importing knives

[uninformed]

Hey all, has anyone recently imported a knife or kinves, specificly a folding knife? If so was there any hassle or forms to fill out. I just did a quick google and will ring customs tomorrow.

cheers
Serg

[Ovadahill]

I tried this about 2 years ago and had it confiscated by customs who declared it a switchblade or flick knife. Apparently you can not import but can purchase from an Australian distributor. :eek:

[uninformed]

I hope there are some exceptions, prices here will be out of control, and Im looking at second hand and discontinued which will mean no chance in Oz

[micksta1973]

you can get a folder through that you have to open with your finger nail, anything classed as assisted opening with a knob, or raised blade that allows you to flick it as it opens is now a problem (single handed knives) this might help, it's about 2 thirds of the way down. prohibited and restricted imports (http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4369.asp#e1066)

[carjunkieanon]

What about fixed blade?

I'd love a Blind Horse Knives Woodsman Pro


(Can't be bothered reading the bumf if someone knows the answer already)

[uninformed]

you can get a folder through that you have to open with your finger nail, anything classed as assisted opening with a knob, or raised blade that allows you to flick it as it opens is now a problem (single handed knives) this might help, it's about 2 thirds of the way down. prohibited and restricted imports (http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4369.asp#e1066)

I think it is a problem. Do you know if there are any aceptions or forms etc. Im looking at Strider folders. I have a Buck Strider SNG that I bought here, I payed 2.5x what it was in the USA at the time :mad:

[Witchdoctor]

I import knives, extremely difficult to import folding knives into Australia.
Armed forces is about it.
Double edge blades are also no go.

Cheers
David

[uninformed]

good god, what has become of this country! Its a simple folder, non seratted edge. I just want a high quality easy to sharpen folder. I carry my Buck folder to work everyday, and it rides in my truck when Im not going to work. Mostly cuts food, but also rope etc.

[RisingSun]

I have bought a number of folding knives with the attached thumb screw, which means you can open it with one hand (big no no in Australia).

All made it through some were opened

[woody]

I've imported quite a few CRKT knives that have a flipper action for fast and easy one handed opening.
One handed opening is essential if you work on rope, as is a serrated edge imho.
I've only tried to import knives that you can obtain over the counter here in Australia though.
The quality of knives and the prices leave a lot to be desired in this country.

woody

[RisingSun]

I had one of my knives held for me when I was in the Brisbane Mags court, and they told me it was illegal with the thumbscrew in. I stated that when working off a highrise crane hanging from a ladder I didn't really want to use 2 hands to open the knife :eek:.
He gave it back upon my exit.
Unless you have a specific need in mind I would recommend the half aerated blade as well, brilliant for cutting rope, zip ties etc.
I was spending the princely sum of about $10 delivered from Canada or the USA as I abuse the knives and they have a small lifespan.

[uninformed]

Thanks guys. Re the serated edge, I have had these in the past on the knives in SOG mulit tools etc. And have a nice Gerber River Resuce double edged blade….I am set up pretty well to shapen normal blades, chisels etc. I have a Tormek wet stone, dimond stones, Japanese wets stones etc. Id prefer to stay with a normal edge.

On another edge related topic, I just found and joined ABF last night, and had my first post deleted as apparently I "highjacked" a thread….I guess there is a first time for everything!

[460cixy]

Serg I use a kershaw folder for all my hunting skinning work and all round knife and its a cracker got it throu snap-on. Who are the abf?

[DoubleChevron]

That's interesting, I was going to order in a SOG multi-tool from ebay.com. The appeal of it is you can open the blade with one hand (spring "assist")..... Usually when I want to use a knife, I'm holding what needs cutting in the other hand... So to get out and fiddle "opening" the leatherman (that's incredibly handy and always on my belt) can be frustrating at times (eg: I'm under the ride on mower trying to untangle what is wrapped around the blades).

Thanks for the heads up, I'll make sure the label the package "multi-tool" not SOG if I get around to buying one.

seeya,
Shane L.

[ugu80]

I recently (about 12 months ago) purchased two "Spyderco" folders from USA and was delivered without problems. They have a hole instead of thumb knobs or such and I believe that gets them by the regs.
:: Spyderco :: (http://www.spyderco.com/)

[uninformed]

I think those that get the one hand opening folders through are just lucky. I spent most of last night and this morning searching the web, you tube etc. It now appears any one hand opener is not legal to be imported.

Im starting to get that feeling of paranoia….who is trying to control us and why :(

[DoubleChevron]

I dont' think I'm even allowed by law to carry a leatherman with me, or any knife of any sort... I've always carried a pocket knife ... I don't see the big deal. My grandfather carried one his whole life too ... It wasn't a big deal back then ( No-one including the police cared about the rifle and shotgun under the back seat of his 4wd either .... Back then it probably would have been odd not to find a knife and .22 in most 4wds).

I think there trying to cut down on the people that feel unsafe carrying knives "for protection"... ie: kids/teenagers/gangs...Which is hilarious in the case of a leatherman. It would take you 30seconds to get the blade out. Dunno about you, but any fight I find myself in would be well and truly over within 30seconds. So for "self defence" use, there is nothing more useless than this multi-tool.

When we went to parliment house a few years back, we were, um, "surprised" to find that between me an my wife we were carrying 4 knives :eek: :eek: I had my old french knife on my belt my parents bought me years ago, she had a small swiss army knife in her handbag, and we both had little french knifes as our key rings ................ WOOPS!!!

seeya,
Shane L.

[VladTepes]

Wrt imports a distinction needs to be made between what is legal and what may be possible. Obviously customs can't intercept all prohibited items but if you do get caught twice it is almost certain you'll be prosecuted. For the record I haute all this nanny state Bull**** too!

[Ferret]

I dont' think I'm even allowed by law to carry a leatherman with me, or any knife of any sort...

Both my son and daughter have declared and carried knives through Perth airport customs in their 'checkin' baggage. My daughter had a backyard manufactured machete she bought back from Timor as a bit of a souvenir and my son had an assortment of traditional village manufactured knives bought back from Nepal. None of the knives were little ornamental things.

They were simply handed back after inspection with the comment they are not folding knives and they are not doubled edged knives. I guess by implication you can possess and carry such things otherwise I don't understand how they would have been allowed to enter the public spaces of the airport.

[UncleHo]

From memory,if a folding blade knife is carried in a sheaf attached to ones trouser belt it is legal to carry it,(Swiss army knife types) but if same that knife is unsheaved in one's pocket it is then illegal.

[uninformed]

we all know that folding Knives and their owners are the most dangerous, pond scum on the planet.

I should probably hand myself in for distruction...

[ugu80]

I recently (about 12 months ago) purchased two "Spyderco" folders from USA and was delivered without problems. They have a hole instead of thumb knobs or such and I believe that gets them by the regs.

Bit further, there is a tension screw for the blade and it was done up so tight that the knives could not be opened one handed. Perhaps a little ploy by the exporter!

[superquag]

For years at work I carried a pocket-knife in a belt-pouch.scabbard. Blade was just under 4 1/2" or whatever was the magical number, but the back edge of the blade protruded enough to make it a one-handed open. Indeed with practice was almost as quick as.... and a possibility for defensive use. (never needed)

Never had a problem back then visiting Perth Airport, though it was sometimes inspected..blade measured...and returned.

Was told by Security ogres that it was legal in blade length (just) and OK to wear it externally & in full view, or inside a clearly visible (external) knife-pouch.

Carrying my Swiss Army pocket-knife, in a pocket...constitutes 'Concealed Carrying'.

Said Swiss multi-tool lives on a belt-clip.:D

Some years ago we had the ridiculous situation of a young bloke carrying a machete inside a bag/backpack/whatever whilst in an 'Entertainment Precinct' or nightclub strip. For some reason the Coppers stopped and searched him, and was subsequently charged.
The idiotic magistrate let him off 'cos the machete was'nt being waved about, but was INside the bag, so nefarious purpose in carrying the harmless item could not be properly inferred.

And the powers-that-be wonder why Reasonable Men have little respect for the rule of Law...

Edit: Copper who was in the know once told me that nearly every knife-caused homicide was the result of a domestic, usually 'family' and the weapons of choice were more often than not...one of the kitchen knives. Almost "never" a hunting or weapon-style knife, even if owned by the villain.
This statistic is headed for change with the rise in ethnic gangs amongst certain recent immigrant populations...

[woody]

I inquired with the local copper a while back about carrying a folding knife or multitool on me whilst out and about or going to and from work.
His reply was;

section 69: Going armed so as to cause fear
(1) Any person who goes armed in public without lawful occasion in such a manner as to cause fear to any person is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable to imprisonment for 2 years.
(2) The offender may be, and it is hereby declared that the offender always was liable to be, arrested without warrant.

He went on further to qualify this by saying if arrested;

The prosecution must prove that the defendant:

1. Went armed:
2. In public
3. In such a manner as to cause fear to (a person or persons).
4. Without lawful occasion.


After he offered this information he gave me the third degree on why I should be carrying any sort of knife. After giving about half a dozen valid reasons he finished off with the cautionary advice to declare the knife to the police officer should they have a need to search you.


woody

[DoubleChevron]

I inquired with the local copper a while back about carrying a folding knife or multitool on me whilst out and about or going to and from work.
His reply was;

section 69: Going armed so as to cause fear
(1) Any person who goes armed in public without lawful occasion in such a manner as to cause fear to any person is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable to imprisonment for 2 years.
(2) The offender may be, and it is hereby declared that the offender always was liable to be, arrested without warrant.

He went on further to qualify this by saying if arrested;

The prosecution must prove that the defendant:

1. Went armed:
2. In public
3. In such a manner as to cause fear to (a person or persons).
4. Without lawful occasion.


After he offered this information he gave me the third degree on why I should be carrying any sort of knife. After giving about half a dozen valid reasons he finished off with the cautionary advice to declare the knife to the police officer should they have a need to search you.


woody

Interesting, I"ve probably carried a pocket knife since I was 10years old.... The last 5years I've carried a leatherman on my belt (I always thought multi-tools were a **** until my wife got me one as a present ... I use the damn thing all the time 'cos it's always there on my belt).

I've snapped most of the screwdrivers off over the years and was going to replace it with a SOG multi-tool as you can get the blade out with one hand... Then I found this thread and realised I'd never be able to import one :( ... Then I looked on ebay and found there available locally :eek: :eek: :eek:

SOG S66L Power Assist Multi Tool Leather Sheath | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SOG-S66L-Power-Assist-Multi-Tool-Leather-Sheath-/181188896591?pt=AU_KnivesSwords&hash=item2a2fb3274f&_uhb=1)

Get one while you can... There's no way they'll get another batch of them into the country!

seeya,
Shane L.

[3 Lions]

Interesting, I"ve probably carried a pocket knife since I was 10years old.... The last 5years I've carried a leatherman on my belt (I always thought multi-tools were a **** until my wife got me one as a present ... I use the damn thing all the time 'cos it's always there on my belt).

I've snapped most of the screwdrivers off over the years and was going to replace it with a SOG multi-tool as you can get the blade out with one hand... Then I found this thread and realised I'd never be able to import one :( ... Then I looked on ebay and found there available locally :eek: :eek: :eek:

SOG S66L Power Assist Multi Tool Leather Sheath | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SOG-S66L-Power-Assist-Multi-Tool-Leather-Sheath-/181188896591?pt=AU_KnivesSwords&hash=item2a2fb3274f&_uhb=1)

Get one while you can... There's no way they'll get another batch of them into the country!

seeya,
Shane L.

Just had a look at these. Whats the difference between these and a Leatherman, which you can buy off the shelf in plenty of shops here?

I have a Gerber multitool which I bought for bugger all in an American PX store in Rhiendahlen, Germany many years ago.

[DoubleChevron]

Just had a look at these. Whats the difference between these and a Leatherman, which you can buy off the shelf in plenty of shops here?

I have a Gerber multitool which I bought for bugger all in an American PX store in Rhiendahlen, Germany many years ago.

Not a lot there both nice... Neither is legal in Australia (as the leatherman with the external blade has a thumb knob) ... the SOG also has a "assist" spring too. The compound jaws on the SOG is a brilliant idea, the "geared" jaw also allows you to flick it open with one hand which is handy if your holding what you want to squeeze with the other hand ... however the negative is it's bigger and heavier.

Other than the screwdrivers I've snapped on my leatherman it's as good and unworn as the day I got it about 5years ago...It's been worn and used every single day on my belt. I'll try to be gentler with SOG and not use the screwdrivers as levers :wasntme: Good quality steel is very hard and snaps rather than bends.

I haven't tried the Gerber, but I think there all very good, which you'd prefer is probably down to personal choice. I really like the fact you can deploy the blades with one hand... this fact also makes it illegal... This I couldn't give two ****s about though :angel: Soon they'll make breathing illegal unless you can prove you need to :rolleyes:

seeya,
shane L.

[Ratel10mm]

Ok, firstly what Customs want to believe is the law, and what is the law, are not necessarily the same thing. Some politically minded people in the organisation have chosen to interpret the laws in order to seize more imports. Whether or not you feel this is a good thing ( fewer knives in the hands of scrotes, is the theory) or a bad thing (Customs seize your rare, highly collectible & eye-wateringly expensive Sebenza, Spyderco, Benchmade Gold etc. etc. that was never going to be used for anything more than slicing a sheet of paper - if that) is up to you to decide.
Secondly, the law varies from state to state. You need to be sure that you know what the law is where you live.
Contacting Customs before importing, IN WRITING, can be a godsend. If you have an email or letter from X stating the item is ok, but Y on duty decides it isn't, you have the ammo you need to appeal & get your item.
REMEMBER, Customs has thousands of employees, they don't know everything, can & do interpret the guidelines to suit their promotional prospects or personal prejudices (or sometimes have no idea of the guidelines, just think no-one in Oz can. Entrusted with this WMD). However, there are also plenty of good people in the organisation. Some collect &/or use bladed tools themselves. It's the luck of the draw if the person inspecting your parcel is 'one of us'; 'indifferent'; or 'hostile'.
Make sure you know what you're buying. I took part in a group buy on British Blades a couple of years ago & didn't realise that the knife was an AO. Silly me. Customs inspected that one & I got the threatening "you're on our watch list, buddy" letter.
Oh well, we live & learn. Next time that GB was run I asked for & got the fully manual version.
As far as the Police are concerned, my experience has been that if you don't look & act like a scrote, bogan or bikie you are hugely unlikely to be bothered.
I used to spend most of my working time in cop shops, watch houses & Numinbah Farm. I usually have a small Swiss Army knife on my keys, a swisstool on my belt, and some form of one handed opening knife in my pocket (for when I'm up a ladder or something & would rather keep three points of contact, for e.g.). Obviously in certain scenarios & areas this would not have been the case.
Not one of the staff EVER mentioned this. Even when using the tool under their gaze.
I believe the important thing here is your attitude - if a knife is a tool, no worries. If it's a weapon first, here's the cuffs!
There are a few knife fora of which I'm a member. Australian Blade Forums (ABF) is our local one. Allows some swearing (in an everyday Aussie sort of context) but is an excellent resource & like here, mostly very good people.
I'd recommend joining ABF to get the low down on importing blade tools.
British Blades is one of the best blade tool forums around. In recent years they've relaxed their rules a bit. Light swearing is allowed - offensive language is not. BB sees itself as. Dry much a family friendly forum. Just like AULRO, except slightly naughty words are allowed.
If you pop up on either, say hi! :)

[VladTepes]

Ok, firstly what Customs want to believe is the law, and what is the law, are not necessarily the same thing.

In fact much of the guidance that Customs uses in applying the legislation comes from the AFP / Attorney Generals department. I am not aware of any unilateral decisions that Customs have made in relation to knife or firearm imports.



Some politically minded people in the organisation have chosen to interpret the laws in order to seize more imports.


Umm, no. There are no perfrmance bonuses or awards or recognition for seizing more stuff. It just makes more paperwork and despite the common cliche, public servants hate paparwork as much as anyone else.




Secondly, the law varies from state to state. You need to be sure that you know what the law is where you live.


Very true !



Contacting Customs before importing, IN WRITING, can be a godsend. If you have an email or letter from X stating the item is ok, but Y on duty decides it isn't, you have the ammo you need to appeal & get your item.


Written info is always better than "but I was told...."



REMEMBER, Customs has thousands of employees, they don't know everything,


You've hit the nail on the head here. Customs officers enforce many many many various Acts and Regulations and it is impossible for any person to be familiar with the vagaries of all of them ! Obviously MOST officers will be across the things they see a lot of on a regular basis - it's the ones which pop up more rarely which can be problematic.



... can & do interpret the guidelines to suit their promotional prospects


rubbish,as noted earlier



or personal prejudices (or sometimes have no idea of the guidelines, just think no-one in Oz can. Entrusted with this WMD).


Yes a persons actions may potentially be clouded, even subconsciously, by personal opinion. This applies equally to officers and importers, advocates or antis.



However, there are also plenty of good people in the organisation.


Damn straight.



Some collect &/or use bladed tools themselves.


Yep. :)



It's the luck of the draw if the person inspecting your parcel is 'one of us'; 'indifferent'; or 'hostile'.


Indeed, as with encounters with police when riding a motorbike etc etc



Make sure you know what you're buying. I took part in a group buy on British Blades a couple of years ago & didn't realise that the knife was an AO. Silly me. Customs inspected that one & I got the threatening "you're on our watch list, buddy" letter.
Oh well, we live & learn.


Good advice. Often things on the internet are misdescribed. An example would be the 1 mW limit on laser pointers (another IMHO silly rule). Many people purchase pointers off ebay from China labelled as 1mW but are in fact many times that output. Just be aware this kind of thing can happen.



I believe the important thing here is your attitude - if a knife is a tool, no worries. If it's a weapon first, here's the cuffs!


An idealist! But yeah I think most of us on AULRO would share that view. Or at least I would hope so. Whether the softies in the media have conditioned the general commmunity to a different way of thinking though.. that is the question.




There are a few knife fora of which I'm a member. Australian Blade Forums (ABF) is our local one. Allows some swearing (in an everyday Aussie sort of context) but is an excellent resource & like here, mostly very good people.
I'd recommend joining ABF to get the low down on importing blade tools.
British Blades is one of the best blade tool forums around.

I agree that forums can be an excellent source of information and assistance (and entertainment). After all we are on one now. But for all the good info on them, there is always the occasional person who is a conspiracy nut or has had a bad experience with authority or whatever and wants the whole world to know how victimised they are... Fortunately they stand out a lot and the 'ignore' function works a treat !



Bon chance !!!