I have flown with my knife roll inside my checked in luggage 8-10 times a year for the past 30+ years without a problem.
I use a non TSA lock on a Wusthoff branded professional knife roll. The luggage bag has been checked by TSA on occasion, but never had the lock cut off the knife roll. I used to declare them to the check-in agent as professional tools; but I haven’t even done that in the past few years. I can honestly say that I have never heard first hand from another Chef of knives being taken from checked luggage. On the other hand, I watch them like a hawk when in a strange kitchen or public event.
Interestingly, my golf clubs/bag always gets the TSA lock cut off and thrown away; and has been missing sleeves of balls more than once.