Would it kill 'em to give you the option to mail it to yourself? I mean, if some of these things are heirlooms, then people should be able to drop it in an envelope (provided by the TSA) and get it mailed home for a fee, or postage due.

I'd be pissed to lose a $50 pocketknife. 'Course now we all know better than to bring 'em with us in our pockets. They don't take 'em out of checked luggage, do they?