of the suitcase with a lockable gun cable. Never had a problem yet in the past couple years.

As far as checking stuff in, I've managed to get my batonlite on carry-on, which is basically a flashlight and kubotan. Also consider a nice heavy metal pen to carry. Not a blade, but a decent SD item if needed.
 
Pack a prepostaged, preaddressed, priority mailer in your luggage. Takes up almost no space. When you get to your destination, buy either a nice, inexpensive knife (there are plenty of examples, like a Spyderco Byrd model) or an expensive one you've really been wanting. On the way to the airport for the return trip, drop the knife in the mail.

Every trip becomes an excuse to get another nice knife.
 
Hey GUys..

Not sure where I heard this,, but one fellow carrys a roll of duct tape and a piece of cardboard in his luggage..

first thing he does when he gets into town is hits a dollar store,, buts a cheap assed butcher or steak knife,, and makes a IWB cardboard and duct tape sheath..
When he leaves,, he simply tosses it into the garbage...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Dog Man said:
Pack a prepostaged, preaddressed, priority mailer in your luggage. Takes up almost no space. When you get to your destination, buy either a nice, inexpensive knife (there are plenty of examples, like a Spyderco Byrd model) or an expensive one you've really been wanting. On the way to the airport for the return trip, drop the knife in the mail.

Every trip becomes an excuse to get another nice knife.
Click to expand...

This is a good idea, especially buying a knife I've been wanting. I do, however, tend to get in late at nite, and my purchase options would be limited. I'll consider it, though, when the logistics work.

I fly about 70K miles/year, and usually have my Vic Deluxe Tinker and CRK Sebenza with me. The Sebenza blade gets removed and checked, along with the SAK. Little or no checked luggage theft risk. I carry the rest of the Sebbie with me on the plane.
 
Either walmart or target have some okay knives including kershaw, I would go with the Vapor for best bang for the buck in size, weight, and price. they have the even cheaper winchesters which are usually under 10$ but should hold up for a few uses.

PS: if you are ever throwing away a knife in jersey let me know where i can go to pick it up.
 
Buy a Superknife or similar folding utility knife that takes standard utility razor blades. Take the blade out before you board the plane, and buy a pack of utility razors at any convenience store.
 
Get a shoe box (or similar) put your name on it and put a knife in it. Tape it up. Voila! Check it and toss the box when you get there. Same thing on the way back. You might find one at the terminals.
 
I travel around 150K miles a year by air, usually to known destinations with carry-on luggage and alas no knife. I've made it a habit to know where the local walmarts and targets are to pick up a victorinox, buck or kershaw. Those inexpensive knives can always be sold, given as gifts or ahem... returned if they have not been abused.
 
So far I really like the Superknife idea. Are the blades really available at many places? So far no good flyable multitool ideas though.
 
Compatible blades are available at any hardware store. Any good Superknife or reasonable facsimile will take any of the standard or contractor blades.
 
Straightedge said:
So far I really like the Superknife idea. Are the blades really available at many places? So far no good flyable multitool ideas though.
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they take the standard utility blades, which you can find at any hardware store, and most convenient stores and grocery stores.

i think the idea of a cheap fb in a cardboard sheath is good but illegal in many places, and there is no way I'm carrying any knife IWB in a cardboard sheath:eek: :eek:
 
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