While exploring http://www.uscav.com/ for other items, I came across some. You can search for "Luminous Tape" or just go here.<br><br>Then, I figred, if they had it, others might too, so I checked. You can find a lot of useful links by doing a standard Google search for Luminous Tape or Glow In The Dark Tape. (They're my favorite web search engine.)

Hello, all. In his treatise on "sharp stuff" elsewhere on this site, Doug Ritter wrote: "It wasn't so many years ago that virtually every adult male carried a pocket knife of some sort. ... I am never without at least one folding knife and generally I carry two knives and a Leatherman Tool. I'd feel undressed without a knife on my person."<br><br>It reminded me of my father's response when someone needing a sharp edge asks him if he has a knife: "I have my pants on, don't I?" <br><br>Things changed on 9/11, though, when those unspeakable censored used blades to take over airliners. I know this "now what?" topic has been covered here in the forum since airlines started confiscating everything from cleavers to fingernail clippers, but I thought it might be worth revisiting the topic. Are you putting your favorite (and expensive!) gear in checked baggage for the airlines to lose? Sending it ahead via FedEx? Doing without at your destination after traveling by air?<br><br>Looking forward to some creative options...<br><br>Tim Elliott<br>

The things I always have with me are a good Sebenza and a good attiude. My little possibilities bag is about 3x4x6 and has the usual compass, water purification tablets, fire tools, signal mirror and whistle, nylon line and thread, fishing hooks and lures, 100' monofiliment, 6x12 plastic sheet and a Nimravus cub. The leatherman wave and a water resistant wind suit ride in my flight bag or daypack depending on the senario. Of course water and food are always somewhere in my kit along with a water filter and a digital camera.

The new airline regulations are something I'm going to be dealing with a lot very soon, and I am very interested in suggestions as well.<br><br>I've been flying at least twice a week for the past 2 years. Before 9/11, I carried my Leatherman PST in a sheath or in my carry-on luggage on every flight without any problems. According to United's online FAQ, you are no longer allowed to carry any cutting device, including elongated scissors. While I find this to be a ridiculous regulation, I am not planning on finding a way to subvert the law.<br><br>One reason why I carry a fairly cheap pocket tool is for the "throwaway" factor. Mind you, I've never had to surrender my PST, but I would feel much better losing it than a Leatherman Wave or high-end custom knife. I may even downgrade my tool to the cheapest possible just in case.<br><br>I plan on putting my knife in my checked luggage. If I forget to do that, I will try to put the knife in a locker and pick it up the next time I come through the airport. I doubt there are any contingencies for holding your knives at the checkpoints for you to pick up later.<br><br>I've thought about the possibility of finding a tool without a blade, but the hassle of trying to prove that my tool doesn't have a blade every time I fly doesn't warrant this. In reality, I think I'm going to lose a few tools in the next year or so. Oh well. At least I'll get a chance to compare different brands...

STEALTH TITANIUM TECHNOLOGIES CREDIT CARD KNIFE<br>Anyone Know any info on this?

FED EX : Great idea ! Include an inexpensive blade in baggage to cover the period between arrival and Fed Ex pick up.

Your's is a timely question, since I've been approaching my December busy travel season and asking myself the same questions. It appears that for the time being at least, given the insanity that prevails, even a scalpel blade in a mini-kit is a potential red flag, if the security people are awake enough to catch it. Certainly not worth losing the kit over. <br><br>I HATE being without even a small knife blade, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of alternatives right now that don't hold the prospect of more agro then they are worth if caught. <br><br>One possibility I am considering is the small, cheapo folding knives they give away at trade shows. Dropped in the bottom of the bag, it would be inconspicuous and if found, excusable and easily shrugged off, let them keep it. It's not much, but it's a blade.<br><br>Beyond that, I'm leaning towards reproducing my personal kit sans the blades and needles just for carry on. <br><br>Real blades go in the checked baggage along with my scissors I use to trim my beard. :-( I'm not about to put my Sebenza in checked baggage. I'll check one of my Benchmades, Spydercos, whatever...<br><br>I always carry bottled water, again that hasn't yet been a problem at the screeners as long as it is sealed according to friends who have been traveling a good deal lately. If it is, you can buy it inside in the airport shops. I also always carry a few packages of homemade trail mix. More of both goes in checked luggage. For that matter, as lomg as you're checking luggage, you can really carry a good deal more than you might otherwise.<br><br>I have also acquired a walking stick (actually a few to possibly to a piece on). Makes an effective weapon, if you know how to use it, and doesn't raise any red flags with anyone so far. They were confiscating canes and walking sticks the first couple weeks, but that seems to have stopped for now. Who knows what idiocy will come in the future.<br>

The apparent attitude is that if it appears you "just forgot" and it's not too offensive looking, they will confiscate the so-called weapon and let you go on your merry way. If it appears you have purposely tried to circumvent the rules, as they might well percieve soemthing like this or non-metallic/non-magnetic blades, they may just arrest you. Is it worth going to jail or worse becuase they are being stupid? I don't think so.<br><br>For that matter, I just filed down the edge of a credit card and while it wouldn't cut much, if would be better than nothing as an improvised defensive weapon if need be.

I have always carried one of the small Priority Mail mailing boxes, it comes folded flat and they are available for free from the Post Office (sort of like a very small FedEx box), along with a Priority Mail stamp. If I ever had problems, in goes the offending item along with some TP from the men's room, address it, and off it goes. Only had to use it once, but it worked fine. Took me maybe 5-8 minutes total.

Hmmm... let's see how many "field expedient" weapons we can figure out for on-board - given what we can legally carry on and what is already available on-board.<br><br>First - legal carry-on's that can be prepared before hand or retrofitted on-board.<br>1) per Doug - sharpened credit card ( are the platinum ones any better? :-) (still probably illegal given usage and intent. and since the intent would be obvious you would probably go to jail if caught.)<br><br>2) any writing implement - from personal experience I can state that a #2 pencil can be jammed through someones arm with quite impressive results as I was the victim of this on the school yard many decades ago.<br><br>3) Those little plastic cups that they serve water in will result in quite sharp edges if you crack one in half.<br><br>4) utilitikeys have been mentioned on this forum but would probably be considered illegal. OTH you could sharpen the spine of a normal key and though you would probably ruin it's ability to open the lock you would have a sharp to carry-on. - (still probably illegal given usage and intent. and since the intent would be obvious you would probably go to jail if caught.)<br><br>5) Do they allow you to take on disposable razors? The blade could be liberated from this tool.<br><br>6) If you bring a CD you can crack it in half and get two rather sharp blades each 3.5" long.<br><br>7) Many PDA's are being delivered these days in titanium boxes and titanium cases are available for these devices if they arrive in plastic. The cover of one of these cases or devices could certainly be sharpened on one edge for a substantial and sturdy sharp. If you further purchases a leather case for this device the sharp edge would be quite well hidden until needed.<br><br>8) When I travel with my laptop I carry a small printer in the bag which I am examining now. Seems there are a number of very stiff plastic pieces on this device that can be removed and sharpened and put back on with little sign of tampering. <br><br>9) Any excuse for bring a piece of flat glass is sufficient to provide substantial and very sharp blade. If said glass is pre-scirbed you can even control the shape of the resultant blade upon breaking. Let's say a vanity compact with mirror? Picture frame with picture of loved-one? <br><br>10) Jewelery. Any piece of jewlery with a straight edge can be sharpened and if it is properly decorated will not be closely examined. Dog-Tags with those rubber silencers. Heavy Mr. T type disk around neck even a large cross, ankh etc.<br><br>So much for "no sharps on planes".<br><br>Now how about the easier self-defense devices that work in close Qtr's.<br><br>1) Martial Arts Knowledge & Skill. Hard to acquire but once acquired, very effective and impossible to confiscate. Skill is required for effectiveness and must be maintained.<br><br>2) Whips. These are easy to use with a little practice and can dis-arm an assailant. Most of us men where one around the waist already.<br><br>3) Blunt Weapons. The stewardess's have large aluminum trays for delivering food and drink. I have my laptop, book, boot..... All of which can be thrown, or clubbed. These are a poor replacement for a blade when your opponent has a blade but better than waiting for the lunatic to fly into a building and scorch you to death in a blaze of jet fuel!<br><br>4) Cat's Claws - key ring decorations - see comments on jewelery.<br><br>5) Kevlar gloves - while not exactly in the same category as the other items listed here they can certainly help to dis-arm a foe with a blade.<br><br>6) net / club combination. Throw a coat, cloak, airline-blanket over the assailant and while they are disentangling themselves use the blunt instruments mentioned earlier. - this works even better when one defender uses the net and another the club.<br><br>7) Garrot - parratooper speed laces. Would be very difficult to use on a standing asailant who has a knife but if you were in the seat behind them and they were not sitting next to their buddy...... many conditionals here <br><br>8) Chemicals. I can't bring pepper spray but any aresol with alcohal in it will work somewhat. Breath spray, cologne, perfume... aim for the eyes at close quarters and be prepared to follow up with blunt weapon<br><br>9) Flame This is a very dangerous weapon to use in a closed pressure vessel but.... see # 8 above and combine with a lighter and you have a flame thrower effectiveness determined by the pressure and streaming characteristics of the alcohal source.<br><br>10) Sling shot. Not the wrist-rocket type but the ancient type. A hankerchief and a shoelace or two is all you need then small projectiles such as a childs marble sack would readily provide.<br><br>A problem with all of the above is that this whole line of thinking is an attempt to circumvent the rules and if detected prior to use will cause you much trouble. <soapbox> Personnaly, I don't think that the proper reaction to armed criminals found in our midst is to disarm, but that is the one that is being enforced on us by the representatives that we elected and the continued disinterest of our fellow citizens in preparing to defend themselves and police their own communities. (I digress!)</soapbox><br><br>Feel certain that the enemy is thinking of all of these "Field expedient" weapons and probably more.<br><br>Travel safe!