View Full Version : Major Knife Theft of Ken Onion Customs
Bill Harsey
10-07-2006, 09:27
I just got word that Ken Onion was traveling from his home in Hawaii to a major show in California and upon arrival in San Fransisco he opened his bag and a large no. of his very expensive customs knives were all stolen from his luggage.
Here is a link to some more information at a very good website run by Kit Carson who is also a member here: http://www.customknivesandguns.com/ckgforums/showthread.php?t=4714
Edited to add: darn it, seems to take a log-in to see the thread and pics. Good forum, worth doing.
Bill Harsey
10-07-2006, 10:42
More to follow, just spoke with Ken on his cell and he doesn't want the dollar amount disclosed yet but it is significant.
He's having a hard time getting cooperation with United Airlines and the TSA.
The Reaper
10-07-2006, 10:50
After the fact, but a brief public service announcement.
Anyone traveling with items of significant value need to have hard cases, like the Hardigg, Pelican, or Starlight, and use TSA locks. If it is firearms, use good security locks. If the items are small, use a large case to make it harder for someone to walk off with it.
That makes it a lot easier to figure out who took the gear when it goes missing.
Sorry for Ken's loss. He seems like a great guy.
TR
After the fact, but a brief public service announcement.
Anyone traveling with items of significant value need to have hard cases, like the Hardigg, Pelican, or Starlight, and use TSA locks. If it is firearms, use good security locks. If the items are small, use a large case to make it harder for someone to walk off with it.
That makes it a lot easier to figure out who took the gear when it goes missing.
Sorry for Ken's loss. He seems like a great guy.
TR
Good INFO TR, THX
CPTAUSRET
10-07-2006, 18:22
More to follow, just spoke with Ken on his cell and he doesn't want the dollar amount disclosed yet but it is significant.
He's having a hard time getting cooperation with United Airlines and the TSA.
Hoprfully the items are insured, and he is able to collect on his policy!
Bill Harsey
10-08-2006, 09:47
Google "tsa thefts"
I had no idea.
The Reaper
10-08-2006, 09:59
Hoprfully the items are insured, and he is able to collect on his policy!
Unless you take additional insurance, your baggage loss is limited to about $700 on domestic flights, IIRC.
How would you prove that you had $50,000 in knives in a checked bag, anyway?
TR
CPTAUSRET
10-08-2006, 11:37
How would you prove that you had $50,000 in knives in a checked bag, anyway?
TR
No f-ing idea!
Is there no electronic evidence? ala MR, FMR, CT, or PET scanning, kinds of scans.
The Reaper
10-08-2006, 18:40
No f-ing idea!
Is there no electronic evidence? ala MR, FMR, CT, or PET scanning, kinds of scans.
"Yessir, Mr. Onion!
You checked one bag number 12-34-56, and we delivered it to you at baggage claim.
You say it had $100,000 worth of knives in it when you gave it to us, and now you have discovered they are missing?
Riiiight.... Have you read our Contarct of Carriage and Liability for Lost Luggage (not stolen items contained within, the fine print where it lists things you should not put in checked baggage."
Not saying that they don't have some liability, but they are not going to pay on this one unless some airline employee can be pinned on tape taking the knives.
More likely to be a TSA employee, and I do not know if they tape them at work screening checked luggage.
Doggoned shame, Ken is good people.
Bill, you should never fly with knives of any real value checked unless you declare them and take excess insurance.
As far as shipping goes, well, UPS quit taking handgun shipments for anything but overnight service because they couldn't keep their employees in the regular shipping departments from stealing them, and they tape everybody, all of the time.
TR
Roguish Lawyer
10-08-2006, 19:05
I learned about baggage liability limits the hard way. You can buy additional insurance in several ways, including through certain credit card companies. If Mr. Onion purchased his ticket using an American Express card, for example, he may have some additional coverage. Perhaps not enough to cover the entire loss, but at least some additional coverage . . .