Mr. Tenacious meets Airport Security

[Blueboost]

Away we go, my new wife and I to NYC on our honeymoon. Off to stay at the Four Seasons. Life is grand!

Departing from Tampa International, a last minute suggestion was made during check in by our skycap. Combine two bags into one, to save the $40 (I think) fee for an additional checked bag. My wife shoves some things around, and off we go.

Off come my shoes, my belt, this that, bags go through the Xray, my TAG Heuer and my wedding ring are nervously out of sight for about 5 seconds while traveling on a little tray through the scanning machine. Back and forth I went, half clothed, still setting off the alarm. Oops! Cell phone! How nerve wracking. Then I hear "OH MY GOD, BABE!!" and I look up, and see my wife, with airport security and our carry on, unzipped, with my SPYDERCO TENACIOUS CLIPPED TO THE MIDDLE POUCH FOR EVERYONE TO SEE! Thanks babe!

Immediately thoughts of where that wand that they kept waving over me was going to be placed next, what room I was going to be escorted off to, how many years I was going to be in prison, etc. I say to them "Just throw it away. That bag was supposed to be checked, it was a mistake." A guard comes with gloves, removes it in full-on CSI style, and offers me a very "you dont want to do this" option of mailing it home. We are in a rush, I am nervous about the situation, so I tell him "Its a great knife, its like new, someone keep it, I don't have time to mail it home and it will cost me half the price of the knife." He carrys it off. I yell out to him "Don't let it go to waste!"

We move along. I'm slightly depressed, realizing I was more connected to my Tenacious than I thought. Time for a 8:30am bloody mary, extra bloody strong.

The whole point of the Tenacious was proven at that moment when I lost it. It was my EDC, meant for putting in a good days work. A knife that without having said it, made a pact that any day it could leave the house with me, and be expendable enough to not come home (I say this in a domestic non shady usage sort've way). The Tenacious replaced my CF Military and LUM folding Tanto. Two knives I retired in fear of anything happening to them.

The night I got home, I jumped online and ordered another Tenacious. It's been my EDC since the day it arrived. Sypderco's have traveled with me daily since I was first allowed to EDC at the age of 10 or so.

I know all about it. 20 years of wearing away the right side pocket of my jeans, clipping the side of those plastic rubbermaid lawn chairs and getting yanked out when you get up. Those **** needle point tips on the delicas and enduras. The confidence inspired by knowing theres quickly deployed protection at your side at all times. Being the guy all my friends and family default to as soon as something needs to be cut open. To the look I give my junk mail and my bills when I say "I will cut you!"

Thanks Sal and Co. for the perfect knife for the perfect job. And Tenacious #1, wherever you are.. You were replaced, but not forgotten!

So much for saving that $40, eh?

[gbelleh]

Air travel is such a hassle these days. I recently accidentally brought 2 knives in a carry-on bag. They somehow got through security both ways! Glad you got your Tenacious replaced. I'd rather give the $40 to Sal and Co. than the airlines.

[SecSpyral]

That story was worth the 40 bucks. Thanks for the tale

[jlamb]

To be honest, I usually glaze over knife stories, but I am now sure glad I read yours. Great story!!

[Toad310]

Dude,

Sorry to hear of the loss of your knife. You know the TSA guy has it now.

I collect, and wear Rolex watches, and I will never remove mine, no matter what. NO! NO! NO! These people we have at the airport, the TSA, are not trustworthy.

If they ever tell me to remove my watch, I will leave the airport, get a rental, and drive home, and I Don't care if it is across the country. Out of the country, I guess I would see who I know with a private jet, pay for one myself, or send the watch Via Fed Ex.

If I ever forget a knife, I would like to snap the blade from the handle, and then go on the aircraft.

My Wedding trip Spyderco Knife fiasco at London Heathrow.

Here is what happened to me in May 1996 on my wedding trip. My wife Patti, and I were married in St. Andrews, Scotland.

My Dad was from London, and became a naturalized citizen by the US Army in WWII. I have many relatives in London, and I used to live there in my summers.

Coming home from London Heathrow, I had a Tuf-Ram Co-Pilot. I had money clipped to it, but a lady screener freaked out, yelling "Oh my God, he's got a knife!"

She just freaked! Yelling he has a knife!

So...the police showed up with a Rep from TWA, and this is some of what I said in my most polite, well mannered tone: "My Father gave me that knife, and he is dead I am not going to just give it up." I look at the officer, and say: "Officer, here is the deal. I am a gentleman, however, I am ready right now, to fight you for the knife, and go to jail, or you can give it back to me, and I am leaving the country."

The officer stared at me, then handed me the knife back, and said "Have a nice flight, sir."

Back to the metal detector, and the lady is still all charged up. I told he to back off, I have the knife, and TWA, and the police said I can take it aboard.

When all of this started, I told my just married Wife to get on the plane, and I will take care of this. I did said I may have to take a later flight.

Of course that was years ago, and if I pulled a stunt like that now, I Don't even want to think of what they would do.

Air travel, the most wonderful mode of transportation ever in the history of mankind, has been ruined. Just ruined!

These nuts still want to get an aircraft, a heavy if they can, and the airlines have no motivation to make your trip a good one. Try complaining that your soda is flat, and the Fed's will be waiting for you at the gate.

I have been a traveler for 47 years, since I was 3. In the 60's and 70's air travel was wonderful. The service was great, no gate hassles, no ID required, it was just luxury. People derssed up to travel. In the 70's and 80's, I always wore a suit, and tie when I flew.

The Luxury, and service is gone. All gone. Heartbreaking, really.

The travel industry for meetings and conventions has collapsed, and it may take a generation for it to come back, but the service in air travel will never return. Sad, very sad.

I just Fed Ex all our equipment, and the client has to pay for it. With the airlines charging, you may as well just ship your suitcase to your hotel, and forget the checking in of anything.

Remember to pat yourself down at home. I have my wife pat me down... well, I Won't get in to that here. You can figure it out.

That's all for now.

Best,

Toad

PS... I had the Co-Pilot clipped to my suit when I was married. I still have it in my collection.

[unit]

Great story!

I agree with your EDC sentiment. I have some pricey stuff, but I am happiest when I carry one of my Enduras. Most TSA agents probably have a nice collection of mid-priced knives, but I would like to believe they would find my Enduras special enough to keep

[Splice]

I really hate air travel. I'm paranoid of losing my knives to the point where when I go anywhere I just hope that I won't end up needing one. I leave all my sharp stuff at home. Thankfully I really have no need to fly anywhere.

[feeny]

...and most annoyingly, the whole air-security/TSA value offering, is, in my opinion, one of perception rather than anything tangible...

[ChapmanPreferred]

Interesting story and I'm glad you made it through that ordeal without adding anything to your perminent record.

[SecSpyral]

Toad that's crazy they let you just take it with you. It's amazing how things have changed in such a short amount of time

[2cha]

...and most annoyingly, the whole air-security/TSA value offering, is, in my opinion, one of perception rather than anything tangible...

I'll second that. You pilots out there--would you surrender your plane at knife point? I used to live in pilot land--Prescott, AZ, I have a family member who is a commercial pilot, and I know numerous private pilots. I doubt any pilot I know would surrender control of his or her aircraft at knife point, even moreso since 9/11. I find the whole idea preposterous. I think the whole thing is to make us feel like the gov. is doing something.

[Phadreus]

I'm going to Ireland on Tuesday. As I was packing, I took out my Assist from my backpack, my leatherman, and even my Bug from my keychain. I didn't enjoy the feeling I got as I removed every blade from my EDC setup.

[npueppke]

Cockpit doors are reinforced, and locked from the inside anyways, since 911. There is no way to get through the door with a knife, and no way the flight attendant can open the door if he/she is threatened by a hijacker.

[Donut]

RIP, Mr. Tenacious.

Maybe work in peace if it found the right owner. :)

[Zoldner]

I know what you mean, I went on a flight to Florida for my cousin's wedding and I had to leave my knife at home. I was very close to buying a small cheapo knife there just so I didn't feel so naked without one.

[fifthprofession47]

Great story!

I agree with your EDC sentiment. I have some pricey stuff, but I am happiest when I carry one of my Enduras. Most TSA agents probably have a nice collection of mid-priced knives, but I would like to believe they would find my Enduras special enough to keep

Try looking up "TSA Knife" on Ebay. IIRC, they sell the knives they confiscate.

[ChrisR]

Cockpit doors are reinforced, and locked from the inside anyways, since 911. There is no way to get through the door with a knife, and no way the flight attendant can open the door if he/she is threatened by a hijacker.

While I think that it's mad to confiscate nail-clippers or tweezers or even a tiny Bug knife, there have been several well-publicized cases where drunk passengers have turned violent and attacked crew or passengers so I think banning knives in cabin baggage is probably justified. We can always put knives in the hold luggage so it isn't a big deal really :) For me the main issue is that airports still don't give a simple, cheap method for people to send seized property back home by post - the confiscated stuff just gets sold for peanuts.

[PaloArt]

Thanks for sharing - I feel that pain with you. My tenacious was one of my favorite knives till my sister gave it to some s.cker - I never get it back. Hey buy even persistence - that lil knife looks awesome

[Toad310]

I asked my wife today, while she is planning the travel logistics for a project coming up, and we were talking about air security.

I asked her, If there was no security at all would you still fly, and she said, yes! Yes, no problem.

! wish they would eliminate it all together. Or make it professional, and respectful. The travel industry will return when we can leave our shoes on!

Until then, travel is dead. The full body scanners will be the dirt on the coffin, no overweight, Midwestern business executive will travel to the convention, if they are subjected to this. And, women...forget it!

My minor in college was market research, and I have done research into this as it directly hurts our business, and I feel I am fairly accurate with the work I have done on this subject

Toad

[ChrisR]

Until then, travel is dead. The full body scanners will be the dirt on the coffin, no overweight, Midwestern business executive will travel to the convention, if they are subjected to this. And, women...forget it!

It's certainly possible that they could have an effect and I am not sure if the average American traveler is more squeamish than others but full body scanners have been up and running in a few international airports and they seem to be accepted without any problems.

At Domodedovo (Moscow) everyone getting on a plane goes through a FBS operated by female FSB operatives and I've never felt embarrassed or worried about an invasion of my privacy. The machines are there to detect hidden weapons and not just for fun so I think most travelers accept that they are a necessary evil.

I think we'd all like to turn back the clock and get back to a simpler world but it isn't really going to happen any time soon