I had to leave / hide my keys outside the county courthouse when I went in to get a document from the recorder of deeds. The SAK classic was the offender. The keys were still there when I got back. Now why they wouldn't let me just put them on the windowsill on the wrong side of the metal detector where they could see them was beyond me then and it still is. But that was a hard nope.I had my SAK classic seized by a nice trooper once on the way into our supreme court, when I was appearing as local counsel. What, 1.25" of blazing steel. He was kind enough to return it as I left--another benefit of carrying inexpensive knives.
When I get elected Sheriff, there'll be a stack of plastic baskets for courthouse visitors to store their forbidden items in waiting on the table by the metal detector.