Gunner -- TSA baggage/firearm

Lloyd, call your airline and ask.

I didn't have any problems travelling through our small regional airport with my Dan Wesson .44 and 450 Marlin rifle in a Pelican case locked with the TSA locks sold by Pelican. My son didn't have any problems with his case locked with Masters padlocks either, although he had to unlock it for inspection then relock it. That was through both MBS and Phoenix.

Pete Keillor

From my read, the TSA approves non "TSA" locks for firearms cases. They seem to indicate that only the passenger should be able to open the case and the passenger should be present during any screening.

Too_Many_Tools fired this volley in news: snipped-for-privacy@d23g2000vbm.googlegroups.com:

Um... TMT... I _did_ ask the airline (see the OP), and they conflict with published TSA rules.

So... The airline won't accept it without TSA locks, and the TSA inspector will reject it WITH TSA locks... get my point?

LLoyd

Just print a copy of the TSA requirements showing the requirement for non TSA marked locks for gun cases and show it to the airline folks. Also toss a spare set of TSA marked locks in the case so you can change between them if needed.

Put them both on

"Peter DiVergilio" fired this volley in news:dde91 $4aa7e5d6$4b591b92$ snipped-for-privacy@ALLTEL.NET:

The non-TSA locks defeat the purpose of the TSA-approved ones, but clearly uphold TSA's intention that _only_ the owner can open the case.

TSA locks have "dual combinations/keying"; your key or combination, and one TSA can use to unlock all of them.

(seems pretty insecure, in fact, since I'm sure that "secret" combination hasn't changed over all the fired/retired TSA inspectors' careers in the last few years)

LLoyd

It can also be found out by trying all 1000 combinations on a TSA approved lock. It should not take that long.

Back when all this silliness started, there was some speculation on the camera forums that you could put your $10k worth of camera equipment in a firearms case, lock it with a real, non-TSA lock and maybe get away with it. Don't know if it ever worked.

The TSA locks I got from Pelican have 4 tumblers, so 10,000 combinations. The TSA part is keyed. Supposedly the TSA keyset is secured. You have to wonder about that. I think they're secure enough since anybody that could get the case could just hacksaw off the plastic hasp or smash the lock with a hammer. Nothing except airline security (such as it is) can prevent someone from stealing something as portable as a gun case.

Pete Keillor

Well, the proper gun cases are metal, but anyone with a small set of bolt cutters can get into the case in a few seconds. Of course the entire case can be readily stolen as well and opened at the thieves leisure as has occurred plenty of times.

The TSA also seems to have issues with maintaining their keys as some TSA folks were unable to locate a "TSA007" key for one of my locks once.

Clothing and toiletries go in checked baggage, expensive camera gear is carry on. Or in my case, clothing and relatively inexpensive and bulky BC/fins/masks/etc. go in checked, while the regulators, computers, cameras, O2 analyzer, etc. go in carry on.

Won't do any good! Another set of clowns will be on duty when you actually fly. Their interpretation of the reg's will be different or they will make up their own on the spot. The boss on duty can do what he wants.

Chuck P.

Yes, simply bring two sets of locks with you, put whatever makes them happy on the case and the other set in the case.

Last time (Spring) I had my own padlock on a $2.99 plastic case. TSA STRONGLY recommended I also buy a TSA lock from them for the bag itself. I declined, and it was not a problem.

Last time I did that post 9/11, I used a lockable cash box inside a corrugated carton that I taped up after the check-in inspection, on the theory that it is less of a theft target if the package appears non- descript and unlocked.

Once pre-9/11 I inadvertently walked through security with a loaded magazine in my jacket pocket. The guys were amused, let me have the empty magazine back, and kept the ammo for themselves.

I also remember in those days how after the last flight departed at night on a given terminal wing, they shut down the security scanners and let anybody and everybody freely walk in and out without so much as an attendant watching. A terrorist team could have hidden an arsenal inside the sterile area back then.

Flying out of Belize to Miami a few years ago, I inadvertently walked through the scanner with the world's largest Swiss Army knife in my pocket. I handed it over. I was very upset about this expensive forfeit, not mention the sentimental value of this personal tool I had carried for decades. A few minutes later the 3rd-world official caught up to me and quietly slipped it back in my hand on the way to the gate out of sight of the crowd. It was a nervous ride home for me carrying that thing in the cabin. But if anyone needed a bottle uncorked, a pipe reamed, or a fish scaled, I was ready.

Flying to Europe about 5 years ago, had the backpack with the books etc. SFO to Cincinnati to Rome. Still inside the security area of Cinci, reached in the backpack for something and realized the was a 4" folding knife we use for picnics. Stayed inside security and had hopefully the only knive aboard.

Use two locks, one TSA approved, one not.

It's cool they gave it back.

Pre 9-11 I used to get looks for carrying knives on planes, but that was about it. The rules if any seemed to be that of the airport itself.