Canadian Knife Laws Link

[knarfeng]

An issue came up in the Exchange concerning selling a butterfly knife in Canada. razorburn was kind enough to send me a link to a listing of Canadian weapons laws. I am posting it here because this is the best statement and explanation of the laws I have seen.

Memorandum D19-13-2 - Importing and exporting firearms, weapons and devices

This memorandum outlines how tariff item 9898.00.00 of the Customs Tariff, the Criminal Code, the Firearms Act, and the Export and Import Permits Act relate to the importing and exporting of firearms, firearm parts, weapons, devices, and certain types of ammunition.

www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

 

[Danke42]

The black and white of the law is butterfly knives no, switchblades no, gravity knives no. Anything you can open by manipulating part of the blade is yes.

But the CBSA doesn't need to follow the "Law". Individual officers will make their own assessment if a knife is prohibited and will New York flick them and are allowed to partially open a knife and then flick it again. This has led to innocuous and commonly available models being seized. This interpretation came about a few years ago when a mom and pop importer had some knives seized and chose to fight it (while acting as his own lawyer) . That set a precedent that remains in effect.

Balisongs have had to be banned for at least 40 years.