Lighters, firesteels, and security checks

There's a movement afoot, I believe, to ban lighters from air travel. So I have begun carrying my StrikeMaster Sparky as part of my EDC kit.

Has anyone who carries a firesteel or flint & striker as part of their EDC ever had trouble passing through jury duty or airport security checks with it?

I've had a Ferro/Mg rod covered with a section of heat shrink on my key ring EDC for several years including 250,000+ miles of commercial flying over the past several years (ugh). Although I've had several "interesting" conversations with a/p security over various items, I have never had any problem. My guess is none of them know what it is, but figure it isn't threatening (looks like a 2.5 inch long plastic rod with the tube on it).

Cool. May I ask what else is on your EDC key ring?

Sure!

A white photon III with a button compass epoxied to the back, a miniature Suunto baseplate compass, a circular screwdriver, and a Leatherman P4 Squirt that has a BP microsnap on it so I can remove it for security checks.

So what do you tell security when they ask you what your firesteel is or does?

None of them has ever asked!

Now doesn't that make you feel safer?

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That figures. BTW, they just finished adding the newest security systems to our local fed bldg, so now anytime I have to go work on their communications equipment, I have to pass all my tools, equipment and supplies through the security systems just like all the schmoes off the street, only I have a security clearance and a badge, and I am an employee of the prime contractor for the area. Talk about overkill!!! I've moved all my metal (except my coin purse) into my messenger bag, that way I can just toss it all on the conveyor instead of digging it out of my pockets and dumping it in the bypass bin. Then, once you are in, it is still like the opening of a "Get Smart" episode to go anywhere in the bldg. Thank God I'm on the clock for all this. That's why I don't fly, you'd have to pay me to stand in those lines and deal with all the headaches.

Sounds to me (just to be safe) would be to pack a couple of different types of Magnifiers. Bruton's catalog has at least one small Compass with a built-in one. And there are others that are combi devices with integrated LED Flashlight, Whistle, etc. Another is a highly flexible Pocket Lens from www.campmor.com that would pass anywhere and is virtually unbreakable.

Someone on my thread suggested a P-38, but I don't believe that is foolproof as it has a rather sharp point.

The best Fire Starter option would be to somehow replace the metal prong on your belt buckle with a Flint Rod! I'd wager to bet that No X-Ray machine would even suspect that. Unless it can scan for this particular type of metal one could get thru any airport in the U.S. Maybe the Israeli's would stop you. LOL

How about if you took the opener flap off the P-38?
You would have a good piece of steel for spark making purposes, but no sharp edge to worry the TSA.
Hmm. Heading to the surplus store this afternoon to get some for experimentation purposes.

Just don't confuse logical arguments with the TSA policies....

Why ruin a perfectly good P-38 when there's so many flat pieces of steel that wouldn't raise an eyebrow???

Good point, I was thinking that the P-38 has rounded edges, and a hole for the keychain. I am working a temporary assignment with my job, and don't have access to my tools at home. Just the EDC with me, don't want to drill a hole in metal with my Wave, unless things are really bad.

To be honest, not really. But I'm still glad they didn't ask. Makes it less probable they'll ask me.

It is either "overkill" or be sued, should something terrible happen.

If someone accuses an entity of having security that is not tight enough, that's called legal liability in our lawsuit-happy society.