And I went through airport security without anyone noticing, stopping me or confiscating the "weapon".

I didn't realize it until I ponied up at the bar. I was shocked but I figured I would not worry about it.


How do these people keep their jobs?

Is it the people or the system? What's the point in the X-Rays and the body searches of elderly WASPs?

I used to carry an M60 non-electrical fuze igniter as a key chain. It was the first one I ever used so I kept it and like a young dummy I had it on my keychain for years and never thought about. It was a common sight for me so I never really thought about it. Like visual white noise. I flew about a dozen times through at least 4 different international airports before an old retired EOD security dude finally noticed it. He wasn't even a checker. He was just walking by and it caught his eye. He immediately knew what it was and checked it (its a one shot device) and let me go with a warning to quit being a raging idiot.

An M60 fuze igniter is a purpose made piece of gear designed to initiate firing trains on explosives. It is an essential part(or others like it) of making things go boom. This kind of thing is one of the most basic explosives components that SHOULD be caught immediately by security. I was an idiot for carrying it around on me. TSA was beyond idiotic for never even realizing what it was apparently.

One of these.

TSA missed 95 percent of weapons, explosives in security tests
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tsa-missed-95-percent-of-weapons-explosives-in-security-text/article/2565360

It is an older article, but I'd bet the % missed is still high today.

i carry my paperweight with me every flight, no problems.

YokelRidesAgain said:

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It's OK because they usually catch the really serious threats, like a 16 ounce bottle of water.

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And, little old ladies in wheelchairs.

I don't blame them. I wouldn't want to do any additional security checks on you either

This is a good reminder that TSA has NEVER stopped a prospective terrorist from getting on a plane, ever. Not once.

BombayAg said:

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Lungblood said:

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You even look like Kumar... Surprised you're not on a plane to Gitmo.

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It's Mohammed, not Kumar.

Mohammed takes a boxcutter and goes KABOOM.
Kumar uses a knife to cut you open and fix you after all the junkfood you stuff your face on.

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Why did you have a box cutter in there to begin with?

I was in JAX for work one time and was rooting around in my backpack when something stabbed my finger. I looked to see what it was and it was a little screwdriver. I wondered how I got through security with it, but decided to take my chances going home as I would play dumb and toss it if they caught it. Nope.

I was flying out of Hobby a few years back and as I got to the security conveyor belt I realized my pocket knife was still on me. I wasn't checking any bags and didn't wan't to lose the knife so I had the brilliant idea to just drop it in the side pocket of by bag with the other junk from my pockets, primarily my keys figuring if they caught it i'd just plead ignorance like 'whoops, just dumped my pockets and didn't even notice it was there". well, moral of the story is it went through no problem. 2.5" blade so not a tiny knife. on the way home i got more creative and dropped it in the toe of my steel toe boots. went through fine again. such a confidence inspiring trip that was.

"We are. The 95%! We are. The 95%"

I am forwarding this thread to TSA and also Staff.

Few weeks ago I got nailed in Wichita with a 3+ inch pocket knife in my backpack. Funny part was that I was on my way home. Made it through security in Houston with no issues.

B-1 83 said:

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Why did you have a box cutter in there to begin with?

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Because he's a rabbi.

Flew from Houston to Frankfurt, to Addis Ababa, to Nairobi, to Moshi. Went through security at each.

Leaving Moshi, and going through security in the hut they call an airport, one guard confiscated my tweezers for being "to pointy". I just rolled my eyes.

When we got on the plane (Ethiopian Airlines) and they served us food, they gave us a metal knife and fork.

B-1 83 said:

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Why did you have a box cutter in there to begin with?

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He's an amazon addict like me. You always have to have your box cutter with you. They will deliver a package to you practically anywhere.

I always forget that I have knives in my daypack when going to/from backpacking/mountaineering trips. TSA at Love, SLC, as well as Calgary and Dublin have found them, but its usually on the return trip. Which means it got through the first time.

I think it depends on where you are flying out of. Austin is the worst about missing things. They missed my big bottle of hair straightening stuff going to NOLA last month. NOLA, on the other hand, coming back, caught it. Chicago O'Hare is good about catching stuff. It's like they take pride on, "HEY YOU GOT A BIG BOTTLE OF BATH AND BODY WORKS LOTION. YOU CAN'T BRING THAT WITH YOU. NOW WATCH ME DUMP IT."

OP's stature isn't one that usually invokes fear, no matter what weapon, improvised or otherwise, he might be carrying.

EagleFordEarl said:

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OP's stature isn't one that usually invokes fear, no matter what weapon, improvised or otherwise, he might be carrying.

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Is that a box cutter, in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

I've been stopped and had small computer tools confiscated, like the screwdriver shown above.

I also forgot that I had about 30 keychain sized pocket knives (promotional items from a trade show) in my carry on confiscated, too.

Claude! said:

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chjoak said:

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Few weeks ago I got nailed in Wichita with a 3+ inch pocket knife in my backpack. Funny part was that I was on my way home. Made it through security in Houston with no issues.

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The Wichita (security) line, man. They'll get you.

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I got busted in Kasper, Wyoming for not having a small (legal size) bottle of lotion with the rest of my toiletries. I had gone through Hobby, Love, Denver, Salt Lake City, OKC, Tulsa, etc... with the bottle in a side pocket of my backpack and had zero issues. But in Kasper I was a dangerous terrorist for not following protocal.

They just wanted to give you grief for taking a travel size bottle of Jergens with you instead of using the combo conditioner/lotion when traveling like the rest of the free world.

This is my favorite example of TSA incompetence.

In 2011, my roommate's GF's dad accidentally left his loaded gun in his carry-on briefcase, flew to Argentina (no issues), and then got caught by Argentina's security on the way back. Missed Thanksgiving.

dragmagpuff said:

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This is my favorite example of TSA incompetence.

In 2011, my roommate's GF's dad accidentally left his loaded gun in his carry-on briefcase, flew to Argentina (no issues), and then got caught by Argentina's security on the way back. Missed Thanksgiving.

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Your gf's dad was incompetent, too. So it evens out.