Any News on the Boston Art Knife Classic?

I'm surprised there's been no news as I've heard some very interesting reports.
Perhaps someone who attended will be around before long.
 
Hi Guys,

I will report back soon with a first hand account. The show did not go as planned, but it was completely out of the hands of the show organizers. They hosted a fantastic show in a world-class venue.

The US Customs and Fish and Wildlife Agency had a BIG influence in some disappointments to European makers, and ultimately extending to US makers and pieces being witheld.

More news later.

For me: 100% success.

Coop
 
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I went, and Paul and Owen did a really nice job - unfortunately the US Govt played the role of spoiler!

As I understand it, Customs and Fish and Wildlife somehow got wind of the show, and made a big deal about possible "prohibited items" being brought in - apparently tortoise shell and ivory were the "risky" items.

The European makers were concerned about having knives confiscated, and so did not come :grumpy:

a real big thumbs down to some overzealous "official" morons - they can't create jobs, can't keep illegals from crossing the border but apparently are good at keeping artisans who would bring business (hotel/restaurant/tourism) to Boston away :thumbdn:


Anyway, the setting was very nice, the food was great, and the knives and makers that came were excellent. There was a nice trading session after the show as well !

Bill
 
Bill is mostly correct. The European makers were more than 'concerned'; three knives were confiscated at Boston's Logan airport.

One month earlier at the Chicago Show, four knives were seized. Apparently the looming threat of endangered species or ANY non living materials being used in transport or involved in knifemaking drew a big red flag. I am told those knives were finally returned.

First I will tell you what I know, and experienced, and then I have quotes directly from Paul Shindler clarifying the exact nature of what was the threat.

Of the 25 makers who were invited, none of the the eight European makers were willing to display their knives at the Show itself. They were told or directed by US Customs and Federal Agents of the Fish and Wildlife Service that this could be a bust. Many makers were able to make it past the guard with their knives, but the documentation needs were threatening. Stand ready.

These makers convened at the Hotel, and decided not to participate in the Show. The risk was low, but the stakes were enormous. That said, on friday evening the lobby was abuzz with this info. Subsequently, there was MUCH trading in closed rooms and I am told all the knives by these makers were purchased. Just not over a table. No, not fair to many collectors, but this wasn't up to the Show Promotors. This happened on its own.

This threat prompted many a USA maker to keep some of their very finest knives off the table in the possibility that a confederate or agent may show up to call them on their materials.

I asked Paul Shindler to clarify what expired. Here is his account of the legal aspects we now face:

· Three knives were confiscated at Logan Airport on Thursday as two Italian makers came into the country. Customs had been given the names of eight European knife makers coming into the country for the Boston Show. This information was taken directly off of the Boston Show web site. Currently the knives are still at customs. A highly connected Italian National, who is also a collector, has contacted the Italian Consulate in Boston and is working to have the knives released and sent back to Italy. That may or may not happen. Four knives were also seized by customs coming into Chicago for the Chicago Show last month. I believe those four knives have been repatriated!

· We were told that Federal Agents of Fish and Wildlife might patrol the show.

· This was about improperly declared items and any item, endangered or not, that contained once living material. According to the law there is an extensive permitting, regulation and customs process for any once living material, endangered or not, on both entry and exit of any country. To be clear, this applies to every legal handle material, such as bone, stag, shell, fossil mammoth or pearl, as well as endangered materials such as Elephant Ivory, Narwhal or Tortoise. The Department of Fish and Wildlife has the power to ask about the origin of any and all once living material on any product at any time.

· Technically Customs is most interested in the proper declaration of value and the payment of duties, while Fish and Wildlife is most concerned about the documentation and origin of any and all once living material. In reality the lines of authority blur here and they often work together. Interestingly, Fish and Wildlife does not have jurisdiction over material from extinct species, such as Mastodon or Mammoth, but it is up to the owner any such material to fully establish the material is extinct and not from an endangered or current species.

(I had asked him if there was a mechanism for prevention for the future)

· It depends on what you mean by “mechanism for prevention”. Besides avoiding the display of endangered species such as Elephant or Tortoise, the process of permitting and establishing the absolute origin and legality of any imported once living material, such as all Wood Pearls, Stag, Shells, Bone, Horn, Fossil Mammoth or Fossil Walrus, is complex and would have to be studied in detail. As this burden of proof may also apply to every single piece of once living material on every domestically produced knife the implications for our hobby could be extremely serious.

· In short, Federal Fish and Wildlife agents may show up at any knife show any time and demand to see documentation regarding the origin of any and all once living materials. They also have the power to confiscate any suspicious materials or any knives they feel may contain illegal or unpermitted materials. This is not a change and has been the case for at least 30 years – except that it almost never happens.
Click to expand...

This is unusually alarming. Not only are knives threatened as weapons, but now much of the things that make them so engaging, is catching legal scrutiny.

Lonnng sigh.

I am creating another thread with the knives and people at the Show. In spite of such an imparted tragedy, the show was fulfilling in many other ways. You will see and enjoy. We WILL survive, but it's going to take more work.

Coop
 
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This comes as no surprise to me. What surprises me is that finally US Customs/Fish & Wildlife is acting like Customs in West European countries are doing for years now.

For the last several years I have had a few encounters with Dutch Customs, resulting in one instance that I even had to appear in court for "illegal" (what it was not) importing of ivory. The judge acquited me, but nonetheless it was and is a signal of what Customs can do.

Marcel
 
Hmmm...
confused06.gif


This is all very disturbing news...

I'll stick to European makers for now (to avoid knives being sent through customs...)

Kind regards,

Jos
 
Should have learned when Rodrigo Sfreddo was stopped by Customs coming from Brazil to Blade.

He was given a choice of surrendering the knife completely or removing the handle....and chose to remove the IVORY handle.

I seriously doubt that pearl, stag or wood will be targeted by Customs or Fish and Game unless included with knives featuring tortoise or ivory.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
"Unusually alarming" is an understatement. I feel like I need a drink.

Roger
 
I am guessing that the documentation needs will begin with requiring sellers of rare materials to have SOME form of paperwork to hand out which declares the source of the material and it's legitimacy.

At least I wish it were that easy. Educate me further.

Coop
 
Did the knifemakers that had knives confinscated have documintation stating the ivory was pre-ban ivory? This is assuming the knives held by customs had elephant ivory scales.

It will be a sad day when you go to a knife show and all the knives have Micarta scales.

Charles
 
Charles Vestal said:
Did the knifemakers that had knives confinscated have documintation stating the ivory was pre-ban ivory? This is assuming the knives held by customs had elephant ivory scales.

Charles
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Import and export of elephant ivory is one of the hardest things to do. You need a complete set of CITES documentation. That means starting with a permit to shoot the elephant or the declaration that the ivory is harvested all through all the steps that ivory has been through up to the point where the ivory is bought by a maker including the complete history of that ivory. If a maker can't produce the complete history he will get not an import or export permit. It is my experience that especially in the US the phrase pre-ban ivory has been used lightly. For example, just a few months ago a knife I was interested in was advertised by a dealer as pre-ban with all the documentation available. When I informed just a small part of the neccessary info was available, so an export permit wasn't feasible.

Marcel
 
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Thank you Marcel, for the information.

I have a knife on my to-do list that will have elephant ivory scales so I will have to be careful and make sure the documentation for the ivory is complete.

Charles
 
"process of permitting and establishing the absolute origin and legality of any imported once living material"

In other words, if they don't like the look of you they could bust you because of your plastic handle made from oil which were once living material... they really leave the book wide open with that statement:/
 
MrAndersson said:
"process of permitting and establishing the absolute origin and legality of any imported once living material"

In other words, if they don't like the look of you they could bust you because of your plastic handle made from oil which were once living material... they really leave the book wide open with that statement:/
Click to expand...

So this is actually not just about Elephant Ivory and Tortoise Shell.
They can call mammoth, walrus, stag or any natural material into question.

The custom knife community needs to unite to start questioning/challenging these absurdities. Seems to be something new challenging collectible knives everyday. As indivisuals we don't stand a chance in combating those who want to take our knives and knife materials away.
 
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