What is the best/safest way for me to get my knives to the (Blade) show?

Bob Ohlemann

Bob Ohlemann

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Dec 5, 2013
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So I'm going to Blade for the first time. I don't actually have a table this year but I know lots of people and they want to see some of my knives and I want to show them off. I'll be flying and obviously can't carry the knives. So, currently I'm thinking about checking a gun in my baggage and putting the knives in the locked case with it. How do you guys handle this?

Bob
 
I have shipped them ahead and had them delivered to the hotel I was staying at and have also carried them in checked luggage without doing the gun thing,
(which is an epic pain).

They are all insured, I never bring the "truly irreplaceable" stuff.

Have never had a problem personally.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Shipping them to the hotel will probably be the least stressful way to go. Otherwise just put them in your checked luggage and hope for the best. With any luck, nobody will go digging for treasures in you luggage and everything will be just fine.
 
When I used to fly to shows I just packed them in checked luggage (no gun). The knives are insured, but never had a problem.
 
I'll be flying with a locked case and gun.
If you carry only knives in a case, the case needs to be locked with TSA locks - meaning anyone can get into them.
With a gun - only you have the key.
 
I do the same as Karl..... I have a small el-cheapo .22 pistol that gets put on the top layer of the Doskosil hard case.....declare that you have a firearm at checkin, TSA comes and checks it, then requires TWO padlocks. You keep the keys, and TSA hand carries it to the plane. In Atlanta, it gets hand carried to a special holding area (will not be on the baggage conveyor). You go to the "special" area, show them your ID, and you pick up the case.

I had a bad experience several years ago shipping my knives...... I sent them UPS overnight on a Wed....we got to the hotel on Thursday evening, and no knives. Long story short, my knives didn't arrive until just before noon on Saturday.....last time my stuff will every be shipped. I'd much rather take my chances with the airlines.

Personally, I think you take a huge chance putting knives in unlocked baggage. This year will mark my 20th at the Blade Show, and EVERY year, there is always news of someone having knives stolen out of their baggage.
 
Ask the airline to handle them like they were firearms and have you and a skycap walk the piece over to the TSA special inspection point. Delta has done that for me a number of times on both domestic and international flights. It was a Delta counter rep that actually suggested that to me back in 2008.
 
Collectors have to worry about the same issue on the way home from show. The past couple years I have picked up a Fed Ex box, packed all the knives by Saturday evening and dropped them off at Fed Ex after the Show. My entire collection is insured so these new ones are covered. They arrive back in my home or office on Monday. I have also carried knives in my luggage but must say that worries me more than anything. If they are discovered there is a good chance they will be taken. Insurance is great for getting your money back but doesn't help recover that knife you scored during a show and are so happy to own.
 
Ask the airline to handle them like they were firearms and have you and a skycap walk the piece over to the TSA special inspection point. Delta has done that for me a number of times on both domestic and international flights. It was a Delta counter rep that actually suggested that to me back in 2008.
Click to expand...

Thats interesting. We only have Delta and United airlines as choices to get to Atlanta.....and they flat will not allow a case to be locked (with anything other then a TSA loclk...which is about like no lock at all) unless there is a firearm in the case. I have to believe that TSA operates a bit differently at each airport based on the conversations I've had with other makers and collectors around the country. I'm not sure there is any foolproof way to get knives to/from any of the shows...and I'm always worried until the knife case is in my hands. :)
 
If you do go the route of putting them in checked baggage, here's an extra layer of security that's well worth checking out: http://www.pacsafe.com/travelsafe-12l-portable-safe.html. I've wrapped the cable around the frame of my suitcase and the couple of times I've flown domestically with the bag I've used a standard lock, and lock the suitcase with TSA approved locks. Never had anything said about not using a TSA lock on the bag itself, but maybe I've gotten lucky. Internationally, never had a problem. An added bonus of this bag is using it for hotel room security. You can leave your knives and valuables in it securely locked and placed and not have to worry about things "walking" out of your room. While the bag isn't going to prevent someone with a pair of heavy duty snips cutting the material, for the casual thief it will work. Any level of "security" that you use just buys more time to prevent loss, and the more hurdles you put into place to keep your items safe the less likely they will be to walking away.

Ultimately though, a firearm in a locked hard case with the knives is the way to go. If you have a CCL from another state Georgia is pretty friendly towards you carrying here as well. Here's a list of other states with have reciprocity with: https://dps.georgia.gov/georgias-firearm-permit-reciprocity

Regardless of which route you go, always have insurance. The cost is well worth not having those "oh crap" moments and you never know what kind of curveballs life is going to throw your way.
 
When I fly. Folders I role up in a pair of old underwear. Put them in a big zip lock bag with a little brown shoe polish smeared around.
 
Don I would love to go and might fly in. Due to flooding the stripers are stacking up in the bottom. We are getting boats ready for a rough adventure. If they don't corporate it could happen!
Best
Ricky Bob
 
Spread them around in your luggage put a TSA approved lock on it and don't tell anyone especially some one with the air lines. I always carry mine that way and have never had a problem.
I don't worry about TSA so much as the baggage handlers. That's why I spread them around I think the only baggage there apt to get in is one without a lock and then I think there gona reach in feel around grab one thing and take off Mailed them ahead a couple of times once a couple days ahead took 3 days didn't have any knives first day of show.

Good luck
Cliff
 
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