The sales and shipping of swords to the USA??

[kronckew]

what royston said. it varies from post office to post office. many dealers will not ship 'weapons' of any age. some have no problems. i've had swords posted thru the mail recently, no problems at all. had another dealer refuse to ship a sword they just sold me. i had to drive 2 hrs there to pick it up. most of them that refuse to mail them refer you to a company called 'mailboxes' that will pick it up, pack it and courier it on to you. they are expensive. just had a langseax sword delivered from the netherlands by royal mail's parcel force. took 3 days. no customs/border force, or duty. all depends on the whims and interpretation of the people running the local post office and his interpretation of the regs (which do prohibit firearms, but not legal edged weapons). never had any problems with items bought and shipped via ebay & their couriers or parcelforce tho.

[Jens Nordlunde]

Sorry the wrong link.

[Tim Simmons]

Some people when asked "may I ask what you are sending for security purposes" tell the literal truth. They do not see the difference between a sword weapon or old farm cutting tool, or just farm tool. It has just gone all crazy here in the UK these days. Perhaps I am just getting too long in the tooth.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Some people when asked "may I ask what you are sending for security purposes" tell the literal truth. They do not see the difference between a sword weapon or old farm cutting tool, or just farm tool. It has just gone all crazy here in the UK these days. Perhaps I am just getting too long in the tooth.

just got this 'vintage cabbage axe knife' (9 3/8" blade) in the regular mail from elsewhere in the UK: no problem. sharp little tyke. if he'd called it a dagger i probably wouldn't have been able to buy it. scary isn't it? ...if you are a sheeple. had about 3 in. of bubble wrap all around it.

p.s. i have no idea what i'll use it for, it just looked cool and was dirt cheap.
sauerkraut (kiszona kapusta) anyone?

[Philip]

Originally Posted by kronckew

p.s. i have no idea what i'll use it for, it just looked cool and was dirt cheap.
sauerkraut (kiszona kapusta) anyone?

Start growing cabbages in your garden! Have you read Sandor Katz's book on fermentation? Sauerkraut is good for the gut (tastes great in any number of dishes, as well -- Russian sauerkraut soup (shchi), and Alsatian salt cod in sauerkraut bechamel sauce come to mind).

[Will M]

I found UPS impossible in the UK, the tracking said the package arrived in Belleville Ont. but later I got the run around, they claimed they refused to ship,and that it never left the UK, against their policy. I called them and more lies. Was reshipped from the UK using DHL without issue.
A second time a sword from the UK was shipped, made it to sort facility in Mississauga then returned to the UK. Incompetence? The sword was resent with DHL and again no issue. I also know that Royal Mail is ok to ship swords.
Descriptions I've had on my packages from auctioneers in the UK range from "fencing equip" to "old iron". Unfortunately these descriptions allow duty to be added when antiques are exempt.
Frustrating having to wait over a month for a sword because some yoyo shipped it back to sender.

[estcrh]

Here is an Ebay guide, not sure what may have changed since it was written but English Ebay sellers seem to have no trouble shipping outside of England.



New UK Sword Legislation - FAQ
http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/New-UK-Swo...6500890/g.html
19 August 2008
As of the 6th April 2008 the Government will be introducing an amendment to the Criminal Justice Act 1988 which will see the addition of some Swords to the Offensive Weapons Order list. This is a list of items prohibited for sale, import, trade of transfer within the UK.

Guide now updated to include details of the 2nd amendment to the CJA 1988 which came into force on the 1st August 2008.

There is much confusion regarding this new legislation so below is a quick reference FAQ detailing how this new legislation affects you.

Questions:

Q: Are all swords now illegal?

A: No. the new legislation only covers some swords with a curved blade over 50cm.



Q: Is it just Samurai Swords that are now banned?

A: No. ANY sword with a curved blade over 50cm is now banned from sale, import, trade or transfer. This includes Persian Talwars, Military Cavalry swords, some Fantasy swords and many other types of sword unless specifically exempted - see below.



Q: Do I have to surrender my Samurai Sword I have at home?

A: No. Ownership of all swords is perfectly legal so you can keep any sword you have already in your possession. You cannot sell it or give it away.



Q: Are all Samurai Swords now banned?

A: Under UK legislation, no. The law only affects some swords over 50cm so although Katana swords are now banned (unless covered by the list of exemptions), most Wakizashi and Tanto swords have blades under 50cm so are unaffected by this legislation



Q: Are straight bladed swords affected?

A: No. The new legislation only covers curved bladed swords - straight bladed swords are totally unaffected by this legislation. The Home Office have indicated that there may be an extension of the legislation to cover all swords by October 2008 but as yet this is undecided.



Q: How is the blade length measured?

A: The legislation covers all swords over 50cm. The measurement is to be taken from the tip of the blade to the top of the handle (where the blade meets the handle) in a straight line NOT following the curve of the blade.



Q; Are there any exemptions?

A: Yes. There are several exemptions to the sword ban - These exemptions are:

•Members of historical re-enactment groups which hold a Public Liability Certificate.

•Members of a Martial Arts club which hold a Public Liability Certificate.

•Use for authorized Theatrical / film use.

•All Swords over 100 years old.

•Samurai Swords made before 1954.

•Samurai Swords made in Japan at any time using the traditional forging technique