Shipping a knife to Canada

hotwriter

hotwriter

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I just sold a Strider fixed blade to a fellow Bladeforums member who lives in Canada. I've shipped knives in the US before, but this was my first attempt to do so to Canada. What I learned isn’t good. I didn’t want to use the US Post Office for a Strider. I could get into trouble if they checked.

So I went to UPS. Figured I’d spring for the extra cost to get the guy his knife. I was forced to list the contents of the box as part of my customs declaration. I was originally going to call the contents “a figurine,” but again, if I got caught lying, I could be in a great deal of trouble. So I put “knife.” I was then asked about the nature of the knife. I said it was a “collectable.” Which was fine with them. But, they added, if it was really “a weapon,” it would not only be confiscated but both me and my customer could get into trouble. Well, of course it is a weapon and there is no way either of us was going to convince Customs agents otherwise.

I've asked the buyer if there might be someone in the US to whom I could ship his knife to avoid the Customs hassles. Otherwise I'll need to refund his money. Surely I'm not the first person to encounter this problem. Is there another solution that I may be missing?
 
I don't think that you would have a problem with having the knife confiscated, but there is always the chance. Fixed blades are usually not difficult to import into Canada, but a Strider might raise a Customs Inspector's eyebrows. Is the Strider one of the more hardcore looking models?
 
As far as customs is concerned, a potato peeler could be a weapon. Nothing will change their minds. That said, I have had no trouble with shipping to Canada, or receiving packages from Canada. You provide proof of shipment, once it clears that border, it is up to the mercy of the foreign government.
 
Hey Hotwriter, I get all my knives the the USA and never had problem with customs except once 'cause the seller shipped it UPS wich charges insane fees for I don't know what...other than that I always ask to be shipped USPS wich is a lot cheaper and believe it or not but faster. I ask to send them as a handtool wich is not a lie, cause a knife for bushcraft or a hunter is a tool!!! Cheers
 
moving-van.jpg
 
Gentlemen,

Thank you very much for sharing your experiences and words of wisdom. I'm going to direct my buyer to this thread and let him make the final decision. Unfortunately, I don't know of any friendly-looking Striders. The one I sold is a 9-incher with a 4-inch fixed blade that looks exactly like what it is: a combat knife. It's only saving grace, I suppose, is that it isn't a dagger, an automatic, or, if I understood your comments correctly, a combat folder. It's well-packed in bubble wrap, but if a customs agent unpeels that, well, it is what it is. Once again, many thanks. It is much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Neil
 
Well, for a more "aggressive" looking knife, I don't think the problem will be at the customs, it will be if the guy is cought with it on him.

As said in the thread linked above, except if the handle looks like a brass knuckle, there will be no problem.
 
Sorry to hear about you trouble. I have internet ordered stuff from the US to Canada no problems so far!

I am a Canadian living in BC Canada and have had fixed blades and folders production and custom made knives about 6 times sent to me no problems; they all got to me. Bowie style, BM skirmish, BM Persido etc. Fixed blade sheath knives and manual opening folders arrived within 5 to 10 days. They were shipped UPS and USPS I just pay the customs duty and taxes when they arrive, all is good so far.

Special note, to the best of my knowledge: automatic opening folders, switch blades and push knives cannot be shipped to Canada.

Hope my luck stays good!

Cheers,

SpearZ
 
Hope this doesn't run your thread too far off track, but does anyone have experience with shipping a similar knife to China?
 
Dear Friend,

A few suggestions to ease your burdens.

#1 - List the knife as "camping gear" on the customs forms, which is technically correct and will keep you out of trouble for otherwise lying.

#2 - Tighten the pivot point so that it REQUIRES two hands to open the knife - this seems to be the big sticking point with Canadian Customs.

#3 - Send it USPS Global Priority Mail, Insured. That is the best you can do. There is a 99% chance you will not be hassled. If you use UPS, be prepared for serious hassles.


I have done this a couple of times now with good results. YMMV.

--------
Hannibal
 
Thank you, SpearZ, for actually naming some of the knives you've received. I think my Strider is akin to the knives you've mentioned. The BM Skirmish is a very aggressive-looking knife, too. And, heck, if customs let a Bowie-size knife through, then maybe they aren't as picky as I feared.

On the other hand, sheath maker Eric E. Noeldechen of On/Scene Tactical, who lives in Ontario, made me a couple of really nice sheaths in exchange for a new Spyderco karambit. Now, Eric's business is making sheaths, so he gets plenty of knives from here in the States. Even so, he asked me to have the Spydie sent to a friend of his just across the border to avoid a customs hassle. Not that he expected it, but he felt it was always a possibility.
 
There are actually quite a few Striders that don't look hardcore to me, including the EB series, the MT-10 and Mark 1.

I have imported about a dozen fixed blade knives from the States and have never had a problem. A couple have been 12" bladed bowies with sharpened clips and one was a fighter.
 
Guys, thanks again for allaying my fears, which you've succeeded in doing, and for your great suggestions.

Dr. Lecter, your suggestion about listing the knife as "camping equipment" is brilliant. It isn't a lie, and yet is seems very non-threatening and non-suspicion-arousing. I won't forget that.

Many thanks to everyone.
 
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