Need advice, buying knife from canada

Tacticaltater

Tacticaltater

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hey guys, I recently found a deal on a knife and was planning on buying it but the thing is the guys located in Canada. Would this be ok or should I not buy it. Wasn’t there some new Canadian knife laws that just passed? Has anyone recently done business with Canada? If so how was it and how long does it normally take.
Thanks.
 
Where are you? What kind of knife is it?

Normally the customs agents at the border of recipient country are the ones to worry about.

And for the weather in Canada even though it's cold and snowing the sky is not falling.
 
If you are in the US the Canadian import laws don't effect you, US ones do. I had a package sent to me here in Aus from BC that arrived in 7 days.
 
As already said, since your package is "outbound" from Canada, and "inbound" to the US -- you need to worry about US laws. Without knowing the type of knife, there is nothing much I can add here. As for "how long it takes" - assuming shipped with USPS first class, typically a week to two. Note USPS allows electronic tracking to Canadian bound packages on First Class mail too, so I assume the reciprocal is true as well. Make sure you have a tracking#, the seller declares correct value and description, and assuming the knife is not on the prohibited category, you should be good to go.

I am not an expert on CBP rules and regulations, so what follows is based on experience and experience alone: within reason, a folding knife (modern or traditional) as well as fixed blade knives are perfectly okay from Canada to US. For e.g., if the knife is a modern folder with 3.5" blade, like a Benchmade griptilian, or a ZT 0350 or a Spyderco Sage, I don't see any issue with Customs.
 
It’s a folder with a 3.5 inch blade. Hinderer to be exact. I’m in California also. it seems to be ok receiving s knife but not ok to send it to Canada?
 
Tacticaltater said:
It’s a folder with a 3.5 inch blade. Hinderer to be exact. I’m in California also. it seems to be ok receiving s knife but not ok to send it to Canada?
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It's probably OK to send to Canada too but sometimes the flippers seem to get hung up at the border.

Headed South to you in Cali should be smooth sailing.
 
Tacticaltater said:
Ok, I’m just worried about losing out on the money if something happens.
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...... individual to individual there are never guarantees, international adds a level of complication to this (I have literally imported a couple of hundred blades from the US and Europe) but nothing insurmountable. Nothing is however risk free and you should only venture in space you are comfortable. I never buy something and have it shipped here I can't "afford" to loose. I don't want to of course but none of us should be spending anything that is essentially not just surplus income on such a hobby. If the seller has shipped to the US previously they will know how to pack, mark and ship a package for the best outcomes.
 
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Yeah if not getting something is your key concern. Lost in the mail, scammed, etc. then walking into a brick and mortar store to try in hand and then walk out with can't be beat.

When you do that you can find out if something you'd wanted was really right.
 
...or have him ship Registered to you -- that way if any issue happens in customs, it will go back to him, guaranteed. A bit extra on shipping, but Registered is the way to go on stuff you can't afford to lose...
 
Ask the seller to tighten the blade screw, so it can't be flicked open. Customs will try anything to open it by force to seize it.

DON
 
I had a bad incident with the USPS where I was shipped 2 knives, one of the knives was lost in transit and the other damaged to the point it was unusable. When I filed a claim I was rejected on the grounds the parcel contained "restricted items" even though the packing was clearly labeled. If you use the USPS I would recommend signature upon delivery and should you suspect your knife has been damaged, refuse the package. Insurance is probably only going to do any good should the package get lost.


8.3 Restricted Matter
Restricted matter is an article or substance prohibited or limited by title 18 of the U.S. Code. It also includes matter not otherwise restricted by 18 USC 1716(a) because it may, under conditions encountered in the mail, be injurious to life, health, or property. Examples of the type of restricted matter content moved to Publication 52, chapter 4, include:

  1. Intoxicating liquors.
  2. Firearms.
  3. Knives and sharp instruments.
  4. Liquids, powders and odor-producing materials.
  5. Motor vehicle master keys and locksmithing devices.
  6. Controlled substances and drugs.
  7. Unsolicited promotional samples.
  8. Instruments for use in animal fighting ventures.
  9. Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.
 
Slim278 said:
I had a bad incident with the USPS where I was shipped 2 knives, one of the knives was lost in transit and the other damaged to the point it was unusable. When I filed a claim I was rejected on the grounds the parcel contained "restricted items" even though the packing was clearly labeled. If you use the USPS I would recommend signature upon delivery and should you suspect your knife has been damaged, refuse the package. Insurance is probably only going to do any good should the package get lost.


8.3 Restricted Matter
Restricted matter is an article or substance prohibited or limited by title 18 of the U.S. Code. It also includes matter not otherwise restricted by 18 USC 1716(a) because it may, under conditions encountered in the mail, be injurious to life, health, or property. Examples of the type of restricted matter content moved to Publication 52, chapter 4, include:

  1. Intoxicating liquors.
  2. Firearms.
  3. Knives and sharp instruments.
  4. Liquids, powders and odor-producing materials.
  5. Motor vehicle master keys and locksmithing devices.
  6. Controlled substances and drugs.
  7. Unsolicited promotional samples.
  8. Instruments for use in animal fighting ventures.
  9. Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.
Click to expand...

Can you provide reference to this? I could not find this information on their online rulebook. The closest I came to was https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_015.htm, which indicates knives can be mailed (that is how most dealers cam ship USPS). Thanks.
 
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