Just as a reminder of how much things changed:
In late August 2001 I flew from Minneapolis to Syracuse sitting across the aisle from a mother and her 15-year-old son who had brought a full-size samurai sword as a carry-on. My hand to God.
I happened to be behind them in line at the check-in counter and at the security checkpoint. In both places they raised a few eyebrows, but went through.
Folks, in the first half of 2001, you could talk a samurai sword onto an airplane by saying "It's too valuable, fragile and easily stolen to trust with the baggage handlers." and "It's only a practice blade, so it isn't even sharpened."
