AcesNeights,
Very interesting!
Which is yet another example of how much TSA "experts" vary.
Another interesting experience occurred when Eileen and I flew to the Czech Republic in 1993 to hunt red stag. This was when the Soviets had just left, and the line-up in the airport included several Romanians with Volkswagen bug-size bags full of T-shirts with logos like "San Francisco 57ers". But there was also an orchestra from somewhere, with lots of instruments in various cases. The head customs agent waved me and my gun case through, apparently because it could have held a trombone.
When we got to the other side, the outfitter's driver asked (using hand signals, and a little English) if we had the correct "papers." We obvisously didn't, so he took us back inside and the customs agent took us to the police station back inside, which provided our "papers."
Also once flew to Hermosillo, Mexico for a Coues deer hunt. When we landed, it turned out the then-president of Mexico had landed just before us. We were told our rifles would take a while to process--by a group of very young Mexican soldiers. They escorted us out to the parking lot with their AR-15s, suggesting we check into our motel and have dinner before coming back to retrieve our rifles. We did as suggested--and it worked out OK!
