Good thing you didn’t say anymore because some TSA agents are a little too into their job. Since they mostly auction the items off, I would also assume that some agents pick and choose some of the smaller items, so it’s very possible that was your lighter.

As I stated on my own reply, I have seen the smaller stuff just thrown in a box for any agent to pick from later on. There was no paperwork from the two items I have had taken at OHare and in Missoula Mont.

To me, it was gone forever, I would not be surprised if it went home with the agent. I say this because I had a turbo lighter taken from me in Missoula, Mont. and it didn’t even work. This is after clearing OHare in Chicago and Denver. I swear I saw agent in Montana pocket my lighter, and when I said to him to enjoy it, I was one word away from trouble, so I shut up and got on plane. To the best of my knowledge they keep no official records of the smaller items taken so whats to stop them from taking a little something now and then?

Thanks for commenting, Scott. Did you ever get it back or was it lost to them forever?

I briefly wrote about what happened to TSA seized knives a few years ago. Basically they sell them at auctions by the bin. For example, two years ago a bin of 80 Gerber Knives was solid for $810.