Carrying a Bowie knife on a flight is obviously something which will involve several complications. Even before the overall tightening of security at airports in recent years, it would have been almost certain that any airline would have prohibited an individual from entering a plane with such a knife, and, likely, they would have been in some trouble for having tried at all.

Carrying the weapon on one’s belt or somewhere else on one’s person while at the airport is prohibited. When one heads to the airport, their Bowie knife should be secured in a suitcase and inaccessible. This inaccessibility is a good bench mark of whether or not a knife is being carried correctly. No one should be armed anywhere near an airport but it is permissible to transport arms in one’s luggage.

A knife can be placed in one’s regular, checked luggage. This meets the security criteria of making the weapon inaccessible during flight; it’s in the luggage hold. Make sure to declare the knife to the counter person when asked so that everything is on the up and up. This luggage will likely be x-rayed, as well, so saying nothing will conceal nothing and potentially complicate everything associated with the flight.

In the luggage, the knife must be sheathed securely. This is usually no problem where Bowie knives are concerned as they are sheath knives by design. It’s a good idea to wrap or box the knife within the luggage, as well. Even though a sheath protects the blade, the hand guard and handle still might snag on clothing or other items and cause damage or be damaged. Make sure the knife cannot slide out of the sheath, in any regard, and count on the luggage being handled a bit roughly from time to time by baggage handlers.

Flying with a Bowie knife should present no real trouble for anyone. If one does not want to leave the knife in their checked luggage, however, sending the knife via a shipper is always an option. One can send the package and catch up with it when they land. In some cases, those going on sporting outings may be better off shipping any and all camping and sporting gear rather than trying to get on a plane with it.

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