hi folks,

well im off travelig for a few weeks in europe soon, and have been thinking a leatherman/gerber multi tool would be very useful, if it is in my backpack that will be checked in so not with me on the plane. will this be fine? or are multitools with knifes not allowed at all?

cheers pete

It'll be fine – I've taken my charge ti plenty of times…

DrP

yeah, its just bombs and stuff thats banned.

Yeah it's cool in baggage.

Interestingly, at Geneva airport recently I went through security and then in the duty-free zone there was a Victorinox shop where I bought some Swiss Army Knives.

Then you just GET ON THE PLANE WITH THEM 😮

You may not, but you probably can.

I also once got caught in Bangkok airport with a throwing knife tucked away in my hand luggage! They just laughed at my name and took it off me!
The thing was, I'd been let through Gatwick with it… (I didn't know it was there – was tucked away in a minidisc pouch!)

DrP

The wife once took a safety blade (the sort they use in warehouses to open packaging) through customs at Birmingham airport in her bumbag , through the x-ray machine and they didn't even notice it.

I used to take a smart hard case tool box thing on flights to and from France's CDG most weekends. I could have stripped and rebuilt the plane with the tools I had in it. Never any problems, probably not nowadays though, nearly lost my beloved Leatherman Micro on my keyring when I forgot to remove it a few months ago.

I've had screwdrivers taken off me when I'm travelling with work (no overnight bag, just hand luggage).

But when I've travelled far away, I've always left all my tools in my suitcase, it's just not worth the effort of explaining.

I had zip ties taken off me at bristol….

I had a bungy cord taken off me at Luton (tied the buggy for my 2 yr old together!)

When stuck in Spain due to the ash cloud my bag was packed and unpacked so many times i forgot what was where. Ended up with Leatherman several allan keys and multitool in a shoe in a dry bag in my hand luggage. Oh how we laughed when it was found. They just told me to put it back in the bag and check in the rucksack job done.

kids light sabres confiscated at Dublin – generally all in favour of good security but a bit jobs worth

but never ever been asked why i have 2or3 syringes with needles and phials of drugs though – which i have to carry for youngest in case of emergency

I forgot to put my gerber tool in my check baggage when going on a shoot once, so I took it out and gave it to the security guy, hoping they could put it in a envelope and I could pick it up at the other end.

He called the police and I ended up with a caution for trying to take a weapon onto a plane. despite giving it to the security guy.

Never saw it again either.

To this day I still reckon it's on some coppers belt somewhere.

I certainly wouldn't risk it. You're not allowed bloody nail clippers in hand luggage, so a tool with a knife… no way!
I wondered how nail clippers could be a risk, but then I saw the flight attendant's french polish. "Take this plane to Zimbabwe or I'll snip!"

gf brought me back a 16" kukri from Nepal. I was surprised!

not in the hand luggage!

carlosg – Member
The wife once took a safety blade (the sort they use in warehouses to open packaging) through customs at Birmingham airport in her bumbag , through the x-ray machine and they didn't even notice it.

I flew out from Manchester in 2003ish with a penknife & scissors in a first aid kit in the rucsac I was taking as hand luggage. No problems at all, until I was returning from Charles De Gaulle, where they noticed the items, and I got in a massive argument with the security staff until the penny dropped and I realised what they were talking about 😯

To the OP, so long as the Leatherman is in hold luggage, you should be fine.

We were coming back from Oporto and realised that we still had our picnic knife with us at security. The nice security man escorted me out of the security area and………

… then pointed me in the direction of the post office where I could buy a pre-paid envelope in which to post it home. Arrived safely and all.

Can't see that happening at Gatwick!