Best way to ship an FFBM

T

Tiny86

Joined
Mar 21, 2007
Messages
860
Been a long time since I have posted!!
But, I just traded an FFBM to a fellow formite and I was wondering what the best way to ship it is?
What do you guys use?
Thanks!
 
send it to my house, I will make sure he gets it :D
In all seriousness, USPS priority insured with delivery confirmation
 
Medium flat rate priority box with insurance. Do it online and you get free delivery confirmation.
 
Diagonally.
It may not fit depending on the sheath.
 
A Dogfather fits in one if I remember correctly. USPS with insurance and DC is the best way.
 
One other little thing that I do is to place another small piece(2" wide X 6" long folded in half) of cardboard over the tip. it adds a little more protection to it cause you don't want the tip sticking through the box wall:eek:!!!
 
RussMo said:
One other little thing that I do is to place another small piece(2" wide X 6" long folded in half) of cardboard over the tip. it adds a little more protection to it cause you don't want the tip sticking through the box wall:eek:!!!
Click to expand...

I like a full length blade wrap of heavy duty cardboard and tape that butts up against the scales to accomplish the same thing
 
As KalEl stated, you can get all of the postage, delivery confirmation, insurance squared away at the USPS site on-line. Makes the whole shipping thing much more convenient in my opinion. My post office lets me drop the ready-to-go package off at the window without waiting in line. To your question: at the USPS on-line site there are a number of options. One option allows you to use a box of your choice (even a non-USPS box) as long as you enter the box dimensions (it can be long and narrow just like the knife) - and you can still send it priority, express, etc.. Know that you need to weigh the box at home. If you're light at the post office you'll have to pay extra postage (happened to me once because our cheap food scale is a bit off). I always add an ounce or two for good measure. As for packaging, just make sure the knife can't move around in the box, and as stated above, the tip is well protected so it can't punch through the box if dropped. I wrap the whole blade in a couple of layers of cardboard that are longer than the blade (like Tyrade83 describes), the wrap the handle the same way, and make sure the knife cannot slip inside the cardboard. That way the tip of the blade can never be exposed. Before wrapping the knife in cardboard, I wrap it in a soft cloth or bubble wrap just to insure the knife will not be scratched by the cardboard. And, I usually use about 45 miles of packing tape to make sure it all stays together. I recently sent a NMFBM to Europe packed as just described and it arrived in perfect condition. A number of months ago, I read a couple of really good threads, with pictures, dedicated to this subject. They were very informative. I wish everyone would find them and read them. I've received some very sketchily packaged knives that arrived in good condition only because of sheer (shear?) luck. Hope this helps. Mike
 
I find that the Flat Rate Priority boxes are not always the best choice for a single knife. You can get the same size boxes from some PO and the USPS web site, that are marked Priority, but NOT flat rate. You then pay based on the actual weight. Flat Rate is great for really heavy packages, but not necesarrily best in all cases. I just shipped a B9, and saved almost $10 with standard Priority.

We have boxes in all sizes sent to us for free, use the Click-n-Ship software on the USPS site to pay for and print labels at home, then just drop off the package at the PO, or even the Out box at work, and never wait in line.
 
For serious durability, PVC pipe with a cap glued (pvc cement) on one end and a cap duct taped to the other end with lots of tape. Alternatively, plywood box with blocks/cleats internally for gluing and screwing it together.

Otherwise the triangular shipping tubes from the Post Office work well and can get cut down to fit the knife, then taped up heavily (nylon fiber reinforced strap tape or duct tape) for closure. Bubble-wrap and crumpled newsprint are your friends to help keep your knife stabilized during transit.
 
What Johnthetexan said. You can put a sheathed NMFBM diagonal in that box. 18 inches diagonaly. Express is much taller
 
Good advice so far. I try to overwrap, and make sure you insure for the full value! and get signature required, delivery confirmation.

Nothing like the sick feeling waiting, wondering!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top