Originally Posted By: Bingley
Originally Posted By: AKSAR
IHowever, regarding the initial scenario, I wonder why not just check a bag with your sharps?


For me there is an economic consideration. Most of the domestic airlines I've flown charge a fee for checked baggages. Roundtrip comes up to be $50 extra on top of your airfare.


Yes, that surcharge has hit me too, and it has changed my approach. I doubt I could sweet-talk a ticket agent into a free checked anything, no matter how small. So, I now have good sharps stashed with friends in places I regularly visit. And, of course, if I expected to need sharps in another location I would just ship them ahead.

My "improv" approach is for the unexpected opportunity, where I never expected to need sharps. I have pulled all sorts of great carbon steel blades, including Ontarios and Moras, out of thrift shops, and it's rare that I can't find something worth taking along. (And it's a scavenger hunt, which amuses me to no end. YMMV.) So, I'm just trying to connect the dots.