Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Bringing Keris with you to Indonesia and back

milandro · 29th April 2022, 09:16 AM

Generally speaking, I think, customs officers everywhere in the world are aware that people buy many weapon shaped objects (because once they are in the suitcases not taken in the cabin they can only see them quickly going through the scanners and a tourist kris would look like an antique and vice-versa) and take them back, in the past many took spears ( extra long now and probably you can only take them as special luggage if not dismounted) from Kenya for example (I used to have several).

They would be generally tolerant. It is an industry after all and if they would make this impossible nobody would buy the tons of stuff they sell there.

BUT

the rules specifically state that you must declare entering of exiting Indonesia that you are carrying a “ sharp weapon”.

I think, provided you do this, nothing really happens, it is not “ forbidden” , you just have to comply (if you don’t you may get in trouble but most probably you won’t if you are traveling on a plane full of holiday makers)

Garuda goes as far as to specifically mention the kris among all the specially restricted articles

“....These following items may be carried by passenger only in their checked baggage:

Pointed/edged weapons and sharp object: Axes; hatches; arrows and darts; crampons; Ice axes and ice picks; any kind of knives (lockable or flick knives, pocket knives and scalpels); meat cleavers; machetes; swords; kris; open razor; scissors; throwing stars; trademan’s tool (drills, box cutter, all saws, hammer, screwdriver) and any other items which has pointed/edged shape.
NOTE:

If you bring any of the above mentioned objects, please report to our staff at the airport Check-in Counter.
Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to our baggage handlers...”

this is the real purpose of this, I think, the protection of people at the airports

Upon arrival anywhere you may be asked to open you luggage but the only real concern is that you are bringing in taxable items. In fact most probably you won’t have to pay anything for a kris which you are going to describe as a souvenir.

Sending anything though will be taxed at least the VAT (in Europe) , they are all very strict on this, now, ( since last June).

29th April 2022, 09:16 AM	#11
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 487	Generally speaking, I think, customs officers everywhere in the world are aware that people buy many weapon shaped objects (because once they are in the suitcases not taken in the cabin they can only see them quickly going through the scanners and a tourist kris would look like an antique and vice-versa) and take them back, in the past many took spears ( extra long now and probably you can only take them as special luggage if not dismounted) from Kenya for example (I used to have several). They would be generally tolerant. It is an industry after all and if they would make this impossible nobody would buy the tons of stuff they sell there. BUT the rules specifically state that you must declare entering of exiting Indonesia that you are carrying a “ sharp weapon”. I think, provided you do this, nothing really happens, it is not “ forbidden” , you just have to comply (if you don’t you may get in trouble but most probably you won’t if you are traveling on a plane full of holiday makers) Garuda goes as far as to specifically mention the kris among all the specially restricted articles “....These following items may be carried by passenger only in their checked baggage: Pointed/edged weapons and sharp object: Axes; hatches; arrows and darts; crampons; Ice axes and ice picks; any kind of knives (lockable or flick knives, pocket knives and scalpels); meat cleavers; machetes; swords; kris; open razor; scissors; throwing stars; trademan’s tool (drills, box cutter, all saws, hammer, screwdriver) and any other items which has pointed/edged shape. NOTE: If you bring any of the above mentioned objects, please report to our staff at the airport Check-in Counter. Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to our baggage handlers...” this is the real purpose of this, I think, the protection of people at the airports Upon arrival anywhere you may be asked to open you luggage but the only real concern is that you are bringing in taxable items. In fact most probably you won’t have to pay anything for a kris which you are going to describe as a souvenir. Sending anything though will be taxed at least the VAT (in Europe) , they are all very strict on this, now, ( since last June).