Thread: importing knives

Originally Posted by 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!

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.

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...

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

Originally Posted by 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

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

SOG S66L Power Assist Multi Tool Leather Sheath | eBay

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

seeya,
Shane L.

Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

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

SOG S66L Power Assist Multi Tool Leather Sheath | eBay

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.

Originally Posted by 3 Lions

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 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 Soon they'll make breathing illegal unless you can prove you need to

seeya,
shane L.

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!