Australian Knife Nuts

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Crucible40

Joined
Aug 16, 2000
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I hope this is the right place for this request. I would like to discuss knives with any fellow knife nut that lives in Sydney Australia. In September, my family will be moving to Sydney. My wife is Australian and wants us to live there. I have many questions, such as what brands of knives are available, current street prices, knife laws, where the good places to shop are and many other questions. We can use e-mail for our discussions. Big thanks to anyone who can help me,

Crucible40
 
Originally posted by Crucible40
I hope this is the right place for this request. I would like to discuss knives with any fellow knife nut that lives in Sydney Australia. In September, my family will be moving to Sydney. My wife is Australian and wants us to live there. I have many questions, such as what brands of knives are available, current street prices, knife laws, where the good places to shop are and many other questions. We can use e-mail for our discussions. Big thanks to anyone who can help me,

Crucible40
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I don't know about Sydney, but forumite Jason Cutter lives in Melbourne, Australia so I would suggest looking him up. Just checked a map and Sydney doesn't appear too far from Melbourne. He's a great guy and a talented knifemaker (check out his website) and he'd probably be able to give you some of the info you're looking for.
 
There is a few New South Welshmen in the forums. Barygal (I think) is one. If you post this over on Asian and Oz you will pick up quite a few mates. I can't help you much. The only way I could get further away from Sydney is on a boat.

I hope you enjoy Australia. Knife laws are pretty restrictive in most capitals, but out in the bush pretty much anything goes.
 
Dave Winch lives in Sydney I think, he is a maker of knives, mostly tactical. http://www.ferretknives.com/

Unfortuantly Australia is not the frienliest of places for guns and knives. Guns are pretty much gone there, and in places they are working on the knives.

As far as the distance of Sydney from Melbourne, its like a 8 hour drive! Australia is as large as the Continental US.
 
Originally posted by mschwoeb
As far as the distance of Sydney from Melbourne, its like a 8 hour drive! Australia is as large as the Continental US.
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I kinda figured it was something like that--it is a continent after all. Coming from Hawaii where everything is within driving distance it's hard to fathom driving more than an hour to get to anywhere--especially on an island.
 
Actually I goofed, Australia is larger than the continental US, but smaller than the US including Alaska.

I went from one city in the state of Queensland to another. It was from Brisbane to Mt. Isa, and it took 30 hours! Of course that was by bus, but its still a huge place.
 
David Brodziak - one of my faivorite knife artist, lives in Australia. They have beautifull woods there and so they make magnificient handles from that woods.
http://www.omninet.net.au/~brodziak/
I suggest you to check his link page - there are some knife assosiation in Australia etc.
Thanks, Vassili.
 
G'day Ohio

Most of the brands you are familiar with are available in Oz, although not all models. Ordering from overseas and geting it through customs is a nightmare and more or less futile. Carrying a knife in Oz varies from state to state. Generally unless you are hunting, camping, fishing or can proove you need a blade for work, anything that won't make it onto an airplane is illegal to carry. Away from the city things are more relaxed.

Daggers (including any knife that has a secondary edge that is sharpened and longer than 75mm ie. bowies or fighters with a sharpened clip ), switch blades, balisongs, push knives, buckle knives, gravity knives, balistic knives, sword canes, throwing knives, various martial art knives including stars, knuckle knives, and a few more I can't think of right now are completely illegal in most states (definitely Sydney).

In Melbourne were I live, we are a little more dignafied and you can odbtain permits from the police that allow you to own the above items as a collector but not to carry. A condition is they be securely locked away.

If you want to contact custom makers in Sydney you can find members listed at the Australian Knifemakers Guild site, www.akg.org.au .

It sounds a lot worse than it is but I thought you should be prepared.

I'm sure you will have a great life in Oz, hope you like beer.

Regards Peter. Victorian State Rep, Australian Knifemakers Guild.
 
Crucible40

Hi, I'm a knife knut, amatuer maker and live in Sydney. Feel free to email me.

As for the laws they are pretty restrictive, there is no right to retain arms in our constitution as Australia was a penal colony, ie a prison. There are laws to prosecute whoever the police wish to give a hard time, however we have a relatively small police force as Australia is fairly crime free. Therefore the average 'good guy" is unlikely to get into trouble for having a pocket knife if it is discreet and is not waved around.

Knives available include Spyderco, CRKT, some BMs and Victorinox, Emersons are rare and expensive. Generally prices are cheaper over the net than in bricks and mortar stores here. The main gun show in Sydney is the place to buy more exotic knives and that happens 3 or 4 times a year. Mick Smiths gunshop on George St in Sydney is about the best bricks and mortar store, King of Knives has a bit of a selection but is a bit pricey.

Think about renting accomodation when you get here as rents are cheap and real estate is really dear at the moment.
Regards
Pinpoint
 
Gday Crucible40.
Bel and I would be more than happy to help with any probs or questions you have..... and you are more than welcome to come and visit to chat blades when you arrive downunder!
We live about one hours drive north of Sydney (but have lived most of our lives in Syd)
Dont abandon all hope of bringing all your blades over here, contact Keith Spencer from the AKC (Australasian Knife Collectors) at spencer@akc.iinet.net.au , he is a first class bloke to deal with ,and quite expert at knife importation (he recently won a battle with customs that will now allow the Randall #1 knife to be imported again... previously a banned import under the dagger 2/9 schedule)
If you can prove to customs and central licencing that you have a legitimate collection you wish to import in its entirety ,you may have grounds for a "ministerial permit" which can give you permission to own normally banned items...... it does happen!... even in NSW.
If you are a true knife-knut you will also your self talking to people over here that have plenty of interesting stuff to sell trade... handmde , new factory ,and collector grade..... in the past month ive traded into a lnib Strider AR , and fondled a locally purchased Vietnam era Randall #2 and Lile Deathwind (original made by Jimmy).... just to name e few.
Looking forward to meeting you
Peter
 
It seems there are plenty of 'knifers' from Oz on the forums. Re knife laws - if you are going to travel be sure you know the different laws for each state. What is legal in one state could be legal in another.
 
Thanks for the replies. Sorry to take so long to reply, moving a household is a lot of packing. The tickets have been purchased. My wife has stated that my collection had best NOT hold up our furniture and other items.

Crucible40
 
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