Anyone carrying a "Tactical" Pen?
Jun 18, 2016, 2:22 pm
#1
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Anyone carrying a "Tactical" Pen?
A friend gave me a tactical pen as a gift, and I recently carried it on a long trip to the Middle East and back. I left it in my small backpack carry on, and wondered whether it would be spotted during security screening points along the way.
It went through screening at a number of places, including HNL, SFO, YYZ, DXB, FRA, and in Israel. The only place where it was noted was in Israel, and the security officer operating the xray merely asked me if it was a pen, and did not further inspect it.
Anyone else have experience traveling with a tactical pen?
It went through screening at a number of places, including HNL, SFO, YYZ, DXB, FRA, and in Israel. The only place where it was noted was in Israel, and the security officer operating the xray merely asked me if it was a pen, and did not further inspect it.
Anyone else have experience traveling with a tactical pen?
Jun 18, 2016, 9:48 pm
#4
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According to Google:
A tactical pen is nothing more than a high-quality pen that provides all the same attributes as a purpose-designed "fist load" weapon like a Kubotan or yawara stick, but in the form of an ordinary-looking pen that can be carried virtually anywhere.
Jun 18, 2016, 10:03 pm
#5
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http://blog.tsa.gov/2014/01/tsa-week...-firearms.html
They may or may not be allowed, depends on the screener. In this case, a tactical pen made TSA's weekly review.
A tactical pen was discovered in Mobile (MOB).
Jun 19, 2016, 12:01 pm
#6
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I've been carrying one for about a month. I only had one agent ask about it (at MHT), and he just asked if there was a "ballpoint pen in there". It did not trigger a bag check.
Jun 22, 2016, 8:44 am
#8
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Yikes...these things can be used as weapons. Can't believe they are allowed on aircraft.
Of course, I see steel-tipped hiking poles allowed as carryons all the time, even though the TSA website specifically prohibits them.
Oh well.
Of course, I see steel-tipped hiking poles allowed as carryons all the time, even though the TSA website specifically prohibits them.
Oh well.
Jun 22, 2016, 9:13 am
#9
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Knitting needles are allowed and can be quite formidable.
Hollow aluminum tent poles with no points anywhere are prohibited because, unlike a laptop or a bowling ball (both allowed), tent poles could be used as a 'bludgeon'.
<redacted by moderator>
Hollow aluminum tent poles with no points anywhere are prohibited because, unlike a laptop or a bowling ball (both allowed), tent poles could be used as a 'bludgeon'.
<redacted by moderator>
Last edited by TWA884; Jun 22, 2016 at 1:59 pm Reason: Policy debate, not Practical Trusted Travelers advice/information
Jun 23, 2016, 4:17 pm
#10
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All of the tactical pens I've seen are essentially kubotans with an ink catridge. Sometimes the sharp end of the kubotan is the back end of the pen and is covered, other times the sharp end is the end with the ink in it. Most that I've seen don't even look like pens, they just look like kubotans.
Essentially, a tactical pen is a thinly-disguised (oftentimes not disguised at all) kubotan, and kubotans are prohibited items, so tactical pens are likewise prohibited. But if you find a tactical pen that doesn't look like a tactical pen, i.e. a high-quality metal pen that's strong enough to use as a kubotan but looks like an ordinary (not tacti-cool) pen, then carrying it becomes much less risky.
Essentially, a tactical pen is a thinly-disguised (oftentimes not disguised at all) kubotan, and kubotans are prohibited items, so tactical pens are likewise prohibited. But if you find a tactical pen that doesn't look like a tactical pen, i.e. a high-quality metal pen that's strong enough to use as a kubotan but looks like an ordinary (not tacti-cool) pen, then carrying it becomes much less risky.
Jun 24, 2016, 9:35 am
#11
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As a followup to WillCAD's post, I'd be cautious about taking that to the UK, since kubotans are illegal to carry there without "good reason." I don't know how this pen would be classified, but it might end up in that category.
https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives
https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives
Jun 24, 2016, 7:56 pm
#12
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As a followup to WillCAD's post, I'd be cautious about taking that to the UK, since kubotans are illegal to carry there without "good reason." I don't know how this pen would be classified, but it might end up in that category.
https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives
https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives
Jun 27, 2016, 1:07 pm
#13
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Jun 27, 2016, 4:02 pm
#14
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A friend gave me a tactical pen as a gift, and I recently carried it on a long trip to the Middle East and back. I left it in my small backpack carry on, and wondered whether it would be spotted during security screening points along the way.
It went through screening at a number of places, including HNL, SFO, YYZ, DXB, FRA, and in Israel. The only place where it was noted was in Israel, and the security officer operating the xray merely asked me if it was a pen, and did not further inspect it.
Anyone else have experience traveling with a tactical pen?
It went through screening at a number of places, including HNL, SFO, YYZ, DXB, FRA, and in Israel. The only place where it was noted was in Israel, and the security officer operating the xray merely asked me if it was a pen, and did not further inspect it.
Anyone else have experience traveling with a tactical pen?
Don't even think about bringing it to the UK as it will be classed as an offensive weapon (which carries a maximum sentence of 4 years).
Jun 27, 2016, 4:12 pm
#15
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