How bad are Australian customs?

pjtn · #1

Hi everyone, this is my first ever post after lurking here for a long time.

I'm wanting to purchase a Caly 3 and Tenacious from USA while our dollar is so strong. Will either of these knives cause me troubles with customs?

The main problem I can see is the Tenacious being classified as a gravity folder.

JayTeeEmEm · #2

pjtn wrote:Hi everyone, this is my first ever post after lurking here for a long time.

I'm wanting to purchase a Caly 3 and Tenacious from USA while our dollar is so strong. Will either of these knives cause me troubles with customs?

The main problem I can see is the Tenacious being classified as a gravity folder.

gday pjtn,

Welcome. Which State are you in? Some states have more issues than others but you take the chance depending on the customs agent's interpretation if it gets checked. I'm in WA and had 2 shipments from KW and had one stopped and it got through. QLD is problematic I hear, you can always apply for the permits.

JTMM

black · #3

There exists no such thing like a gravity folder. And why should the Tenacious be a gravity knife and the caly3 not? That's a gravity knife: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xjsyAFSl6s Everything else is just a plain old pocket knife.

The Deacon · #4

All I can tell you is that I own both and holding the knife by the handle I cannot flick the Caly 3 open no matter how hard I try. The Tenacious, on the other hand, opens fully if I use an exaggerated arm motion. Holding the knife by the blade, both open easily.

From the posts by your fellow Australians I've read, I get the impression that getting any locking folder into Australia is something of a gamble.

pjtn · #5

Thanks for the quick replies. I live in South Australia and had no idea that made a difference.

I thought the Caly 3 might be too tough to flick out by wrist action alone so that's good to get confirmation.

I also had no idea that's what a gravity knife was. I've heard that customs flick the knives with their wrists to try make it open, I thought that was considered gravity. The silly thing is that there is nothing then on the customs restricted knife sheet that should stop a Tenacious getting in. Unless of course they misinterpret the term 'flick knife'.

I might ask Knife Works if they will tighten the pivot screw for me perhaps. Do you think that would help?

Thanks again everyone!

Armalite Native · #6

Ey P

If your in SA you are pretty much as boned as if you were in Vic.

I am sending you a PM regarding something...

Edit Edit - PM sent :)

pjtn · #7

I'm confused as to why it makes a difference which state I'm in? I thought customs was in Sydney and everything is distributed from there?

Knife Works do tighten the pivot screws when sending to Australia thankfully.

I might even look into the permits yet. Perhaps a visit to my local Police station tomorrow.

What knives did you order JayTeeEmEm? Seems like you didn't have trouble.

JayTeeEmEm · #8

pjtn wrote:I'm confused as to why it makes a difference which state I'm in? I thought customs was in Sydney and everything is distributed from there?

Knife Works do tighten the pivot screws when sending to Australia thankfully.

I might even look into the permits yet. Perhaps a visit to my local Police station tomorrow.

What knives did you order JayTeeEmEm? Seems like you didn't have trouble.

There's customs in every state, all major ports and airports. Let us know how you go with the permits if you go down that route. My :spyder: from KW are the ones in the top line of my sig below :)

JTMM

pjtn · #9

Thanks JayTeeEmEm. That's quite a nice list of knives.

I feel like a criminal placing an order for these knives. Australia certainly isn't what it once was, whatever happened to the Paul Hogan "that's not a knife" slogan? But then again his knife was just a plain old 16" fixed blade, not something as dangerous as a Spyderco Tenacious that can be opened ONE HANDED... ;-)

Emcee Bunzing · #10

pjtn wrote:Thanks for the quick replies. I live in South Australia and had no idea that made a difference.

I thought the Caly 3 might be too tough to flick out by wrist action alone so that's good to get confirmation.

I also had no idea that's what a gravity knife was. I've heard that customs flick the knives with their wrists to try make it open, I thought that was considered gravity. The silly thing is that there is nothing then on the customs restricted knife sheet that should stop a Tenacious getting in. Unless of course they misinterpret the term 'flick knife'.

I might ask Knife Works if they will tighten the pivot screw for me perhaps. Do you think that would help?

Thanks again everyone!

I'm in NSW and i've imported a superhawk and its easy flickable and it was never even opened by customs and 3 red persians which were opened, ive also imported a benchmade rift which can be "gravity flicked" and it was opened but they let it through. ive also imported numerous large and small fixed blades which they dont even care about :rolleyes: . one of the ways they flick them is to hold it in a normal grip blade facing the ground, then flick downwards to drop the blade out of the handle then flick up again to open it fully and if they can do that in one motion then they call it a "flick knife" (as if anyone would open a knife like that) and anything with an axis lock or the caged ball lock like the manix which can have the lock pulled back and the blade dropped out, they call a "gravity knife"

EDIT: i have heard they will research knives too, if they look it up and its designed for self defense or knife combat then kiss it goodbye.

dem0n1k · #11

Hi pjtn. I am in QLD & similar story to the other AU guys. I've ordered several spydercos from the USA & had no problems... stretch2, centofante3, 2x endura4, delica4, persian2, police3 & most recently a pacific salt (love it!). I was worried about the police3 given it's size but it came through unopened.

however... i am currently waiting on a benchmade onslaught.. which was probably going a bit too far given Australian import regs but it was an ebay auction that I won so I thought i'd give it a try :P it's already been 3 weeks so I am starting to think customs are going to hold onto that one

ahh... Emcee Bunzing.. i just read your edit... looks like I am gonna be out of pocket there

Agent_Ohm · #12

I have mailed a G10 UKPK to Australia and the buyer received it with no issue.

I think I listed it as a tool on the customs form, can't remember.

Emcee Bunzing · #13

dem0n1k wrote: ..........I was worried about the police3 given it's size but it came through unopened.

however... i am currently waiting on a benchmade onslaught.. which was probably going a bit too far given Australian import regs but it was an ebay auction that I won so I thought i'd give it a try :P it's already been 3 weeks so I am starting to think customs are going to hold onto that one

ahh... Emcee Bunzing.. i just read your edit... looks like I am gonna be out of pocket there

I also managed to get a police 3 through customs (great knife btw), possibly because it has a relatively light blade and a backlock which holds the blade closed. You might get lucky with the onslaught, sometimes it takes them a few weeks but they do eventually let it through, and other times you will get the dreaded seizure letter. my benchmade rift got through fine and i thought it would be confiscated for sure.

dem0n1k · #14

yep police3 is a great blade... love the shape :) i really want a military (& let's face it... lots of other spydercos!) too.. but i am holding off ordering till my latest test of customs comes through (or doesn't). i'll keep my fingers crossed with the onslaught :D

Armalite Native · #15

Import laws are not currently uniform as far as I know. Try to keep in mind folks that customs does do some research here and keeping polite like you all have serves our cause better than some threads I have seen. Best of luck to you all with your imports.

pjtn · #16

I'm starting to think that it will be ok yet. I asked and Knife Works are sending orders to Australia every day and Amber there seems to know what tests they perform.

I guess when people receive their order without trouble they don't complain whereas we always hear the stories on here when things do go wrong. If my order is confiscated I may then need to eat my words...

If an order is confiscated do they automatically destroy the knife or do you get an option of sending it back for a refund? That Caly 3 is damned expensive (for good reason) and I'd hate to lose that much.

I feel a little more positive after hearing about all the knives you guys have got through :)

Emcee Bunzing · #17

pjtn wrote:I'm starting to think that it will be ok yet. I asked and Knife Works are sending orders to Australia every day and Amber there seems to know what tests they perform.

I guess when people receive their order without trouble they don't complain whereas we always hear the stories on here when things do go wrong. If my order is confiscated I may then need to eat my words...

If an order is confiscated do they automatically destroy the knife or do you get an option of sending it back for a refund? That Caly 3 is damned expensive (for good reason) and I'd hate to lose that much.

I feel a little more positive after hearing about all the knives you guys have got through :)

As far as i know, if its seized you can have it sent back (at your expense i would assume), or you can dispute it which could prove to be a lengthy and expensive process, or you can just do nothing and it will be "destroyed". these days i generally buy fixed blades and folders that i know cant be flicked, but if other people are regularly getting their orders through customs with no dramas i might actually be able to get some of the spydies I've been longing for.

pjtn · #18

That takes a big load off my shoulders, I assumed it would just be destroyed. If I send them back I'll be sure to use that money for a nice big fixed blade :)

Emcee Bunzing · #19

pjtn wrote:That takes a big load off my shoulders, I assumed it would just be destroyed. If I send them back I'll be sure to use that money for a nice big fixed blade :)

I'm not entirely sure about the sending back/refund thing but i remember reading it somewhere, possibly in the seizure notice i got (its possible it has changed since then that was a year or two ago). If i was you i would email customs just to be sure: information@customs.gov.au

pjtn · #20

Thanks for that, I've just sent them an email. I'll let you know what they come back with.