Thread: TSA and Razor Theft

Hey guys. I know similar discussions have been had on this topic, but I have recently spoken to several people that have told me both razors and scissors have been stolen by TSA luggage checkers and I have personally had stuff stolen from checked luggage.

This really burns me. You can't bring the stuff on the plane, so you have to check it. You can't lock the stuff up, because they have to search it. Then they help themselves to your valuables. What the heck?

So now, I have to travel. Even a razor I paid $10.00 is worth more than that by the time I'm done with it and I don't want it stolen.

So that leaves me with a DE or a Shavette type razor. Either one of which I either have to check the luggage or buy blades at the destination, which for sure will be just some generic blade - not a Derby or other good blade.

So I have two questions. First what is the value in getting a Parker or Dovo Shavette, and second what has been peoples experience buying DE blades at the destination.

Thanks in advance.

I can't offer much in the way of answering your questions directly , but my experience when traveling has been a good one every time. Maybe I have been lucky so far(knocks on wood) , but I just put my razors and the rest of my gear in my luggage that gets checked in. I make sure to surround it with cloths so it will not suffer as the luggage gets tossed about. So far , so good.

I refuse to travel with my straights exactly for that reason. I don't want my razors to be stolen or damaged by careless people.

I own two shavette type razors from years ago when I couldn't find a real straight I usually take these with me when traveling and no problem so far.

As for the blades I usually just pre load it and carry an extra one in my toiletries kit. So far I've had no issues with it, the only problem is having to deal with using a shavette when I've gotten so used to my regular straight razor.

I started traveling frequently with work about six months ago. I bring a Dovo Best Quality with me. I have yet to have a problem. I put all my toiletries in a ziplock bag in my checked luggage and my straight inside it's plastic box, inside of a zippered leather pouch. Knock on wood, but I've had no problems thus far. Good luck!

As I will be taking a journey to Europe at the end of the year, this thread is of interest to me.

I am very curious to know - WHY would a baggage-checker WANT to steal a straight razor? For what purpose? It's not like they're watches or fine pens or DVDs...it'd be much harder to try and fence a razor or something...

The best bet is have some vintage ugly razors that shave well and take them. I suspect they would be stolen because if they are lookers someone who doesn't know might think shiny metal and gold decoration means value.

When I used to travel alot I had some ugly pieces I took. I never had problems.

Originally Posted by Shangas

As I will be taking a journey to Europe at the end of the year, this thread is of interest to me.

I am very curious to know - WHY would a baggage-checker WANT to steal a straight razor? For what purpose? It's not like they're watches or fine pens or DVDs...it'd be much harder to try and fence a razor or something...

I have no idea why anybody steals anything. All I can tell you is they did. Don't know what they did with them.

I'd just pack those orange Bic Sensitives, a boar brush and Palmolive soap. They are as cheap as anything and I find they provide as good a shave as a DE. Nobody would bother to steal them and if they did, big deal!

I brought my DE on my last flight and did not have a blade in it. I'm sure it's a matter of which TSA agent you get, but they didn't even bother to open my bag to verify that there was no blade (I wanted to be safe, though!).

My little travel kit was an empty DE, 3 oz. bottles of witch hazel and bay rum, a small puck o' soap, and my smallest brush which fit nicely inside a toilet paper roll.

I picked up a 10-pack of generic DE blades from CVS for a few bucks. I read on another forum that these weren't the best blades, but I got nothing but great shaves from them (and I'm also a head shaver).

Gentlemen:

In all my travels my wet bag has been untouched in my checked suitcase. Still, I always take two 4/8" vintage razors that will not be a devastating loss should they be stolen.

I also sometimes take a Feather Artist Club with replaceable blades as a back up razor. A backup double edge Merkur (with a Muhle-Pinsel shave head) goes along on all my trips.

I have faith that my wet bag will remain untouched.

Regards,
Obie