Pre 911 I had no trouble taking my SAK and Multitool on the bird. It was always easier if it was in the 'bottom' of my carry on and with 'other' stuff rather than on my belt or in my pocket...but it always made it through without any problem. I'll be happy just to have the little SAK classic back.

It's about time they relax a little bit at the border... As a canadian, i'm getting slightly pissed off by these extreme measures and questionning when all I want to do is go enjoy a burger at Wendy's and a few american cigarettes, when i'm 20-minutes away from the (border) state of Vermont.

I used to take a Leatherman on flights all the time before 9/11. In fact, once in a while I would carry sharp technical gear, e.g., an ice axe, crampons, etc., in a carry-on backpack without any problems at all.

I like the mention of possibly allowing "throwing stars." What a crack up!

Maybe they figure if most passengers are packing knives and razors, the terrorists will have to think twice about a hijacking.

Overall, it's nice to see that the TSA is at least considering changes. Whatever those finally work out to be.

I'd be real surprised if they allowed me to carry on my compound bow, let alone shuriken. This has got to mean checked baggage only, right?

My memories of pre 9/11 flights are blurry but where you ever allowed folding knives on the plane? I seem to remember that at JFK I was always told to give them up.

Lighters, box cutters and scissors not really but knives yes.

I remember my boss specifically warning me not to carry a knife (an Old Timer slipjoint) on board before a flight to Dallas in 1993. Sounds like it was a lot more random back then, but somebody must have been putting out the word.

Regards, Vince

Flying from the west coast, I used to carry my SAK in my carry-on bag. Sometimes even two of them.

No one ever raised an eyebrow, and I was never patted down or questioned.

Knives were always allowed on planes. At the very least, they could be gate-checked and placed in a lock box, to be returned at the end of the flight.

I sincerely hope these new rules go into effect. It's about time for at least some of our freedoms to be returned to us. I resent having to give up my survival items when flying. They are there to ensure I have at least some gear in the event of a crash.

They said throwing stars, not shuriken. I'm guessing no one will be able to easily carry a couple million cubic miles of plasma and hydrogen without having the stews watch them closely.

Shuriken on the other hand... those are carried by sneaky ninja. Any one being sneaky on an airplane must be bad, no matter what Hatsumi-soke says. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />