Importing Folding Knives to Australia: My Recent Experience

This video is about my recent attempt to import two Benchmade folding knives to Australia. I won't go into a lot of detail in this description, it's all in the video. In case you are wondering why I prefer to buy my knives overseas, there are two main reasons;

1. Price. It is not unusual for a knife to cost twice as much in Australia as it costs in the USA.

2. Availability. Most retailers here have a very limited range of quality knives. If they do happen to have the one you want, well, refer back to reason one.

I want to make some points about this video and why I've made it.

This video is not intended as a negative comment on the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, or any of the Australian Police services. They are all doing their jobs as directed and I have no issues with that at all. This video is not meant to be political. It is not part of an attempt to change the laws or policies (I believe any future changes will be to make it even harder to import knives and that nothing will change that policy direction).

I've made this video to share my experience and learnings with fellow Australians who share my interest in knives. My intention is help them avoid costly problems and be able to enjoy their interest within the law. I do not seek to break any laws myself, and do not encourage others to attempt to do so. Please keep this in mind if you choose to comment on this video. Constructive comments and advice are welcome. Comments that contain any unlawful content are not welcome and will be removed.

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer or legal expert. This is simply the story of my experience, take from it what you will. I will not be held in any way responsible for any use or misuse of the information provided. I strongly recommend you do your own research before ordering folding knives from overseas. I explain how to go about this in the video.

I believe that sharing knowledge is a good thing. With knowledge we can make better decisions. I feel that the information available to the public on this subject is incomplete and open to all manner of interpretations. I hope this video adds a little more knowledge to the mix. If I can help one person avoid a costly mistake then it has been worthwhile.

Useful links:

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
http://www.customs.gov.au/

Import Controls On Bladed Weapons (PDF Document)
http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Import_BladedWeapons.pdf

Music: Raw by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons "Attribution 3.0"

Category:

Education

Tags:

• AussieMark
• knives
• outdoors
• australian
• customs
• import
• restrictions
• police
• Import
• Permit
• B709B
• Benchmade
• 555
• Mini
• Griptilian
• 950
• Rift

[dem0n1k]

Some one needs to make a Crocodile Dundee parody about AU customs... "that's not a flick knife!" ;) I had a Byrd Raven (89mm blade, liner-lock) seized just last month as a one handed flick knife. Lucky it was only $25 I guess. I will note that the latest seizure forms are now in colour! They must be doing alright down there at customs.

[AussieMark909]

@dem0n1k The whole shambles is a parody of sensible legislation and policy IMHO.

[Mykem1977]

Tried to get a Kershaw Drone in got seized by our lovely laws. But got a Katana in no worries at all. Thats a classic case of stupid people making rules that have absolutely no idea about the things they are banning and letting through.....................

[AussieMark909]

@Mykem1977 Presumably all knife crime is commited by folks using one hand opening folders ;)

[314194]

Before the new Grab it all legislation that came in (quietly) in December 2011, you could lodge a complaint with the the Ombudsman, but now they have the legislation that they always wanted. Customs have been interpreting the legislation to suit themselves for years now, whilst I understand that they had a job to do, I once complained to an officer there stating that we do live in a Democracy and was advised yes but its an Australian Democracy, which I took to mean that they do! and we don't.

[AussieMark909]

@314194 It truly is sad how our freedoms are being eroded. Even worse is that thanks to the insidious ways it is happening, most people are either unaware of it, or believe the propaganda thats it's done in our best interests.

[gizmocraft]

Were arent allowed any basic firearms ars , hunting rifles , even shotguns now no knives this country is seriously fucked mark everyday i consider defecting to america

[ikill4joy]

Why do people not let us Aussies have knives? Think about it. Most people stabbed are assaulted with kitchen knives. We aren't going to waste money on stabbing some guy we are going to spend money on usefull knives for bushcraft etc.

[TheBushCapital]

I hope that I never receive one of those letters. Thanks for the informative video.

[AussieMark909]

@DeludedManiac I know how you feel my friend. It sure does not make any kind of sense to me.