Over in the NeatoShop, we sell an umbrella that has a handle similar to those found on Japanese samurai swords. One college student in Atlanta owns one (although he didn't get it from us), and when police heard that a student in a dorm had a sword, they surrounded the building and evacuated it. The owner's girlfriend reports:
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The officer then asked me to describe him, so I proceeded to describe his hair color, height, eye color, and build. The officer interrupted, "Did this person have a weapon?" Through my nervousness I perceived what the situation was about.
I replied, "He had an umbrella that looked like a weapon. It looks like a samurai sword."
The officers looked at each other. One of them said, "An umbrella?" to which I replied affirmatively. I then helpfully volunteered, "I can call him to come right back over."
Link via Gizmodo
Well, except in the french customs, I had no real problem: many people just looked at me with a kind of "is it or is it not?" look.
french cop just asked me "is it a real blade?" with a smile.
This stuff makes you look special indeed :)
Isn't security dramaturgy fun?