At the beginning of the summer I had considered putting together a brief reminder on how to properly travel with firearms on commercial airlines. Although I think a refresher is still needed, the majority of guns that turn up in carry-on baggage appear to be the result of avoidable carelessness. However, a recent find by airport screeners was a little out of the ordinary. According to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Blog, a 3D printed revolver was detected at a security checkpoint for the Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

One of the 68 firearms discovered in carry-on bags this week was a printed firearm. It was assembled with parts made from a 3D printer. This was a good catch from the TSA team at Reno (RNO)! While firearms are permitted in checked baggage, we strongly suggest making yourself familiar with local laws prior to flying with a printed firearm.

Obviously, with an ongoing investigation, details are slim, but it will be interesting to see if this is a case of negligence or something else altogether. The rest of the firearms identified in carry-on luggage this past week are as follows:

The list contains a few .44 Magnums; even if they aren’t Desert Eagles, that’s still a lot of gun to forget you are carrying around.

As for firearm travel the refresher, here you go:

From the TSA.gov FAQ (https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition):

You may transport unloaded firearms in a locked hard-sided container as checked baggage only. Declare the firearm and/or ammunition to the airline when checking your bag at the ticket counter. The container must completely secure the firearm from being accessed. Locked cases that can be easily opened are not permitted. Be aware that the container the firearm was in when purchased may not adequately secure the firearm when it is transported in checked baggage.

• When traveling, comply with the laws concerning posession of firearms as they vary by local, state and international governments.
• Declare each firearm each time you present it for transport as checked baggage. Ask your airline about limitations or fees that may apply.
• Firearms must be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container and transported as checked baggage only. Only the passenger should retain the key or combination to the lock.
• Firearm parts, including magazines, clips, bolts and firing pins, are prohibited in carry-on baggage, but may be transported in checked baggage.
• Replica firearms, including firearm replicas that are toys, may be transported in checked baggage only.
• Rifle scopes are permitted in carry-on and checked baggage.

It is also a good idea to do a “bag dump” prior to flying. You never know where a loose round, magazine or  spare 1911 may be hiding.