Shipping pocket knives USPS illegal

[tirod3]

When shipping politically incorrect tools the best policy is to use the initials of the company, or a non-descript like "Customer Service Dept." This avoids the problem to begin with, and seems to be the policy used by most firearms shippers these days.

It also give the package a low profile - missing shipments, stolen items, and a department known as the Postal Police, plus all the view ports on the sorting floor, have given me an idea that some employees actually misdirect mail for their own personal profit. And USPS isn't alone in that problem.

Kinda like declaring you have thousands of dollars worth of custom knives in your luggage, and watching the baggage handlers chortle with glee as your bags disappear forever on the belt . . .

 

[MikeH]

Not only does my local post office know that I ship and receive knives regularly, but my lady mail carrier gets out of her car and carries the package to my front door because she knows I receive valuable collector knives.

 

[colubrid]

Not only does my local post office know that I ship and receive knives regularly, but my lady mail carrier gets out of her car and carries the package to my front door because she knows I receive valuable collector knives.

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Acyually I had the same thing when shipping other politically incorrect things.

I have a hobby for breeding small colubrid (N. Amercian snakes) . I used the post office in my area for many years to ship Overnight express and they knowingly accpeted my packages with live harlmess reptles. My mail carrier also walked over to my door and asked to see what I got when i received shipments of snakes.

However this did not mean it wasn't illegal to ship small snakes. Even though nobody reported it ,I made thousands of trips to the post office and that lasted over 10 years. It was illegal! Today i only use Fed Ex for shipping my snakes. The cost is double but I pass that on to my customers. .


My local post office thought it was okay to ship snakes because i started shipping back in 1990 and since i was in there so many times and all throughout the year, they were used to seeing my face and my boxes of same size ect... (Snakes are similar to knifes and ignorant people lump them togther and find them offensive, no matter how small or harmless they are, it is STILL A SNAKE!) Last i checked the post office does allow shipments of lizards and tortoises, just not snakes .

Same goes with knives, a knife is a WEAPON. The airport security considers a small classic SAK a WEAPON. People think knife, they think WEAPON. People think snake , they think VENEMOUS. It all depends on what crowd you run with.

I am heading down to my post office and will ask if I can take a snapshot of the poster with the pocket knife and the wording next to it. I doubt they will allow but I will try.

Here is a pic of a Reptile expo. Looks similar to the Blade expo, huh!

 

[JD Mandrell]

I am heading down to my post office and will ask if I can take a snapshot of the poster with the pocket knife and the wording next to it. I doubt they will allow but I will try.

It's a document that has to do with government regulation, it was printed on paper you paid for, tell them you want a copy.

 

[colubrid]

It's a document that has to do with government regulation, it was printed on paper you paid for, tell them you want a copy.

Okay I will tell them that if they refuse me snapping a pic..

 

[Josh K]

Okay I will tell them that if they refuse me snapping a pic..

Why would they refuse?

This is BS. I've shipped knives everywhere, with and without insurance, with no problems whatsoever. Just because you want the knife sharpened or tweaked doesn't mean it's broken and without value.

 

[colubrid]

Why would they refuse?

This is BS. I've shipped knives everywhere, with and without insurance, with no problems whatsoever. Just because you want the knife sharpened or tweaked doesn't mean it's broken and without value.

I argued that same point about the insurance because I was sending a new $175. spyderco that has a loose blade. I was told since it goes back to the factory for repair they will not allow me to insure it. They said it is considered broken and they do not insure a broken item for true value...or any value..

I argued, beleive me because i don't want to loose a brand new knife.

As far as refusing me a pic...I don't know if pictures are allowed in a the US Post Office. I make sense to me that they will not allow it. Just a hunch, I could be wrong. If it is allowed i will snap shot of everything in there including the Post master. Heck I could even record what she says.

 

[Josh K]

I argued that same point about the insurance because I was sending a new $175. spyderco that has a loose blade. I was told since it goes back to the factory for repair they will not allow me to insure it. They said it is considered broken and they do not insure a broken item for true value...or any value..

I argued, beleive me because i don't want to loose a brand new knife.

Take the knife and walk out the door. The point of insurance is to insure it's value to you. Not what it's worth to them. It's not like you can scam them or anything, I mean unless they lose it or break it, in which case it's their fault.

 

[colubrid]

So my point is it's not what you can get away with, but is it illegal, against policy, rules or whatever. I am sure no one will get in trouble for shipping a knife but the laws or rules are what they are. The thing that bothers me is the insurance thing, were if a blade is not allowed to be shipped they certainly will not cover it. Has anyone ever collected on a lost knife that they had insured through the USPS???

 

[Josh K]

So my point is it's not what you can get away with, but is it illegal, against policy, rules or whatever. I am sure no one will get in trouble for shipping a knife but the laws or rules are what they are. The thing that bothers me is the insurance thing, were if a blade is not allowed to be shipped they certainly will not cover it. Has anyone ever collected on a lost knife that they had insured through the USPS???

People have, I personally haven't. It's not against the rules or policy. I've (and others) have shipped knives to everywhere. The only one I didn't say, "Hey I'm shipping a knife." was when I was trading away my Microtech Ultratech. Shhh! Don't tell Esav!

 

[colubrid]

People have, I personally haven't. It's not against the rules or policy. I've (and others) have shipped knives to everywhere. The only one I didn't say, "Hey I'm shipping a knife." was when I was trading away my Microtech Ultratech. Shhh! Don't tell Esav!

I hope you are right but whatever that color poster board they had and their refusale to insure was for real. I am looking forward to getting to speak to them again..

 

[Mike Carter Custom Knives]

This is from the official USPS website: See http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/posters/pos138/pos138_back.html

Restricted Matter Type Common Examples Domestic International Domestic Mail Maximum Amount Permitted in Mail Additional Information
Air Surface DMM Pub 52
Firearms Handguns (concealable firearms) N* N* N* 601.11.1 43 601.11.1 Except between authorized parties; international mail subject to ICL restrictions/ prohibitions. No content markings on outside of mail piece are permitted.

Rifles, antique guns (unloaded) Y Y Y 601.11.2
601.11.3 43 601.11.2/
601.11.3 No content markings on outside of mail piece are permitted.

Sharp instruments Knives, razors, switchblades Y Y Y 601.11.5 44 601.11.5 Only if sent between authorized parties. International mail subject to ICL restrictions/ prohibitions.

It clearly states that knives may be sent between "authorized parties" but I have yet to find thier definition on an authorized party.

 

[colubrid]

It clearly states that knives may be sent between "authorized parties" but I have yet to find thier definition on an authorized party.

I already answered that. I asked what "authorized party" meant and then she called over the postmaster. the Postmaster said manufacturers. Or if i send a knife back to the maunufacturer. That is why my package was allowed. but with no insurance.

I have sent handguns using my FFL at the post office back to the manufacturer. My FFL knows the postmaster and called him in advance for me to deliver the gun FOR HIM at the post office. So authorized as it pertains to guns also means by an FFL to a munufacturer or another FFL. As long as it goes priority. Otherwise sending handguns to an FFL by a private individual is only allowed through Fed Ex and overnight delivery. NOT thorough post office.

I will ask all the same questions when i go. i will be back soon with answers.

 

[Mike Carter Custom Knives]

More from USPS Website:

44 Knives and Sharp Instruments
441 Definitions
441.1 General
Sharp instruments include all sharp–pointed or sharp–edged implements such as knives, tools, ice picks, razor blades, stilettos, or similar devices. When uncertain about the mailability of a sharp instrument or a switchblade knife, a ruling may be requested from the local postmaster (see 215.3).

441.2 Switchblade Knife
A switchblade knife has a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle, or by operation of inertia, gravity, or both.

215.3 Restricted Matter or Perishable Matter
To obtain a ruling on the mailability of restricted or perishable matter, a mailer should provide the mailing office with following:

Detailed description of the restricted or perishable matter.
Special precautions necessary to permit handling without harm to Postal Service employees or damage to property.
Proposed method of packaging.
Explanation of any local, state, or federal regulations that apply to shipping such matter.
Quantity per mailpiece and per mailing, frequency of mailing, and post office(s) of mailing.
When information about restricted or perishable matter is insufficient to make a mailability determination, or when there is doubt about the mailability of a particular item, contact the PCSC.

 

[Psychopomp]

When shipping politically incorrect tools the best policy is to use the initials of the company, or a non-descript like "Customer Service Dept."

What's a politically incorrect tool? A hammer that doesn't like black folk?

Most companies suggest you use the initials not because of your little sheeple, but to keep people from stealing what's inside.

 

[jujigatame]

Yes there is another post office i could use but it really doesn't matter if I use this one.

I was going to suggest the next time you have a knife to ship, and it were addressed in such a way as to indicate it was knives or cutlery on the outside of the package, that you could take it to an alternate PO and see if you run into the same hassle. If you did then I guess you'd know it's standard for your area. But if not then that could be more ammo for questioning the first PO as to why they seem to have or enforce rules that other offices don't.

 

[colubrid]

Okay I just came back from the post office and IT IS ILLEGAL TO SHIP POCKET KNIVES.

Amazingly so they allowed me to photograph one of their colored charts.. which they say is in all post offices and not just this local office. So it is Federal law.

1) it is illegal to ship pocket knives unless you are the maker or manufactuerer or shipping back to the manufactuere that has to be registered w/usps.

2) they WILL fully prosecute anyone shipping knives found in transit, just like if you were shipping explosives, ammo, guns , hazerdous chemicals, certain animals ect

3) when you go to the postal clerk they ask if you are shipping anything hazerdous. If you say NO, then you LIED to the post office and therefore be prosecuted on a pocket knife. That is where they get you for prosecution. So if they ask if there is anything hazerdous that includes knives.

Since 911 pocket knives has been added to the "restricted list" and is considered to be hazerdous.

4) if you ship a pocket knive with insurance and it is lost they will not cover insurance and your insurance is null and void because you are not supposed to ship a pocket knife.

You can only ship a pocket knife back to a manufacturer that is registered with the US mail. There is a form they must fill out to be registered.

Pics are coming as i am just downloading now.

I asked many questions and probably forgot to cover all of them now. But if anyone has qustions I probably asked them,just cannot remmeber right now. But i do have the answers.

This effect us in many ways. I had the same thing happen when i shipped snakes. It only takes one person to file a complaint that you shipped them a knife through USPS. Lets say i ship a knife that is not in condition that i reperesnted it in. Then the buyer is angry and decides to contact the US postal service and file a complaint to get back at me.. As I recall there is a recent thread here of a person that shipped a knife that was lost in the package. Most of you agreed that the shipper should cover the loss. however the buyer can file a complaint to the postal service . Bad press and bad for our hobby all around.

 

[colubrid]

 

[colubrid]

I also have never had any problems shipping knives through USPS. The only thing they ever ask me about the content of my package is "Is there anything perishable, fragile, or contain dangerous chemicals in here?"

You left out "hazerdous".

 

[Josh K]

If they can't explain what an "authorized party" is then you can ship it to anyone.

Say that since you're returning the BRAND NEW PERFECTLY MADE knife for a REFUND/AND OR EXCHANGE you should be allowed to insure the knife.