Bronze Scallop Shell…Carry-on?

[RevGreg]

We bought a bronze scallop shell like what goes in the sidewalks along the way. They’re everywhere around here in Santiago.

My question: can I bring this in my carry-on home? Or can it only be checked/mailed?

Seems kind of like a blunt instrument even though, you know, it’s not.

 

[henrythedog]

Well; if it were me I’d let you on - but I’m unlikely to be on duty for a variety of reasons.

It’s an expensive experiment if you’re going to chance it and the view of whoever you ask - even at the airport, and most certainly on the internet - may differ from the staff on the day. Of all the places where one doesn’t want an argument an airport security queue is right up there.

I’d suggest you take it, wear a collar if you’ve got one with you and be prepared to produce your Compostela if the security staff look like they’ve been in Spain longer than you have.

 

[Vacajoe]

I once was stopped for having an egg-sized stone in my carryon because it was heavy enough to be a “weapon”. You may get lucky…or you may have to relinquish it at the security check. Absolutely impossible to say because it’s 100% at the discretion of the officers on duty. Probably worth simply checking your bag through (or try and have enough time to check a bag through if it gets denied.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I once was stopped on a flight home from the Caribbean for having a roundish four-five inch piece of brain coral in my carry-on. My baggage was opened and they took a look at it, but they did not confiscate it. I assumed that it possibly looked like an explosive. My "personal opinion" is that it should be fine in your carry-on.

 

[naplesdon]

I have lost cork screws to airport security numerous times, that is understandable. One time at CDG I had a carabiner clip removed from my backpack because it supposedly could be used as substitute for brass knuckles. The worst case was a business trip I did, when I awarded stars to my top performers, the star which was imbedded in plastic was considered a danger because it might have been a Ninja death star.

 

[dbier]

Put it in the bin separately, so they can see it without unpacking

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Put it in the bin separately, so they can see it without unpacking

Or just put it in the nearest zipper compartment of your backpack to easily remove it in case they ask to see it.

 

[davebugg]

Ronin pilgrims have been known to use them as hand-heaved death Scallops against tourigrinos.

 

[mattythedog]

We bought a bronze scallop shell like what goes in the sidewalks along the way. They’re everywhere around here in Santiago.

My question: can I bring this in my carry-on home? Or can it only be checked/mailed?

Seems kind of like a blunt instrument even though, you know, it’s not.

I bought one from Ivar last year and carried it on, just as I have many moderate sized castings without sharp edges or looking like handgrenades

 

[CWBuff]

I bought one from Ivar last year and carried it on, just as I have many moderate sized castings without sharp edges or looking like handgrenades

so... this is an old trick - to point attention to "the one" in order to distract from "the other"
Buy that laundry bead thingy I posted about roughly 2 weeks ago. it looks like a hand grenade. dont do anything with it but just put it in the bowles of your carry-on.
Take the bronze scallop, nicely wrap it in tissue paper, but it in the nice "gift box" and perhaps place it in some plastic bag; then put it reasonably on the top of carry on and a bit to the side.
They will zero-in on the grenade like a duck on a June bug and will shove everything to the side to get to it.
Once they will confiscate it - everything else will just be let go.....

So.... long before 9-11 and TSA I in my very early and gullible 20s being a smoker at the time thought of nothing better than to take with me my lighter that looked like a handgun (prob the size of a .22... I'm sure there are folks who remember these from 60s and 70s). Yes it was confiscated.

I once was stopped when flying from Atlanta to PHL. I was attending my company's conference and going for about 4 days had only a carry-on with me. Well... I got presented with an award that wa a pretty decent hunk of a crystal\glass shaped like a sail (taking about not only a weight but "sharp points" to boot).. It was in its own box nicely placed in the foam cradle..... so... after the whole explanation they let me go with no problems.

 

[Bob P]

I have had a 3" ballpoint pen, shaped like baseball bat confiscated. I have had spices removed because "that could cause respiratory distress".. I have had Kevlar fishing line removed from my expensive fishing reel in my carry-on because it could be a weapon. The lady behind me said "I guess it's a good thing I didn't tell them my husband is a Navy Seal."

It is entirely dependent on the attitude/ demeanor of the inspector on that prticular day. If you have a checked bag, put it in checked luggage.

 

[Jarrad]

so... this is an old trick - to point attention to "the one" in order to distract from "the other"

Flying home after a salmon fishing trip in Maine, my connecting flight in Newark, New Jersey was cancelled. I was required to claim my luggage and spend the night on a bench until the next day. The next morning I went back through security with my bag full of fishing gear that I decided to check at the gate.

After passing my bags through the x-ray device, a security person bruskly pulled me aside. She had honed in on a pair of hemostats clipped to my fishing vest. They are commonly used by fly-fishermen to remove hooks from fish (and sometimes anglers). She was convinced they were drug paraphernalia. Eventually she let me pass to the gate with all of my fly rods and the bag full of gear and dirty clothes. When I got home, I found that I had traveled with a razor-sharp filet knife with a 6.5-inch (16.5 cm) blade in the same bag that held the offending fly-fishing vest. While I was irritated by the apparently pointless encounter with security at the time, afterwards I was quite thankful with how it transpired, as it could have gone very differently.

 

[CWBuff]

The lady behind me said "I guess it's a good thing I didn't tell them my husband is a Navy Seal."

Yup. Told lots of folks many many times that one can do some serious damage even empty-handed as long as they know "What to do".....
I understand that security folks have their job to do but there has to be some basic understanding in what is transpires. I also know that through all the 24 post-911 years there has been negative pushback on so-called 'profiling'. And trust you me - I am NOT in any way, shape or form advocating for any 'racial' profiling. However the Israelis were stating that their method is based on behavioral profiling which obviously looks for specific behavior patterns and allows the security to conduct their actions accordingly
Granted nothing is 100% full proof but I'd rather risk that then relieve an innocent tourist of his very expensive fishing reel....
(I guess it matters not that I am a world renown Cello player - like YoYo Ma - but I better not put any spare strings into my carry-on)

OK off the soap box and back to bronze scallop shells....

 

[WGroleau]

If you plan to check something, put it in there and no need for this thread.

If not, get to the airport early enough to take a postal detour if the thing is disallowed.

 

[David Tallan]

I have had spices removed because "that could cause respiratory distress".

This is when I start to get suspicious that someone just wanted some nice spices.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I have had a 3" ballpoint pen, shaped like baseball bat confiscated. I have had spices removed because "that could cause respiratory distress".. I have had Kevlar fishing line removed from my expensive fishing reel in my carry-on because it could be a weapon. The lady behind me said "I guess it's a good thing I didn't tell them my husband is a Navy Seal."

It is entirely dependent on the attitude/ demeanor of the inspector on that prticular day. If you have a checked bag, put it in checked luggage.

I've mentioned before that I have had a small, clear plastic knife from a fast food restaurant confiscated; possibly the serrated edge was a problem.

 

[VmK]

We bought a bronze scallop shell like what goes in the sidewalks along the way. They’re everywhere around here in Santiago.

My question: can I bring this in my carry-on home? Or can it only be checked/mailed?

Seems kind of like a blunt instrument even though, you know, it’s not.

I placed my shells in my carry-on when I boarded the flights home. I had my Compostela in the bag too. On arrival to Australia, I declared them on my Declaration card to avoid any issues and also told the Border Security officers when asked.

I was all ready to open my bags for them to see but my family and I were waved to the exit without being asked to open our bags.

My take is that just be upfront, open and declare whatever need there is. Better to be safe than sorry. Though it will be a heartbreak if they should confiscate the item but I rather having that than being fined a hefty sum.

 

[Vacajoe]

#revgreg: curious what you decided to do and how it went! Please update us