After reading many of the answers etc - thought that as I do work in legal, & in this area as well - then a few things do need to be clarified.
For a start on ALL International flights - ALL sharp objects are required to be placed in check in luggage - not hand luggage & sharp objects that are to be placed in check in luggage - need to be placed in safe container that sharp objects cannot puncture.
A matter of common sense is this......all passengers want to feel safe & lets face it - better to be safe than sorry right......after all once you up up in the air - then thats it.
Yes some may think that security is going over board, but I can tell you right now the amount of places that "Would be Terrorist's" are now using is mind boggling....& that ain't funny....they are not dumb - & they are very clever in their excuses etc.
So think about it.....please put ALL sharp objects in check in luggage - not hand luggage.
On another note re the quilter about the lipstick.....it has happened in the UK that a small portion of lipstick was hollowed out & a certain amount of small portion of chemical to ignite was then placed back in lipstick.
Workers at the International check points know full well that if they miss anything & something does happen on a flight that they think "oh good enough is okay" - then they also know that would be held responsible & think about this.....those same workers see the looks on faces of relatives who are given any bad news.
Quilters not trying to scare etc......but there are very good reasons & unfortunately I am not in a position to give full details...but take it from me....the reasons are not to annoy you - but to keep you safe & protect when flying.