You are truly fortunate. It could have cost you up to $10 grand, or worse. In Denver, a baggage handler was killed by an undeclared firearm in soft sided luggage. The weapon's owner was imprisoned for voluntary manslaughter then bankrupted by the rampy's loved ones. He said he thought the revolver was unloaded too.

I travel with a firearm at least once per month (when I go to certain cities) on business. The other posters are right about one thing, there is no consistency among airline employees in accepting an unloaded, declared handgun.