Help From Our Us Members

[Shamsy]

I hope you don't mind me raising a new topic Brian, but I didn't want my request to be lost in my rant thread!

 

Are any of the U.S. members aware of where I might find information regarding the importation of swords into the U.S.? I found something to do with importing through travel luggage, but I'm specifically after postal (or something that would cover postal). It needs to be formal, no Yahoo answers thanks!

[Ken-Hawaii]

Steve, over the past 20-plus years, I've brought in swords from Japan, Australia, Germany, & probably a few other countries that have skipped my mind. There have been no problems at all, other than Fedex screwing up delivery one time. Most have arrived via EMS, but I've also gotten them from DHL & Fedex. Are you looking for something in particular, mate?

 

Ken

[Shamsy]

Hi Ken,

 

I know there is no issue, but flaming Australia Post (only the muppets in Melbourne anyway) may need convincing. What I need is something similar to this:

https://www.border.gov.au/Busi/Impo/Proh/Firearms-and-weapons

 

If you open the expandable ‘Common firearms and weapons list’ it states that sword importation is unrestricted in Australia.

 

I need a U.S. equivalent, so I can definitively prove that neither our, nor the U.S. customs prohibit importation of swords. Australia Post is relying on a very broad and incorrect page they have that states that both ‘knives’ and ‘weapons’ are restricted imports into the U.S. Again, I know this is utterly ridiculous, but I need concrete evidence to back that assertion. Apparently the fact the sword came from the U.S. is not enough.

 

I'll add that my local post office are great and entirely on my side. It's clowns in the city that are ignorant. A problem when I am relying on them as the ‘experts’.

[Ken-Hawaii]

If you go to https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/prohibited-and-restricted-items there just isn't anything at all pertaining to swords.

 

And at https://www.myus.com/benefits/shipping/customs-help/restrictions the only reference to edged weapons are bayonets (which I didn't know about), & that's for export, not import. Trying to prove a negative is pretty darn hard!

 

I also found https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/329/kw/importingswords/  which says specifically that " Customs and Border Protection does not prohibit the importation of swords"  I think that may be as close as you can get, Chris.

 

Ken

[Ken-Hawaii]

I also found https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/359/kw/antique%20swords &  https://support.shippingeasy.com/hc/en-us/articles/205492376-Shipping-knives-with-USPS-UPS-and-FedEx.

 

But when I log into my U.S. Postal Service business account, & search for "sword," all I find are countries to which I can't ship a sword, with nothing at all about importing them.

 

Hope this helps.

[Shamsy]

Hi Ken,

 

That's fantastic thank you. More than I was able to find! Luckily Australian customs are very clear, but the U.S. seems to only list things you can't bring, as you mentioned.

 

Hopefully I've got enough now to present a good case if the sword gets stopped AGAIN. At this time everyone seems to be on my side, so fingers crossed I will get this resolved!

[Mark]

if the tsuka has same' or ivory inserts in a shirasaya tsuka or any animal product (horn etc) Fish and Game have regulations and will impound or confiscate items

[Shamsy]

Nothing like that luckily! I'm aware that ivory causes a real stink everywhere now, but surprised horn would be an issue? Aussie customs are usually okay provided the product is in a ‘finished state’.