Inconsistency is the only consistent thing about the entire airline security issue ... one inspector goes ape sh*t over a cigar cutter, another says ho-hum ... one inspector confiscated my wife's nail clipper, but my sister-in-law went through a diffeent gate at the same airport with a big nail file in her purse ...
I took a jar humidor in my carry-on when I went on vacation in August ... one of those with a clamp-on lid ... whatever the guy saw on the x-ray, I ended up having to remove my shoes and be very thoroughly "wanded" before I could board ... I know it was the humi that caused the problem too, because I had to open my bag and take the lid off so they could see the whole damn thing ... what one inspector let you pass with last time, another might not let pass on the way home ...
bottom line is that if you want to count on keeping them, lighters and cutters should be put into your check in luggage where there's no problem ... and what the hell, you won't be using them on the plane anyway.
