Folding knife into Canada from States question

L

lightweight

Joined
Apr 3, 2002
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207
So, I'm hoping to get small sebenza soon but am worried about customs. I don't want to spend alot of money on a folder to have it confiscated at the border. Canada's laws on forbidden weapons are flaky so I thought I'd ask for other peoples opinions and experiences(I have not ordered from the states).

Any fellow Canadians out there have good/bad experiences ordering from the States???
:( :( :(
 
Never had a problem importing from the States, but you will get dinged customs handling charges and tax. If you can find someone to send it to you as a 'gift' from the US that will save some $, which may help considering the state of the Canadian peso at present. Or try buying via ebay, something I haven't done but others can comment on.
 
I've imported two folders from the States into Canada without difficulty. As far as I know, there is nothing in the properties of the Sbenza which run afoul of the prohibited weapons laws. As for duties and the poor exchange rate - can't help you there. Enjoy your knife.

RogerP
 
You will have no trouble bringing a small Sebenza up from the States. It is not classified as a prohibited weopon and I have never heard of one being confiscated. Maybe a Customs guy will really like it and keep it, but that is about the only problem you might run across.
 
It is possible, but not likely, that it could get taken if someone decides to go after it because of inertial opening which is not legal in Canada, though any hardware store will stock such blades. Some people can do this very well and can snap open almost anything. It is a moronic law, but a law which is enforced on occasion. On all folders, if possible, get the sender to tighten the action as much as possible before sending so it is as stiff as it can be.

-Cliff
 
The tension on a Sebenza is not adjustable. The pivot screw is meant to be tightened all the way down. Tension is "built in" by means of a waved bronze bushing. Good luck with the Sebby!:)
 
I don't know what things are like in Canada now, but I was subjected to a random search at the border in BC about 15 years ago. They went through my whole car and I had a double-edged dagger laying on my back seat - it was black and as lethal looking as a knife can be - but the customs guys didn't even bat an eyelash. To this day I don't know if they let it slide because it was legal, because I was in the military, or because they just didn't think it was worth bothering over.
 
lightweight:

I have ordered twice from the States (2 benchmade folders from Skylands Cutlery) and have never had a problem. Aslo, I have gotten a folding knife in a trade from the states, and hadn't had a problem. Odds are the only problem you'd have is waiting for the knife, as mail across the border is much slower these days. Pahl has sent me the Razor's Edge sharpening video to borrow, and I think it has been a bit over a week already. I suspect it will take 2 weeks to get here, when before 9/11 it would probably have been here by now.

Torz:

Double edged dagegrs aren't prohibited in Canada at all. Besides, I bet they were looking for guns and drugs.
 
they tried to confiscate my minitask last year, but I got it back (after a fight). Last week I got my S2K without a glitch... what a beauty! still can't wipe the grin off my face.
 
All I can say is, take your chances...I've had many knives make it across the line...all legal. But they took my Sifu. They managed to "flick" it open. They deemed it to be a prohibited weapon based on the fact that it can be opened by one hand with the aid of centrifugal force. Perfectly legal blade and maybe if someone had tighted the pivot screw, I would received the knife. Would the Sebenza make it across the line? I think there is still a real possibility that customs will consider it illegal.

Customs is merely interpreting the law and applying to what they find in the mail. One customs agent will consider one knife legal, the next agent will decide that the same knife is not. <shrug> What can you do? Not a hell of lot unless you enjoy going through the appeal process.

The only sure thing are fixed blades, with the exceptions of trench knives and such. At least the odds are even better for fixed for getting across the line.

I don't want to scare you since the odds are good that you will get your knife...but it's not a guarantee. If you want a guarantee, buy a toaster!

Burton (still without a Sifu)
 
I have received a number of knives from the US with no problem (apart from Canada cu$tom$). I usually get them shipped to me in the US, as I am there on business regularly, and then bring/carry them across legally.
 
Over the past couple of years I've imported close to 100 knives into Canada from the States.Never any problems except it can sometimes take up to six weeks.:D
 
send a knife down and up... no problems.
Mainly they're looking for autos and butterflies.
If you're unlucky and got an a$$ for customs, then bad luck.....
 
I have had quite a few knives come in from the U.S. and have never had a problem.Have the pivot tighten a bit if possible and I ask to have it declared as a handtool for customs.
Good luck
 
Thanks for more replies. I actually had ordered a folding knife from the states(straight-edged Vision), but it slipped my mind. Well, I got it today so I'm happy, minus the 50 bucks c.o.d. of course:barf:
I'm still looking for a sebenza in Canada before I order from the states though.

Thanks again
 
TorzJohnson,

A double edged dagger is not prohibited by law in Canada. You can carry one unconcealed (ie: in a sheath on your belt), but be aware of what constitutes a "public meeting" (still looking for a good definition of this, HJK posted some info but I can't find it.)

Pierre
 
Originally posted by Rubber Ducky
.... You can carry one unconcealed (ie: in a sheath on your belt)....
Pierre
Click to expand...

A quick question about when a knife is concealed and when it is unconcealed, as it applies to Canada: suppose I want to wear a small fixed blade to open video shipping boxes in a sheath on my belt while wearing a lightweight summer windbreaker, unzipped. Do I have to stuff the hem of the jacket behind the knife handle so that the knife is in the open all the time? Say I wear the jacket over the handle and only the bottom of the sheath is exposed? Suppose the open jacket covers the knife and sheath when I walk with the wind behind me (concealed), but when I walk into the wind it blows my jacket open and the knife is completely unconcealed? I know this sounds a bit silly, but what's the answer? (leaving intent, time of day, etc. out of it.)
 
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