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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: rowdy on Sun, 14 June 2015, 00:35:30

Title: Shipping knives to Australia
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 14 June 2015, 00:35:30

Has anyone had a knife shipped from (probably US) to Australia?

There are some nice pocket knives appearing on Massdrop from time to time, but import laws on anything that might be used as a weapon are a bit silly.

Has anyone been able to import one, and if so, what type of knife was it, and how did you get it through customs?

There is no nefarious purpose here, it is just handy to have a small pocket knife from time to time.

Title: Re: Shipping knives to Australia
Post by: Jokrik on Sun, 14 June 2015, 00:43:25

Might wanna have a look at this
http://www.classicpocketknives.com.au/

This is where I get my pocket knife when I lived in Melby

totally not sure about custom, but they're very strict from what I know. Give them a call maybe?

Title: Re: Shipping knives to Australia
Post by: nubbinator on Sun, 14 June 2015, 01:05:21

Looks like it takes some work sometimes and you may need a permit.

(http://i.imgur.com/xu2NA08.png)

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4369.asp


(http://i.imgur.com/LjObNAM.png)

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4372.asp


So from the current Massdrop buys:

Illegals knives:

• Illegal since the thumb hole makes it a one hand opening knife (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/spyderco-manix-2?mode=guest_open)
• Illegal (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/kershaw-vapor-iii?mode=guest_open) and again illegal since the thumb stud makes it openable with one hand (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/kershaw-leek-knife?mode=guest_open)

Likely legal knives:

• Likely legal since it would probably fall under bowie knife and is fixed blade (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ka-bar-becker-magnum-camp-knife?mode=guest_open), same with this knife (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ka-bar-bk16/talk?mode=guest_open)
• Legal since it's a kukri (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ka-bar-bk4/talk?mode=guest_open)

Not a single one of the folding knives would be allowed to be imported from Massdrop since they all had a thumb stub, thumb hole, or other one handed opening assistance device. It looks like it's easier to just buy a knife in Australia than import one.

Title: Re: Shipping knives to Australia
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 14 June 2015, 05:56:43

Thanks for the links.

I'm somewhat debating whether it is worth the hassle.  If I ever get stopped for anything and they guess I have a bladed weapon, things might not go as smoothly as I might like.

I might contact Classic Pocket Knives (they are in Melbourne!) and see what they say about it.