Vagabond:

Sharp is still out, and if you carry the plastic or resin knives, they will know you were trying to evade their screening and the punishment will be much more severe.

Someone on this board mentioned a lighter and hair spray for a blow torch effect, but I believe pressurized containers were frowned upon on airplanes even before 9-11.

One thus far overlooked item is a modern ball and chain style club on a minature scale. They look like and write like pens but the top is a solid little billet of steel attached to a chain which is housed in the barrel of the pen and attached to the pen.

The idea is to flick the end into the face, preferably the eyes, or use it as a weighted whip to exposed sensitive areas.

This device is not universally known and is technically legal to carry based on current TSA regulations.

It has been a long time since I had access to people that deal in this sort of item, so I do not know where you could purchase one, but you could modify an existing pen and make your own. If you use a good quality wire or chain and make it long enough, it can also be used as a looping weapon.

Bountyhunter