Same here about flying, which I do/did a lot.
One of my favorite knifes wound up in the hands of TSA because I forgot to pack it in the checked baggage.
I got the Delta AmEx Gold Card because it covers free checked bags. So the knife goes in there. I usually put it back in my pocket at baggage claim, long before I head out the door.
A real PITA to check a bag, but like you, I feel vulnerable without it. Plus, I usually takes trips of a week or more.
Last week, I actually set a specific alarm on my phone to remind me to remove my knife.
I shipped it home with some other stuff which is due to arrive Tuesday.
It’s a relatively cheap Gerber but I’ve had it for almost 20 years...kind of. The spring assist broke and it was warranty replaced 10 years ago.
I’ve donated a handful to TSA. Mostly box cutters.
But on the flip side, a buddy was stationed at an air base in the middle east. Soldiers returning from Afghanistan to fly commercial home were warned several times to check knives. They would offer the confiscated ones to soldiers going in. He asked if he could paw through the box to bring some home to the scout troop he and I led.
He gave me a bag of high end pocketknives. My son’s valued the bag at over $2,000 retail. Each boy in our troop got a knife that day. Mine was a $200 Gerber Automatic (switchblade) Tanto blade. Incredible piece.