- Joined
- Nov 23, 2005
- Messages
- 9
My reading of Canada's knife regs makes it pretty clear to me that A/O folders (like the nice new Kershaw Spec Bump that I recently purchased on eBay) are legal to import into, and possess in, Canada. They don't open via a switch or button on the knife handle, and they don't open via gravity or centrifugal force. So I was plenty surprised when I got a letter from the CBSA's Prohibited Importations Unit telling me that my new knife was being held by them because it will open via centrifugal force.
My first step was to call Kershaw and have them fax me a Canada Trade decision that declares that similar Kershaw knives do not fall under the Prohibited Weapons category because of the reasons I note above. Armed with this, I telephoned the officer in charge of my knife, who told me that the whole problem is that a significant portion of the folding knives that pass through his office are adjusted at the pivot loosely enough that a snap of the wrist will extend and lock the blade. He said that he understands that they aren't meant to open in such a fashion ("Why would anyone want to crack their wrist to open a knife when there're all these fancy mechanisms to do it for them?") but that if it will open that way, he can't let it pass. He further opined that it's really dicey for a Canadian customer to order a folder via the 'Net unless he can be sure that the seller will adjust the knife beforehand so that this won't happen.
The officer (a very nice fellow to talk to) says that I can either abandon the knife; appeal (which I doubt will go anywhere; if he can flick it open now, whoever arrives to render judgement will be able to do the same); or go through the hassle and expense of finding a bonded carrier to re-export it.
I've already got another one en route to a P.O. Box somewhere south of here that'll be hand-delivered to me, but it's getting expensive, you know? I also phoned Kershaw today to explain to them the issues some Canadian customers may be having, and how they may wish to consider minimising the problem.
And, by the way, the Kershaw Blur that I have in my pocket everywhere I go will open with a flick of the wrist: a hard enough flick to damn near dislocate it, but it'll open.
My first step was to call Kershaw and have them fax me a Canada Trade decision that declares that similar Kershaw knives do not fall under the Prohibited Weapons category because of the reasons I note above. Armed with this, I telephoned the officer in charge of my knife, who told me that the whole problem is that a significant portion of the folding knives that pass through his office are adjusted at the pivot loosely enough that a snap of the wrist will extend and lock the blade. He said that he understands that they aren't meant to open in such a fashion ("Why would anyone want to crack their wrist to open a knife when there're all these fancy mechanisms to do it for them?") but that if it will open that way, he can't let it pass. He further opined that it's really dicey for a Canadian customer to order a folder via the 'Net unless he can be sure that the seller will adjust the knife beforehand so that this won't happen.
The officer (a very nice fellow to talk to) says that I can either abandon the knife; appeal (which I doubt will go anywhere; if he can flick it open now, whoever arrives to render judgement will be able to do the same); or go through the hassle and expense of finding a bonded carrier to re-export it.
I've already got another one en route to a P.O. Box somewhere south of here that'll be hand-delivered to me, but it's getting expensive, you know? I also phoned Kershaw today to explain to them the issues some Canadian customers may be having, and how they may wish to consider minimising the problem.
And, by the way, the Kershaw Blur that I have in my pocket everywhere I go will open with a flick of the wrist: a hard enough flick to damn near dislocate it, but it'll open.
I'm actually waiting for a Camillus heat
