Knife postage

[AJB]

Hi,

I’ve just run into a problem I didn’t know existed, although most of you probably knew about it. I’m trying to post my PXL Ivory Micarta back to Fallkniven, but I’ve been told by the post office I’m virtually a criminal for thinking of such a thing. So far I can’t find a courier who will send a knife to Sweden. How do I receive knives from Heiney Hayes? How do you all send private sales to the buyer? Does anyone know of a way I can send a folding knife to Sweden?

Many thanks,

Andy

 

[Nice65]

Hi,

I’ve just run into a problem I didn’t know existed, although most of you probably knew about it. I’m trying to post my PXL Ivory Micarta back to Fallkniven, but I’ve been told by the post office I’m virtually a criminal for thinking of such a thing. So far I can’t find a courier who will send a knife to Sweden. How do I receive knives from Heiney Hayes? How do you all send private sales to the buyer? Does anyone know of a way I can send a folding knife to Sweden?

Many thanks,

Andy

You can send it RM, you’ve been misinformed. The RM rules do not allow the postage of weapons. Your knife is not a weapon, it’s a working tool. Like the working tool that told you you couldn’t post it.

https://personal.help.royalmail.com...tricted-items---advice-for-personal-customers

 

[0000]

You can send it RM, you’ve been misinformed. The RM rules do not allow the postage of weapons. Your knife is not a weapon, it’s a working tool. Like the working tool that told you you couldn’t post it.

Agreed. Who ever said that was talking complete nonsense.

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[AJB]

Cheers Nice,

I’ve just come from the Post Office who categorically told me they could not send a knife. Furthermore they said as it went through customs, it will be x-rayed, seen to be a knife, sent warehouse in Ireland, where it will be destroyed.

I said that I receive knives from national and international sources,delivered by a postman, how does that work. They said they didn’t know about RM, they’re the post office and that’s a different company! So far I can’t find a courier who will accept a knife.

 

[0000]

Cheers Nice,

I’ve just come from the Post Office who categorically told me they could not send a knife. Furthermore they said as it went through customs, it will be x-rayed, seen to be a knife, sent warehouse in Ireland, where it will be destroyed.

I said that I receive knives from national and international sources,delivered by a postman, how does that work. They said they didn’t know about RM, they’re the post office and that’s a different company! So far I can’t find a courier who will accept a knife.

Huh. I thought they were one and the same. In any event, that's ********. I make knives for a living and post them every week. They don't need to know what you're sending, just that it's not on the prohibited list. If you are saying "knife" then perhaps rather go with camping tool, field cutlery or art. Also include a copy of the age verification of the recipient and make sure that the blade is packed well and isn't a danger to anybody handling the parcel.

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[Nice65]

Cheers Nice,

I’ve just come from the Post Office who categorically told me they could not send a knife. Furthermore they said as it went through customs, it will be x-rayed, seen to be a knife, sent warehouse in Ireland, where it will be destroyed.

I said that I receive knives from national and international sources,delivered by a postman, how does that work. They said they didn’t know about RM, they’re the post office and that’s a different company! So far I can’t find a courier who will accept a knife.

That’s BS mate. If you were sending a set of kitchen knives you wouldn’t run into any trouble. You’ve just got some jobsworth on your case. Try a different PO maybe?

The prohibited list is displayed prominently in every PO, but whether pointing out the weapon rule is worth arguing over is up to you. I send knives out made by a guy in Romania. His post offices don’t allow his small business to proliferate by supplying US, Canadian, or Australian customers with his excellent work so he sends them to me at great expense. Sad state of affairs.

 

[AJB]

I would risk saying it was something else internally, but with the information about customs X-ray I don’t want to risk it being destroyed.

 

[Janne]

Call FedEx or DHL and ask them if you can send 'kitchen cutlery' to Sweden.

What happened to your knife?

 

[Nice65]

I would risk saying it was something else internally, but with the information about customs X-ray I don’t want to risk it being destroyed.

If packaged securely, sensibly and correctly labelled it should be fine.

My Post Office is fine with knives. On advice I tend to label them as custom cutting or bushcraft tools. I’ll send it for you no problem.

 

[AJB]

Call FedEx or DHL and ask them if you can send 'kitchen cutlery' to Sweden.

What happened to your knife?

I’ve spent the afternoon trying to find contact numbers for couriers, the only one I spoke to didn’t want to know.

 

[santaman2000]

I would risk saying it was something else internally, but with the information about customs X-ray I don’t want to risk it being destroyed.

If indeed it is legal as others here have stated, then customs won’t destroy it (my premise is based on the customs agents being more knowledgeable than the clerk at the post office; and presumably they are, otherwise all the knives you’ve received would have been destroyed) To get around the problem of getting it past the clear try a two phase strategy:
1) Send it from a different post office so you avoid that clerk, and
2) Be honest on the customs label: label it as “outdoor cutlery” or some similar honest, non threatening nomenclature.

 

[AJB]

If indeed it is legal as others here have stated, then customs won’t destroy it (my premise is based on the customs agents being more knowledgeable than the clerk at the post office; and presumably they are, otherwise all the knives you’ve received would have been destroyed) To get around the problem of getting it past the clear try a two phase strategy:
1) Send it from a different post office so you avoid that clerk, and
2) Be honest on the customs label: label it as “outdoor cutlery” or some similar honest, non threatening nomenclature.

But if they’re correct, it’s not worth the risk!
Parcel Force has just say they might send it, with the right declarations and customs forms, but it would be around £59 which is ridiculous. I think I’ll just give it up as a bad job .

 

[Nice65]

Cheers Nice,

I’ve just come from the Post Office who categorically told me they could not send a knife. Furthermore they said as it went through customs, it will be x-rayed, seen to be a knife, sent warehouse in Ireland, where it will be destroyed.

Anything picked up as suspect is sent to an office in Belfast where the unfortunately well qualified people deal with possible weapons. My Baikal Makarov CO2 pistol ended up stuck there for weeks, but was eventually sent on to me, opened and resealed. It’s not a crusher unit, it’s a specialist centre for getting actual weapons out of the system.

 

[oldtimer]

I sent a Condor bushlore to another member in a box and described the contents as "wood-working tool" with no problem.However, not everyone would agree with me that the Isle of Wight is "overseas".

 

[santaman2000]

I sent a Condor bushlore to another member in a box and described the contents as "wood-working tool" with no problem.However, not everyone would agree with me that the Isle of Wight is "overseas".

I think the relevant factor for this discussion is:
Did you need to afix a customs label?

 

[santaman2000]

But if they’re correct, it’s not worth the risk!
Parcel Force has just say they might send it, with the right declarations and customs forms, but it would be around £59 which is ridiculous. I think I’ll just give it up as a bad job .

I understand your reluctance. I was hoping to see some of the knifesmiths reply to your question (there are a few on the forum who regularly ship overseas)

 

[slowworm]

From the Royal Mail link Nice65 posted it clearly states you can post knives:

Sharp objects (including knives, kitchen utensils and gardening tools)

• International & UK - Allowed in the mail, see packaging guidelines below:
• • Sharp objects like knives*, kitchen utensils and gardening tools may only be posted if they are packaged appropriately so that they are no risk to employees, other postal items or recipients.
    *Excludes knives that are banned under UK laws - see Weapons
  • Wrap heavy cardboard around sharp edges and points, strong enough to ensure that the contents do not pierce the outer packaging. Wrap each item with cushioning material. Place in a suitable outer container such as a padded envelope.
  • The sender's name and return address must be clearly visible on the outer packaging.

You could email them and ask why do post office staff not know their own rules?

It may not be worth the risk but if you send it insured and it's destroyed I would assume they would have to reimburse you as they state they can send them.

 

[0000]

I understand your reluctance. I was hoping to see some of the knifesmiths reply to your question (there are a few on the forum who regularly ship overseas)

I'm one and I replied.

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[AJB]

From the Royal Mail link Nice65 posted it clearly states you can post knives:

Sharp objects (including knives, kitchen utensils and gardening tools)

• International & UK - Allowed in the mail, see packaging guidelines below:
• • Sharp objects like knives*, kitchen utensils and gardening tools may only be posted if they are packaged appropriately so that they are no risk to employees, other postal items or recipients.
    *Excludes knives that are banned under UK laws - see Weapons
  • Wrap heavy cardboard around sharp edges and points, strong enough to ensure that the contents do not pierce the outer packaging. Wrap each item with cushioning material. Place in a suitable outer container such as a padded envelope.
  • The sender's name and return address must be clearly visible on the outer packaging.

You could email them and ask why do post office staff not know their own rules?

It may not be worth the risk but if you send it insured and it's destroyed I would assume they would have to reimburse you as they state they can send them.

The post office regarded it as a weapon.

 

[slowworm]

The post office regarded it as a weapon.

But as their own details state: "Excludes knives that are banned under UK laws - see Weapons"
Which I read as it would only be a weapon if it was not a legal UK knife.