Keris and us customs?

Laowang · 31st December 2016, 12:52 AM

I've purchased a number of keris from international sources over the last few years; some have been sent to me through international mail (either from international dealers, or eBay sellers), others I have brought back from trips to SE Asia in my luggage. I've never had a problem with US customs in either case. I've typically declared my keris on the customs declaration form when going through US customs, and no customs agent ever bothered to even inspect it (I've done this at least four times, with everything from a 13" long Palembang keris to a 19" long Balinese keris).

Per Ian's comment below, pay attention to CITES restrictions. Elephant ivory and turtle shell (which sometimes occurs on Javanese pendoks) are forbidden, and subject to seizure and destruction. Customs agents are unlikely to be able to distinguish between elephant ivory and other forms of material (hippo teeth, marine ivory) that appear similar.

ariel · 2nd January 2017, 03:58 PM

May I be allowed to make a heretical suggestion?
On many occasions I saw pics of thousands upon thousands of elephant tusks seized by the authorities and publicly burned.
Instead, wouldn' it be better to sell them on an open market driving the prices down and use the proceeds to finance anti-poacher efforts?

Oliver Pinchot · 2nd January 2017, 04:18 PM

There you go making sense again, Ariel

31st December 2016, 12:52 AM	#1
Laowang Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: 40˚00' N, 83˚00' W Posts: 52	I've purchased a number of keris from international sources over the last few years; some have been sent to me through international mail (either from international dealers, or eBay sellers), others I have brought back from trips to SE Asia in my luggage. I've never had a problem with US customs in either case. I've typically declared my keris on the customs declaration form when going through US customs, and no customs agent ever bothered to even inspect it (I've done this at least four times, with everything from a 13" long Palembang keris to a 19" long Balinese keris). Per Ian's comment below, pay attention to CITES restrictions. Elephant ivory and turtle shell (which sometimes occurs on Javanese pendoks) are forbidden, and subject to seizure and destruction. Customs agents are unlikely to be able to distinguish between elephant ivory and other forms of material (hippo teeth, marine ivory) that appear similar.

2nd January 2017, 03:58 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	May I be allowed to make a heretical suggestion? On many occasions I saw pics of thousands upon thousands of elephant tusks seized by the authorities and publicly burned. Instead, wouldn' it be better to sell them on an open market driving the prices down and use the proceeds to finance anti-poacher efforts?

2nd January 2017, 04:18 PM	#3
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 465	There you go making sense again, Ariel