Yep, the velvet glove over the gauntlet. Everything is better if you can avoid an issue becoming a pissing contest...

From your description, our local government officials may be Korean spies from Customs and Inmigration. : )

Incidentally, I have had to explain federal mail regulations to USPS employees many times. Often, their computer programs lag behind the current regulations. Their faces are always a sight to behold when I point them to the specific items in their secret lore...

BTW, speaking of danger and muzzleloaders. Early this year at a reenactment, I lent my loaded musket to one of our fusiliers, since his was acting up. I loudly warned him that it was loaded, and went back to lead our men.

Apparently he was half deaf from the sound of the firing and did not understood me. He loaded a second charge, but left the frizzen half open and the igniter load spilled. Since he though there was only one charge in the barrel, he intentionally loaded a second charge so as not to waste the BP after priming the pan again. (We use two loads for demonstrations when we have few reenactors). So, in fact he had loaded three charges (375 mgs of FF BP..!) .

When he fired he was right beside me.

Suffice it to say we all stopped firing for a few seconds, just looking at each other.

:eek:

Best

M

Youch! :eek:

The only thing I can say is, be glad he didn't mix up his can of FFg and FFFFg (Ahem, notice the voice of "experience" in that statement? :D ). It really gets your attention ;)

I do quite frequently import old/antique kerises from Indonesia to Switzerland. So far, I never had any problem with it. By the way, I am a collector, not a dealer.

Regards,

Heinz

Yep, youch...!

The sideways flash, even with the side-shield, almost seared my cheek, and I was three feet away....

:(

Hmmm....Imagine a three pounder firing a Napoleonic 8 oz load of 4F.

:D

Now, you are giving me dangerous ideas.

See? Knowledge is power...even if to blow ourselves up!

Best


M

Beware of things that go booom! in the night

I don't understand all those excluded countries on that post either, but I have set limits in the past selling the odd item on Auction sites, as I only sell within Australia. If someone from another country shows genuine interest, and they sound trustworthy, I'd run a listing excluding everywhere but that country, and arrange a time via email for that person to purchase the item. As a seller, you want to be paid for your swords, not mucked around and in this day and age, there are many dreamers, scammers and those who just don't pay. I'm suprised this particular exclusion dismisses the entire african continent! I've sold items to S.A. no problems.

Hi Heinz, I'm a collector too, although I have started to unload some of my items. Too much stuff to care for.:shrug:

I'm told that Switzerland is particularly problematic regarding the import of swords. Have you ever imported one?

Any first hand remarks or advice? I have had to refuse some offers from your corner of the world in the past, thus my interest.

Best

M

Hello Celtan,

I never imported anything bigger than a large keris (blade length ca. 40 cm). Maybe some might consider this as a sword ... Anyway, it went through directly to my address without any difficulty. Maybe I`ve just been lucky so far.

I regret not to be able to give you a special advice. All I normally do is to order a piece, pay for it and then receive it ... Of course, there are the usual taxes and fees.

I`m awaiting a parcel, containing a nice antique keris from Singapore right now. Just hope it`ll work as well as it usually does ...

Best regards,

Heinz

Hi Broadaxe,

But, can you legally import antique swords to israel, after paying VAT etc...?

Germany and England had a similar mechanism in place, and it works reasonably well. That is, besides the aggravation of paying more to the govt.

How does Israel's mail compare to the US or British regarding shipments safety and predictability? Is it like Spain or Italy, where things often simply dissappear into thin air and nobody knows anything?

Best

Manuel

Hear, hear !

That's exactly my worry. Also, I don't want any of my "babies" to fall into uncaring hands.

I'm following your advice, and also have included SA within my allowed countries list.

Best

M

Hello Heinz,

The trick is to avoid Germany, at any cost. I have had swords sent from England by FedEx; they fly to Paris, and from Paris to Basel, and I have never had any problems. So what you have to do, is to check the transport routes very carefully.

Jens

PS. I am not sure, but I think that most post routes from the US and the northern part of Europe goes over Germany - and land there!

Celtan, yes, I can import lagally antique swords into Israel. It may take a little beaurocracy but our society members do so on a regular basis. Some of us are recognized by the customs officials...
The Israeli postal system is not perfect but quite ok. Within all the hundreds of overseas transaction I lost only one parcel that was sent to me, and two items I sent (to Italy, by registerted mail :( ). When I send primium items abroad I always use our postal currier service (EMS) which never failed me.