Any word on when TuffPak will convert to packlock style locks so that airport security can get into the container without destroying it?

Has anyone thus far had their tuffpak cut into for search in transit?

On 7 trips so far, I've never had my Tuff-Pak opened again after the original screening at my first check in.

The security checks are conducted before the case is sent to baggage sorting. You unlock the case for inspection, and lock the case after inspection. There is no reason to re-inspect the case once locked - at least I have never heard of anyone having their locks cut for another inspection.

500 Grains- The current locking system is very secure. I hope they do not change it. There has not been a problem with TSA and the Tuffpak lock that I am aware of.

John

My Tuffpak became lost during a long 4 segment flight.

The Toronto airport called me to say that they located my case but that as standard procedure, they were calling me to have the KEY to inspect the bag- AGAIN! as I had foodstuff from the U.S. inside that the dogs smelled. I had to send them my key via sameday courrier at my expense so they could open up the case.

My foodstuff from the U.S. was already declared and was on the list of allowable goods, but because they could not see what it was, they needed to open the case in my absence (case was lost).

I had to pay for the courrier to deliver the key, but the Tuffpak was delivered to my home in great shape and all the stuff inside still intact.

Gents,
Like I preach follow the rules and you will have a lot less problems...In Tuff pack cases put guns and clothiing for packing. You can get by with cameras, boots, scopes, binocs as they have a scan profile...food stuff is asking for problems as drugs are often smuggled in food stuff containers, and like the man said the dog smelled food....

I have never had my tuff case openned, its inspected at boarding of origin, a red tag is inserted and its locked and I have the only key...

I wouldn't leave home without my Tuffpak but
I would rather have padlocks on it than the tube style lock that is on the Tuffpak now.

If you lose or misplace your key on the way to the hunt I suppose you would have to drill out the tube lock to get to your rifle. After you drill it out there would be no way to lock it for the return trip.

If it had a good system of padlocks and you lost the key you could cut off the padlock then buy another padlock for the return trip or even wire it together if no padlock was available.

In order to prepare for the possibility of losing a key I have purchased a spare key to the tube lock. It was expensive. I wear one on a string around my neck and the other is in the carry on.

Padlocks would be better.

I have not had a problem so far. The tuffpak is great. Allen, mine came with two keys. Did yours not?

While hunting in Tennessee two years ago I had a connecting fight through Houston to get back to Seattle. I had a padlock on my gun case and a spare with a note inside that reads:

Attention TSA: if you found it necassary to open this case could you please use this lock to re-secure it when you're finished.
Thank You


Upon arrival home I opened the case to see the standard inspection note from TSA declaring it was opened for inspection in Houston of course the lock had to be cut off. The cut off lock was inside the case. The spare lock included inside was the one they used to relock it. This system worked as planned. Quite a few TSA agents have seen this when doing the original inspections on my case at check in. Nearly everyone of them has made the comment that the note with the extra lock inside was the best idea they had ever seen for keeping luggage secure in transit.

Since including this info to all my hunters going to Africa it has also happened to another hunter, who was quite grateful for the tip, and to have his gun case secure when it arrived in RSA.

If your luggage misses the flight home for some reason, you must go through customs without your guns to make your scheduled connection. When it does arrive on a later flight and customs gets the case in the USA, its most likely getting cut open. Make sure you put your name address and phone on your case itself, not only a luggage tag. The tags get ripped off during transit or just come up missing. With the info on the case itself using a sharpy or other means it cannot be seperated from the case.

Now when they call you after the guns arrival you must send them the key. That is a hella lot more time and money then telling them on the phone to cut the 5 dollar lock and use the spare packed inside the case. Not to mention the time involved and possible loss of the key with all the people involved.

Just my observations over many years of travel to Africa and almost weekly flights within the USA. I have been using an Aluminum double gun case for close to 15 years without a single problem. However it's old and beat up after the massive number of flights. When Tuffpak offers pad locks that will likely be the day I upgrade to a new case.

Mike,
Mine also came with two keys but I lost one up in Alaska so had to purchase another one.

Off the subject a little - but - Another thing I think it needs is bigger wheels. This drives Harry nuts every time I mention it but I have had experiences dragging the thing across gravel parking lots and getting rocks caught up in the wheel well of it.

Despite the changes I would like to see there is nothing better than the Tuffpak because it is one of those products that just works.

To Ray's point- yes, do not place foodstuff in your case- I learnt the hard way.

To JJHACK's point- yes, I would also prefer the use of a Padlock on the case, but this case is still the best there is.

To Palmer's point- yes, I had the same problem with the small wheels at a train station in Labrador- what a pain in the butt to drag a 100lb case across 200 feet of gravel to get it on the train- I almost felt like putting a dolly on my list of things to bring if I do that trip again.

have any of you tried the Pelican cases? What makes them bad for transporting your firearm? Just wondering because I think they are setup already to use padlocks.

Red

Red,

I've used various Pelican cases in all kinds of conditions and on several flights. I've also lets friends borrow them for flights/trips. They have never had any problems in my experiance, although they are quite heavy. I can tell you that you can litterally drive over one with a rather big truck without the case, or its contents being damaged (besides some small scrapes in the plastic). They are also water and dustproof if that is a requirement.

And they are made for use with 2 padlocks.

The lock on the TuffPack is much harder to pick than that on most padlocks.

Padlocks protrude, and protrusions get caught on things (conveyor belts, doorways, etc.) and get torn off.

As long as you're not foolish enough to put food or contraband in your TuffPak, it should not have to be opened once it's been inspected at the airport of origin.

Things are only idiot-proof until a bigger idiot comes along; you cannot always account for people's stupidity, carelessness, or ignorance.

George

quote:

As long as you're not foolish enough to put food....Things are only idiot-proof until a bigger idiot comes along; you cannot always account for people's stupidity, carelessness, or ignorance.

Hey George, are you just calling me foolish or are you also saying that I'm an idiot, stupid, careless or ignorant?????? I can deal with the foolish, but gotta draw the line somewhere

Jeeze, you must be having a bad day or something!

Hi CL,

It was foolish to put food in the TuffPak, but more because of the possibility of spoilage. Every airline I've flown has strict regs regarding spoiled items - they usually dispose of the offending piece of luggage.

I was thinking more along the lines of animal parts or products, Cuban cigars (contraband here except under very strict exceptions), etc.

The 'stupidity, carelessness, or ignorance' comes into play when people: don't bother to find out ahead of time what is and is not permissible when traveling across international borders with firearms by air; don't have a spare key for their luggage; don't put their name and contact information inside their luggage; assume too much, etc.

The TuffPak is a very good, if bulky, solution, but it must be used properly to get full benefit.

George

I used an aluminum case for 2 trips and by the 2nd trip the aluminum hinges were really starting to get bent badly.

I've since switched to the tough pack and although I somehow fall way short of what everyone else can pack in it, it takes a beating in stride.

I too though would rather a different lock. Problem is, if they switch, I'll have to buy a new one since I'm not sure something could be retrofitted.

George, just buggin you. Yes, it was a mistake to put food in my Tuffpak, but the food would not have spoiled- it was good ole American Beef Jerky from Texas -- I figured, with the mad cow reports we got up here, they gotta let me in with American Beef !

The best jerky I ever had was from the bison I shot. Mmmm, mmmm, good!

George