Interesting Customs Forms

T

Trixwagen

Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
40
I've received a few knives in the mail and since I live overseas, all my packages require a customs form which must include a "detailed description of contents". Now I've never ordered anything illegal for my area, but I used to be a little concerned that the custom form might cause some problems if it said the package contained an "assault knife" or something along those lines.

Luckily, the folks who ship knives everyday must have figured out how to avoid problems. I've received knives with customs forms that had creative descriptions just as "camping utensils" and "tool set". Those are pretty general descriptions for a knife. A knife is a utensil, one you could take camping, sure. A knife is a tool. A couple of knives must be a tool set.

Anyone else have similar experiences? Next time I hope it's something like "kitchen helper" or "hardware". Just so I'm a little confused until I open the package.
 
"knife " seems to sometimes be an alarm word. I was involved in importing what we would call 'planer knives' these are industrial knives but to eliminate problems we referred to them as 'tooling'.
 
yep...when I lived in Japan, all my orders had the contents described as you stated above and some even just said gift or X-mas presents. :)

never had a problem :cool:
 
When I got my Kydex sheath for my Spydie Fred Perrin from On/Scene Tactical, it was labeled as a "plastic tool holder". Not only is that description 100% accurate, it is also going to draw a lot less attention than a description like "tactical knife sheath". Seems like common sense to me.
 
I was annoyed yesterday. I was sending a sheath I made for an Aussie for a Spyderco Santoku kitchen knife. It was under a pound, which supposedly doesn't need a customs form. The mail attendant said "What's in here" and I didn't know whether to answer or not, so I blurted out "A plastic knife sheath." Her eyes bugged and she said "What?!" I said "A plastic knife sheath." and she said I had to fill out a form for that. Ridiculous. I don't mind filling out the form, but some people are so silly about anything that has to do with "knife." It's probably the only tool that most people on earth will use daily. Dummies.
 
It's a shame. Even reputable knife companies are reduced to using initials in the return address to keep from spooking the idiots all around us -- or tempting the thieves, I guess, too.

We are being nibbled to death by ducks.
 
Esav Benyamin: "We are being nibbled to death by ducks."

Ok, I just about wet myself over that one! -- Both by the absurd image, as well as the unfortunate truth behind it.

Ted
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top