Australia & New Zealand (hunting trip)

carnifex knifeworks

carnifex knifeworks

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I'm leaving February 23rd for a hunting trip in New Zealand. I was planning on bringing two fixed blade knives in my checked luggage.

We have a single day layover in Sydney, Australia.

One of the knives has a 7 inch blade with a swedge (Carothers Performance Knives Signature Super Duty Field Knife aka Signature SDFK). It's definitely not a second edge, it's dull and won't cut anything. My concern is if my bag is searched, would they determine that to be a second edge and confiscate my knife? Is this a valid worry or just me being paranoid?
 
Odds are good that you will be fine. As far as I know swedges are not normally considered an edge, though one never knows what genius will be checking your bags.
 
old4570 said:
If it's a false edge , then it should not be considered a second ( double ) edge ..
But yeah daggers ( dual edge knives ) are not legal .. That I know off .
As they are combat / anti personnel weapons , and not tools .

Each state / territory has it's own rules / laws and ????????
Easy enough to visit the NSW police web site if your concerned ..

https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/133191/Prohibited_Weapons_Schedule.pdf
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I looked into all the laws. I've just heard stories of knives with a swedge being confiscated.

I'm more concerned about NZ. I'll only be in Sydney overnight when I fly down and overnight when I fly back to the U.S.
 
Lawful excuse won't be a problem, since it'll stay packed. And since it's checked luggage, you don't face the security theater of carry-on. Every airport has "That Guy" who is really harsh on the rules, but you can't live your life based on what a grown-up school hall-monitor is willing to allow, because guys like that just need everyone else to be as miserable as they are. Hope your trip is good!
 
Beware if you have a stop in Hong Kong - I've read several times about travelers being detained/arrested for knives in their CHECKED luggage even if NOT staying in Hong Kong and just passing through. Apparently they xray every bag even if the bag is not staying in the country.
 
zzyzzogeton said:
Beware if you have a stop in Hong Kong - I've read several times about travelers being detained/arrested for knives in their CHECKED luggage even if NOT staying in Hong Kong and just passing through. Apparently they xray every bag even if the bag is not staying in the country.
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Thanks for the heads up. We don't have a stop there so should be good.
 
I am here in NZ

Various makers here make Fairburns-Sykes homages...both edges sharpened.

As long as your knives are in the hold luggage, you should have no issues,

Carrying on your waist in the wilds should also be okay, it is all about context.
Carrying on your waist in plain sight in the cities is a deal breaker.

An SAK in your pocket in a bar/pub is fine, but if a fight breaks out in that bar, and you are rounded up with the rabble, the SAK becomes a dangerous weapon, even if it never left your pocket..

Most folk that visit have zero issues, as long as they think about what they are doing, and where.
 
zackerty said:
I am here in NZ

Various makers here make Fairburns-Sykes homages...both edges sharpened.

As long as your knives are in the hold luggage, you should have no issues,

Carrying on your waist in the wilds should also be okay, it is all about context.
Carrying on your waist in plain sight in the cities is a deal breaker.

An SAK in your pocket in a bar/pub is fine, but if a fight breaks out in that bar, and you are rounded up with the rabble, the SAK becomes a dangerous weapon, even if it never left your pocket..

Most folk that visit have zero issues, as long as they think about what they are doing, and where.
Click to expand...
Good to hear.

I definitely wouldn't be carrying my hunting knives on my belt around town.
 
Thanks Steven for the info.
I do not make or own any FS blades. so I have never questioned the legalities of import into NZ.
 
Curiously, you can make balisongs for personal use in NZ, but not allowed to sell them...

And, of course, you are not allowed to import them either....

Or carry them as an EDC...
 
zackerty said:
I am here in NZ

Various makers here make Fairburns-Sykes homages...both edges sharpened.

As long as your knives are in the hold luggage, you should have no issues,

Carrying on your waist in the wilds should also be okay, it is all about context.
Carrying on your waist in plain sight in the cities is a deal breaker.

An SAK in your pocket in a bar/pub is fine, but if a fight breaks out in that bar, and you are rounded up with the rabble, the SAK becomes a dangerous weapon, even if it never left your pocket..

Most folk that visit have zero issues, as long as they think about what they are doing, and where.
Click to expand...
Damn good advice! My own hunting knife is a stainless Cold Steel "Master Hunter" with a 4.5" blade. For civilian use, about 5" should be the maximum. And, yes, a small SAK is indispensable for EDC.
 
My personal method of carrying a knife back when I still traveled outside the US was to travel with no knife and then buy a knife where ever I was. Threw it/them in my checked luggage for the return. Gave me a legal knife while I was where ever I was and they made for practical souvenires.
 
old4570 said:
In Oz , it is illegal to carry a knife , any knife .. Without a lawful excuse ...
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In some states that is true. In others (QLD for example) you can legally carry any multitool, SAK or "penknife" without issue unless you are going through airport security or in a courthouse etc. There are also plenty of lawful reasons to carry larger knives like going fishing as well.

But yes, Australia is a total nanny state when it comes to knives, even in the general populous where carrying a knife for any reason is suspicious to most sheeple.
 
zackerty said:
I am here in NZ

Various makers here make Fairburns-Sykes homages...both edges sharpened.

As long as your knives are in the hold luggage, you should have no issues,

Carrying on your waist in the wilds should also be okay, it is all about context.
Carrying on your waist in plain sight in the cities is a deal breaker.

An SAK in your pocket in a bar/pub is fine, but if a fight breaks out in that bar, and you are rounded up with the rabble, the SAK becomes a dangerous weapon, even if it never left your pocket..

Most folk that visit have zero issues, as long as they think about what they are doing, and where.
Click to expand...

In Australia knife in a licensed premises is its own special thing.
 
chalby said:
In some states that is true. In others (QLD for example) you can legally carry any multitool, SAK or "penknife" without issue unless you are going through airport security or in a courthouse etc. There are also plenty of lawful reasons to carry larger knives like going fishing as well.

But yes, Australia is a total nanny state when it comes to knives, even in the general populous where carrying a knife for any reason is suspicious to most sheeple.
Click to expand...
Good to know Queensland is less uptight, how about NT?
 
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