Illegal balisong

[Ian]

Australia allows genuine collectors with the relevant license from a police commissioner to import and possess balisong, switchblades, and a wide variety of other prohibited weapons. However, the threshold for approval is high and requires a police check. Such items are not allowed to be carried and there are requirements about how they are stored.

I have such a license and have had to use it to import some items, most recently a dagger, lohar axe, African axes, and swords. With respect to importing weapons, it depends on the shipping method. For inexpensive items coming through regular mail the likelihood of moving through Australian Customs without question is greatly increased. With shipping companies, such as DHL, similar items are usually subject to full Customs inspection (which is how DHL and other shippers generate much of their high costs charged to the shipper).

[Rick]

Right now, I think the most traditional, affordable hand made from scratch switchblades come from Sardinia and start at very near 1K American and on up. Most are made on a per order basis and the workmanship is impeccable; they are of the picklock design which is possibly one of the oldest forms of locking blade along with the Navaja.
If I recall correctly switchblades have been around since at least the American Civil War era. Some of the true antiques are beautiful examples of the Cutlers' art.
Many very nice antique ones came from England.
I carried a modern one in my toolbox with a Tanto style blade when I was doing exterior painting on old houses because if there is a chunk of built-up paint at the limit of your reach thirty feet in the air on an extension ladder an auto knife comes in very handy indeed.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Rick

Right now, I think the most traditional, affordable hand made from scratch switchblades come from Sardinia and start at very near 1K American and on up. Most are made on a per order basis and the workmanship is impeccable; they are of the picklock design which is possibly one of the oldest forms of locking blade along with the Navaja.
If I recall correctly switchblades have been around since at least the American Civil War era. Some of the true antiques are beautiful examples of the Cutlers' art.
Many very nice antique ones came from England.
I carried a modern one in my toolbox with a Tanto style blade when I was doing exterior painting on old houses because if there is a chunk of built-up paint at the limit of your reach thirty feet in the air on an extension ladder an auto knife comes in very handy indeed.

Don't forget the German switchblades, the workmanship is better than the Italian switchblades IMO.
Two of my German ones and down German ones in Italian style.

[Rick]

What maker is the one at the top?
Is that a Herbertz(sp?) pictured at the bottom?
You need to add a Hubertus to that collection Detlef.
Not to mention a Robert Klaas kissing crane.

[Bob A]

There has been much court action in the US of late regarding repressive knife laws; I believe balisongs/butterfly knives have been legalised in Hawaii lately.

For those interested, a link to an organisation that monitors such things:
https://www.akti.org/

I have recently become enamored of automatic knives, and now have too many. I find some of them to be very useful; having a decent blade that can be accessed and withdrawn with one hand is essential for some handicapped persons, as well as the common run of mankind. My current favorites are those whose blades are driven out the front of the handle; the nature of the mechanism makes them extremely safe to carry, and the action is such that exercising it for its own sake is a constant source of amusement.

There are many that are in fact veritable works of art; exotic materials, artful blade architecture, and machining to extreme tolerances. It's a shame that such objects are subject to restrictions, but governments always seek increased control, often to the detriment of common sense, as well as to the citizen/subject.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Rick

What maker is the one at the top?
Is that a Herbertz(sp?) pictured at the bottom?
You need to add a Hubertus to that collection Detlef.
Not to mention a Robert Klaas kissing crane.

Hello Rick,

The one on top is a Weltersbach Weidmannsheil. And I have also a Robert Klaas in the collection.
And yes, at the bottom is Herbertz.

Regards,
Detlef

[Hombre]

Batangas made by the master Mr Diosdado Ona!

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Ian

Australia allows genuine collectors with the relevant license from a police commissioner to import and possess balisong, switchblades, and a wide variety of other prohibited weapons. However, the threshold for approval is high and requires a police check. Such items are not allowed to be carried and there are requirements about how they are stored.

I have such a license and have had to use it to import some items, most recently a dagger, lohar axe, African axes, and swords. With respect to importing weapons, it depends on the shipping method. For inexpensive items coming through regular mail the likelihood of moving through Australian Customs without question is greatly increased. With shipping companies, such as DHL, similar items are usually subject to full Customs inspection (which is how DHL and other shippers generate much of their high costs charged to the shipper).

Ian, how does one become a govt recognized 'genuine collector' in OZ?

[mariusgmioc]

You may want to check:

balisong.com

[Tim Simmons]

It is illegal to import to the UK.