In the “olden days” I have brought through chainsaws, 6’ bi-fold doors (only just fitted into the bunk!), and a 14lb sledge-hammer (that hastened the disembarkation of some recalcitrant pax!). In latter times, it was a case of staying quiet and accepting the system. The most bizarre thing was being waved through with 100 rounds of .357 magnum in my hold baggage (which I then personally took to the aircraft) but having each one of my dozen, 1/2” pipe-insulation lengths individually inspected because they got stuck in the x-ray machine.
Happy to be away from the system now and just be a dumb pax.
Mog