TSA - tiny Swiss Army knife

Twice I've forgotten to take my mini Swiss army knife off my key chain, and twice I've lost my knifes to TSA. Don't bother unless you're checking bags. It would be safe in checked baggage, but confiscated otherwise.

Everyone here has given you good advice - don't take anything that you don't want to lose to security. On trips I take a set of nail scissors (metal, blade less than 4" long), tweezers, and nail clippers which I don't really care about, in case it's confiscated. I leave my good set at home. And it isn't only the TSA you have to worry about. Security in airports in other countries can flag you for what you're carrying. A few years ago I flew to Brussels on BA and changed planes at Heathrow. I was flagged in the security line because of my scissors. It took a while for security to determine if I could keep the scissors (they finally said I could). They said the rules changed all the time so even they weren't sure.

A couple of years ago I was flying to Iowa (not abroad - just plain old Iowa) and had one carry-on duffel bag with me. I had forgotten that in my bag was a less than 3" long single-blade souvenir pocket knife (from Niagara Falls, of all benign places). It had slid under the bottom lining of my bag, so I couldn't see it. The TSA folks - not one, not two, but three of 'em - spent 20 minutes figuring out what it was, where it was, and removing it with much to-do and threatening ceremony. They tossed it in a bin and let me through with the stern warning. I was going to Iowa. On a crop duster, practically. And I got hassled for a teensy, dull blade. On another trip - to France, last year - I had a nice quality Barlow knife, with a sharpened blade, in my purse. Again, I'd forgotten in was there. I sailed through the TSA checkpoint without anyone even blinking. So my point is - you can never tell. And I wouldn't chance it.

I don't think you can carry-on knives of any size, but you can apparently carry-on smaller scissors. You can have a knife if it's checked. I had a colleague once who was cuffed and arrested by airport police at MCI for accidentally having a letter opener in his briefcase...longer than four inches. They held him for questioning in a holding cell right there at the airport for several hours...missed flights...business trip ruined. He was never charged and did receive a letter months later, indicating that he could come pick up his "steak knife" if he wanted it back. Ridiculous but true. Maybe just buy a cheapo to use while you're there and either pitch it or mail it home before returning.

I feel naked without a pocket knife, and always carried a small one on planes until they became illegal. Now I carry a Wenger Clipper AT (Wenger no. 16918) and have never had it examined here or overseas. Its a smallish tool with a nail clipper, nice scissors, a nail cleaner and file, and a small screwdriver for spectacle screws. No knife blade. Another small tool I always take along is a pair of Slip-N-Snip folding scissors. They have never been examined either. Both these items are available from Smokey Mountain Knife Works with which I have no association.

Harriet, I too have one of those Swiss knives permanently in my left front pocket. I have never tested the TSA with it. If I have checked luggage, it goes in the there. If I only have carry-on, I don't take it. I leave it at home. I would hate to lose it to TSA.

I should have expanded on the Wenger Clipper. I have a baggie in my shoulder bag (underseat bag) that has a bunch of metal items in it. That's where the Clipper goes. Along with it are coins, keys, a Green Tara gau, Buddhist pin, the Slip-N-Snip, and a small bottle opener that is nonthreatening.

I have tested the TSA on this - by accident. I normally remove it from my key chain, but once I forgot. I was going through security in Saint Louis, MO. I got stopped. They put my purse through a couple of times and then looked at me. It took me a minute and then I realized that I had left my keys (from home) buried deep within my purse with the small swiss army knife attached. They had found it and I had 2 choices, throw it out or put it in a bag and check it. Luckily I was flying Southwest and I had a spare bag that I could check (Yes, I know they are only $20 but I hated to have to throw something out that I'd replace.) I checked a bag through with one item - that knife. Now, I'll come completely clean. I have actually forgotten about that knife twice. Once it was overlooked. So, if you want to chance having to throw it out (and being delayed because it takes awhile for them to determine what they are looking at), then give it a try. My recommendation is don't take it.

Straight from the TSA website: TSA allowed carry ons: Scissors - metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches Yes
Tools (seven inches or less in length) Yes Knives with any blade length NO It's that simple. Don't take any knife with you.

The TSA web site says the only knives you can carry on are 1) a plastic knife or 2) a rounded butter knife.

Looks like I will need to leave the tiny Swiss Army Knife at home. It has come in handy so many times, but the trade-off in traveling with just a small carry on-bag and taking the knife, is a no-brainer. Will leave both the knife (doubt it could really do much damage to anyone) and my corkscrew at home and wing it! Thanks for all your replies and helpful comments.

I had the very same one confiscated once at MSP. Last time I forgot to take it off the keyring until I got to the airport. I stashed it in a planter and picked it up when I returned two weeks later!

Not saying Reg is any kind of threat, but isn't it just a tad bit unsettling to know one can just stash a knife at the airport in Minneapolis and pick it up again weeks later without anyone noticing? Reminds me of that scene from The Godfather where the Corleone dudes stashed the gun for Michael in the back bathroom, duct-taped behind the toilet. One might think that MSP has a lot of extra police presence anyway, especially after that Senator Craig scandal up there.

This is exactly why we decided that we will be checking one bag for our trip (we usually just fly carry-on). We're going to be doing so much picnicking, we'll need that swiss army knife! We've decided our checked bag will carry the knife, hiking boots, trekking poles, and some other things we might not have brought otherwise. All our clothes and everything else will be carry-on.