Vacation/Travel Knives

joeradza

joeradza

Gold Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2014
Messages
10,774
What do you do when you have to travel and pass through security. I'll be going on a vacation soon and cannot check baggage so carrying a knife is out of the question.

I think I have 4 options: a) no knife - of course not
b)buy one when arriving
c)send one from home before leaving
d)buy something new and have it shipped to destination
So, what do you do?
 
Buy a new one when you get to where you're going. Just mail it to yourself before you leave. Now you have a keepsake to remember the vacation! :)
 
That's easy, Alan: buy what you've been eyeing up and send it to your destination, but in order to make sure you have something when you get there, you may as well send one of your favorites up there a day or two early. Also, you'll be someplace new! Find the nearest knife shop, pick up a keepsake and send it back with the other 2 you've been carrying! :rolleyes::cool::p
 
What you're saying Shawn is send one of my favs, buy one online and ship it, and find a store and buy one while away. Hmmm, sounds reasonable.
 
I don't travel a lot, but when I do and can't bring a knife from home I will buy one on the trip and mail it back to myself before heading home.
 
You can't go wrong with a SAK if you're going to buy when you get there, it's a given known quality and the price is right.
 
If it's domestic travel, just pick up a SAK when you get there.
If it's foreign, shop for a local product for a working souvenir.
Unless you are really familiar with local knife laws, don't bring or mail a good knife ahead.

Enjoy the vacation!
 
I usually put a knife or two in my checked baggage, never had a problem with that to date. Some airlines/airports now allow you to take a very small knife through security, but I'm sceptical about the security staff being familiar with the latest regulations, (having said that, my girlfriend, who travels a lot for work, hasn't had any problem with her SAK). If you're not checking baggage, or have other concerns, I'd just do as others have suggested, and buy something on your arrival, mailing it home before you return. Enjoy your vacation Alan :thumbup:
 
Joeradza: Tell us more about your trip. What activities will you be engaged in? Traveling domestically or to another country?

-- Mark
 
My go-to travel knife is always a SAK. Extremely predictable quality, easy availability, and moderate cost.

I don't like to check bags so I travel light. If there's a big box store where I'm going I'll just stop and pick up a SAK. Or I'll ship myself a basic model like a recruit to where I'm staying, and give it away when I leave. A grounds keeper, the guy at the rental car counter when I turn in the car, the shuttle bus driver. A SAK makes a great giveaway, everyone recognizes the red handles with the silver cross.
 
I took a Leatherman Micra and dremeled the small knife blade off and left all the other tools including the scissors. Works well enough and gets through security with a little explanation.--KV
 
I always have a checked bag and bring a knife I don't mind getting stolen. If no checked bag, I'll more than likely pick up a cheapie at the destination and leave it or mail it home.
 
On a recent trip to Mexico I read ahead and having a knife on your person was strictly against the rules so I had a small SAK in my carry-on and it stayed in my room for the journey. I would not mess with another countries rules especially one as corrupt as Mexico.

,,,Mike in Canada
 
Buy one there-should allow you to comply automatically, hopefully any local dealers will be in compliance with local codes/laws. That said , don't several companies make multitools without blades specifically for airline travel? Asks are everywhere. Different sizes too. I don't think I would take a chance mailing something, heck just in case it got lost, much less anything else. Now, all that said, I have flown with a modern clipped to the pocket of a pair of pants no problem, but I also would have been okay losing it.
Thanks,Neal
 
My wife and I fly a couple of times a year, US and Europe. I've always put a knife or two in my checked bag. I've never had a problem.

I can't get enough stuff in a carry on for a week or two away.
I've gone knife less once and didn't like it at all.
 
I'll be in the U.S. so no major problems. I think I'll mail myself one of my own. That way I can be sure of satisfaction and will probably buy one online and have it shipped there. I hope to find a decent store to pick and choose. It's been years since I actually held a knife in hand before purchasing.
 
When I travel I usually check a bag, and my pocket knife goes in the bag. My travel knife of choice is an Alox SAK Electrician or Pioneer.

If I had to travel and could only take a carry-on, unless my activities at my destination absolutely required a pocket knife, I would just do without. If I truly needed a knife, I would buy something inexpensive at the destination and mail it back to myself before leaving (or give it away if it was a true junker).
 
I guess I'm in the minority here. If I'm flying somewhere and only carrying on (no checked bag), then I'll just do without a knife for a couple days. A carry-on only trip for me probably wouldn't be more than three days. For a trip that short, spending money on a knife when I get there then having to figure out what to do with it two days later (spend more money to mail it back, or give it away) seems like a hassle, and mailing a knife to my destination in advance seems like even more of a pain.

For any trip longer than that, I'll just pack a knife (or two :D) in my checked bag. I wouldn't pack any favorite knives for a flight, just in case. Maybe take an Opinel, or at least something easily replaceable. To be honest, I much prefer a road trip to flying, in which case you can take whatever knives you want with you. Of course, driving isn't always feasible, but I try to make it work whenever possible.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top