[silvercorvette]

When I was living part time in TX and part time in NY I kept a couple guns in a safe in each state. that worked out well for me for the most part but one trip to NYI brought two guns on the plane and almost had them stolen.

They were legally checked in and tagged but someone broke the suit case lock expecting to find guns inside. But what they found inside was a very large sturdy case with locks that were a lot harder to break than regular suitcase locks. Trust me on this when I say gat a large box that is so big it can't be hidden under a coat and locks that would require bolt cutters or a hack saw to open. Putting the box inside a suitcase provides extra security.

If you visit there often maybe you can just leave a spare gun in kansas, or maybe if you are visiting family you can borrow a gun to carry. Or maybe you can buy a family member a gun and borrow the gun while you visit them

PS now a days I do all my traveling by truck because it makes it easier with guns and I now own two dogs

 

[silvercorvette]

Federal code prohibits the placing of any kind of marking on the outside of your luggage that would indicate the presence of a firearm It's part of Title 18 of the USC.

When I flew from TX to NY 3 years ago I had to have my gun checked at the curb / sidewalk outside the building. They put some kind of tag on the suit case toverfy it had been inspected and properly packed.

 

[silvercorvette]

I avoid flying unless forced. There is nothing I like about the experience, and the gun transport stuff makes it worse. I need to get a good case (Silvercorvette, would like your recommendation - PM to avoid thread drift if you care to). I have to fly at Christmas time this year due to time constraints, but have already gotten the links to the TSA and Airline (I think SW) pages related to firearms and will print and carry the regs in my carry on. Frankly, it is less of a PITA now than it was 10 years ago.

Seldomseen: WRONG. Every place has the potential to require carry, unless you are clairvoyant, in which case you need to open an investment business.

The case is approximately 18 inches by 12 inches by 8 inches thick, the size makes it impossible to hide under a coat and it is sturdy enough that it would be hard to break into without attracting attention. The label says Style number BV444

I mentioned in this thread and another thread that ran a few months ago that the case was packed inside a suitcase.

PS I bought it in a big sporting goods store in TX but I don't remember the name of the store

 

[silvercorvette]

Thanks. I take it that the brand is one of those labels?

I am not sure but I think the brand is flight proof and the model bandito vaguero

 

[silvercorvette]

http://www.amazon.com/Pelican-09320...HS/ref=sr_1_48?ie=UTF8&qid=1288327811&sr=8-48

Another case to consider is a Pelican case, good pricing (as low as $25.00 from Fry's electronics) the pull and pluck foam makes customization a snap if you have the poles on the inside of your luggage that houses the telescoping handle, an additional cable and lock tethering tour case makes pilferage too time consuming.

A buddy of mine that travels extensively in humid climates swears by the Pelican dessicant...
http://www.amazon.com/Pelican-1500D-Peli-Desiccant-Silica/dp/B0018O035O/ref=pd_rhf_shvl_2

To me it looks easy to break into, and small enough to hide, but that's just my opinion.


The weak point are the back hinges which look easy to break, I'll post a picture of the back of my case later
===========================================================

OK picture added, look at the construction of the hinges in the back, you get what you pay for. It will be a lot harder to break the hinges in the back of mine, IMO the hinges in the cheap one are it's main weak point.

Check out this sales video

Another link with more info

 

[silvercorvette]

Federal law prohibits any external markings or tags from being put on checked cases containing firearms.

Knowing this part of the law could have prevented this from happening and probably avoided the attempt at pilfering.

Don

This happen about 3 years (correction 4 years ago because I had already sold the house in TX and was living in SC 3 years ago) ago on a flight from TX to NY with a change of planes at an airport I don't recall. I don't recall the details but am 1005 sure that I checked in the guns at a table / podium on the side walk outside the building. I don't know what the tag said on it, maybe it was just a regular tag that they put on all suitcases when you check in but it was done outside the building. For all I know the tag is still on the suit case. If I come across the suitcase I'll post a picture of the tag. I move to SC 3 years ago and the suitcase could be in the storage space over the garage or in the Attic

 

[silvercorvette]

If the case containing your firearms is also your suitcase, then your statement is true. If the case is inside your suitcase, then your declaration goes on the outside of the hard sided firearm case so if TSA conducts a secondary search they can see the firearm has been declared.

Is this what you meant?

That is correct, I put the gun case in side the suitcase as an extra level of protection. When I landed in NY the suit case lock was broken but that gun case inside the suit case was safe.

 

[silvercorvette]

We use Pelican cases to protect very high dollar TV gear. The US military also uses some of their cases. Most professional photographers also use the cases. I am also familiar with the Anvil style cases. You would have to work at breaking a Pelican case.

I am just going by what I see in the picture, the rear hinges seem to be a weak point of entry, a screw driver or small prybar in the back and the case seems like it would fail.

I have had no experience with the Pelican cases and never saw one in person.

 

[silvercorvette]

Exactly. It doesn't matter if its a bag in a bag. The declaration/affidavit goes INSIDE the case, with the gun.

Its been that way for at least 12 or 13 years.

I remember because I got into an argument with a check in clerk at JFK when I was going to visit my ex-father-in-law to do some hunting about exactly this issue. A supervisor set the clerk straight. I married her in 95, divorced in 97. So it was sometime in that time frame.

One other thing. I don't check guns in at the curb. I wait in the often crappy, terrible line at the ticket counter.

This was the first and only time I flew with guns after 9-11. When I moved to TX I drove there with some guns and kept some guns in my safe in NY and some guns in my safe in TX. I called ahead to the airport for instructions as the the proper way to check in. I was told that they had a special check in at the curb. They do not want you to enter the building with guns. After all this discussion I am beginning to think that they just may have did the same check in at the curb as the do inside and put the same tag on the suitcase but they do it to prevent you from bring a gun inside the building. Now if that is true and there was no special identifying tag on the suitcase then why was my suitcase broken into. Was the person doing the check in involved in something illegal. The people that broke into the suitcase were only interested in my gun because after they discovered the guns were in a locked case they did not bother with anything else. So what tipped them off that my suit case had a gun.

This thread has been going on for a few days and now it has gotten me curious enough to look for the suitcase to see what tag (if any ) are still on the case. I have to winterize my camper this week end and if I have time when I get done I am going to search for the case to see if it can help answer some questions.
I know for a fact that if you step inside the JFK airport building in NY with a gun and try checking in you will wind up in a world of hurt.

 

[silvercorvette]

You cannot check at weapon at the curb.. Federal regulations require that you are required to turn your weapon over to the CARRIER and declare it. The staffing of many curb side check ins are contractors are not airline employees, therefore it's illegal.

Cite from 27 CFR SS 478.31

This was four years ago and my memory can be off on some details but I am 100% sure about being instructed to check in at the curb. The reason I am sure is that I did not know what I was doing and how to properly fly with guns so I called the airport to ask about the proper procedure. I was told what to do and I checked in at the curb because they instructed me to.

 

[silvercorvette]

The problem with JFK airport is that is it is part of the universe controlled by mayor Bloomberg know as NY city. Bring a hand gun into NY city is what is going to be more of a problem than airport rules. I haven't bothered checking recently but when I retired in 1990 and got a NY state pistol permit I also had to get a permit to carry in NY city. I am not sure but I don't think that an addition NY city permit is still required in addition to a NY state license but just keep in mind that JFK airport is part of NY city so there may be issues with NY city laws. Last time I dropped off someone at JFK was over 6 years ago and I remember seeing some gun warning signs so I as much as I hatted to do it I left my gun in in the car to avoid any problems.

Maybe others have had no problems ay JFK, I just didn't want to take a chance.

PS NJ is also very anti gun, I remember some wrote about having problems flying into a NJ airport.