I had a 12" wrench in my hand luggage which I knew they were not going to let through. I just put it in a metal box, in the same bag as my laptop. They didn't ask me to boot the laptop or anything, I just walked straight through. A nun next to me had her keyring removed, as it had a sharp cross attached to it. At least they offered to let her pay international postage for it.
EDIT:
Forgot, I didn't exactly walk straight through, they took my boots and checked them for whatever. I have flown 6 times since Sept 11, each time I have been pulled over and checked. I have a really semitic background, that may have something to do with it
.