TSA will permit knives on US planes!

**Solo** · 03-05-2013, 09:51 PM

Here is the link to TSA's change on prohibited items list http://www.tsa.gov/sites/default/fil...ems_update.pdf

**Roamer** · 03-05-2013, 09:55 PM

Looks like TSA has now officially posted the guidelines. Confirms that the blade will be measured from tip to "where it meets the handle or hilt." Takes effect on April 25, 2013.

Knives:
http://www.tsa.gov/pil-sharpobjects

Sporting equipment:
http://www.tsa.gov/pil-sportequip

I don't own a knife that fits these criteria. My SAK Bantam is 3.5mm too long, my US knife is 4mm too long!

**Sandcut** · 03-06-2013, 03:43 PM

OK, I'm completely baffled.

If you look here http://www.tsa.gov/sites/default/fil...ems_update.pdf they show, on two separate pages, a full-sized Swiss Army knife being indicated as being an allowed item. Now I don't know if they actually went out and found a SAK that had a blade < 6mm long or if they are just using it as a gestalt or placeholder and reduced it so that the blade length fit their little diagram. The problem with that is, if you look at the diagram hurriedly, you would think "Oh cool! I can take my SAK!" and then end up losing it because the blade length exceeds 6mm. Very, very poor work on this. I can't think of one full-sized SAK that has a blade length < 2 3/8".

And what is with the prohibition on the molded handles that they demonstrate in the diagram? Are they afraid that Al Queda is going to be fake-molding platic explosives onto small knife handles? How is a molded handle deadlier than a wooden one? And for that matter, why aren't the plastic scales of an SAK considered to be "molded?" They aren't cut and shaped.

This is some of the most poorly constructed government guidance that I've ever seen.

**Panzer** · 03-06-2013, 03:47 PM

Why no molded grips?? It's so freaking stupid it makes my head hurt.

**45jack** · 03-06-2013, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Hunt4lyf

That's not a knife, it's a toothpick.

I may have my sources confused but I believe it's in Gabe Suarez book on police use of the tactical carbine that he mentions a friend who is former Mossad.
Said friend always carried a SAK, when teased about it his reply was "I've never met an eyeball that didn't think a Swiss Army knife wasn't a deadly weapon."

With that in mind I'll take whatever I can and will still have a couple sharpened pencils with me.

**gloomhound** · 03-06-2013, 04:08 PM

uhhh....

SAM_0004.jpg

**Sandcut** · 03-06-2013, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by gloomhound

uhhh....

SAM_0004.jpg

Are you showing what a 7 cm blade looks like?

**Opportunist** · 03-06-2013, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Shnick

Passengers will also be allowed to board flights with some other items that are currently prohibited, including sticks used to play lacrosse, billiards and hockey, ski poles and as many as two golf clubs, Pistole said.

WOW! How generous of them!!!
So, if on an international flight, which two would YOU take?
HMMM?

9 iron, and a Putter sheathed in a low capacity golf bag, with limited grain Nike Balls.

**subierex** · 03-06-2013, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by Panzer

Why no molded grips?? It's so freaking stupid it makes my head hurt.

I think you know the answer to that one. Same people who want to regulate other things that look scary.

**Bushcrawler** · 03-06-2013, 07:41 PM

I think the 6mm rule soley exist to rule out all SAKs. I just measured everyone of mine and they all fail by mere mm's. I'm going to take one of my US knives and grind it down to regs. But soon you'll see a rule that says no mods...