When returning from Somalia when I was in the Army, we flew military transport into Dover, DE and then took civilian flights from Philadelphia back to AZ. We caused quite a commotion at the ticket counter when 40-50 soldiers still in DCUs tried to check a bunch of rifle cases loaded with M-16s. The ticket agents finally took them, but their eyes got VERY big when we opened the first case. 
Pebs
Rick - I was trying to check my specialized carrier into luggage. Not carry on. After the first incident a few years ago pre-9/11 I purchased a specialized carrying case for them, just so airlines feel a little more cushy inside.
Adam Yax - I use it quite often for sampling, separating etc…etc…And yes, they don’t like trowels either 
I do not believe this is correct with most flights with the Orange level of security. Personally, I do not carry a gun. However, I work at industrial sites where most if not all the security do carry a side arm at least. Recently in Northern Africa and Iraq (not a fun assignment) the security is amazingly tight. I work for a private organization with private security, who look like marines!
I was in Arizona a short time back and whilst browsing through a pawn shop, I found a digital caliper set that is normally $200 for $20. So, even though I didn’t need it, I bought it because it was such a great deal.
Then I tried to take it through the airport. It was close, and I almost saw my $200 calipers being taken home by a smirking security person.
They stopped my bag in the X-Ray, and I could tell - could see - that they were looking at it. There was a man and a woman.
Man: “What the hell is that?”
Woman: (squinting) “Hey - ma’am - do you have a set of calipers in your bag?”
Me: “Yes. Yes I do. I’m an engineer and I use them for measuring. (I do use them all the time, but wasn’t then…)”
So my bag is removed and opened. They take out the case and the calipers.
Man: (obviously impressed by them, and you can almost see the drool) “That’s a tool. You’re not allowed to fly with tools. I’m going to have to keep that.”
Woman: “No they’re not. My husband uses these. All they do is measure things like a ruler.”
Man: “No, it’s a tool.” and then he takes my calipers and starts to walk off with them.
Woman: “No, it’s not. Is a ruler a tool?”
Man: “It looks like a tool.”
Woman: “Well it’s not. It’s not on the list and we let people through all the time. Give them back.”
Man: (walks back with the calipers, then looks at me) “Prove you’re an engineer.”
Woman: “Oh come on. Give them back. They’re approved.”
Me: (fishes PE license card out of my handbag) “Here. Licensed in two States.”
Man: (takes card, looks at it like I handed him a “Federal Breast Inspectors” card or something, then hands it and the calipers back to me and walks off, clearly pissed)
Me: (to woman) “Thank you so much!”
Woman: “Not a problem. I knew what they were when I saw them. If you’d come last hour you would have lost them. Have a nice flight.”
:eek:
Holy crap. That’s all I could say to myself the rest of the travelling day. Just…holy crap. I have never in my life seen security people argue with each other like that, and I have no idea why this woman went to bat for me over this against her co-worker, but there you have it. I still can’t believe it. But I have the calipers right here. And my mouse is 2.973(3) inches wide.
Only an engineer…
Or maybe an analytical chemist. 
That seems to imply that security people are stealing the stuff they “confiscate”, Una. Is that accurate? Is this a widespread problem? BTW, what does happen to stuff security won’t let on the plane?
I think Antiquarian failed on his dice roll for Intimidation. Probably not high enough Charisma mod.
::runs away::
I think it is a decently spread problem, tho probably not wide spread. How do I know? I’ve shipped many a pocket knife home from airport packaging stations…If they are not letting you on with said merchandise, and you are in a hurry, I’d say count it gone for ever. If you have time to follow and see that it is packaged and sent to your address you probably have a 9 out of 10 chance you’ll see it again…so no sentimental grandfathers pocket knives in any part of carry on material.
Theft of confiscated items is a known problem that predates the TSA. A recent local paper article outlined several cases of theft of items and re-sale on E-Bay - knives seem to be the main target, esp. fancy ceramic and titanium ones, allegedly. How widespread it really is is what is not known. Now don’t get me wrong, in fact I’ve actually posted on here about how I feel the TSA has increased the level of professionalism and professional demeanor of the security staff at airports, and I quite approve of the change.
But it was my impression from:
was that he saw something that was pretty darn cool that might be worth saving from destruction. He also did not give me, or even suggest to me, the option of mailing them home - he just started to walk off with them.
They’re very expensive looking, and I can virtually guarantee that they would not have ended up in the trash. It was an impression only. For all I know he would have dutifully taken them to be melted down to prevent other terrorists from running around measuring things willy-nilly.
I posted a pic of the calipers on my Board, Homebrew, if you want to see what they look like.
It would give me scant comfort to know that these people responsible for my airline security were acting with less evolved intelligence than those responsible for the detritus I’d just been digging through in some historic midden.
Seriously, I half expect some of these so called security personnell to someday be buried in a layer largely comprised of boogers and beer cans.
You’d better check pretty closely. FedEx says:
Sounds like either you, or the recipient must have an FFL, or a collecter’s license.
And American Airlines has this to say about traveling with firearms:
You gotta declare that you are checking a gun and it must be in an approved, locked container.
Isn’t that what Andy Dufresne used to break out of Shawshank Prison?
This is what I don’t understand. I could somewhat understand them having a problem with you taking it onboard the plane as carry on, but how in the hell would you get to the damn thing if it was in the luggage compartment of the airplane?
AntiquarianThat is truly bizarre. As long as the checked luggage is not flamable or explosive I don’t understand.
As far as the TSA and stuff. At the airports I travel through (LAX,SEA, SFO, and OAK) TSA is very careful NOT to give the impression of ever stealing anything.
[ul]
[li]Once at LAX a traveler left maybe a buck in change in one of the trays. The TSA people asked if it was mine. When I replied no, they asked if I wanted it. I suggested that they consider it a tip. They got this OH GOD DON’T EVEN THINK THAT look on their faces.[/li][li]I dropped my cell phone at the checkpoint and of course did not realize it until I was I was at my destination. When I got back from that trip I went back to the check point and asked if they had recovered it. They pulled out a very large 3 ring binder flipped back to the date, asked me what time of the day, and sure enough they had my cell phone. I was sent to to go stand in front of an unmarked door and about 5 minutes later a guy came out checked my ID and gave me my phone.[/li][li](My tool story) I travel with a license plate for the cars that I drive. I have never been given a hassle over having the plate in my carry on, but this one time I forgot and tossed the 10mm wrench that I had unscrewed the plate with into my carry on. I go through security and the guy tells me problem with my luggage. I ask what is, and he tells me that I have a tool. He digs through my luggage and comes up with the 10mm wrench. Now this is a small wrench maybe 3" long with a 10mm at one end and 11mm a the other. He tells me I cannot take it on the airplane, did I want to go back and check this wrench? The wrench is from the tool kit in our cars I have several of these laying around so I tell him if he has any use for it, feel free to take it with my blessings. He again gets that shocked look and tells me that there is no way in hell he could take this home, and it will be melted down.[/li][/ul]
I’m sure it varies by city. Heck, in New Orleans, the TSA is actually an improvement over the drooling cavemen and -women that used to work security (that were baffled by my laptop at one point).
“It’s a computer?”
“…Yea?”
Just a story.
Years ago I was on a 747 flight back from the annual NATO war games with a plane load of regular army types and reservists reroute to Fort Riley. Every one of us was armed to the teeth and in BDUs that we had worn for ten days or more since we came straight out of the field to the aircraft. We made an unscheduled stop in Bangor, Maine. The lady at the top of the jet way in Bangor took one look at several hundred soldiers with M-16s, M-60s, .45s and Lord knows what else coming up the tunnel and promptly walked away from her post. They even let us smoke outside of the little glass cage where smokers are imprisoned. One guy with a gun may freak out airport security, but 250 of them off one plane just makes them give up.
We ate all their clam chowder, too.
Hey Antiquarian, weren’t you the one who appeared in National Geographic a few months ago? Seems to me that would be the best form of proof as to your occupation and your need for odd equipment that you could ask for. Your average security drone isn’t gonna know a professional certification card from a concert stub, but whip out a copy of Natty Geo and say “that’s me on page 74” and they’d probably let you stick a mummy in the neighboring seat.
That makes this the second time I’ve clicked on this thread wondering how a rock pick could be confused with a Role Playing Game.
I’m confused. They detained you because of something you checked? Or did you try to carry it on?
I regularly travel with “dangerous objects” that are not permitted as a carry-on, so I check them and have never had a problem. Of course, that might have something to do with the nature of the objects - knitting needles.