That corkscrew in your carry-on bag? The TSA's going to find it.

Michael England of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration set up a table at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Thursday and laid out several knives, hammers and other objects. Next to him was a large plastic bin full of power drills, garden shears and dozens of other items TSA agents found in carry-on luggage at the airport.

TSA agents collect enough of these items at the RDU security checkpoint to fill that plastic bin each day, which is why the agency periodically sets up a table at the airport to show the kinds of things people shouldn't try to bring into the terminal.

England, a spokesman for the TSA, set out several folding knives, some with decorative handles. TSA agents catch dozens of these a day, he said, and most of the time the owners say they simply forgot they were in their bags.

But some passengers are surprised when the TSA takes items such as hammers, golf clubs or garden tools. Any sharp or blunt object that could be used to attack an airline crew member or fellow passenger is not going to make it through security.

"We catch an awful lot of tools," England said. "To a lot of people, they're just tools. It doesn't occur to them that in the hands of the wrong person it could be used as a weapon."

When the TSA finds a potential weapon at the checkpoint, it gives the owner several choices other than surrendering it: take it back to the car; leave it with a friend or family member; or pack it up and ship it by mail. They can also go back and check the bag; all the confiscated items on display Thursday would have been perfectly fine in checked luggage.

"These are all items that you can check," England said. "You can even check a firearm if you wanted to."

Despite those options, most people choose to surrender their knives and tools at the checkpoint, perhaps because they're pressed for time to catch a plane. England said that's one reason people are urged to get to the airport two hours before their flight. He also suggested people go through their bags before they leave for the airport and remove potentially problematic items, particularly if they haven't used the bag in a while.

If you're unsure of what is or isn't allowed through an airport security checkpoint, go to TSA.gov and click on "What Can I Bring?" (antlers and hookahs, yes; railroad spikes and slingshots, no). You can also tweet a question to @AskTSA weekdays, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and weekends/holidays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., or call the TSA at 866-289-9673.

By the way, the TSA donates the items that are surrendered at its airport security checkpoints. In North Carolina, the beneficiary is the State Surplus Property Agency, which sells them.

This story was originally published June 28, 2018 at 3:25 PM with the headline "That corkscrew in your carry-on bag? The TSA's going to find it.."