Knife for Traveling

[Thomas Peay]

I am going on a trip to Mexico in a few months and I am wondering what would be a good knife for traveling? Which Spyderco would be low profile enough to travel with in the current state of high security? I am assuming it will have to travel in checked luggage now days? How about a model that is socially acceptable in foriegn countries? It should also be on the cheaper side as it may not come back.

[The Cool]

The Navigator <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Blade length only 2 inches. Unobtrusive. Fit's in the little pocket of your jeans. Cut's like a kitchen knife.

Not too expensive either.

[mnblade]

How about the good old Delica. My completely uninformed guess ;-) is that if you stow it in your checked baggage and, when you're around the Federales carry it IN your pocket instead of clipped and visible, you should be ok. Might be wise to get a plain-edge one too, just because of some idiots' predjudice against serrated blades.
You're wise to carry something affordable .... A) the Delica or any other &quot;budget&quot; Spydie is more than enough knife to handle whatever comes your way, and B) there's always the chance that the knife will be confiscated by some cop or border patrol who, as luck would have it, just lost his own. Have a great trip. Let us know how it went when you get back.

[nomaded]

When I went to Hong Kong, back in November, out of all my Spydies (at the time), I decided to take a Meerkat with me. I packed it into checked-in luggage and there were no problems there. I took the Meerkat because I wanted something on the smallish side, and something that wasn't too costly to replace if I had it confiscated or lost.

Part of me still thinks I should have brought my Lum Chinese Folder, but &quot;it's better to be safe than sorry.&quot; <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

[Gary]

I second the vote on the Meerkat. Even if you find yourself amongst non-knife folks... you can impress them with the mechanism.

Have a good trip.
Gary

PS: Kahz might have some expertise on this subject... <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

[Knife Knut]

Depends on what sort of trip it is, and if you are willing to risk putting your knives in your checked baggage.

Knife Knut on a shoestring budget.

[bell]

Kahz should have the total skinny on this thread. But here is my suggestion - The Toad. Yes it is pricey, but no self respecting federale (after a good laugh) would mess with it.

[Kahz]

Thomas,

Where are you going to in Mexico? Mexico has no &quot;applied&quot; knife laws (Patogordo, help me with this, anyway, if you see this thread), and several firearm laws (you can't enter the country with firearms, not legally, unless you have a special permit and allowance by the authorities). However, Mexican airlines (Mexicana, Aeromexico, etc.) haven't allowed passengers to carry pocket knives with them for many years, so don't take any chances with this, especially being a foreigner. Put everything in your check-in luggage.

Other than that, you can carry pretty much what you like as long as you don't flash it around in front of any policemen/authorities thinking that they can't lock you up for breaking the law. They can and they will. Remember also, a pocket knife is viewed differently than a fixed blade knife in many countries. If you are going camping or hiking, you should not have any trouble if you carry a bunch of camping equipment with you along with camping tools, such as knives. On the other hand, if you are a businessman with a suit and a machete, that might look kinda suspicious. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Give me more details about your trip, and I might be able to help more. Also, if you are meeting any people in Mexico, try asking them as well. Attitudes vary greatly if you are going to rural areas or to urban areas.

Kahz

Edited by - Kahz on 1/17/2002 7:06:15 PM

[sam the man..]

Ummm.. I'd pack a cricket or a mouse.. They are really friendly knives for travel! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Sam

have spydies will travel

[mnblade]

&gt;&quot;... and if you are willing to risk putting your knives in your checked baggage.&quot;

======================

Just curious, in this day and age, what other choice does any of us have? You either stow your knife/knives in your checked baggage or travel without a blade, right?

Incidentally, over Christmas I travelled internationally and had no problems whatsoever regarding the three knives I had in my checked suitcase.

[Kahz]

Yes, every time I travel (national or international), I put knives in my check-in luggage and I've never had any trouble. I think there is generally no problem with carrying a knife, but a knife is a knife is a knife... and people who do not like them are everywhere. Caution is never too much, especially if you have never been to a particular country. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Cheers everyone! Happy Friday is here!

Kahz

Edited by - Kahz on 1/18/2002 8:47:57 AM

[Rookie]

I would pack a Toad, not the Lum Chinese Folder.**looking at nomaded**

In the land of knives, Spyderco is king.

[Thomas Peay]

Thanks for the input!

I have a SS dragonfly that is serrated. I was thinking about getting something plain edge. For some reason people freak on the serrated stuff. I went by a knife store today and I handled a Chinese folder for the first time. Wow! It felt nice.

I was plaining on buying something cheap. But I don't think I can pass on the Chinese folder.

I am going surfing in central mexico. It's only for a week and it isn't really that rugged of a trip. So, I'll pack my knife in my luggage and keep in low when I am in town. But, will it be something cheap? Chinese fevor is upon me <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Thomas

[bell]

Excuse me, but did you say &quot;surfing in central Mexico&quot;?? Maybe you dont need a knife you need a map.

[Kahz]

bell,

LOL! Same thing I thought. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> Maybe in Xochimilco with the Chinampas. <img src="tongue.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

So, where are you surfing? Any small or medium sized folder should do, then...

Kahz

[nomaded]

What? What? *looks at Rookie*

I really like the Lum Chinese Folder. There were a few times, when I was eating some fresh fruit, in my hotel room, that I wished I had a bigger knife, like the Lum Chinese Folder, with me, instead of the smaller Meerkat. The Meerkat did the job admirably, but some things are easier to cut with a larger blade.

It's not like I would have carried it with me, onto the plane. It would have been with my checked-in luggage, like my Meerkat, and Leatherman Wave was.

Oh, and Thomas:

&lt;Clay&gt; You want the Chinese Folder. You want the Chinese Folder. You want the Chinese Folder. &lt;/Clay&gt; <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

[Gary]

I flew from Phoenix to Boston on 9/17. I had been backpacking in the Grand Canyon for 10 days with 9 buddies. Prior to leaving I collected all our sharps (12 knives, 4 scissors, 7 multi-tools) and was going to mail them home. After asking the airlines... I placed them all in my checked duffel bag and they arrived home just fine. Fortunately then I could lock the bag. Since today, all checked bags have to be unlocked. Oh well... I trust my life to the pilot, why not trust my knives to the baggage handlers?!?

Gary

[Knife Knut]

What I meant to communicate was that the knife, if not the entire piece of luggage, might &quot;disappear&quot; during baggage handling.

Knife Knut on a shoestring budget.

[Thomas Peay]

A little South of Mazatlan. That is what I meant by central Mex <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>.

Anyway, I bought a Green Lum chinese plain edge. After handling one I couldn't pass on it. It is a little big for a edc for me. But it is so light I will get used to it fast.

Do you guys think it's too much knife to travel discretely with? It is a very none threatening shape and plain edge.

[Kahz]

Thomas,

FYI, Mazatlan is in northwest Mexico, state of Sinaloa (Capital city of the State of Sinaloa is Culiacan, now no one will try to trick you). <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> Anyway, a Chinese Folder is perfect, IMO. It's not too big and scary, plus, it's a good-looking knife. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Have fun at the beach, and beware of the red tide if you are going around March-April! I know a couple of people who have been victims of the tide due to lack of caution (one of them has been in a wheelchair for the past 40 years of his life). Ask about it once you get there. Mazatlan's tide is famous for this.

Kahz

[mnblade]

&gt;&quot;Do you guys think it's too much knife to travel discretely with? It is a very none threatening shape and plain edge.&quot;

====================

You CAN and should be discrete with it. If the Federales give you grief over the knife, it will likely be - not because it's too vicious looking or large - but simply 'cause it's a nice knife and they sure could use a new nice knife. You could have the same problem with a Delica or Pro Grip. Just lay low and don't whip it out if the cops are around.

[wayfarer]

Pick one up when you get there.

I flew to Italy last Sept. (post 9/11), so security was tight. The only blade I packed in my bag was a Leatherman Micra. I picked up a cheap french Opinal (sp?) in a local hardware store to use while traveling. It met my everyday needs and would have been no great loss if lost or confiscated. I packed it and brought it home with no problems. (Hey, a souvenier that's actually useful.)

Stay safe,
wayfarer

[Knife Knut]

http://www.opinel.com/
The official Opinel Website is in French only, so you will have to use a translating function of a Search Engine (This is embeded in the google toolbar I downloaded so it is not difficult for me.)


Knife Knut on a shoestring budget.

[Kahz]

KnifeKnut,

I could not agree with you more. Here's my reply regarding &quot;Federales&quot; (Judiciales and Federal de Caminos, which are the proper names for this kind of police force): They are not ALL terrible people, some are corrupt and some are not, like in _ANY_ country. If you do happen to get in trouble, better to have an Opinel confiscated than a nice Spyderco. This also applies if you put the knife in your luggage and it happens to get stolen.

A word to the wise, don't think that because you are American, your laws will also apply there. Like anyone traveling to foreign countries, know the local laws and, if in doubt, ask again. There is plenty of information in libraries, consulates, embassies, and in the Internet to do some research.

Kahz

[patogordo]

sorry y was out, the law permits 3 inches Im not shure the police knows this <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> and i recomend plain edge

I want all of them

[bell]

Whoa Kahz, you totally have this topic nailed. I am impressed. Hope Thomas is listening, this is really good info. I was anxious to input here but you said it all.

[Thomas Peay]

Yep,

I'm listening. Thanks to everyone for there input. I have a Chinese folder on the way. It will be my only plain edge knife to date. So, unless I buy something cheap this will be my travel mate.

[Thomas Peay]

Yep,

I'm listening. Thanks to everyone for there input. I have a Chinese folder on the way. It will be my only plain edge knife to date. So, unless I buy something cheap this will be my travel mate.