Thanks, C.J., for the heads up and update on the new law.
Thanks Melvin. I agree, no knife registration for me either. (We either hang together or we'll all hang seperately)
Safety Guy, what makes you think stupid weapons laws are exclusive to CA and why would only CA politicians be affected by your formula? Check out some of the other states. You'll see we don't have a lock on that particular brand of insanity out here. In fact, thanks to the efforts of Buck Knives (& later, AKTI) we have actually seen a certain amount of common sense infecting some of the legislation (concerning knives, anyway) passed out here in recent years, (current subject not withstanding).
Jeff, you're right....if it won't trigger the MD, there's no difference. However, most units these days are set so sensitive that they will alert on the metal pocket clip or even the pivot screw.
Manwe, AKTI has had some success out here in CA and, for the most part, is a benefit to the general knife owning public. However, it is more of an industry organization than a grass roots movement. It more resembles SAAMI or NSSF than the NRA. Membership is open to everyone but the power members and decision makers are the industry leaders and manufacturors. At present, their resources are limited so they have to pick and choose their battles. Obviously, they aren't going to waste precious capital on losing causes or futile gestures. Overall, their efforts serve to improve life for all of us because what benefits the industry, usually, benefits us. As long as you remember that their primary focus is the survival and prosperity of the knifemaking industry in general, I think you'll find them to be a worthwhile group to support. (No, I'm not a member but I do support them.)
Jason, coins, keys and brass belt buckles will set off a metal detector at the airport and these materials are non-magnetic. I've also seen metal detectors used by treasure hunters and beach scroungers alert on aluminum pop tops and soda cans buried in the sand at beaches.
A magnetometer, basically, just detects a distortion or disturbance in a magnetic field that it either establishes itself or is set up by something else. Virtually any metal, ferrous or otherwise, that is electrically conductive, will disturb that field when it passes through it. All the MD has to do is sense the change and sound an alarm.
That leads me to believe that titanium or any of the tungsten/chromium/cobalt alloys such as Talonite, Stellite or Dendredic Cobalt may, indeed, be responsive to the metal detection equipment in use today, which, BTW are, at the moment, ALL based on magnetometer technology.
Now! To save all of you eggheads, engineers, technicians, scientists and wiz-kids out there some huntin' & peckin' time, I know thats an over-simplified description of magnetometer operation. It's supposed to be. I'm not trying to teach a class on the things, just give a general idea of what they do and, possibly, set some minds at ease or...maybe save someone some embarrassment,(or worse), from thinking they can slip a Ti or Talonite blade past a SCP somewhere. What I'm saying is, don't waste your time picking nits over any details I may have glossed over......I don't care. OK?
Besides, it's been over 35 years since I've worked with the things. I'm sure there've been some advances since then.
