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Knives and international travel

Odysseus

Odysseus

Joined
Jun 21, 2001
Messages
50
I am planning a trip out to Ukraine and Russia this summer and was wondering if we had any friends to this forum over there or experienced travelers who could tell me if customs made a big deal about knives in checked baggage (namely my Mini Commander), and if it was going to pose a problem with local law enforcement if it is spotted.
 
Hi Odysseus,

Sorry, I have no information on that, but your thread brings up some other questions. My intent on my next trip out of country is to get an unserrated mini 7A to carry. My assumption is that it is going to be as solid as my 7b and the blade style is about as innocuous as one can reasonably expect. The one thing that bothers me is that in some countries (the uk for instance???) apparently have made locking blades illegal. It would be nice to know which ones these are. My response to this, for purposes of getting the knife past customs would be to:

1) drill a small hole through the scale and liner lock, and tap the hole in the lock.

2) when going into a country where a lock might be an issue, run the screw into the liner to permanently unlock it, then tighten the screw on the blade to make it into a "friction folder". Once past customs, one could then remove the screw and slot it back into one of the spare clip holes.

My question is, would this pass inspection or not? One could easily argue "this is how I got the knife" and leave it at that.

Just a thought.

Clinton
 
Between Grade 11 and Grade 12, I took a year off and went to a Folkehogskole (Folk High School) in Norway. When packing for the trip, I brought over a Buck fixed blade hunter and a small folding knife, but agonized over how to pack it. I decided finally to stick it right on top of my clothes in plain sight in the suitcase, to appear "honest".

So, I fly into Oslo, go through customs, they look at my papers and ask to open the luggage. They pop it open, take a look, smile and close it up again and wish me a good day.

Two weekends after school started, we went up into the Jutenheim mountains for a weekend trip. About half of the kids wore these huge 8-12" long Lapp knives, usually also with a shorter knife as well. In retrospect, the customs guy probably thought my fixed blade was a tad small to be useful...:D

Clinton
 
Clinton,
I am also considering a Mini-7A. I would hope that a good knife is essential to life in Eastern Europe and Asia (will be getting over to Siberia as well). Life is not so sedentary as it is here, therefore they don't have the time to develop fears of knives the way some Americans do. One never knows. This thread should develop as I do research.

Stay tuned!
Same Bat-Site!
 
I'd say, worst case scenario, by yourself a knife once you get over there. You might be able to find some interesting locally made things...I could be talkin out my @ss, but it might be easier. My wife and I are planning on going with some friends to Ireland...I'll be damned if I don't take some sort of knife with me.

By the way, anyone on here live in Wales? I've got some questions.

Ted
 
Odysseus,

You will have no problem with carrying locking type blades out / in to the US or the UK as I did this last October. The only condition is that they are in your checked luggage only.

Universible,

I don't live in Wales, but go there each year. Anything I can help with ?
 
What questions do you have about Wales?

Regards,

Ed
Ps Bring your own Wellies....
 
Hi, maybe I can be of some assistance. When I was a junior in HS I went on an exchange trip to Moscow for 3 weeks. I was not a knife knut then but have always liked knives. You can get a lot of cheap autos over there. I piked up a front opener and a Italian Stiletto looking side opener as well as a mini Ka-Bar letter opener and a bottle opener that unscrews with a slim 3" blade. I put all of them in in my checked bad and had no problems bringing them back into the country. Similarly I took a medium Opinel over there in checked baggage and had no problems. However one thing to keep in mind is that cops are not that nice over there. If you get harassed by a cop be prepared to lose your blade and pay the cop for his troubles. So don't go taking your best customs. Hope I helped.
 
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