TSA confiscated knives- good deal or not?

[Tyrdle]

Recently I learned about what the TSA does with all the knives they confiscate at airports. I looked for some on Ebay, and to my great surprise, they were selling 20 knives for $30. There were 124 near-identical listings, and each one said, "You get what's in the picture." I thought, "Whoah!" Super cheap knives! There were even some (probably fake) Spydies in the pictures. But then there were the imitators. Other people, not the TSA, were selling fake knives for cheap, saying that they had an amazing deal and that the knives were confiscated, which they weren't. I'm still thinking about buying from the real TSA. Is it worth it?

[this_is_nascar]

I've gotten dozens of Vic Classics this way. I clean them up and sell them for $3-$5 at the flea market.

[Tyrdle]

Cool. I'm thinking about buying some for my knife collection and maybe giving some to my friends.

[Evil D]

I refuse to believe that those SOB's don't pocket the nicer knives. Nobody will ever convince me of otherwise. I won't fly unless I'm crossing an ocean.

[SG89]

I believe it's a racket. They take your stuff and then sell it or keep it. I hate flying. I only do it when forced to. I'm like a cat in water on a plane lol. Gotta get drunk or I'll start freaking out. Plus everyone on a plane is a jerk.

[demoncase]

I've never ever spied anything 'good' knifewise in the sharps bin at an airport- And that's in passing through more than 30 International and Local airports in the last 2 years....Plenty of bread knives and carving knives though- which is a bit worrying- Who lives in this day and age yet believes you can walk onto a flight with a 9" carving knife?

I have seen a really, really nice Mititoyu digital vernier caliper with the tungsten carbide jaws though...and I'm willing to bet that it's now sat, rusting, uncalibrated and unloved, in the bottom of some TSA's guys tool box.

[Monocrom]

Nothing new. They've been doing it for years. I refuse to buy due to the fact that these items are little more than stolen property being fenced by the TSA. Sugar-coat it as you wish. When you break it down, that is exactly what it is.

[awa54]

Nothing new. They've been doing it for years. I refuse to buy due to the fact that these items are little more than stolen property being fenced by the TSA. Sugar-coat it as you wish. When you break it down, that is exactly what it is.

100% agree with this, the original owner should be given the chance to have their property mailed to them, or held for pickup on their return, rather than "confiscated" and resold for profit.

I have seen a really, really nice Mititoyu digital vernier caliper with the tungsten carbide jaws though...and I'm willing to bet that it's now sat, rusting, uncalibrated and unloved, in the bottom of some TSA's guys tool box.

OMG a caliper?!? those things are more deadly than a spork!! oh the terror!

[Doc Dan]

I will not say the TSA is guilty of anything but upholding the current law. However, there was an investigative report many years back about "lost" luggage. The so-called "lost" luggage ends up being sold to stores that sell everything cheaply. Most of the time the luggage was clearly labled as to whose it was, address, telephone number, flight information, and everything. Yet it was "lost." The airlines were making a good profit from losing luggage, it seemed.

[this_is_nascar]

Nothing new. They've been doing it for years. I refuse to buy due to the fact that these items are little more than stolen property being fenced by the TSA. Sugar-coat it as you wish. When you break it down, that is exactly what it is.

Excellent point. I had never thought of it this way.

[Tyrdle]

Doc Dan said, (my quotes are broken,) "I will not say the TSA is guilty of anything but upholding the current law. However, there was an investigative report many years back about "lost" luggage. The so-called "lost" luggage ends up being sold to stores that sell everything cheaply. Most of the time the luggage was clearly labled as to whose it was, address, telephone number, flight information, and everything. Yet it was "lost." The airlines were making a good profit from losing luggage, it seemed." I do agree with Doc about how the luggage being sold was stolen property. I think that because the people walking into the airport don't know that their luggage is going to be "lost", but it's not the same way with knives. Who doesn't know that you can't bring knives on planes?! Pretty much nobody. So anyone who tries to bring a knife on a plane should have their knife taken because they are either very stupid(and should not have a knife) or trying to sneak one onto a plane (and definitely should not have a knife). I believe that what the TSA is doing is fine because you know that it is going to be taken away.



PS: When I made this thread, I was asking if buying TSA knives was a good deal, not if the TSA was being fair. :rolleyes: whatever

[SG89]

TSA knives being a good deal depends on your definition of a good deal. Are you basing it solely on price? If so then sure it could potentially be a good deal. Some people base good deals on not buying "stolen" property. Everyone's idea of a good deal is different.

[TomAiello]

So anyone who tries to bring a knife on a plane should have their knife taken because they are either very stupid.

Being very stupid is not a crime. If it were, most of our congressional representatives would be in jail.

Since it's not a crime, it shouldn't be punishable.

In fact, even if it were a crime, the taking of private property without compensation (even from criminals) is barred by the fifth amendment (takings clause) and the taking of private property without due process is barred by the fourteenth amendment (due process clause).

Taking something illegally (i.e. without due process or just compensation, under US law) is, by definition, theft.

[Monocrom]

I will not say the TSA is guilty of anything but upholding the current law. However, there was an investigative report many years back about "lost" luggage. The so-called "lost" luggage ends up being sold to stores that sell everything cheaply. Most of the time the luggage was clearly labled as to whose it was, address, telephone number, flight information, and everything. Yet it was "lost." The airlines were making a good profit from losing luggage, it seemed.

And that is why during the very rare times I fly, I pack only inexpensive clothes in my bags. Though I can often get by with just a carry-on. Even better.

[Tyrdle]

TomAiello, I never said that being stupid is a crime. What I said meant that if you don't know you can't bring knives on planes you probably shouldn't carry knives around. I wasn't arguing that being stupid is a crime either.

[Monocrom]

PS: When I made this thread, I was asking if buying TSA knives was a good deal, not if the TSA was being fair. :rolleyes: whatever

Hey, you know what?...... Excellent point!

One, it would depend on the item in question as you're going to see mostly cheap pocket-knives and other such cheap items sold in bulk since we're dealing with the general Public. Most of which is comprised of folks who think anything over $30 for a pocket-knife is a stupid waste of money. But once in awhile you'll find quality items every now and then.

Two, hey; if you like owning stolen property and have zero morals about that..... Well, been my experience you won't find too many fellow forum members on this site who'll agree to your way of thinking. Welcome to the forums. And feel free to leave anytime and never come back. I don't speak for anyone but myself. Still, since you're new here; yeah you're not going to get a ton of understanding with that mentality from most of the other forum members here. Once again, welcome to the forums.... And welcome to my Ignore List.

P.S. ~ Feel free to leave an insulting comment in reply. Guys like you can't help that sort of thing. Just know, I won't see it. I don't care. Have a nice day. :)

[Tyrdle]

TSA knives being a good deal depends on your definition of a good deal. Are you basing it solely on price? If so then sure it could potentially be a good deal. Some people base good deals on not buying "stolen" property. Everyone's idea of a good deal is different.

Spydergirl, my definition of a good deal is getting knives worth what I am spending. I personally am okay with what the TSA is doing with the knives and I just want to know whether the knives are worth it. That's why i made this thread, to know whether the knives are worth it, not to debate the legality of knife confiscation. :o

[Tyrdle]

Ugh. Monocrom. I realized, he's the one who started the debate on whether the TSA was fair, which was not the purpose of the thread. And now it's blah blah blah you will have no friends blah blah i hate you. Just great.

[SG89]

Tyrdle, without more details it's hard to say whether it's a good deal money-wise. You mentioned there may be spyderco fakes in the lot. Why pay any amount of money for fake knives? If you need 20 used, confiscated knives of varying build quality then go ahead. I understand the thrill of a grab bag situation with a variety of knives but you need to ask yourself do you want one good new knife or many used knives? Not trying to rag on you at all. We're all friends here just having a discussion. :)

[Tyrdle]

We're all friends here just having a discussion. :)

Except for Monocrom. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: But thanks for your help with this idea, now I am beginning to want to buy the confiscated knives less and less. You're probably right, it would be much better to buy 1 $60 spydie than to buy 40 pieces of junk for the same. I was just thinking I could keep a few, fix some of them, clean them maybe, and sell them or something. I really need to make my Spydie collection bigger and zero junk knives is more than you need. :D