Surefire E2D and Airports - Dom/Intl [Archive] - SOCNET: The Special Operations Community Network

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MikeC2W

3 October 2007, 14:07

GackMan

3 October 2007, 14:18

I've carried mine on several times and not had any trouble. I put it in my carry-on bag with my phone charger, cables, etc.

Sltwtr1

3 October 2007, 14:51

Just brought one through the U.K the other day... and many other countries to include the U.S, NO probs.

Sltwtr1

OUT

MikeC2W

3 October 2007, 19:20

Excellent, thanks guys.

Sltwtr1

3 October 2007, 23:22

Just as an FYI: It's always good if you are travelling and staying in hotels etc, to have your flashlight accessible in case of a hotel fire, power failure etc. Some guys would keep their Surefires, streamlights etc in their gear/weapons/dive locker. If I am in a hotel/barracks etc, I alwys like to have my light in proximity...

Sltwtr1

OUT

MikeC2W

4 October 2007, 08:50

Just as an FYI: It's always good if you are travelling and staying in hotels etc, to have your flashlight acsessible in case of a hotel fire, power failure etc. Some guys would keep their Surefires, streamlights etc in their gear/weapons/dive locker. If I am in a hotel/barracks etc, I alwys like to have my light in proximity...

Sltwtr1

OUT

I'm the same way, wife thinks I'm nuts.

Thanks.

chuterigger

4 October 2007, 14:23

If I have pants on, my SF is on my person.

It amazing how many times I need it, even in daylight for looking in engines and the like etc...

So what is the official policy on the "strike bezel"?

Could they possibly get all picky and take your SF?

I would like to carry a 6PD on plane rides if I could, in case anyone gets derka-derka, you know:D, but I REALLY don't want to lose my light, and if need be I will make due without it anyway;)

morelocks

4 October 2007, 18:23

I forgot I had my Gerber and Leatherman on me while going through security. I didn't want to throw them away, so I took out a couple of envelopes I had and the stamps in my laptop case and mailed them to myself.

Spinner

4 October 2007, 21:10

So what is the official policy on the "strike bezel"?

My guess is that unless you have a particularly savvy TSA employee who is familiar with the strike bezel and its intended use, they'll probably just think it's a flashlight.

They might give the battery compartment a closer examination, but they probably won't give the bezel a second glance.

iraqgunz

5 October 2007, 03:03

Post 9/11 I have been through airports with a Surefire M3. Nowadays I usually carry an E1, E2 and an aviator in my carry bag. I have even had a 6P with strike bezel and no one said shit. But, they did snag my nail clippers.

frankborelli

5 October 2007, 03:09

A couple years ago I had an E2eha on me going through BWI. The security guys argued about whether or not it was a weapon. Finally they came to the conclusion that it was "just a flashlight" and there was "no harm he can do with the light". Okay... cool... I've carried it several times since then with no issues. The scalloped bezel? Someone might notice... but first they'd have to stop singing along with the rap music blasting in the back ground and pay attention.

MikeC2W

5 October 2007, 09:13

.... I have even had a 6P with strike bezel and no one said shit. But, they did snag my nail clippers.

HA - that's classic.

chuterigger

5 October 2007, 23:16

Just about everyone who has ever seen my defender has been like "is that for stabbing people?"

Maybe they just know me;)

Do you guys not get the same affect with the smaller SFs?

If confronted, I would probibly tell them it is so if you set it down you can see it is still on.

J12616

5 October 2007, 23:40

Hello.

As an introduction, I have been married to a police officer for 17 years. Prior to LE, my husband was in the 82nd Airborne for 8 years. I find the discussions on these boards to be intelligent, insightful, instructional, and humorous.

Why have I wandered out of my lane to comment on this post:

My brother has been a pilot for one of the biggest overnight package delivery services for 22 years. He has the flashlight under discussion and carries it in his flight bag, which goes directly into the cockpit with him.

There are no special dispensations for pilots regarding approved carry-on items. Like the rest of us, he can only carry 3 ounces of shampoo, toothpaste, etc., but the bezled flashlight in his flight case on every trip, and TSA officials do not bat an eyelash.

He thinks it is really ironic that he cannot carry a pen knife, but part of his job description is to make sure that the crash axe and crash pick are both on board before every take off. :rolleyes:

He said a group of pilots, who may or may not have been employed by his company (he does not know), approached "the powers that be" (he could not remember which governing authority it was) about getting the flashlight approved as a carry-on item. They explained that the flashlight, when placed bezle end down on charts, log books, etc., allowed them to have just enough light to read at night without ruining their night vision. :p

I hope this post is helpful to you.

Respectfully submitted,
J.

<back to my lane now>

edited to correct info about the governing authority

chuterigger

6 October 2007, 09:39

Thanks man, its a GO then:cool:

Skintop911

6 October 2007, 18:07

Just bought a E2D, was wondering if anyone has had issue's with TSA or Customs.....I'd like to carry it with me as I travel. So anyone gotten one taken away? Probably should have asked that before I bought it.....

I recently flew Denver - Houston - Managua and back with an E2D in my pocket, and had no problems. No one looked twice at it, except on re-entry through Houston. In Houston, the TSA guy picked it up, looked at for awhile, and asked what it was. He also fingered the bezel. I advised him that the grooves facilitated map reading, and also were to accept attachments. He nodded and commented, "wow, you could probably hurt someone with that", then handed it back.

They gave more scrutiny to the Surefire spares carriers in the pack, but also accepted my explanation of what they were. I have encountered that before.

They gave less scrutiny to the various trauma shears, hemostats, and carabiners I had with me.

I hedged my bet, and had a SASE with me in case of problems. One could also toss the bezel, rather than the whole light, if there was issue.

As always, don't argue with the screener. Request your preference of his/her supervisor, the GSC, airport PD, or a complaint form.

J.Meoff

13 October 2007, 00:09

"strike bezel".... GAY what kind of poser came up with this crap?

Otherwise known as the stupid scallops that wear hole in my clothes. I replaced the tailcap & head (e2d) with the non scalloped pieces off a wep/scout light, now perfect.

The same marketing to wanna-bees that has ridiculous muzzle devizes for AR's with scallops & points on them. I assure you a regular a2/KAC flashhider will go right through a forehead w/o extra sharpness.

chuterigger

14 October 2007, 00:18

"strike bezel".... GAY what kind of poser came up with this crap?

If I had the choice of which light I had slammed into my cranium or jaw, it would be the NON-"strike bezel" version.

For this reason I carry the "strike bezel" version:D

With the teeth, the light is more likely to dig in and stay where you put it, so you can deliver the blow with less chance of it glancing off.

If you don't consider a flashlight as your primary weapon (who would, right), it may be less than ideal, but as a last ditch weapon (as in on a flight, as in the thread topic;)) it has its place IMHO.

You may get only one chance to kill that durka fucker or knock out that crazy fucker.

As for the teeth on the back of the E2D, anyone know what the purpose of those are? That doesn't make sense to me.

Something you may not have considered is that a muzzle strike is linear, where a "cowboy punch" is an arc, and more likely to glance off.

MikeC2W

14 October 2007, 00:21

Well, no one even blinked a eye at JFK...not even a second thought. Which is cool.

MikeC2W

14 October 2007, 00:24

Spinner

14 October 2007, 18:41

My brother has been a pilot for one of the biggest overnight package delivery services for 22 years. He has the flashlight under discussion and carries it in his flight bag, which goes directly into the cockpit with him.

There are no special dispensations for pilots regarding approved carry-on items. Like the rest of us, he can only carry 3 ounces of shampoo, toothpaste, etc., but the bezled flashlight in his flight case on every trip, and TSA officials do not bat an eyelash.

Considering what happened on the FedEx flight in '94 with a soon-to-be-fired employee, he might be better off packing a 6 D cell Maglite. ;)

I'm sure the regs regarding non-revenue deadhead passengers have been revised since then.

MikeC2W

19 October 2007, 19:38

Considering what happened on the FedEx flight in '94 with a soon-to-be-fired employee, he might be better off packing a 6 D cell Maglite. ;)

I'm sure the regs regarding non-revenue deadhead passengers have been revised since then.

Has anyone tried to board with a 6 D Flashlight? That's pretty funny and would definitely come in more handy but is a bit less covert...

FYI - TSA didn't even blink an eye at a E2D bezel and all...it was the best kind of let down.

VelociMorte

19 October 2007, 23:33

Back in 2002 I had a fat, button-straining, fresh off the drive-thru window at McDonalds TSA employee ask me why I was carrying a flashlight. I responded that "if there's a problem with the aircraft, the first thing to go out will be the lights and I want to see so I can escape the burning wreckage if I'm still alive." I was delayed and got to talk to more TSA employees.

NightLandNav

20 October 2007, 02:44

I just made 4 domestic flights with the E2D on my person (no carry on) Put it in the plastic bin with wallet, phone etc.

Asked about it once, apparently gave a good reason to have it...no problems.

chuterigger

22 October 2007, 14:11

Made 2 domestic flights with mine, no questions asked.

Mad Man

20 December 2007, 12:04

The deputies at the Adams County Justice Center (CO) wouldn't let me carry my Streamlight Scorpion (http://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-Scorpion-2-Lithium-Flashlight-85001/dp/B00008BFSF) into small-claims court.

This was back in 1998. I have no idea what their rationale was.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41SKRA479CL._AA280_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-Scorpion-2-Lithium-Flashlight-85001/dp/B00008BFSF)

bobofthedesert

21 December 2007, 08:51

Believeraz

12 January 2008, 20:33

I fly with mine on me, but when I go through a checkpoint, it is in my bag, in a zippered pouch that has all my chargers, USB cables, pens, etc. I've never had an issue.

I used to carry an E2E with the GG&G cookie-cutter bezel on it, and flew regularly with it with no issues, and it looks significantly more "weapon-like" than the new E2D bezel.

My wife carries the one with the GG&G now, and has flown with it in the past few months, still with no issue. I've considered putting a slip-over lens filter over it, to make it look more PC when going through TSA, but so far it's not been necessary.

MikeC2W

13 January 2008, 08:55

I've gone through both Domestic and International flights now and these guys don't even blink.

Never been stopped, or even looked at.

NightLandNav

13 January 2008, 09:14

Since my last post I've been through TSA and US Customs a few times. Put the E2D in the bin.

Same same MikeC2W, not even a blink.

Typhoon

14 January 2008, 13:25

Has anyone tried to board with a 6 D Flashlight? That's pretty funny and would definitely come in more handy but is a bit less covert...
And if it were confiscated, you'd be out only about 25 bucks... :)

Same same MikeC2W, not even a blink.
Gotta get me one-- Especially after seeing the creative way that Polypro used it in a bar! :D

Spinner

14 January 2008, 17:47

Has anyone tried to board with a 6 D Flashlight? That's pretty funny and would definitely come in more handy but is a bit less covert...

Well, if it's not on the list...:D