Hello
I assume its OK to buy Swiss army knives from China, as you can't flick them open.
But what about knives like this http://www.militaria.banzaj.pl/pictures/shops/8/19585_Scyzor…
from China?
I'm in Victoria.
Thanks.
Buying a knife online from China?
Comments
yeah that'll be fine, cause its manual open
(however, i have successfully imported flick knives from DX)
Customs are scum. Their concept of a "flick knife" covers assisted opening knives and now pretty much anything with a thumb stud or hole in the blade to aid opening. This stance is in violation of their regulations but good luck arguing with them. I've personally had problems with the idiots in Sydney.
However, looking at that knife, it appears to have no thumb stud, so would be classed as a gentleman's folding pocket knife and you wouldn't have a problem. The thumbnail groove pretty much confirms that you're going to need two hands to get the blade out.
I've imported Victorinox knives and Leatherman multitools in the past couple of months without incident.
it covers that much because they are all flick knives to some degree.
If you buy a decent manual knife its unlikely there will be any problems.
I think its great Customs are being so strict, you can use a lot of knives from DX as flick knives even though they weren't intended to be.
Assisted opening knives are not "flick knives".
A flick knife opens at the touch of a button. If you put the knife flat on the table and touched the button, it would open to its final locked position. An assisted opener does not do this, neither do any of the other knives Customs have been stealing.
It's worth noting that while flick knives are illegal to own, the other knives that Customs has illegally declared "flick knives" are not.
While your right, if you can flick your hand and use a regular knife as a flick knife, its basically a flick knife.
Your are missing the point that its the act of a knife flicking that they want banned, not knives that make flicking easier or not.
A 10 year old kid can flick one of these knives just as well as an actual flick knife.
If they were to allow these to be imported, why ban actual flick knives?
Not missing the point at all. Customs are violating their own stated regulations in banning items that do not meet those stated descriptions.
The flick knife stance is a political one, not a reality based one. If they really gave a toss about keeping knives out of the hands of kids as weapons, we'd have no cutlery or kitchen knives, as that's the overwhelming majority of what turns up in knife crimes. "Think of the children" is a weak argument to gain votes.
Its not regular knives they are unhappy with, its knives that can be concealed and then flicked open.
I don't understand what you are trying to say.
Customs don't want sharp knives that can be flicked open, no matter how its done.
What you are saying is you want flick knives to be allowed?
The method of flicking is not relevant if the outcome is the same.
I've been through this with custom personnel.
Basically all knives required to be open using two hands are allowed.
Groove or no groove, thumb gap or no thumb gap, button or not, if you can open it with one hand then you run the high risk of it being confiscated. This is almost always; with the exception of survival mulittools like gerbers, Swiss army knives and leathermans.As for the argument of keeping out flick knives to lower number and distribution in the population. I think customs are correct. Yes kitchen knives can be used as a weapon but the chances of you carrying one around as EDC is slim. Therefore reducing the chance that it will be 'spontaneously' used. Murderers will be murderers. Few people really do actually need a one hand pivoted knife for a good reason. If you really do have a purpose for such a cheap blade, there are plenty in Aus.
Exactly, you are saying it better then I could :)
" Few people really do actually need a one hand pivoted knife for a good reason"
Well said.
So if I were to buy one of these from China : http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1246/dscn2380.jpg
it could be possibly confiscated because its got a hole(thumb stud?)?I'm planning to buy a Victorinox swiss army knife and one of the above picture(which will be Victorinox).
I believe they are real(other members said they are real and the site has a good rep).
I will be buying from Deal Extreme.Heres the knife :
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/genuine-victorinox-swiss-army-m…Heres the swiss army knife :
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/genuine-victorinox-huntsman-swi…
That is it.they are in fact illegal… however what i found is that if you buy from DX you put it with a bunch of other assorted crap and they don't bother to check the whole package
i bought a knife that is clearly illegal (ie. one handed, ceramic and plastic so no metal) and it came thru
The swiss army knife also?
I ordered it alone with no other items(The Macgyver swiss army knife).
Might have to cancel it?What happens if customs confiscate it?
Do they call me(didn't give Deal Extreme my number)?
Can they fine me?Must say, Australian law can be a pain in the ass.
Actually
Customs only check random packages and packages that are declared as something of interest, such as knives.
Buying a lot of other stuff can mean your package won't be declared as knives, but it they do open it, which they do randomly they will take your knife.
Fred2, you can get fined/a lot of trouble, but as far as I know customs give warnings for your first time.
So I should cancel my order for this : http://img.dxcdn.com/productimages/sku_56996_1.jpg
?Its not a flick knife, but I can open it one handed lol.
It will take me a while tho.Just like to make sure and confirm its safe to buy online.
Think of it this way.
If you can lift the knife and have it open by gravity and the weight of the pocket knife, don't buy it.
99% sure you can't open that with gravity.
Thats good to know.
Thanks.
I wouldn't worry too much about the knife you've ordered. It's got a bunch of other stuff on there as well as the knife. If it had a blade longer than 4in which can be flicked open with the thumb hole or w/e then I think you'd have issues, but not for something that small.
No they are all multitools. They are excused by customs. If it was a knife by itself with a thumb gap, then yes it will be gone if they find it. That is the purpose of the thumb gap, to allow one handed utilisation.
With seizure by Customs, if they deem it dangerous, they will take it and send you a letter saying 'dear…your knife has been sized and will be destroyed'. No you don't get a refund from the retailer and no, there isn't anyone to complain to.
p.s I know victorinox is reputable, but that particular knife will be blunt after you cut a dozen sheets of paper. I hope you aren't buying that for the knife but for the tools it comes with…
"They are excused by customs. If it was a knife by itself with a thumb gap, then yes it will be gone if they find it. That is the purpose of the thumb gap, to allow one handed utilisation."
But the one I'm getting has tweezers and a tooth pick!
this one http://www.dealextreme.com/p/genuine-victorinox-swiss-army-m…
I guess that does not mean much…"p.s I know victorinox is reputable, but that particular knife will be blunt after you cut a dozen sheets of paper. I hope you aren't buying that for the knife but for the tools it comes with…"
Really…
What knife should I get then?I had a look at a Wenger New ranger(same knife petty much).
Looked well made, but was never used(was my friends).Edit:
I emailed customs and I got this:
Dear ……..
Thank you for your email inquiry
I can advise you that both knives are not restricted and therefore you will not require a permit to import.
The knives hes talking about is the swiss army knife and this : http://www.dealextreme.com/p/genuine-victorinox-swiss-army-m…
If you can shake the knife open customs might see it as a flick knife.
If the knife has poor quality control, a non flick knife might accidentally become a flick knife on inspection.