Tomorrow marks a very important day of remembrance in the United States. We should all be talking a moment to remember and honor the lives lost on 9/11.
Each time this date rolls around, it really gets me thinking. The events of 9/11 severely impacted flight travel all over the world. Immediately the TSA outlawed a number of items from flying in a commercial aircraft. But slowly, as time moves along they are beginning to allow more and more things.
Seeing as how you are on a blog dedicated to spring assisted knives, you have no doubt wondered whether or not your knife can come with you. It is a common habit for me to just grab my knife on the way out the door, same as I would with my wallet or cell phone. I don’t think anything about it. One specific instance, I grabbed my knife and headed to the airport for a trip. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but when I arrived at the airport I realized my mistake. I was stopped by the TSA guards, and informed I could not be taking my knife with me. I could either keep my knife or take it back to my car (toeing the risk of missing my flight), or I could let them keep the knife. Luckily, I had some family there seeing me off, so they were able to take the knife with them. Thank goodness. I wasn’t about to miss my flight, but I didn’t want to see my beloved knife taken from me.
I am sure I am not the first person to experience something similar to this. The TSA has reported confiscating tens of thousands of knives each year, going to show countless people are going through what I went through, but not all of them are able to keep their knives. It’s a terrible situation to be part of, but understandable. Well, luckily for us, things are beginning to change.
Fairly recently the TSA has begun to change their rules regarding knives on planes. As of writing this, a traveler is allowed to have one knife on their person. The knife itself MUST BE less than 2.36” long and ½” wide. There is no wiggle room on this, and this only goes for folding knives. Don’t plan on taking any type of fixed blade with you. But as for now, you can take that small, beloved folding knife. However, in all honesty, you are probably better off just leaving that knife at home, just to avoid any issues. Rules and regulations are always subject to change, so be sure to check before leaving for that trip of yours. But things are beginning to look up for us spring assisted knife guys out there.
Have any info you would like to offer? Lost a knife to the TSA? Let us know in the comments below.