Weapons + Customs.

BoomAM

BoomAM

BoomAM

Soldato
Joined
5 Jul 2003
Posts
16,206
Location
Atlanta, USA
Hi.
How strict are customs in regards to weapons?
Ive seen some rarther nice Samurai swords over here that i wouldnt mind getting.

If they dont let me take them myself, how much would it cost me to post it to myself back in the UK?

Thanks in advance all. :)
 
I believe that Biohazard may be able to help you with this one ...... once he sobers up ...... :p
 
lol.

+What should i be looking for in a sword?

Im thinking of buying within the next few days, and then just getting it shipped across to the UK (I'll enquire at the post office or something).
 
There is no across the board prohibition on the importation of swords, bayonets, machetes, axes, hatchets, tomahawks, throwing knifes or medieval weaponry such as spears, lances, pikes, maces, caltrops and halberds.

Such weapons would, however, be regulated under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 and the Criminal Justice Act 1988 which prohibit the carrying of such weapons in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. Swords, however, disguised as another object, may fall within the definition of a Sword Stick which is prohibited offensive weapon and this would be seized..

What ever you do, post it mate.. as you will end up arrested under the Anti Terrorism laws if you swagger about an airport with a Samurai!
 
I believe you declare them as artwork. I did this travelling back from the USA with a set of Samurai's. The guy who sold them to me packed them and marked them as decorative swords. You must declare them when you check in other wise there is a good chance they will be confiscated even if they are going in the hold. They label them as swords so they travel through screening without causing as much alarm.

This side of the pond is another kettle of fish. Firstly you must convince HM customs and Excise you are within you personal allowance (Keep receipts as it is only about £130 for non-EU countries) then you declare them as artwork. Not sure how tight things have become recently in light of the recent terroist attempts but this was the case a couple of years back.
 
Biohazard, can you suggest a UK supplier of Samurai Swords that i can order online from? Preferably suppliers that sell the swords with stands. :)
And what sort of things should i be looking for in a good sword?
 
I went to china in 2003 and bought a sword. I put it in my suitcase and had no trouble at all at either end.

I didn't realise you were supposed to declare it at the other end, I just sort of walked through whistling innocently.
 
BoomAM said:
Biohazard, can you suggest a UK supplier of Samurai Swords that i can order online from? Preferably suppliers that sell the swords with stands. :)
And what sort of things should i be looking for in a good sword?
Click to expand...

Who knows, not my field of expertise.
 
Biohazard said:
where did you import them under an artwork commodity code? :confused:
Click to expand...

I didn't declare them for taxation, I was under my personal allowance. What I ment by this is I didn't label them as weapons, I had them labeled as decorative swords, otherwise they were presented as artwork. Like I said things may have changed a huge amount now in light of what happened but this was the case a few years back.
 
Third Opinion said:
I didn't declare them for taxation, I was under my personal allowance. What I ment by this is I didn't label them as weapons, I had them labeled as decorative swords, otherwise they were presented as artwork. Like I said things may have changed a huge amount now in light of what happened but this was the case a few years back.
Click to expand...

No you can still do this. Only, as was then, you face prosecution if your falsification of importation documentation is discovered.
 
BoomAM said:
Hi.
How strict are customs in regards to weapons?
Ive seen some rarther nice Samurai swords over here that i wouldnt mind getting.

If they dont let me take them myself, how much would it cost me to post it to myself back in the UK?

Thanks in advance all. :)
Click to expand...


given that they let my friend ON THE PLANE with a 3 foot long sword as "a ceremonial item for hand luggage" and they let me, a guy with an utterly foreign name through customs without a passport and without asking me for any identification (i left my passport on the plane :( ) on the way back from amsterdam, i would say at times they are laxer that a diarrhetic bottom. both of these were post 2001 as well.
 
Biohazard said:
No you can still do this. Only, as was then, you face prosecution if your falsification of importation documentation is discovered.
Click to expand...

Strictly speaking, it would be quite easy to get away with bringing in swords as "Works of Art" (that's not actually the definition of the cpc) as you can also use the same thing for collectors items which you can quite easily argue swords fall into.

I love customs sometimes, at the end of the day as long as your interpretation of the rules is technically correct you can get a lot of leeway with these things.
 
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