Bringing knives and guns in Canada?

Chang

Chang

Joined
Oct 9, 1998
Messages
1,767
I'm going to Canada for a week, leaving Monday and midnight. What's the rules for Canada and crossing through customs? I was told I'd have to pay $50 for a firearm permit, but what kind of gun can I bring there? I was told my AR-15/M4 would be a no-no, not that I'd need a gun like that.

As far as knives go, do I need to declare it for what? How can I carry it? What's the limits on length and carry?
 
Chang, that's the same question I was going to post. I'll be visiting Vancouver in July for few weeks and want to know what I can carry as my EDC, (length, fixed or folder, etc.). Right now I'm planning on bringing up my Sypderco Native III but I don't want to get it confiscated or something. Anyone out there up to date with knife carrying laws in Canada? Any info is appreciated.
 
Don't know much about guns for sure, but I know there a restrictions on magazine capacity and depending on where you are hunting (I'm guessing you're hunting) there is also limits on calibre. Example: Where I used to live you could not legally hunt with a .308 but could with aanything under that.

Knives are different too. No bali's, auto's, D/A's, or such. If you are bringing folders, just tweek up the pivot a bit so it can't be "flicked" open by a snap of the hand. Fixed blades are generally no problem. Fixed or folding, don't carry concealled. Size doesn't matter for the most part. Just use common sense. If you are in the cities be careful where you whip it out, we have alot of uptight people. The less attention you draw the better. If you're out in the boonies hunting and your knife is under your coat, it probably won't be an issue. Same knife where in the city where I live now, if I get pulled over or something could get me in some hot water, but the same knife again carried in plain view is OK, but may raise eyebrows. A Busse BM strapped to your leg downtown could get confiscated under something they call "a weapon dangerous to the public". The same law used to take a baseball bat away from a guy showing signs of anger and not wearing a ball uniform. Every situation is different and depends on the officer's interpretation of the law, and some of them need more education.

Never ever ever say that you carry a knife for defence purposes. That's the biggest no-no of all. Your knife is a tool and that's all. Our laws are largely based on the intent of the person. Do a search in the Canadian Connection forum for laws and you'll find alot of P O'ed people.

Have fun while you're up here guys.

Dale.
 
Handguns are pretty much forbidden unless going to a competition as are long guns out of hunting season...self defense is not a legitimate reason for posession.

Best contact Canadian Customs ahead of time for clarification.
 
It seems that customs inspectors are causing problems for some people that are importing assisted opening knives like the Kershaws. Though they are legal to carry you might want to leave them at home just to avoid the possible hassle.

Blade length is not an issue, type of knife is. Along with those mentioned above, you can not possess a push dagger or belt buckle knife and I also think it is illegal to carry a knife disguised as something else, like a pen.
 
If you are, through some legal means, able to take a gun to Canada, getting it back into the US will also be a concern. Be certain that you have whatever paperwork will be necessary for that in order before you leave.
 
Hey Guys...

Theres Absolutely NO reason to bring guns and or knives into Canada.

Crime is non Existent.

But, Bring your hash pipe and your favorite brand of rolling papers though, as marijuana is widely available and nearly decriminalized.:)

We are a peaceful loving country...

ttyle

Eric...
 
Good info, thanks Eric. Out of curiosity, are there any restrictions on body armor in Canada? ;)
 
Originally posted by Chang
Good info, thanks Eric. Out of curiosity, are there any restrictions on body armor in Canada? ;)
Click to expand...

AFAIK, no.

As for guns and knives, only bring the guns if you're competing or hunting. You cannot carry handguns at all, and long guns have lots of restrictions.

Knives are much easier to deal with. Any standard folder should be no problem at all, as long as it is not an automatic or a balisong. Fixed blades should be worn openly, just to be safe, although there is no law that says they must not be concealed if they are not weapons. You do not have to declare your knives at the border.

I commonly wear a fixed blade, 4" in length or so, with no problems in Vancouver. I also carry a folder - in my case a Spyderco Endura.

Pierre
 
Gun laws (for coming into the country):

There are 3 classes of firearms in Canada...

Un-Restricted: which include normal sporting rifles and shotguns (including semi-automatic rifles but a legal magazine is limited to 10 rounds and cannot look like any military style rifle).

Restricted: Handguns with a barrel length over 4 1/4", they cannot discharge .25 or .32 cal bullets (expect for a few used by the international shooting union) and the maximum magazine capacity is 10 rounds for handguns. Semi-automatic Military style rifles and semi-automatic shotguns which can ONLY fire in a semi-automatic manner and aren't conversions. And magazines are limited to 5 rounds or shells.

Prohibited: Handguns which do not meet the definition of a Restricted handgun, and fully automatic firearms, Shotguns or rifles with a barrel under 12" (or 18" I'm not exactly sure).

You can bring in unrestricted firearms as long as you haven't been convicted of a criminal offense (felony; and DUI is a felony in Canada) and they are declared at the border (best to check in advance so you can have all the forums ready and not wait 6 hours to cross).

Restricted firearms: Unless your target shooting or are a Canadian citizen with a valid permit your screwed, leave them at home.

Prohibited firearms: If they won't let us have one, what do you think your odds are? (If you owned a prohibited rifle before 1977 legally in Canada you can possess it; if you legally owned a prohibited handgun before 1998 you can possess it under a process called "grandfathering")

No restrictions on body armor.

Knife laws:
No autos, Balisongs, push-daggers (expect for a ulu knife) or brass-knuckle handled knives.

No carry limits, but for a casual EDC best to stay 3" or under

Now what we've been all waiting for:

Small possession of pot (under a half ounce) is virtually legal because no judge has been giving jail time for small possession in about a year and now it is in the process of being de-criminalized (seizure and a $100 fine).
 
Originally posted by Keith Montgomery
I also think it is illegal to carry a knife disguised as something else, like a pen.
Click to expand...

it's illegal to carry a knife which doesnt look like a knife (eg. "lipstick" knives) if its under 30 cm (12 in.)

as for edc, i carry my kershaw chive and even when i open it the speedsafe way, noone's ever given me a weird look about it, though if you do a search on the "canadian connection" forum, some members have had problems bringing their BM AXIS knives into the country, as some customs officers considered them "gravity knives"

which area(s) of canada are you planning to visit?
 
Everyone must now have a gun licence in Canada (except military and police while on duty). All firearms must also be registered at this time as well. If they are not registered it is an illegal gun. You will have to buy a permit as a non resident of Canada, not sure about the specifics. Magazine capacity rules are as follows for the entire country: Semi Auto long guns in centerfire calibres 5 round magazine max(yes rimfires like .22 are exempt you can have a 50 or 100 rounder). All pistols 10 round mag max. The exception to the long gun centerfire semi rule is the M1 garand you can have the 8 rounder for it. All other actions (lever pump bolt etc. are unlimited in capacity.

As a Canadian you can carry a non-restricted long gun (most shotguns and rifles) almost anywhere you please anytime. (except schools,police stations, banks etc.) When it is in town or any other place with a "no loaded gun or shooting rule" it must be unloaded, in a vehicle it must also be unloaded. When it gets dark out the gun must be in a case if outside. If left in the car un-attended it must be out of site, unloaded and the car locked. If you wanted to walk down the street with an un-loaded, un cased long gun it would be legal, but you would be arrested at gun point and charged with casuing a disturbance, weapons dangerous to the public peace, disturbing the peace etc. Same if the gun was in the backwindow while driving around. If I want to go hunting target shooting etc. all I have to do is take my gun with me and go. I can also carry my non-restricted long guns around in my car all I like if they are stored in the manner prescibed by the law. Pistols, AR15's etc. are a different story.

In the case of Restricted and prohibited guns (handguns and most short or semi auto military type rifles and shotguns) a permit is needed to take the thing of your propert to a range or store etc. I am not sure how these rules affect visitors.

Prohibited but grandfathered guns (smaller pistols, full auto etc.) I also do not know how these laws affect visitors.

Most fixed blades are legal here. There are no maximum blade lengths in federal or provincials laws that I am aware of. If they are disguised as something that dosen't look like a knife and are shorter than a certain length are prohibited. If they have a spring that opens the knife like a switchblade/auto they are illegal. Balisongs/butterfly knives are illegal, so are flick open knives that use gravity or centrifugal force. Swinging open your Spyderco counts but many of these are sold here just don't flip it open around anyone.
Also brassknucle or trench knives with finger guards, tear gas, mace, pepper spray, spiked "punk rock type" wrist bands, throwing stars and a lot of martial arts weapons are banned, morning star, blow guns, crossbows with a stock shorter than 40CM, belt buckle knives push daggers with T handles, and nunchuks as well.

Carrying a weapon concealed is illegal in Canada. The arresting officer will decide what a weapon is, the court and justice will decide if he was right.

http://www.cfc-ccaf.gc.ca/en/legal/default.asp
 
Spiked or "punk-rock" wrist bands are legal in Canada as long as they don't have sharp or hollow points on them.
 
"5 rounds or shells."
For shotguns I am pretty sure its only 3 but... I could be wrong
 
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