Is the Swisstech Utilikey TSA proof?

Link to web page

I am just curious if anyone has even tried to get one of these through airport security. Folded up and put with all your other keys, which are tossed in the bin with a lot of other stuff (at least in my case), it seems unobstrusive enough.

I guess I'll de-lurk...

I have carried a util-a-key for quite a few years. I've successfully carried it on a number of flights, including international flights. However, the last time I flew was in the summer of 2002 so YMMV.

I keep a very slimmed down keychain -- 5 real keys, util-a-key, fingernail clippers and small metal whistle -- and it wasn't noticed. If you are one of those people that has dozens of keys on your keyring(s), I think it would blend in even better. Throwing your keyring in the bottom of a purse or carry-on bag probably wouldn't hurt either.

I really like having a serrated edge any time there's a possibility I might need to cut through a seat belt. The util-a-key isn't much, but it's better than nothing. Also, it's cheap enough that if it's confisicated at the gate it's no great loss.

Another possible "stealth" knife is this:
http://www.garrettwade.com/jump.jsp?lGen...roductID=105025
which looks even more like a key.

Dave F>

Hmmm...I think the FBI might have aready twigged on to your link. In fact they produced a Pdf file, linked below, showing what concealed weapons are available!!
Its about 2.4mb in size, so I would right click and "save as"..
Interesting article with pictures too <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

http://datacenter.ap.org/wdc/fbiweapons.pdf

I would weigh the chance of actually needing one of those toy blades against what will likely happen should I get caught with one, and I would definately leave it at home. It's just not worth the risk--at least for me.

Regards, Vince

I would weigh the chance of actually needing one of those toy blades against what will likely happen should I get caught with one, and I would definately leave it at home. It's just not worth the risk--at least for me.

Some years ago, I drove by an accident where the vehicle was fully engulfed and the passengers had been unable to free themselves. (I came by long after the passengers had died and the fire was burning itself out.) After seeing that, I decided that I would always carry a blade that was capable of cutting through a seat belt in case I needed to free myself or someone else from a vehicle.

I've carried a util-a-key for years. I don't use the blade for general cutting (I EDC a larger folder), but the other functions (especially the small screwdriver bits) are useful in their own right. Unlike a SAK or multi-tool, the util-a-key is *always* with me.

Although I've flown with the util-a-key in the past, in my case that's now a moot point. As I said, I haven't flown since the summer of 2002. I strongly disagree with so many aspects of the TSA that I will no longer fly. Make EDC selection much easier. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Dave F>

Mine might have, ahem, gone on a flight with me last year. I had my keychain in my carryon bag, and nothing happened.

What exactly do you think would happen? They won't throw you in leavenworth. They will confiscate it and some TSA reject will sell it on ebay amd you will go along your merry way not even being made late enough to miss your flight.

That's what is most likely to happen--now. But you could also be taken aside for a "more thorough" search and miss your flight. And suppose they start cracking down on these hideaways? Leavenworth is not likely but an overnight stay in some local facility would not be out of the question, plus a hefty fine. And for what? So you can carry a little *toy knife? Can you baton with it? Use it as a weapon? I guess a terrorist might die laughing at the sight of it. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> The fellow mentioned having to cut his way out of a seatbelt. In a car, maybe, but an airliner? In all the hundreds of millions, maybe billions, of air miles logged how many times has someone had to cut their way out of an airplane seatbelt?

I think the TSA rules are foolish. I think that you should be able to carry a real knife on board. But the rules are what they are, and until they are changed I don't think it's wise to try to circumvent them by smuggling aboard a knife that is only marginally adequate for cutting your toenails. It might be worth it for some people, just not me.

Regards, Vince

P.S.: FWIW I also believe that you should be able to carry a firearm on board provided you load frangible ammunition and can pass a background check.

*Edit: I mean they are "toy" knives in terms of Survival only. I'm sure they are convenient to carry, but that's not the same thing.

I couldn't agree more. I could break the glass on a laptop and have a better cutting tool. Although I wouldn't be battoning with that either. : <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I live a dull life, rarely straying from civilisation, and the chances of me being in a survival situation are virtually nil. Flying is the one time I do have a chance of being marooned somewhere too remote for instant rescue. That is when I'd most want to have a knife.

I don't agree that a little knife is useless. We've debated this before. For some tasks, like splitting logs, you need a big one, but there are a lot of jobs you can do with a small knife that you couldn't do at all without one. At least if it is a good small knife - I don't know the product in question.

Although I wouldn't advise anyone to try to circumvent the law, when the rules are bad subversion and civil resistance become possible moral options.

If on the day you decide not to risk it, just transfer the knife to your checked-in luggage.

"I don't agree that a little knife is useless."

Nor do I. But we're not talking a mini-RSK here; these are the "knives" that have been mentioned on this thread:

http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/seber/utkey.html

http://www.garrettwade.com/jump.jsp?lGen...roductID=105025



A real knife--one that would truly make a difference in a survival situation--is going to be too large to smuggle on board, too expensive to risk confiscation (for me anyway), and probably more likely to get you into legal trouble. These key knives are convenience items--nothing more. A better tool could be made from wreckage or salvaged from checked baggage--should you be lucky enough to survive the crash to begin with. Why risk the hassle over toys?

As far as civil disobedience goes, you have to follow your own conscience. For that sort of thing to work you have to get the public on your side eventually, and I just don't see it happening any time soon. FWIW, if I am on your jury I will vote to acquit <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Regards, Vince

The knife I normally carry is of similar size. It is useful and safer than a bit of broken glass. You can't rely on being able to salvage anything from the checked luggage hold.

Mine got through about 8 times until they took it. So yes...unless someone notices it.

After several field trials, I would classify the Utilikey as highly "TSA resistant." They seem to be much too busy making crippled people get out of their wheelchairs to stagger through the metal detectors and scaring the absolute crap out of small children to be bothered with things like Utilikeys. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

So I shouldn't try to disguise a knife as shotgun ammo in order to sneak it past TSA?
<img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

The short answer is, "No."

Anything that has a blade is a no-no. One exception is nail-clippers without nail files. They're supposed to be allowed.

Emery boards are okay. Tweezers are supposedly okay.

Eyeglass screwdrivers are allowed. I'm 40+, extremely near-sighted, and wear bifocals, so I'm bringing my eyeglass repair kit. That's a personal health thing.

And if you look through other postings on the forum, you'll find that people have had the very things that are allowed taken away from them ... the problem with the TSA is that there IS no consistency. And God help you if a screener doesn't like you, then you are well and truly screwed.

Agreed. Fortunately, I am tall, pale, thin, geeky, and very non-threatening. The average poodle probably outweighs me. That sometimes comes in handy. Grin.

The only thing I would cause a fuss over would be my optical screwdriver. My glasses are powerful. If someone says I don't need them, all they have to do is look through them. I have convinced more than one person to the point that they say, "You're right. You're WAY nearsighted."

In light of how the TSA operates these days, shipping firms are springing up right and left. They charge a hefty price, but I think the cost is worthwhile. How much would you pay the TSA to NOT mess with your stuff. Probably quite a bit.

So I'd be happy to pay a shipping firm and be guaranteed my SAKs and WAVE and SwissTool would be at my hotel when I arrive, resting in my luggage right where I left them.

I have had no problems checking knives in baggage. Nothing stolen so far and I always have one of those little cards letting me know my bags were searched. That being said I still wouldn't put my $450 Sebenza on a plane in a checked bag but then again I wouldn't ship it Fedex either without $500 insurance on it. My multitool or any knife under $100... those I would "risk" checking in my luggage. So far so good for me.

Cool. I don't carry any blade as expensive as that. I tend to favor SAKs, myself.

im not a big fan of flying but im going to comment on the screeners and the type of ignorant savages they usually have working security.

i recently had to go to a court house as well as another federal building to get some important paper work done.

each time i had my edc small knife and light on a keychain, because i forget to leave it at home.
the knife is clearly visible as a knife with a black plastic handle its only about an inch and a half long unfolded but it IS noticable.

after walking in and lining up in an orderly manner we were forced to walk back outside then to enter through a revolving door. because a security guard who was enjoying her power too much decided "thats how we will line up here" which she then held after each person entered basically locking the next person in there instead of letting my mother wait on the side of the wall or the outer area of the doorway like a civilized person (shes on oxygen and claustrophobic) but lets trap her in a revolving door anyway right?

after that nonsense we lined up and put our belongings into plastic trays, we had to put our coats through the x-ray and i had to walk through the detector several times because it kept going off for no apparent reason the wand couldnt detect anything, on the 4th try walking through it didnt beep and she said ok pass.

no one even LOOKED in the tray! they sat there gossiping like hens and even showing off their disgustingly long finger nails to each other like this was some ghetto beauty salon as they just slid it down the table.

if i lost my knife i would be bothered a little but not too much, i feel you have to pay a price for making stupid mistakes really.
but i was more upset at these "guards" not doing a damn bit of work and who knows what i could have gotten past them.

its amazing how many idiots it takes to do a simple task.
there were 2 security guards by the door, 3-4 on the x-ray / tray passing table and another 1 with the metal detector wand plus the bossy guard wandering around earning that paycheck doing nothing.

ahh the wonders of Bureaucracy at work.

After 6 different airports, in 4 different states, at different times of the day and different checkpoint congestion levels, NONE of the TSA screeners picked my Swisstech out, even though at least two pawed through the bowl that my keys, wallet and cell phone were in.

On the other hand, I now have new socks so that I don't embarras myself with holes when I take my shoes off. Way to go, TSA, I feel a LOT safer. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />