Hallo, Manoucher und herzlich willkomen in einem der freundlichsten (und möglicherweise verrücktesten) Foren die ich kenne!
I have read your post at swordforum.com, and the replies from Claudio summed up the legal situation correctly. But just in case, here a link to the complete text of the relavant laws:
http://www.messerforum.net/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=29&t=000001
Again, there are no laws restricting the possession of swords (except for sword-canes, which are illegal) and even carrying swords in public (not at fairs or similar events, though) is legal (at least in theory). I do not know why the customs officials made such a big deal, I never had any bad experiences with them (except for the fact than they suppose me to pay custom duties, but I don't like taxes in general
Normally, I do not even have to contact them, since the postal service is collecting the duties at my door. The only cases I had to go to the office to collect my toys were when they were not appropriately declared. Those guys simply did not know what a Sirupati was, for example. So I had to open the parcel and show it to them. With a quite interesting result, like: Where did you buy this? Do they have a website? May I handle it? (Grrr
I have, however, no idea how to save you future encounters with the customs officials, which, in your case, apparently dont share your love for edged toys.
But, since you have the law on your side, know it and make use of this knowledge (friendly, but firmly). After a (very) short time, they might just accept the laws the way they are.
Beste Grüße,
--[------ anton
oh, here is another link to a site with FAQ's considering weapon laws, put up by the police:
http://www.polizei-mg.de/index800.html
Here is the most important part:
Was ist im Umgang mit Hieb- und Stoßwaffen zu beachten?
Das mit sich führen derartiger Gegenstände ist
nicht erlaubnispflichtig. Verboten ist es, Hieb- und Stoßwaffen bei öffentlichen Veranstaltungen mitzuführen. (....)
Hieb- und Stoßwaffen dürfen nur von Personen erworben werden, die das achtzehnte Lebensjahr vollendet haben.
[This message has been edited by Anton Irmen (edited 05-24-2001).]