In 2015, the TSA intercepted 22,044 “dangerous items” in airport security screenings across the U.S. The most outlandish items are documented on the TSA’s Instagram account: live flash-bang grenades, swords, five-bladed floggers, Batman throwing stars, replica suicide vests, Orcish blades, and whatever the hell this thing is.
The ‘Confiscated/Forfeited/Personal Property’ category is a particularly rich gold mine of seized knives and multi-tools.
Most of the confiscated items never again see the light of day. But what about the smaller, less absurdly illegal stuff?
GovDeals is an online marketplace, a bit like Craigslist or eBay, where retired U.S. government assets and seized civilian property are auctioned off to the public. There are hundreds of categories to peruse; the ‘Confiscated/Forfeited/Personal Property’ category is a particularly rich gold mine of seized knives and multi-tools.
Some are sold as individual pieces, others come in bulk. The starting bids are exceptionally low, and final offers will likely match that of eBay’s, if not significantly less. The TSA, after all, has “dangerous items” pouring out of their ears, and they’d like to get rid of them.
If you’re interested in picking up some multi-tools and knives on the cheap, however, buyer beware: The items on GovDeals are usually sold in bulk. For instance, right now, “Approx. 6 lbs. of Assorted Kershaw Knives” has been bid up to $246, with just under 15 hours to go.
If you’re planning on gifting Kershaws to everyone for Christmas this year, or you’d like to have a 6-pound box laying around just in case, this is a great deal. However, if you’re not looking for a boatload of pocket knives, you may just want to stick with buying one at a time.
