Knives on planes
 

Apparently, knives less than 2.5 inches long are now TSA legal. Sounds about right so long as cockpit doors stay locked -- you could do more damage with a broken glass, and drinks are still served in glass on some int'l flights.

TSA to allow small knives aboard planes - The Washington Post

Well the other day I went through customs with my Leatherman. I forgot it was in my coat pocket so I dug it into my hand luggage and we got through both ways alright. I managed to refrain from stabbing anyone on the journey despite the usual frustrations.

Hmm...........wonder if those morons will allow me to take my toothpaste now..........??

My 5 oz. tube is dangerous, you know.

So clearly passengers need knives so they can cut any dangerously-big tubes of toothpaste in half if someone sneaks them aboard.

Won't the C4 get all over their hands?

I always wondered how they knew I secretly wanted to poke little holes in the upholstery with the 1" blade that folded into my money clip. Because really, that's about all it was good for. ;)

Here are details from the TSA: Changes to Prohibited Items List (PIL) - March 2013

It's still substantially more restrictive than one might think if one were only considering blade length (no longer than 2.36").

Blade wider than 1/2"? Not allowed.

Blade locks "firmly"? Not allowed.

Knife has "molded grip"? Not allowed. (Good luck on getting a clear definition of what constitutes a "molded grip".)

To their credit, if it allows one to take along a small Swiss army knife or Leatherman Squirt, well, that's at least some improvement, IMHO.

Just measured my Swiss Army knife. Blade is 2.375" long. I guess I'll be mailing it to myself again if I forget to put it in checked baggage or leave it at home (did it twice though not lately - both times I had time to find the postal kiosk).

Or just grind it down a mm or two if you're flying somewhere and planning to go camping.

Hey that's a plan. One of my older ones is probably already 2 1/4 from much grinding. I like having it with me. The screwdrivers and scissors are often handy, as are the tweezers.

This gives everyone a heads-up on getting armed if they so choose, before their flightime after the effective date.

Just like guns - if everyone has one, (approved knife) then there's less chance of victims beside the unarmed.

Oh for G-d's sake -- no one is going to try to hijack a plane with a 2.5" knife. Yeah, the 9/11 hijackers had box cutters. They also had mace and FAKE BOMBS, both of which are still prohibited. And they didn't have 100 other passengers ready to emasculate them if they tried to hijack. Nor reinforced cockpit doors. Nor pilots armed with revolvers.

FAKE BOMBS are prohibited?

Would they prefer the real McCoy?

I'm sorry sir, tweezers are considered a deadly weapon, and are not allowed....

don't most leathermans have a locking blade? I have a small knife I carry with me to clean my nails- but the blade locks so that is out.