Finally I can start carrying a small pocket knife again! While I can understand LNL's concern, there are far more things that can be used as weapons (ask any soldier). I do think TSA is off it's rocker with why this was it's choice of things to allow.... full size liquids being one that would be more useful.

 

.Knives don't kill people. People kill people!

Seriously though, 4 inch scissors have been allowed for years. Nothing to see here

 

My favorite improvised weapon is a fountain pen: stab a guy in the neck and watch him bleed.

I hope for your sake you don't live in a concealed carry state. The stress to your heart, fearing all of us whackos with guns, would be too much.

 

I don't get the big deal. Those items were carried on airplanes for decades. What makes them so dangerous all of a sudden?

What really I wish they'd get rid of are the stupid liquid and laptop rules.

 

Hockey sticks and golf clubs? More garbage to plug up the overhead bins, just what we needed.

 

A while ago, I was jumpseating with Mountain climbing crampons.
Before the trip, I looked it up on the TSA website where it clearly said that they were allowed in carry-ons and checked in bags. I went through security at a first airport without any problems. The second airport, the agent was going to let me go through, but decided to ask the supervisor. That's where it all went downhill. I pointed out to him that the TSA website said that they were allowed. He then told me that HE had the POWER to overrule what the website said.
Morale of the story, TSA have rules but local airports or individual apply them differently.
Some airports sometimes require 2 IDs, some require a gate pass for jumpseaters or not to have your ID in a plastic pouch, etc...

 

It'll be a while before the liquid rule goes away, although if it does, it'll be for flights of less than, say, X hours, where X=3, 5, or less. It really is too easy to make certain peroxide explosives from liquids on a longer flight.

The lap top rule does suck mightily - I was told that laptops were too dense and need to be x-rayed separately, and that laptops in a bag can hide other devices.

I traveled for years with a butter knife and fork in my suit case for in-room microwave meals and such on short layovers. I got tired of being challenged on it and got rid of it. The fact that "This is the EXACT SAME KNIFE they serve to 1st class passengers" fell on deaf ears.

My favorite irony, and we've all been there when in uniform and simply trying to get to work:

"What exactly am I going to do with that butter knife?"

"You might use it to take control of the airplane."

"Think long and hard on what you just said, Einstein."

 

I'm glad I'll never see you on a train, subway or ferryboat...

 

You are the one that "needs help".

 

You don't need to bust your axe on an International flight, every meal tray comes with; 2 full sized metal knives, 2 full sized metal forks, and 2 spoons!

I've never understood why, after the TSA takes our nail clippers, etc. away, as soon as the meals are served, everyone on the airplane has 6" metal knives and forks handed to them!

Brilliant!

Well, at least now I can fend them off, with my 2 1/2" Swiss Army blade!