Carrying a Bowie knife on a flight is obviously something which will involve several complications. Even before the overall tightening of security at airports in recent years, it would have been almost certain that any airline would have prohibited an individual from entering a plane with such a knife, and, likely, they would have been in some trouble for having tried at all.
Carrying the weapon on one's belt or somewhere else on one's person while at the airport is prohibited. When one heads to the airport, their Bowie knife should be secured in a suitcase and inaccessible. This inaccessibility is a good bench mark of whether or not a knife is being carried correctly. No one should be armed anywhere near an airport but it is permissible to transport arms in one's luggage.
The Bowie knife will be subject to any laws that apply once it and its owner are back on the ground. Remember this and check ahead to make sure that the knife is even legal where one is headed. There are some places where certain weapons are specifically against the law. It is not the airline or the TSA's responsibility to inform passengers of the laws in other places, so be sure to be informed ahead of time.
In the luggage, the knife must be sheathed securely. This is usually no problem where Bowie knives are concerned as they are sheath knives by design. It's a good idea to wrap or box the knife within the luggage, as well. Even though a sheath protects the blade, the hand guard and handle still might snag on clothing or other items and cause damage or be damaged. Make sure the knife cannot slide out of the sheath, in any regard, and count on the luggage being handled a bit roughly from time to time by baggage handlers.
A Bowie knife, if it is a particularly expensive model, may be better shipped than taken on a plane. While most airlines provide excellent security, there are incidents when items are taken out of passenger's luggage, particularly on international flights. A Bowie has all the qualities of something desirable to a thief: light, expensive and easy to sell. Luggage cannot be locked on a flight, so shipping may be more secure than baggage. - 31499
Carrying the weapon on one's belt or somewhere else on one's person while at the airport is prohibited. When one heads to the airport, their Bowie knife should be secured in a suitcase and inaccessible. This inaccessibility is a good bench mark of whether or not a knife is being carried correctly. No one should be armed anywhere near an airport but it is permissible to transport arms in one's luggage.
The Bowie knife will be subject to any laws that apply once it and its owner are back on the ground. Remember this and check ahead to make sure that the knife is even legal where one is headed. There are some places where certain weapons are specifically against the law. It is not the airline or the TSA's responsibility to inform passengers of the laws in other places, so be sure to be informed ahead of time.
In the luggage, the knife must be sheathed securely. This is usually no problem where Bowie knives are concerned as they are sheath knives by design. It's a good idea to wrap or box the knife within the luggage, as well. Even though a sheath protects the blade, the hand guard and handle still might snag on clothing or other items and cause damage or be damaged. Make sure the knife cannot slide out of the sheath, in any regard, and count on the luggage being handled a bit roughly from time to time by baggage handlers.
A Bowie knife, if it is a particularly expensive model, may be better shipped than taken on a plane. While most airlines provide excellent security, there are incidents when items are taken out of passenger's luggage, particularly on international flights. A Bowie has all the qualities of something desirable to a thief: light, expensive and easy to sell. Luggage cannot be locked on a flight, so shipping may be more secure than baggage. - 31499
About the Author:
Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie knives store featuring hunting knives.
