Anyone tried taking something like a sparklite or fire steel through security?

(I seem to remember a thread about this, but can't find it. Sorry if this is a dupe.)

I'm fairly sure I got a Doan's Magnesium tool through once. I'm not 100% sure, I don't remember. Of course the airports I go to seem to have decent security guards. They are not likely to be like the ones you hear horror stories about.

Robert

Funny thing happened to me the other day at a sporting event at a major arena in Dallas. Before I went through the metal detector I put my wallet in the tray where you put your keys and such. Noone ever looked in my wallet and it didnt go through the detector either. I had a BIG wallet too. I could have easily have had all kinds of "weapons" in there. <sigh> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Ssssshhh... they might be listening <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

<img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

What do you mean, "They MIGHT BE LISTENING "?

Those Bush babies and their elk hair smoking spinmiesters are listening. <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

As compared to the much better alternative <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> alternative.

I vote that Bounty run the country <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Flip

I don't know. That's kinda scarey. Tell ya what Flip, since it's your idea maybe we can let him run Canada for a couple years for practice. Then if he's still interested he can give the USA a try. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I don't know in that I would want to be associated with anyone that would vote me into such a tough unforgiving job.

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

CANADA!?

I don't want to run a country where the police are dressed better than "THE VILLAGE PEOPLE" .

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

The village people are American remember <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> .

We have Shania Twain and ain't giving her up ever.

YOu can keep Pam Anderson as she is old used bagage now.

Flip

ALL ABOARD!!! bountyhunter for PRESIDENT in '08 <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Dude, don't even THINK about "PRESIDENT in '08"

As far as I've read on the web, security seems to not notice them at all. If they do, they don't care about them since firesteels do not look like weapons (because they are not) and their strikers usually look like innocent pieces of sheet metal (which they are).

You might into trouble if they closely inspected your firesteel setup and your striker was edged or serrated in some way.

-- Craig

What DID you have in your wallet?

The only thing I can think of that I often carry in my wallet that would be bad is a Countycomm Titanium Escape Card but I can't remember if I had it that night or not.. it was a very hectic night.

Ok, thanks. It's not that I'm afraid to lose the firesteel (they're cheap), but I would very much like to avoid
the "Hmmm. Wonder what else he's carrying." situation. Clearly, it's not a weapon, or any more of a
threat than a lighter, but then, I'm using logic. :-)

I have one of the credit card sized metal diamond coated knife sharpeners mentioned on here a while
back. It doesn't have an edge on it. I wonder if that would get through security?

It's not that I mind so much that some items are banned (although I don't like it, and don't agree with it)
but that what's allowed and what's banned seems to depend on who searches you. It's arbitrary, and
it's hard not to interpret it as "Oh, the security guard liked my {light, knife sharpener, fire starter,
para cord, compass} etc. Guess he'll keep it.". :-(

If anyone has had a problem with something that wasn't on the TSA list, I'd be interested in hearing
about it.

Yes, indeed it is, to a point. This where it gets fuzzy and ambiguous. If a guard thinks an item looks "dangerous" or looks like a "weapon," for any reason at all -- unless you have a really good explanation, such as, "Hey it's only a fountain pen" -- then you are well and truly cooked. You are at their mercy. It's their call.

If found, security would declare that a concealed weapon and your life would become mighty unpleasant.

Given that they are now arresting and handcuffing 79-year-old ladies who leave handguns in their handbags (this happened in Florida), your chances of being thrown in jail would be excellent.

LOL Obviously you're not a Texan. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> This was not the TSA or an airport or federal building ... those are certainly very different scenarios. This was a PRCA Rodeo in a major arena in Dallas Texas! If you were correct then the Dallas county jail would have been quite full that night and it's a huge multi-level facility. A much more likely scenario is I would have been asked to take it out to my car and leave it there and then return to the rodeo. They would have been polite and probably even apologized for the inconvenience! Times like this remind me why I am soooo glad I live in Texas! A gun would have been a whole 'nother story though even with a permit, that is true but we are talking about a blade less than 1" long!

No, I'm afraid I'm not a Texan. I do remember The Alamo, however. Does that make me a Texan by proxy? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

That's good enough for me <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> but technically I'm a fake Texan since I wasn't born here. Moved here from the Midwest when I was 4 years old. Shhhhhhhhhhh.... don't tell anyone! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

do you mean you remember John Wayne... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
or do you really remember the actual story (or should I say history ...)
????????
<img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Texas history is a required course in gradschool here so I remember both! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Both the John Wayne version and the Discovery Channel reconstruction of the event.

Well I never saw the Discovery channel version but I do remember John Wayne as well as one of the thickest textbooks I ever owned up until college. I really hated lugging that book around in junior highschool.

Funny you should ask...

Last month, I happened to get picked for the "treatment". At the time, I happened to have an Ultimate Survival Strike Force (note that this thing says "STRIKE FORCE" in big bold letters on it) in my briefcase. When the security officer fished it out and started asking questions, I nearly [censored] myself. I had actually forgotten the thing was in there.

Officer: "What's this?"
Me: "Oh, that's just some camping gear" (it was in a pouch with a Mini-Mag and a Brunton Eclipse compass, plus extra batteries)
Officer: "Does this open"
Me: Umm...yes.
Officer: (examining opened Strike Force) "Is this a flint?"
Me: Umm...yes.
Officer continues to examine Strike Force, opening up the cavity in the handle where the Wet Fire tinder is carried
Officer: "Oh, OK." (puts everything back in briefcase and sends me on my way)

Duh. Next time, it goes in the checked bag, along with all the sharps and anything else that might frighten PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER.. Actually on this trip, I left all the sharps home because I was flying with my boss, who hates waiting for checked bags.

I should mention that I probably survived this experience without getting arrested or my gear confiscated because I was able to develop a rapport with the security guy over the topic of sailing, as he noticed the Wichard stainless steel rigging bits on my keychain ( a couple of snap shackles and a shackle opener/bottle opener)...before he found the Strike Force.

Anyway, I got through OK, but I wouldn't recommend that anyone else try this.