[HanibalLechter]

Thank you both for your responses.

The extenuating circumstance was my inability to open the case in the baggage claim area and believing the cap had been screwed on too tight as opposed to the later discovery of it having been cross-threaded. Being able to hear the contents moving around led me to believe the contents were intact so I had no suspicions pressing me to do a more detailed or timely check.

Maybe this will present a problem but unlike the rest of my baggage my rod cases are where I normally store my rods so there is no routine unpacking associated with those. I'm not likely going fishing the day after I return from a fishing vacation. Hence the time delay.

My issue with their 4hr claim rule has to do with the unreasonable-ness of it. I assume that most travelers are in the same situation I'm in: a friend or family member is circling around the pick up area outside baggage claim being harassed by the "you can't stop your vehicle unless you're actually loading it with passengers or luggage" Gestapo.
So unless you have an obvious reason to unpack and inspect the contents of your baggage (something left your hands round and it comes off the carousel flat) you're all about getting the hell out of there, post haste.

The same is true when you arrive home. Unpacking is way down the list from immediately falling into bed. Maybe you'll get to it in the next day or two, but it's most likely not gonna happen till next weekend, when you have time to do laundry and put everything away.

24-48 hours is pushing it to make a report or file a claim, 4 is absolutely ridiculous and leads me to be critical in my thinking towards the airline.