Convicted TSA Officer Reveals Secrets of Thefts at Airports

[HopeHoops]

8. Geeze. When I first started flying I got on with a 5" buck knife.

I primarily used it to cut wire ties in computer rooms. All I did was put it in the bin with my keys and pocket change and that was it. Non-issue. But nail clippers? As for the sewing scissors, it used to be common to see people (mostly women) doing needle work on long flights. Besides, anyone can get a pair of disposable chop sticks and some 40 grit sandpaper through TSA, spend 5 minutes in the bathroom, and have two weapons I guarantee would be more effective than a pair of nail clippers or sewing scissors.

Brass knuckles on the other hand, yeah, I can see them being confiscated, but only because they're illegal. We've got an entire rack loaded with num chucks (for karate). It would probably be a bad idea to take those through security. My daughter's 4' swords might raise an eyebrow or too as well. But I make wooden knives (a fraction of an inch shy of 6" blades) out of oak and poplar and no screening technique they have would catch one of those. With my wood shop, it wouldn't be hard to make an oak equivalent of brass knuckles. The wooden num chucks with rope instead of chain would also get through. The TSA is a joke, but a profitable one.