Carrying a Bowie Knife on a Flight

Unless one is on a private plane, it’s probably against the law and airline policy to carry a weapon in the crew or passenger areas. A Bowie knife is not something that can be carried on because it serves another function, such as a nail file or a book of matches. A Bowie is a weapon by design and has been so since the first one was manufactured. Carrying weapons on planes can be done, but with some special accommodations.

A Bowie knife cannot be carried in any luggage that is brought on board the plane. This is to prevent anyone from accessing a weapon while the plane is in the air. The pre-boarding inspection will include the x-raying of luggage and there’s no way that this x-ray will miss a Bowie’s blade. Trying to carry a knife on the plane can create a great deal of trouble for anyone caught doing it. There is a way that these knives can be carried onboard, however, on most major carriers.

The Bowie knife will be subject to any laws that apply once it and its owner are back on the ground. Remember this and check ahead to make sure that the knife is even legal where one is headed. There are some places where certain weapons are specifically against the law. It is not the airline or the TSA’s responsibility to inform passengers of the laws in other places, so be sure to be informed ahead of time.

In most cases, carrying a knife into an airport, Bowie knife or otherwise, will also be a serious issue. Be sure to have the knife packed away and ready to fly before leaving for the airport. Remember that much smaller knives than Bowies are prohibited on airlines, so if one happens to carry even a pocketknife with them it will be taken away. The restrictions regarding what may be brought on a plane are very severe at present. Airports in general have very tight security, so be sure to call ahead and to verify any special handling instructions for the knife with the airport.

Bowie knives are illegal in some places, so make sure to check ahead before shipping them anywhere. If there are no problems, shipping is a good and inexpensive alternative to taking luggage on an airplane. One simply ground ships their knife ahead of them and picks it up at the destination. For those who don’t want to have any trouble carrying a weapon, this is oftentimes far preferable. These knives cost very little to ship.

Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie knives store featuring hunting knives.