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Draconian Australian Laws

A

Andrew

Joined
Nov 29, 2002
Messages
74
I am a resident of Sydney, Australia so this post is probably not relevant to the majority of Balde Forums members.

BUT...... reading this will hopefully help the American members of this forum appreciate how lucky they really are!

We here in Australia are being subject to tighter and tighter so called 'deadly weapons' laws. Since my interest in the blade began I have seen the following FEDERALLY outlawed: Balisongs, automatics, & double edge blades. It is also rumoured that the Commonwealth is considering banning folding knives that can be opened quickly and easily. This counts out just about everything except fingernail slits. As we speak there is a shipment of SOG Flashes sitting at the Queensland customs office awaiting return to the manufacturer because they were deemed to be automatic knives.

I am also a firearms enthusiast and in the last 5 years have witnessed Federal outlawing of the all semiautomatic rifles......the best we can hope for now is a bolt action with a maximum 5 round mag capacity. Our Federal government spent upwards of $500M buying back these firearms in 1996.

And of course the most recent news that the Federal Government is about to spend another $200M of taxpayers money on a Handgun buyback due mid-year and will include: All handguns with a barrel length less than 4.73 inches (no that not a typo!) with a limit on magazine capacity as in the States and strict limits on the number of guns an individual can own. Mandatory participation in regular sporting competitions will also be a reality as will extended (and I mean extended) waiting periods to acquire a firearm.

In fact, many poeple believe that as is currently the case in the United Kingdom, (public) firearms will be totally banned here by the end of the decade.

It is illegal to carry any kind of firearm, or knife in public anywhere in Australia (unless you are Police or special security). Batons and defense sprays are also banned.

I believe in America your States have much more power than they do here. Unfortunately we have to deal with a dictatorial Liberal (similar to Democrat only worse) leader who has been in power for the last 7 years and seems hell bent on wiping out the things many of us enjoy most in this life.

Makes me want to just pick up and move over there with you guys!
JEEZ THIS STUFF MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL!!!:mad:
 
****, the laws aren't even that tight in Canada. The only outlawed knives here are Automatics and Balisongs (although there is some wonder about Balisongs, but there basically illegal) but you can't carry your 12 inch dagger down main street. Unforunatley it's the law and thers nothing you can do about expect be an outlaw or move to a switch friendly place. There are some repressive weapons laws in the States too, switchblades are outlawed in 37 states anyway. And NYC, Maryland, and D.C. have stricter Gun laws then Canada. It varies from state to state though in the U.S.

In Canada, if you have an illegal firearm (even if it's legal, it's illegal if its not registered) you can be senteced to 10 years. Same with carrying a concealed weapon, but if you have no previous record a Jury would be ALOT more forgiving.

But don't let the laws get you down, if you keep your nose clean you don't have to worry about having a private knife collection. If theres any prohibited knives in it or not.
 
I am also a Sydney resident with a gripe about Australian knife laws. Last month I bought over the internet two Kershaws from the U.S - a rainbow leek & a chive. Both have been confiscated by Australian customs with the only explanation being they are "spring assisted knives". There appears to be no way of sending them back to the U.S. I have done my hard earned cash.
 
Originally posted by J-man_the_jet
****, the laws aren't even that tight in Canada.
Click to expand...

Yeah your laws seem fairly stict aswell......was probably about on par with us here is OZ but I think that is changing. Also becauase Australia is an island with no border countries the only way we can bring things in that shouldn't be here is to physically bring them back from overseas, or try and get them through the post and customs.

Is it hard for you guys to wander over the border into the States and bring back of prohibited items?.....How strict are the border controls?

Yeah I also have heard that gun control is tight in NYC and DC but again these laws only at state level so not hard to get around them.

I also agree in regards to keeping your nose clean....only thing here is that if you own a firearm you are already a suspect and should expect regular house calls by the state police to inspect your setup.
 
Originally posted by Ozblade
I am also a Sydney resident with a gripe about Australian knife laws.
Click to expand...

OZblade its people like you and me that keep the dream alive here in Sydney! (or at least try to anyway)

In regards to your knives, the rainbow leek would have been the one they had a problem with. The chive is OK but because it was in a package with the rainbow leek they obviously just confiscated it anyway.

Unfortunately as with most customs departments if you try to bring in something they don't like, the least they will do is confiscate it. It is their way of punishing you without actually charging you.

Have you ever considered trying knife kits (go to www.knifekits.com) I haven't seen any auto kits but they do have Balisong kits. You would probably still have to organise something with the sender and they would probably be unlikely to help you in that regard.

Did you know that Customs in now Xraying 100% of all packages that are sent to Australia through the post. This means that if you have a knife, they WILL pick it up. I beleive it has trouble getting materials with little or no iron in them though (eg. Talonite, carbon fibre etc.)........But it's not like you're going to risk $500.00 or $1000.00 on one of these knives just hoping they're not going to pick it up!
 
Previous to Septemer 11th, you could just walk across the U.S. - Canada border check point NO questions asked. If your driving you might have to give them a drivers lisence, thats it. It's generally less strict now, but you can still always go thru some bushes :) Infact I used to goto Vermont and fool around with some guns. One time I kept traveling between Ontario, New York and Vermont. But I kept a gun on me at all times because in Vermont you can carry with out permit. (Luckily I was never stopped)

I really thought Australlia laws wouldn't be as strict because it's isolated (if it's isolated the laws are more tight because theres no outside influences but I didn't think that before), and no offence to you Aussies it was oringially for British Convicts ;)

I have seen Automatic kits, I'll dig some up for you if you want.
 
Stiletto kits They don't come with brass linears, but the pivots adjust alot easier.

Mikov Kits look for them, but they come with no scales.

This might come in handy

This is a Dual Action folder, which will look legit to customs and police, but comes in kit form (you have to specify that). Now D/A folders are more expensive (thats the only D/A kit I know of) but there worth it. Theres lots of them on PVK

Hey, theres alot of ****ing links in this reply isn't there?!
It's expensive for shipping, but all these stores will ship world wide. I've only had good experiences, I'm sure you will too. I reccomend you join Talkblade.info we need a Aussie there.
 
Thanks for those links they were extremely helpful. The Colt M16 caught my eye......if some dope at customs can pick up a dual action hidden release folder delivered in kit form, I'll give the game away!!!

Just might take you up on that offer to join talkblade.info
 
Originally posted by Andrew
[B
It is illegal to carry any kind of firearm, or knife in public anywhere in Australia (unless you are Police or special security). Batons and defense sprays are also banned.[/B]
Click to expand...

Andrew,

My wife's grandparents live outside of Sydney and we are considering visiting them. I've never been to Australia and was looking forward to the trip but now I don't know. Are even innocent looking knives like Swiss Army Knives and multi-tools banned in public? What constitutes a good reason?
 
J-man_the_jet. I have been on and off but only in the last in the last year have I become seriously into it. Only problem is in Australia, there are very few knife enthusiasts at all. Our primary importer of Benchmade knives has just stopped importing because they are not selling enough (believe it or not!)
 
Gadgetman7. The main thing to understand about OZ is that the culture although similar to the States, is not as liberated. We do not have a second ammendment and no N.R.A.(unfortunately). We always used to be considered (politically) half way between the U.K and you guys.....but in recent years we seem to be falling the way of the U.K. The Federalis are gaining more power and the States are losing it. Ordinary civilians are being punished much more for their misdemeanors than they used to be.

As long as you don't look like a punk, swiss army/multitool would be fine. Also to remember that Police presence in Oz is small (almost pathetic) in comparison with you guys (from what I saw when I was over there last year anyway) so your chances of being picked up on anything are absolutely miniscule. Bringing in a couple of knives in your checked luggage would never be picked up at our end.

Don't get me wrong about Oz though, I am just part of a minority here that places more importance on freedom and liberation than some others. All in all, Oz is a very friendly place and you will find the poeple even friendlier (poeple here like Americans). We have a Sanfrancisco climate with literally hundreds of beautiful beaches, great tasting beer and weird looking animals....what more could you want!!:D
 
I also live in Sydney, Australia and believe it or not if you actually read the knife laws the only knife you are legally allowed to carry in public (Read this as : in the cities) is one of those plastic knives that come with some take-away meals !!(if you looked like you were a gardener you might get away with it- if you need a knife for work it is allowed I believe . Having said that, SAK or multitool type knife would probably be ignored unless you were acting like an idiot (harrassing someone etc..)when you could be searched/scanned. I would not wear any knife (fixed or folder or multitool) on a belt pouch unless I am hiking when anything goes. Don't try and take a knife(SAK etc included) into a court building or onto an aeroplane in carry on luggage/person-it WILL be confiscated. Do not be tempted to own/import a switchblade type or balisong knife - huge fines (someone told me A$5,000 and possible prison time) for that offence. But- in spite of or because of this Australia is a VERY safe place.

Bluey.
 
If you have your own private collection behind glass, and you play with them everyonce in a while (behind closed doors) and you keep your nose clean you won't have any problems and incase of some police thingy (buglary, were they have to come in) just put a blanket on the case and put some boxes infront of it. And you will never have a problem and if they do find out it will probably just be a slap on the wrist.

But if you ever even been charged, well kiss good bye to even that option.
 
Hey,Andrew! I beleive you hit on it.....make your own!!!And as for moving here,come on up! I seriously considered moving to New Zealand back in '84.The company I worked for was closing the plant I worked at.They guaranteed me a job in N.Z.,at one of their sheep operations.The company was Wilson Foods.I would have carried 5 yrs. seniority with me but would have had to bump someone out of a job. Not the nicest thing to do.If I had no other way to feed my family I would have seriously considered it.Back to knives--it sounds like your ground is slipping pretty fast.And I thought our antis were bad!Next your govt. is gonna outlaw sex, and THEN,....Have a g'day,guy!
 
Well actually, I just had a very good experience at importing knives into Australia. I'm in Melbourne. I first checked the customs regulations (schedules 1 and 2) and made sure they were legal.They were. No wooden handles and they come with "high quality" (ie highly processed) leather sheaths, so no quarantine worries. Off to Bladeart.com and chose two John Grecos (companion cub and MST)and they were at my door six working days later. To avoid duties etc it is helpful to choose brands that are not available in Australia so no competing with local industry.
They came through customs and quarantine without any problem. Customs also have an email address where you can send them a picture of what you want and they will give their opinion. My next project is possibly a Strider MFS and customs have said it is OK. So its been pretty successful so far.
 
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