Canadian Customs Questions......

R

Randy Rawson

Joined
May 7, 2001
Messages
65
Can any one tell me how bad Canadian Customs is. I traded someone some knives and sent them airmail to British Columbia. The knife he sent me arrived last week but he still has not received the one I sent him. I may have made a mistake because I listed knives on the customs form instead of calling it a hand tool. I have the feeling that the box is being held up by customs. I hope I dint break any laws and get the knives confiscated.

Randy
 
How long has it been since you shipped it? It once took an H.I. shipment over a month to arrive. I also sent a package to Terry Sisco with "knife, fixed blade.." on the customs label. As long as it's a legal knife I doubt it would be impounded. I would think it has been set aside for inspection. I dunno about the legality of putting some different label on the box. I think customs are more likely to open your package if it is labeled knives as opposed to "Himalayan artwork".

I wouldn't worry too much.
 
I shipped the knife on Jan 17. It usually only takes around 7 days. I Think the knives are legal in Canada Its a Al Mar SERE 2k and a fixed blade fighter. I just dont want the guy thinking Im trying to screw him.

Randy
 
The stuff I order from H.I. takes at least 2 weeks to get here. Sometimes longer. I wonder if mailing airmail or ground have any difference outside one's own country.

I wouldn't start worrying for a few more weeks.
 
Randy

It normally takes knives (or anything else) 1.5-2 weeks to reach here from the USA. The knives you listed are not normally illegal here in Canada and should not be siezed. Exceptions are the fix blade is a push dagger or the SERE can be flipped open (gravity knife). Note, if customs is charging GST and PST on the knives it takes longer to process. Also, if they have problems with the declared value or invoice it will take longer. I would not be alarmed yet.

I did have a M14 trigger group sent to me that was delayed. It was shipped Nov. I received a call Jan following year asking what the trigger group was for. I told them. Suddenly appeared at my door 1 month latter. I guess it took them a month to figure out that the trigger group won't convert my M14 to a full auto weapon.

Will
 
My experience is that I've had some knives come from the US in as little as 5 days, other times it's taken more than a month and in a couple cases, longer as Customs needed to verify that material used was not on the prohibited list (ie, animal or plant material on the CITES list such as ivory). Interestingly, I've had $2000.00 US knives go through without a fuss and no customs duties, yet some El Cheapo knives took forever. Shipping methods used included USPS Global Expedited, Fedex, Purolator, Airbourne Express and UPS. My worst experience was with UPS....a "guaranteed overnight delivery" took 23 days to get to me and I was unable to get a refund of shipping fees even though this was guaranteed to get to me overnight. Makes me wonder what creative magic UPS uses to stay in business...

Just my 2 cents.
 
The fixed blade should not pose a problem...but the Al Mar is subject to interpretation. If the agent that inspects it decides that it can be opened by gravity/centrifugal force then it's gonna be seized. My Sifu was seized that way. My advice to anyone that is shipping a folder that is NOT a nail-nick folder to tighten up the pivot screws and make sure that you have to exert a lot of effort to open it with one hand. Otherwise, you're taking chances with our laws. Khukuris are not illegal here. But a loose pivot on a BM AFCK might be...if you can "flick" it open. Sucks, but that's life up here. :)

Burton
 
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