Canadian Customs

PeteyTwoPointOne

PeteyTwoPointOne

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I'm a longtime member of the Spyderco forums and there's a recent thread about how customs seized some Spyderco models because they can be opened centrifugally with a wrist flick-- at least with a little help from your thumb or phalanges. ;)

But the OP stated that what tipped off the customs agents <the officials apparently let this slip during explanation of why they seized his blades> was the declared value of the small box + stated contents. This concerns me because Busse & Kin are comparatively expensive for their price + size ratio.

Also worth noting is that the models in question were Spyderco Military and Spyderco Paramilitary. Perhaps the name of the models were a contributing factor for the lilly-livered, bleeding heart customs agent?

I didn't realize how draconian your Canadian laws are <or had become?>. And I guess I always thought of the Great White North as being a hunting, fishing, camping paradise with a very knife-friendly populace and tolerant laws on man's most useful tool.

Sal Glesser submitted a post stating he'd had audiences with the Crown and he got the distinct impression that the ruling class wanted their knife laws open-ended to allow such seizures and crack downs. :thumbdn:

Now to the brass tacks, do you Canadian HOGS see any similar problems shipping Busse COMBAT Company blades into your nation?

Have any of you already experienced troubles?

I have shipped 3 Busse fixed blades to Canadians <stated contents: "camping tools">. And one Spyderco Millie to Toronto about 2 years ago, also a "camping implement" -- No Problems. :)

I would hate to not be able to horse trade with my Canadian Brothers in INFI. :(
 
I know of two stores up here that sell the Military and Para military over the counter so I would be asking a few questions why they were seized. I have shipped and received
close to a hundred knives across the border and can only remember one that was even opened. They x ray most if not everything so they know if the description is true or not and don't see what the value would have to do with anything unless there value was not what it should be. They do know what this stuff is worth they have and use the internet that's no secret.
Anyways just thinking quickly I have 2 Shiros, 7 XM 18 flippers and over a dozen Busse from Shiva rex to AK 47 and CGFBM all came across the border. There is no other way to purchase these knives in Canada.

But Thanks Petey I do have a Battle Saw on its way to customs right now. LOL
 
I like it when people write "camping tool" or "gift" on my packages. Never had one open by custom, yet
 
I've had well over 100 Busse knives shipped to me across the border, including "scary" ones like War Boars, Battle Saws and such, even full sharpened swedges, with no issue other than the pricey import duties and a bit of a wait sometimes.

With folders, I do usually ask the seller whether private or through a dealer to tighten up the pivot screw to prevent any overzealous CBSA agents from "flicking" them open. It is ridiculous that the difference between a legal knife and an illegal one is a bit of tension on the pivot. but that's the way it is, even if that particular knife is sold in Canada already. Not a big deal if you're aware of it though.

ETA: another example of how stupid our knife laws are, is that a "knuckle" knife like an Argonne Assault is illegal, but a full D guard without the finger separations isn't.
 
Canada customs has been going beserk on imported knives since August. I don't know what is going on, but my SOG Fatcat got dinged to the tune of $83 on a $283 purchase... Every knife package, "camping tool" or not, is getting dinged, and some get held up for up to two weeks, something I had never seen before...

Assisted flippers are being held, even though there are no laws against them. Customs make up their own border laws it seems...

The customs dinging alone seems to be deliberately done to deter...: over 25%... These are my last amounts: CAN$83 on US$283... CAN $189 on US $625, CAN $85 on 350 Euros... I used to pay nothing remotely like this before, and some got through for free... I am very hesitant to buy anything now.

Gaston

P.S. I forgot to add that, since August, I have seen several times the "opened" red tape, which I had never even seen before...

G.
 
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You can ship any fixed blade you like with no worries. Name, shape etc does not matter. Folders have issues, any knife that can be opened by a flick of the wrist or a "button" on the handle id prohib. The button on the handle is being extended to include a thumb stud on the blade. Just throwing it out there, but the spiderco hole in the blade acts the same as a thumb stud, it won't be far behind going to the prohib list.

On a firearm side they just changed the interpretation on magazines to put any ruger 10/22 mag over 10 rounds to be prohib. Up to a 4 year jail term...
 
Like stated above, fixed blades dont seem to be an issue but folders im not buying any that go over borders untill things cool down a bit. I don't wana risk the headache
This is what we get for voting Turdo in.
 
Also...it isn't against the law here to own them. However something to do with the international trade treaty is causing Canadian Border Service Agency to pretty much seize any flipper blades. Especially torsion bar ones. ZT's are pretty much hooped. If it can be thumbed or finger flipped and flicked with the wrist.....chances are they will be seized. The shipper must ensure they are cranked tight and require 2 hands to open. There are CBSA agents who have an above average knack for flicking open blades. They are used to video the "prohib" blade openings. Even though an average guy couldn't do it.

Shady, but it is what the world is coming to.

Look at England. Knives marked "Combat" or "Zombie" are being ban.
 
Canadian knife laws sound very much like Australian Knife laws. If you actually bother to drill down and read what is considered 'Restricted' what you'll find is extremely vague and deliberately left open to interpretation so it can suit the whims of some halfwit Border agent.

I tried to import a Karambit by Jason Brous which got seized... An empty cardboard post box arrived in the mail...Which got me thinking that the knife had been stolen..... Only three days later did I get a letter from Customs saying that they had seized the knife calling it a 'Trench knife'.... When I challenged this on the grounds that it was not a 'Trench Knife' and asked them to at least send me the knife case back.... they escalated the matter for review by more senior agents..... and then came back and told me it was a 'Push Knife' and that the seizure was legitimate.... It was at that point that I realized that they really had no clue about knives at all... even though they were seizing them as supposedly 'Subject matter experts'. Any average member of this forum would likely know more then a dozen of those numptys when it comes to knives.

Down here 'one Handed Opening' knives are restricted... So what the hell does that mean. Leathermans and Swiss Army knives are OK.... but flippers are not. Most Spyderco's are OK and there are plenty for sale at any Army disposal store or outdoor store.

Having said all that, there is an online knife store here which sell Flippers by the dozen and even the odd Spring assisted plus plenty of Daggers (double edged).... So go figure. It all comes down to the mood of the agent that looks at your import.

Lawrie
 
PeteyTwoPointOne said:
I think it's kosher to provide this link, if it's not, my apologies Jaxx :o
Click to expand...

On the topic of this thread, it shouldn't be a prob. Sal Glesser is prolly more of an expert on shipping knives than 99.9% of the current staff employed @ USPS. ;)

To everyone: Just please remember whose forum we're in, and please don't drop into the political side of the laws & nations in question. Thx!
 
I've never had any problems importing fixed blade knives into Canada. Even swords. Knives with brass knuckle type guards are out ,though.

The only problem folders will have, will be if they open with centrifugal force or some sort of mechanism. The knife is out If the custom official can open the blade with a simple flick of the wrist. There are plenty of knives, sold in Canada, that use thumb holes or knobs to assist in opening the blade.

I just hope that Busse will make the blade retention strong enough in it's upcoming folder ;)
 
lozdesign7 said:
Canadian knife laws sound very much like Australian Knife laws. If you actually bother to drill down and read what is considered 'Restricted' what you'll find is extremely vague and deliberately left open to interpretation so it can suit the whims of some halfwit Border agent.

...snip...

Down here 'one Handed Opening' knives are restricted... So what the hell does that mean. Leathermans and Swiss Army knives are OK.... but flippers are not. Most Spyderco's are OK and there are plenty for sale at any Army disposal store or outdoor store.

Having said all that, there is an online knife store here which sell Flippers by the dozen and even the odd Spring assisted plus plenty of Daggers (double edged).... So go figure. It all comes down to the mood of the agent that looks at your import.
Click to expand...

The Australian knife laws were significantly overhauled at the end of 2015 to streamline the guidelines for Customs, which is why flippers are now being allowed back in to the country. It sounds like Canada is currently suffering under the same onerous and vague laws that Australia had to put up with for the four or so years previous to these changes. Hopefully common sense can prevail down the track.
 
Oz, I have to say I was not aware of this.... However I did watch a certain online dealer completely restock with Flippers etc which made me think someones pockets were being lined or something.... Significant overhaul you say... This is interesting news indeed. Another thing I noticed which might also lend itself to this information.... is that there was an amalgamation of Departments (Boarder-force, Customs etc.) into a single unit.

That said.... I'd be VERY surprised if any kind of changes were made to relax the laws in any way.... Like making One Handed Opening knives available for import....

Anyone tested this out?

Lawrie



ozgooner said:
The Australian knife laws were significantly overhauled at the end of 2015 to streamline the guidelines for Customs, which is why flippers are now being allowed back in to the country. It sounds like Canada is currently suffering under the same onerous and vague laws that Australia had to put up with for the four or so years previous to these changes. Hopefully common sense can prevail down the track.
Click to expand...
 
lozdesign7 said:
Anyone tested this out?
Click to expand...

A while ago in 2015 everyone was jumping for joy on Aus Blade Forums. Pretty sure 1 handed openers are now allowed, period. Just no assisted, double edged, balisongs, OTF's, stuff like that.

Seen a lot of blokes on Aus Blade Forums import flippers and such with no issue.
 
Makes sense from what I've noticed...

Now I'm jumping for Joy.... albeit a little later than the rest!

Lawrie
 
Lawrie,
Don't jump from joy!
Yes they've amended the restrictive import law... into a more muddied and moronic one!
For a time after the change everything folding that wasn't auto, gravity, karambit or assisted was getting in, then people started reporting flippers, then even Spydercos being seized... The nonofficial-official line became that the changed law, while getting rid of the stupid flick test, gave freedom of interpretation of the law to Border Force officer that decides to open up the package to inspect the knife... So, if you're lucky you will get any flipper in; if you're not lucky Spyderco Dragonfly (possibly even UKPK) will get confiscated...
Talking about clear and easy to understand laws...
 
Thanks Caesar, What you describe is more in line with how I thought things were. Still a bit of a Russian Roulette then.

Lawrie
 
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