Postmaster

Walt2

Walt2

Joined
Mar 13, 2001
Messages
1,157
Have any of you ever been told that it is illegal to ship a knife through the postal service?
 
No. I don't think I've ever heard such a claim. However, be very careful about putting something on the box that identifies the contents as a knife, and make sure it is insured for an appropriate amount. Sometimes things disappear in the mail.

I did receive a package one day that I had to pick up from the post office. The postman got the package, looked at the "from" label, took a second , more concerned look, and then asked me, "are you sure you want to take delivery of the package?" while showing me that label.

It was one of those infamous knife scribes from a while back, and the name on the "from" label was "J T Knives".

Some people act funny around things with sharp edges. :D

Of course my response was, "Heck yeah I do!! Do you know how long I've been waiting for this thing?!?!" :D ;)

--nathan
 
It is not illegal to ship sharp shiny objects through the mail. Speaking as a former postmaster myself. :)

The post office is only supposed to ask if there is anything hazardous in the sealed box. You do not have to specify the contents. If it's illegal and you get caught because chemicals leak or poisonous snakes escape, then you're in trouble. Knives are cool.

We do live in an increasingly hoplophobic society. We deal with seemingly normal people who begin to sweat when they hear the word "knife". Remain calm, don't feed their fear. :D
 
Well said Esav!!!

I've been shipping knives through the PO for 20 years and never had a problem. 20,000+ lbs of W2 also. :eek::D
 
The reason I asked this question is that a local postmaster told one of my customers, who was going to ship a knife to a relative in Georgia, that it was against federal law to ship a knife through the mail and that if it was detected with xray, the knife would be confiscated and the shipper fined.. I am not sure how the postmaster knew what was in the package. I have been doing it for about 9 years and this is the first time I had heard of it. Thanks for the replies.
 
Many people are busybody bastids who feel they know more than you do despite never having read the regulations.
They all seem to work at my local post offices

I like to read the regulations and keep a copy in the car in case there is a possibility of dispute.

They may have no right to search your package, but that won't stop them.



Read the regs and know them.
No problems on knives - except automatics.

If you can't politely get them to see it your way, It's easier to find a different post office, than to deal with a blowhard know it all dumbass.





http://pe.usps.gov/text/pub52/welcome.htm
http://pe.usps.gov/text/pub52/pub52c4_015.htm
443 Packaging and Marking
443.1 General

"All sharp–pointed or sharp–edged instruments such as knives, tools, ice picks, razor blades, etc.,

must be securely packaged in a strong container as required in DMM 601.1–8.

Sufficient cushioning material must be used to protect the sharp points and edges from cutting through the outer packaging during normal Postal Service handling."


DMM 601.1–8.
http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/601.htm#1064805


Sharp-pointed or sharp-edged instruments such as knives, tools, ice picks, and razor blades, that are otherwise mailable,
must be wrapped to protect their points and edges from cutting through the outer carton in which they are mailed.
 
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Bam. I'd think that pretty well defines it.

I had a lady at the PO desk start to tell me I couldn't ship a knife once, but she apparently thought better of it while she was speaking, as she self-corrected that nevermind, it was OK.

I hear people have problems occasionally selling knives using PayPal, that's another hurdle I've never encountered. I put "hunting knife, etc..." on my invoices all the time. No problems.
 
I was in a peculiar position. The American Museum of Natural History was my biggest customer. They got mail from around the world, including biological specimens, some live, some ... not. We knew what was legal, and what was not worth worrying about. :)
 
Yes,I was told that very thing by the postmaster here in Joshua(rinkydinktown)Texas.We are friends as im a regular and know them all very well.Its not an issue as long as i dont say knife or write knife on any paperwork.She (the postmaster)is a rules stickler and showed me in the book where knives can be shipped only by qualified licensed dealers or some crap like that i dont recall.So my paperwork for overseas shipping says camp tool now and everyone is happy.
 
Seals said:
Yes,I was told that very thing by the postmaster here in Joshua(rinkydinktown)Texas.We are friends as im a regular and know them all very well.Its not an issue as long as i dont say knife or write knife on any paperwork.She (the postmaster)is a rules stickler and showed me in the book where knives can be shipped only by qualified licensed dealers or some crap like that i dont recall.So my paperwork for overseas shipping says camp tool now and everyone is happy.
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Your Postmaster is reading the rules wrong. But if she thinks she's right, maybe better not to argue. ;)
 
Your postmaster is reading the rules for shipping automatic knives and thinking they apply to all knives.
 
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