Anyone else?

[tattooedfreak]

Today I found out there is a craft show in a large venue with open tables. I contacted the shows administrator to find out some more information. The show is almost exclusively hand made crafts, very few direct sellers or things like that. They contacted the venue and were told that if I was selling knives, I would need a permit. Its fine if its kitchen knives but if its knives as weapons, I need a permit. The first thing I said was that they were not weapons, mostly hunting and utility knives and I had never heard of any permit being required to sell them. However being just a little paranoid (since Ive been selling in a farmers market since April) and not wanting to have any problems, I call around. First I call the provincial permit and licensing department and after a short discussion am told that there is no permit required provincially and I should contact the municipality just in case. I do so and after clarifying some information (its a hobby not a business and where the venue is) I am again told that there is no permit required nor license needed to sell there.

Having this vindicating information at hand, I contact the show administrator again and inform them that there is no permit required and everything is fine according to all government agencies. They pass that info on and I am then told that if my table were there, they would have to hire a security guard for my table at $20 an hour. This baffles me; one, I dont know any security guard that makes that much an hour and two, I am better qualified than any mall cop to guard my table. Im also not sure who Im guarding against.

So a 12" kitchen knife is less dangerous than a 6" hunting knife? Or am I mistaken?
Seriously, if you dont want me there, just tell me, dont make stuff up.


Anyone else have something like this happen?

 

[S.Alexander]

That's bizarre my friend. Something I would expect more from my coast than your coast...

I guess some people just have it set in their minds that knives are weapons, no matter what the stated purpose. Knitting needles are dangerous too, I wonder if they realize that.

If they are going to be ridiculous enough to make you hire a security guard, I think you should pass. Not worth the hassle imo.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I hear of this from time to time. Craft shows and flea markets that don't want knife sellers.

I was invited to participate in a local major art festival after making the gift for Queen Elizabeth. The person inviting me was excited that I would have my jewelry, carvings, sculpture, hand wrought silver work, and high end kitchen and art knives. When the directors heard the word "knives", they evidently went ballistic. They came up with the arguments you ran up against about needing a security guard, and not having the permits for selling weapons. It was pointed out that the art knives I would be bringing sold for several thousand dollars and the kitchen knives cost up to $750. They later agreed that I could be there if I had the knives in a locked case at all times, and would not remove them to be examined. If someone bought one (unlikely), I had to deliver it after the festival to the buyers home. I asked if the walking stick makers, woodcarvers, glass artists, or the sculptors with large statues had to do the same, and they said they weren't selling dangerous weapons.
I thanked them for the invitation, and said I was not interested in their festival.

 

[tattooedfreak]

It just baffles me sometimes. I started selling in a local market (technically a flea market) and it didnt take long before people started asking about the knife guy. My issue was that I was 6 tables up from a guy selling knock off and people kept asking why mine were so expensive and would I deal. I dont mind dealing but when they want half price.. no.. So I switched to the more craft oriented market and have had no issue. People come in and watch me sharpen knives, they look over my stuff and are usually very polite about asking if they can take the knives out of the sheaths. It just makes me wonder what the vendor thought was going to happen. The administrator said that the venue has been stopping a few things so i guess it wasnt just me. They are going to try another venue next year.

Yeah Stacy, just thinking of the craft markets and all the things that can quickly be used as weapons that are much more innocuous than knives and you wonder what people are thinking. How is a kitchen knife safer than a hunting knife. Or as you said, a walking stick.

 

[Horsewright]

Facebook is the only place I've run into that. Have a business page. Have tried to boost posts and they simply deny it, won't let you because it is "linked directly or in directly" to our website where we sell knives.

 

[tim37a]

The Vancouver, WA, Home and Garden Show will no longer allow knife sales. The person I was talking to when I inquired about a booth couldn't give me a reason.

Tim

 

[Rhinoknives1]

The Vancouver, WA, Home and Garden Show will no longer allow knife sales. The person I was talking to when I inquired about a booth couldn't give me a reason.

Tim

They hear knives, of any kind and they think "weapons" and then they think Liability! They don't want to get sued!

For my Custom Sales and sharpening Biz I have my own one million dollar Liability insurance policy because the area I live and work in, is filled with bored Lawyers looking for work.

 

[Matt Rochester]

Remember fella, knives kill people and we need more knife control laws!!! Anyways, this is ridiculous. I've never been to Canada but I would assume any self respecting man walking around would have a knife in his pocket. It seems we live in a world where people are so worried about getting sued that it interferes with their common sense. I would pass on it as it seems even if they let you come it would be a hassle.

 

[tattooedfreak]

meanwhile I passed up an opportunity to be in a weekend craft market (3 days) and there was another knife maker there. He started out as a sharpening service and moved into knife making.. yep, he sold out. Just goes to show, dont let it pass you by.