Airport confiscated knives?

[RevolverGuy]

I've noticed knives showing up on Ebay and other auction sites that are listed as "airport confiscations". I have mixed feelings about this and personally I cannot get myself to want to bid on them. I understand TSA is just doing their job, but something really bothers my conscience when they're making a profit off someone else's loss. I guess it's just my moral compass and knowing that someone spent their hard earned money on something they never intended to give away. What do you guys think?

[herbva]

It one of the big ebay sellers is actually Boulder City, Nevada. I assume they have some sort of contract with TSA and a lot of the knives and other objects with a blade (corkscrews, multi-tools, etc) are funneled there. I am guilty of having purchased knives from this seller and some of them are still in my collection. I'm not crazy about TSA and/or Boulder City or anyone else profiting off of someone else's misfortune, but I would rather have the knives recirculated rather than being destroyed.

[bestgear]

making a profit off someone else's loss

I view it as someones lack of good judgement to leave from somewhere (probably home) with an item that hasn’t been allowed on a plane for almost 20-years.

something they never intended to give away

then they should have safeguarded their valuable and it would not have been confiscated.

My $0.02 - you asked. Tom

[Corso]

could be worst

some idiot in the Uk thought this was a good use for them

[Steve Warden]

I'm sure there's a mixed lot of, "I'll get through. They won't find it. Even if they do, no big loss." and, "Man!! I plumb forgot to leave my knife in the car!!"
For those who thought they could get away with it, I don't feel sorry for 'em. They took a chance against the law and lost.
For those who honestly forgot they had their knife on them, I do feel bad, especially if they lost a prized knife.

Either way, don't feel bad about bidding. If you win, you're giving the knife a good home. Not its fault it was confiscated. You're saving it from the possibility of a worse fate. (land fill - shudder!)

[btrwtr]

I don't necessarily think people that have knives confiscated are stupid. The circumstances for needed travel vary greatly and getting ready for flights can at times be trying. Forgetful maybe. I forget things all the time. I'd rather see the knives be resold and used than destroyed. I feel sorry for people that lose their valuables this way.

[cody6268]

I have two trains of thought on this. There's a part of me that says, from the standpoint of the TSA (and the fact they can't really recognize a an actual threat if it was right in front of them; but they can harrass the average Joe over a tiny penknife), this is legalized theft. On the other hand, I have purchased quite a few this way.

[jerryd6818]

Herb,

making a profit off someone else's loss

I view it as someones stupidity to leave from somewhere (probably home) with an item that hasn’t been allowed on a plane for almost 20-years.

something they never intended to give away

then they should have safeguarded their valuable and not had it confiscated.

My $0.02 - you asked. Tom

Ya think?

For a few years on either side of 9/11, I flew at least once a month & sometimes more. I can tell you that the three or four knives I lost to TSA were because as an individual who has carried a pocket knife since I was 6 years old (that's right, six. It was a different time in 1950) the knife becomes such a part of you that you don't even think about it. I thank my lucky stars that they were all inexpensive knives. When you get to the security point in O'Hare Field, you don't have time or energy to go back to your vehicle to drop your knife. Most times I rode the bus from Rockford to O'Hare so taking it back to your vehicle wasn't a choice.

I did get a bit incensed when the gate TSA dweeb in Detroit took the little Marlboro mini-tool that I carried on my key chain (see below) and that was just a layover coming from the East Coast. After they took my fingernail clippers because of the fold out nail file, I bought a new one and ground off the nail file. Idiots.

[herbva]

Keep in mind that a lot of the confiscated knives and bladed objects come from carry-on luggage and were not caught in pockets or purses. I know, I lost a nice knife that I neglected to empty out of my small suitcase after my previous trip (when I checked that bag) and when the scanner caught it the next time I used that bag, and I didn't have time to go back through security and mail it to myself. I'm more sympathetic to that situation than someone just trying to walk through security with a nice blade in their pocket.

[Mumbleypeg]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42632

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=48158

Just a couple of numerous threads about this topic.

Ken

[zzyzzogeton]

If TSA gets any money out of the knives they confiscate, it is because they were paid by the pound, not actual value.

Anything (non-food/non-liquid) confiscated by TSA in Texas go to the Texas Facilities Commission, who disposes of all surplus property from the DPS, Parks & Wildlife, TCEQ, Ag Dept, etc. They are sold through the State Surplus Property Disposal Store in Austin. All items, whether knives, desks, hair dryers when sold, the money goes to pay for the facility's espense, with the surplus funds donated to approved non-profits, such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

It's not just knives. It's also tools confiscated, strollers left behind, the occasional laptop or camera.

If an item is turned in to a Lost & Found office in an airport, whether by TSA or some worker/traveler who found an item lying around loose, the aiport keeps the item for XXXX amount of time.

If no one tries to claim a L&F item, it is sent to Surplus Property. Love Field in Dallas turns in about 200# of stuff every month. DFW turns in 600# to 800#. Houston, about 500# to 700#.

Every state has a similar process/facility.

Somewhere in Atlanta is the largest unclaimed property facility in the world. Most lost items found loose in the Post Offices go to Atlanta for disposal. I learned this the hard way when an idiot in Minnestoa shipped a 1.5# hatchet in a flimsy hair dryer box sealed with scotch tape. The PO tried but as there was no way to identify where the box came open, they could find where the hatchet was marking time. Some post offices sent their found items in once a month because they don't get much. Some, like Dallas, Chicago, NYC, etc, send a shipment 1x or 2x per week.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

The first time I forgot a small SAK in my pocket in St Louis. When the TSA agent said it was a weapon, I told her that if there is a pilot or flight crew afraid of that tiny little, folding, non locking blade and would let someone take over an aircraft w/ that, I don’t want to fly with those cowards anyway.
I’ll probably get a lot of grief for saying that, but that’s the way I feel about it. They were nice and sent me back to mail it to myself, which you could do in those days, back in the 90’s, so I didn’t lose it, it wasn’t the value of the knife I was upset about. My kids had just given this knife to me for Father’s Day and I didn’t want to lose it.
As far as the OP on this, I don’t have a problem w/ people buying these knives. They are “confiscated” so they aren’t going back to their owners. Someone could probably make a business out of buying these TSA knives and setting up a website for people to buy them back. That would be great for people who lose an expensive knife or one w/ a lot of sentimental value. If I lived close enough to where these are sold, I would consider doing it myself.

[kootenay joe]

The 'statue' posted by corso is beyond words. Must have 10,000 or more knives somehow fastened together to make an imposing statue. Amazing what creative people are capable of doing.
kj

[jerryd6818]

in those days, back in the 90’s,

Those restrictions didn't go into effect until after 9/11/2001

[Sharpnshinyknives]

in those days, back in the 90’s,

Those restrictions didn't go into effect until after 9/11/2001

I know the rules went into affect then. I was referring to the ability to get out of the TSA line, go back to a window and buy a box and postage and mail the knife back to yourself. And then go back into the TSA line and get on your plane. After 9/11 they wouldn’t let you do that anymore, it was confiscation or leave the airport. They stopped facilitating your ability to mail your knife to yourself back when it all changed.

[zzyzzogeton]

The TSA was not even established until 19 November 2001.

Knives were first banned after 9/11/2001 by a FAA regulation promulgated on 9/13/2001. Prior to that knives with blades up to 4 inches long were allowed.

In 2013, theTSA published that they were going to allow knives on planes. The Flight Attendants went nuts and their union pushed for a law banning knives permanently. They are still pushing for the permanent ban.

After the FAA Reauthorization Act was passed in 2018, the TSA gurus are no longer have the authority to change the current "no knives on planes" on their own dime.

It will literally require an act of Congress to ever get knives allowed on planes again. And with the flight attendant sheep baaing all the time, I doubt it will ever happen.

[Mumbleypeg]

You were still allowed to mail knives back to yourself from the airport in the 2000s. Not sure when it stopped but it was an available option well after 2001. Problem was, at DFW anyway, the mail stations where you could do it were not at every gate so you had to go to where one was located, which might be too far to get to, mail it and get back in time for your flight.

Don’t ask how I know.

Ken

[eveled]

I won’t bid on them. There aught to be a way to put it in an envelope and have it secured until after the flight and give it back. These people work for us and treat us like we are criminals.

[thankgod4rkids]

I ask my mother in law for my father in law's Victronox after he passed and she got a sad look. They had to make a quick emergency last minute flight and dad forgot he had it in his pocket and lost it. But I'm the same way. I've had a knife in my pocket since the third grade and often have to walk it back to the car.

[PigStikr]

Best knife deals on Ebay are Swiss Army knives I have a box full of Vics & Wenger's I give them away to neighbors or kids in my family or whoever I didn't have one good thing to say about a Swiss knife five years ago...think the first pile had 20 some knives all Vics...Thing is that most people that lose them have never used it blades have factory edges most always I prefer a Wenger over the Victornoix the sciccors are way nicer.....

[bluecow]

I would not buy. I dont care if the TSA get $ for each or $ by the pound It is still $ they are stealing from the tax payer. I don't fly because I got no where i care to go that I can't drive. If I found myself in such a circumstance i would toss my knife to someone going in the other direction yelling Here's a present for ya or I would break the damn thing. Too many stories of finger nail clippers, pipe tools, key chains, and at least ar15 from a G.I. Joe doll to trust the petty bureaucratic tyrants.

[Cokerclan]

I bought and sold large volumes of TSA knives in the past. However, my advise is not to overbid. Most of the lots contain a large number of cheap knives and not very sellable. There will always be a few higher end knives in each lot so bid accordingly. Some of the sites segregate by brand or type. These are better gambles but will go for higher prices. It can be rewarding. In one lot I got a Kabar marine boot camp knife with the winner's name engraved on it in gold. I set out to find the owner, since I had strong feelings that type of knife belonged back with the owner. I found the you man who owned it, but he had been killed in a car accident a few month prior. He was in his early 20's. Finally got in touch with his father and sent it to him. It meant so much to him. He knew of the award and that his son had lost it in the St. Louis airport. Now, that disturbed me that they would confiscate one from someone who served in the military in a distinguished way. Anyway, his father was so proud to get it and now displays it along with his son's other awards and flag on his mantle. Meant more than money to me.

[petesknives]

That's friggin awesome

Great job

Ken

[Steve Warden]

I bought and sold large volumes of TSA knives in the past. However, my advise is not to overbid. Most of the lots contain a large number of cheap knives and not very sellable. There will always be a few higher end knives in each lot so bid accordingly. Some of the sites segregate by brand or type. These are better gambles but will go for higher prices. It can be rewarding. In one lot I got a Kabar marine boot camp knife with the winner's name engraved on it in gold. I set out to find the owner, since I had strong feelings that type of knife belonged back with the owner. I found the you man who owned it, but he had been killed in a car accident a few month prior. He was in his early 20's. Finally got in touch with his father and sent it to him. It meant so much to him. He knew of the award and that his son had lost it in the St. Louis airport. Now, that disturbed me that they would confiscate one from someone who served in the military in a distinguished way. Anyway, his father was so proud to get it and now displays it along with his son's other awards and flag on his mantle. Meant more than money to me.

Well done, Sir!!

[Quick Steel]

Very well done indeed, Cokercian.