Canadian Customs Seizing Knives

[Czechmate]

I have sent and received many knives and other items through customs. Only the aforementioned prohibited knives are a problem. they will simply be confiscated and any future shipments to you will receive additional "attention". So don't be a twat and try and bring in anything prohibited.

That said, assisted openers like Kershaw speedsafe are perfectly legal as long as you can't flick them open as then they become "gravity knives" which are prohibited.

I have had packages delayed, opened, inspected but never confiscated. And they won't as long as its legal.

Size doesn't matter, I have a 24" machete/chopper I got from a US maker that is huge and heavy. Cuts better than any axe I've ever used. Perfectly legitimate and legal.

Don't fudge declarations either, as that is also grounds for confiscation. So just be upfront and honest.

If you care to follow Rapt_up's excellent post you should be fine. :thumbup: I've completed approximately 100 transactions both to and from USA withzero problems because I play by the rules and don't try anything stupid... I've had one knife returned to me (I was shipping it out) all the way from France, had to resend it to the dude there so it came through customs twice with no issues.

If customs missed something and let it slip by them ..Don't post your success on an open forum...lol
They are the last line of defense on prohibited items....They will send you a letter telling you they seized it and what your options are....
From experience I can tell you to be sure of what you can import into Canada before you buy it...
No one will knock on your door but they will red flag you name and address and open every package that you import if they find that you did try to bring something you shouldn't have.
The knife laws are online and are pretty self explanatory....It's a great idea to read them..
If you buy a used knife from anyone online.... ask them if they could tighten the pivot screw before they send it so it passes customs with no problems....
Canada Post told me the other day that sometime this month of May Homeland Security will be monitoring ALL incoming packages so who knows how that will work out...

A CP worker told me that as well- this new procedure is a "pre screening" of sorts to determine what all the inbound packages contain. Supposedly it involves an online form with an explicit description of the item(s), value etc... She said it sounds like additional BS to have to manage as it needs to be done in advance of going to the post office or wait and do it on the spot. :thumbdn::thumbdn::thumbdn:

 

[JR88FAN]

If you care to follow Rapt_up's excellent post you should be fine. :thumbup: I've completed approximately 100 transactions both to and from USA withzero problems because I play by the rules and don't try anything stupid... I've had one knife returned to me (I was shipping it out) all the way from France, had to resend it to the dude there so it came through customs twice with no issues.





A CP worker told me that as well- this new procedure is a "pre screening" of sorts to determine what all the inbound packages contain. Supposedly it involves an online form with an explicit description of the item(s), value etc... She said it sounds like additional BS to have to manage as it needs to be done in advance of going to the post office or wait and do it on the spot. :thumbdn::thumbdn::thumbdn:

Any word on when this new measure to keep us all safe from ourselves is going to kick in?

Thanks in advance....

 

[Pellel2]

If you care to follow Rapt_up's excellent post you should be fine. :thumbup: I've completed approximately 100 transactions both to and from USA withzero problems because I play by the rules and don't try anything stupid... I've had one knife returned to me (I was shipping it out) all the way from France, had to resend it to the dude there so it came through customs twice with no issues.





A CP worker told me that as well- this new procedure is a "pre screening" of sorts to determine what all the inbound packages contain. Supposedly it involves an online form with an explicit description of the item(s), value etc... She said it sounds like additional BS to have to manage as it needs to be done in advance of going to the post office or wait and do it on the spot. :thumbdn::thumbdn::thumbdn:

hey Czechmate what exactly do you mean you play by the rules?? thanks

 

[JR88FAN]

hey Czechmate what exactly do you mean you play by the rules?? thanks

Ya! There are no rules.....

I have done hundreds of transactions as well, and had knives taken away that I can buy at my local knife shop.
No explanation, except 'prohibited weapon'

Don't say you 'should have bought them at your local knife store' they where LE's only a a certain dealer had. Different steel, different scales, same knife.

I have nothing against customs, they have a tough job to do, I just think that they need to run a more transparent and democratic operation....

 

[Pellel2]

See this is the thing about Canadian Custom and their bureaucratic BS. Do you really think the stabbing that happen in our Canadian cities happen with some Sebenzas or F3s or Bodegas or Direwares? NNOOO!! Maybe with a strider just to get the job done right haha but seriously these collectible knives are not mainly imported for illegal activities. So why the hell they break our balls getting them over? Well in that case ALL screwdrivers and kitchen knives should NOT be allowed in Canadian soil as they represent a higher percentage of "weapons" used in illegal activities. This is as stupid as the rule where you can't have just a baseball bat in your car. It is just a BAT! Canadian customs are full of shite from bureaucrats and political guidelines so some idiots running the government look good in the news because they are stopping "prohibited weapons" entering Canada...give me a freaking break!

I have to agree, they should run more transparent and with better guidelines. There is a HUGE difference between a gun and knife. If they are worried about concealment do you think people involved in stabbings really are going to go to their Pelican cases and grab a $500 knife. I am pretty sure a screwdriver conceals better than a folding knife and will do much more damage than a Spyderco Domino.

 

[stabman]

I am pretty sure a screwdriver conceals better than a folding knife

Not really.
Go shove a screwdriver in your pocket or waistband and then take a walk around town.
It will not be comfortable.

Next, do the same with a folding knife.
It will be more comfortable, and conceal better.

But this has nothing to do with Canadian Customs.
If you don't want to deal with Canadian Customs hassles, buy stuff which is already here.
Sometimes it costs more, but there's no border hassles.

 

[Pellel2]

Not really.
Go shove a screwdriver in your pocket or waistband and then take a walk around town.
It will not be comfortable.

Next, do the same with a folding knife.
It will be more comfortable, and conceal better.

But this has nothing to do with Canadian Customs.
If you don't want to deal with Canadian Customs hassles, buy stuff which is already here.
Sometimes it costs more, but there's no border hassles.

But what happened with NAFTA and free trade? The point is why should there be any border hassle? I have crossed many times knives of all kinds in my baggage and self and crossing border patrol has never said anything against it. This stupidity happens only via mail. Pelican cases do show in Xray scanning in all airports and I have never had a single issue. As long as I declare it and show it it is all good. I am sorry but I will be hell of more scare of a guy going against me with a screwdriver than a folding knife for many different reasons.

 

[stabman]

But what happened with NAFTA and free trade? The point is why should there be any border hassle? I have crossed many times knives of all kinds in my baggage and self and crossing border patrol has never said anything against it. This stupidity happens only via mail. Pelican cases do show in Xray scanning in all airports and I have never had a single issue. As long as I declare it and show it it is all good. I am sorry but I will be hell of more scare of a guy going against me with a screwdriver than a folding knife for many different reasons.

Free trade just involves tariffs and such, not what is prohibited.
That's a whole different issue.

As for screwdrivers being scarier, well, I find dull things which I can easily lever out of some guy's hand easier to deal with than sharp things.

 

[JR88FAN]

See this is the thing about Canadian Custom and their bureaucratic BS. Do you really think the stabbing that happen in our Canadian cities happen with some Sebenzas or F3s or Bodegas or Direwares? NNOOO!! Maybe with a strider just to get the job done right haha but seriously these collectible knives are not mainly imported for illegal activities. So why the hell they break our balls getting them over? Well in that case ALL screwdrivers and kitchen knives should NOT be allowed in Canadian soil as they represent a higher percentage of "weapons" used in illegal activities. This is as stupid as the rule where you can't have just a baseball bat in your car. It is just a BAT! Canadian customs are full of shite from bureaucrats and political guidelines so some idiots running the government look good in the news because they are stopping "prohibited weapons" entering Canada...give me a freaking break!

I have to agree, they should run more transparent and with better guidelines. There is a HUGE difference between a gun and knife. If they are worried about concealment do you think people involved in stabbings really are going to go to their Pelican cases and grab a $500 knife. I am pretty sure a screwdriver conceals better than a folding knife and will do much more damage than a Spyderco Domino.

I couldn't agree with you more.

The funny thing about statistics (which often shape laws) is that in Canada, under what is referred to as 'percentage of offenses committed using a knife' is actually made up of all things sharp....

So, if someone gets stabbed with a screwdriver, cut with a broken beer bottle, axe, etc, it all gets lumped under 'edged weapon' which everyone then assumes is a knife.

What bothers me just as much is that there is no real data on what kind of knife was used, but I would bet that in most cases it would be a knife we all have in the kitchen.

For the most part, people who are into knives as collectors and users, understand and see them as tools, and have a ton of respect for what such a simple device can help you do. We also appreciate the art, and generally speaking, the last thing we think of using our knives for is to hurt other people.

I think if the statistics where put together properly, this would all be obvious...

 

[Pellel2]

I couldn't agree with you more.

The funny thing about statistics (which often shape laws) is that in Canada, under what is referred to as 'percentage of offenses committed using a knife' is actually made up of all things sharp....

So, if someone gets stabbed with a screwdriver, cut with a broken beer bottle, axe, etc, it all gets lumped under 'edged weapon' which everyone then assumes is a knife.

What bothers me just as much is that there is no real data on what kind of knife was used, but I would bet that in most cases it would be a knife we all have in the kitchen.

For the most part, people who are into knives as collectors and users, understand and see them as tools, and have a ton of respect for what such a simple device can help you do. We also appreciate the art, and generally speaking, the last thing we think of using our knives for is to hurt other people.

I think if the statistics where put together properly, this would all be obvious...

People need to open their eyes and realize it is all semantics and politics. The closer you get to an election everything regarding citizen security gets tougher. The most funny part stop a Canadian police officer on the street and ask him/her if he goes around carrying a knife with them. Most of them will say knives are not an effective mean of self defending weapon and if they carry one is only for purposes of cutting stuff thus as a tool. Go around and ask them. I have asked many police officers about it and this is the simple answer I have got. Also, why border patrol do not give you any problems been crossing the border with a folding knife in your pocket...it is because the ball is in your side of the field and if they give you any fight you can ask for a supervisor immediately and demand proof of what they are saying. Border patrol are really smart. The customs guys sitting at a desk going thru mail KNOW you have nothing to say...the ball is in their field...and that's what I find messed up. They just tally up the stats and make the politicians look good!

 

[JR88FAN]

People need to open their eyes and realize it is all semantics and politics. The closer you get to an election everything regarding citizen security gets tougher. The most funny part stop a Canadian police officer on the street and ask him/her if he goes around carrying a knife with them. Most of them will say knives are not an effective mean of self defending weapon and if they carry one is only for purposes of cutting stuff thus as a tool. Go around and ask them. I have asked many police officers about it and this is the simple answer I have got. Also, why border patrol do not give you any problems been crossing the border with a folding knife in your pocket...it is because the ball is in your side of the field and if they give you any fight you can ask for a supervisor immediately and demand proof of what they are saying. Border patrol are really smart. The customs guys sitting at a desk going thru mail KNOW you have nothing to say...the ball is in their field...and that's what I find messed up. They just tally up the stats and make the politicians look good!

Many times when I go to my local knife shop there are police officers there.

They buy a ton of knives. I mostly think they are there making sure everything is legal, but regardless, I always ask them as many questions as I can about what is legal.

It's always the same answer (besides auto knives and Bali's) everything is legal.

It's their discretion to ask you why you are carrying a knife, and to make a determination on your intentions.

I believe that's fair.

There is no assumption, they asses the situation and make a decision....

 

[JR88FAN]

Not really.
Go shove a screwdriver in your pocket or waistband and then take a walk around town.
It will not be comfortable.

Next, do the same with a folding knife.
It will be more comfortable, and conceal better.

But this has nothing to do with Canadian Customs.
If you don't want to deal with Canadian Customs hassles, buy stuff which is already here.
Sometimes it costs more, but there's no border hassles.

When it comes to custom knives, there is nothing here...

Ya, TNK, and a couple of small vendors, but as with most things, America has the good stuff, the rare stuff, and the variety.

The BF custom market is a great example of what is available in Canada vs the USA.

This whole 'concealed' argument is sideways.

If you're out to hurt someone, you'll find a way to do it. If we got rid of every folding knife on the planet, not one person would be saved from harm....

 

[Pellel2]

Many times when I go to my local knife shop there are police officers there.

They buy a ton of knives. I mostly think they are there making sure everything is legal, but regardless, I always ask them as many questions as I can about what is legal.

It's always the same answer (besides auto knives and Bali's) everything is legal.

It's their discretion to ask you why you are carrying a knife, and to make a determination on your intentions.

I believe that's fair.

There is no assumption, they asses the situation and make a decision....

Yes but many of them will see a folding knife as a tool. It doesn't matter who you are or how you look to them if they are having a bad day they will take anything away. But even then you can go to your local police station with the badge number and ask for your tool to be given back to you. They give you an opportunity to appeal the PO decision and based from what I have heard you can get most things back unless they are part of a criminal investigation. This is what I have read from different Canadian forums but fortunetly enough I have never got anything taken away from me yet.

There is a wave of stabbings in Hamilton right now so mind as well be safe than sorry so I am carrying my smaller and inexpensive knives right now. Haven't carried my orange bodega around town yet lol

Has anyone appealed Canada Borders? Has anyone won and if so can explain the process they went thru? That will be a nice sticky for the Canadian forums.

 

[JR88FAN]

Yes but many of them will see a folding knife as a tool. It doesn't matter who you are or how you look to them if they are having a bad day they will take anything away. But even then you can go to your local police station with the badge number and ask for your tool to be given back to you. They give you an opportunity to appeal the PO decision and based from what I have heard you can get most things back unless they are part of a criminal investigation. This is what I have read from different Canadian forums but fortunetly enough I have never got anything taken away from me yet.

There is a wave of stabbings in Hamilton right now so mind as well be safe than sorry so I am carrying my smaller and inexpensive knives right now. Haven't carried my orange bodega around town yet lol

Has anyone appealed Canada Borders? Has anyone won and if so can explain the process they went thru? That will be a nice sticky for the Canadian forums.

First of all I agree completely.

You have an avenue to use your democratic right to get your tool back. I think that's all a society can ask for..

As far as appealing a CSBA decision, man, I wish I still had some of my old seizure forms. They list all the arguments you can't use to appeal their decision. Their list negates all sensible arguments! It's crazy, and something you have to see to believe...

If you choose to appeal, the final judge is Customs. You won't win. I have read a ton of appeal stories online, never heard of someone winning....

 

[JR88FAN]

Pellel2. Do your packages come open, re-taped with CBSA yellow tape?

 

[Pellel2]

First of all I agree completely.

You have an avenue to use your democratic right to get your tool back. I think that's all a society can ask for..

As far as appealing a CSBA decision, man, I wish I still had some of my old seizure forms. They list all the arguments you can't use to appeal their decision. Their list negates all sensible arguments! It's crazy, and something you have to see to believe...

If you choose to appeal, the final judge is Customs. You won't win. I have read a ton of appeal stories online, never heard of someone winning....

but would they ship the knife back to the US seller?? regarding the tape I only had two packages with tape thats all. I live 45 mins away from Buffalo so I need to get my passport renewed now for summer and I am just going to resume sending my US stuff to my Buffalo PO. The wife goes shopping and I play a couple of hands of Poker at the casino and the next morning I can bring back upto $800 and do this every weekend.

I am lucky that way but 99.9% of Canadians dont live near the border and it really sucks that this stupidity happens when you mail things. A friend of mine last year shipped an upper control arm for his Infinity worth like $400. He declared it for $35 BNIB. CBSA opened it, checked it, taped it up and didnt do a single thing to it. Imagine that on a little benchmade mini grip. They would have sent a drone to your home hahaha. After that I lost all confidence in CBSA and if I wouldnt have seen the situation with my own eyes I would have not believed it.

I truly feel most real illegal threats to Canadian soil gets to RCMP radar way before customs get to it. customs dont confiscate most drugs at airports lets say, most of the time they are tipped off by RCMP. CBSA is really there to catch the little dumb things like these knives, collect more tax money and tally up political stats. The real stuff gets to RCMP way before customs. Again, this is just my opinion

 

[JR88FAN]

but would they ship the knife back to the US seller?? regarding the tape I only had two packages with tape thats all. I live 45 mins away from Buffalo so I need to get my passport renewed now for summer and I am just going to resume sending my US stuff to my Buffalo PO. The wife goes shopping and I play a couple of hands of Poker at the casino and the next morning I can bring back upto $800 and do this every weekend.

I am lucky that way but 99.9% of Canadians dont live near the border and it really sucks that this stupidity happens when you mail things. A friend of mine last year shipped an upper control arm for his Infinity worth like $400. He declared it for $35 BNIB. CBSA opened it, checked it, taped it up and didnt do a single thing to it. Imagine that on a little benchmade mini grip. They would have sent a drone to your home hahaha. After that I lost all confidence in CBSA and if I wouldnt have seen the situation with my own eyes I would have not believed it.

I truly feel most real illegal threats to Canadian soil gets to RCMP radar way before customs get to it. customs dont confiscate most drugs at airports lets say, most of the time they are tipped off by RCMP. CBSA is really there to catch the little dumb things like these knives, collect more tax money and tally up political stats. The real stuff gets to RCMP way before customs. Again, this is just my opinion

That's my favorite part!!!

You have 3 options if they determine your brand new tool is a 'weapon'....

1: Nothing, they destroy it.
2: Appeal (same result as option #1)
3: You can send it back to the seller BUT...

It has to be sent using a 'Dangerous Goods' carrier, who must do all the necessary paperwork and clear it with US customs as a 'Dangerous good'
This is a very expensive option.....

Viva la revolution!

 

[Pellel2]

That's my favorite part!!!

You have 3 options if they determine your brand new tool is a 'weapon'....

1: Nothing, they destroy it.
2: Appeal (same result as option #1)
3: You can send it back to the seller BUT...

It has to be sent using a 'Dangerous Goods' carrier, who must do all the necessary paperwork and clear it with US customs as a 'Dangerous good'
This is a very expensive option.....

Viva la revolution!

But I know CBSA can ding you due to two different reasons. One if they consider it as a weapon, but what happens if you declared it with a different value than what they feel like?? I know wrongfully declared items regarding value can also be stopped at CBSA. what happens then??

 

[JR88FAN]

One more interesting fact for you.
'Customs' is not legally considered Canada, so our democratic ways (hold on, I am choking on that word)
have no bearing.

They are expanding 'Customs' at the border to include a much larger area around all crossings to the USA.
They will be setting up state-of-the-art monitoring devices that will listen to your conversations as you wait in line to cross, and will have all kinds of cool surveillance equipment that will watch your expressions.

This is all illegal in Canada, but 'Customs' soil is legally not Canadian soil.

Just an FYI....

 

[JR88FAN]

But I know CBSA can ding you due to two different reasons. One if they consider it as a weapon, but what happens if you declared it with a different value than what they feel like?? I know wrongfully declared items regarding value can also be stopped at CBSA. what happens then??

The way they test a knife if they feel that it may be deemed as a weapon, but it isn't obvious by law (Auto's, Bali's) is the good old 'wrist flick' rule.

So. If they can flick it hard enough and the blade opens, it's a weapon....

(yes, crazy, I know)

Value is strange. I don't understand how they determine that if something is undervalued.