How bad are Australian customs?

[O,just,O]

Mate, it's a chook raffle, buy your ticket & the man with the forked tounge will spin the wheel. Where it stops nobody knows.
O.

[pjtn]

lol, I love some of the characters on this forum. I remember reading somewhere else on here that they think it depends on the price of eggs in the South Pole.

I'm confident though. I have to be or else it will drive me nuts...

[pjtn]

My fiancé is sick to death of me complaining about customs by the way...

[ozspyder]

Hi guys sorry I'm late to this convo. I have been importing mainly Spyderco folders for a few years now and my collection has waxed and waned around the 120+ mark for some time. In combination with a few other factors I have slowed down importing folders of any sort. One of the main reasons is that Australian Customs are inconsistent at best - a chook raffle it is !

I have had knives crushed (legal battles cost money and even if you win the Govt won't reimburse your legals), had some released (majority), and a couple I chose to send back (at your own cost). Currently I have 4 Persians headed by plane to Sydney with ministerial approval from Canberra. The paperwork on these has taken more than 3 months and requires a Prohibited Weapons Permit from your home state Firearms Registry amongst a B709 and B710 forms etc. Lengthy but sometimes necessary if you love Spydies like I do.

Please note that Customs do not just do the drop lock test to determine and classify any folder as a flick or gravity knife (don't get me started on this). They WILL and they do use thumbstuds, holes and flippers to actuate and start the flicking process. This is clearly stated in their leaked internal memo as published in the AKC magazine a few months ago. This is how many of my previously imported folders got seized due to a change in interpretation of their (as they have told me) unchanged legislation. I have been and still am debating the fact that it really is not the spirit of the legislation. However, debating such matters to counter red tape is near on impossible. Importers in Oz are also fighting this battle due to loss in sales.

That said, I would highly advise that you contact your state's firearms registry and email them info on the knife you intend to bring in and they can help you by determining if they believe it is legal or not TO THE POLICE. However, Customs are still the power holders at the frontline and will be the final determiners of legality. And the chook raffle starts. Sydney port seems to be the toughest from speaking with serious collector mates at the different states.

Nail nicks, friction folders and slippies seem to be fine. Smaller folders also seem to be getting through ok at times. But the smoother medium and definitely larger folders seem to be the ones they are targeting. Recent knife crimes in Oz over the last couple of years has not helped our cause. However the heartening news I hear from speaking with the guys in Canberra is that they are trying to rationalise importation of such things as knives to be allocated to one department and not to the current two (Police and Customs). They are confident that it will make the paperwork side of things better but I am sceptical about making it easier :)

I would highly recommend a good local knife dealer if you have access to one. I buy mainly from a US dealer but have sourced some from local dealers.

[pjtn]

Today I was in my local camping store which sells a few knives and was surprised to hear they're also having increasing difficulty getting folding knives. Which makes me question if the laws have not changed, why is it more difficult to get hold of them?

They also seemed to be under the impression that new laws were making there way through to completely ban folding knives??? This seems far too radical and I would never expect it to happen.

Since fixed blades are easy to get and, hopefully, the Spyderco Slipits, I might start collecting them to curb the risk. Still, I dearly hope my Caly 3 and Tenacious make it through.

I think my Fiancé has started to worry about how often she sees the Spyderco Terzoula on my screen...

[The Deacon]

I suspect it's a two, and possibly three, part answer. First, as in other places including the US, the laws the police enforce concern ownership and possession while Customs regulations concern what's legal to import. Am sure there are all manner of things you can legally own, but that I couldn't ship to you from the USA, and visa-versa.

Second, individual Customs offices appear to have more discretion when it comes to interpreting their rules than the police have in interpreting the law, and the legal process once they decide you're in violation is weighted heavily in their favor. You are, in effect, guilty unless and until you can prove your innocence.

Finally I suspect those in authority find it easier to pressure Customs into twisting a rule than they'd have pressuring law enforcement and the courts to do the same with a law.

[O,just,O]

Correct on all counts there Paul.
O.

[pjtn]

That's a very well reasoned answer Paul.

Can someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it illegal to carry any knife in Australia in public? Whether locking or non locking, 3" or less, it doesn't matter?

[JimP]

Without good cause or reason, yes you are correct.

If you are on your way to your favourite fishing spot and it's in your tackle box and you have your rod in hand, then I believe you have no problems. :)

[ozspyder]

Spot on from Paul and from Jim. Guilty until proven innocent is almost the norm these days unfortunately which breeds distrust in all camps and it pervades our once innocent world

Also in addition to Jim's answer you can have in your possession (on your person, luggage or vehicle) knives if they form part of your job description eg: chef, rock climber, etc

I usually have something small on me for cutting fruits and food due to a couple of kids with allergies and thus need fresh fruits and/ or packaging opened. Spydersaw in the car in case I come across any small bush or tree limbs that need pruning to get out of my way :)

[Emcee Bunzing]

Yes, as Jim and Daniel said, the main thing is that you must have a legitimate reason for carrying one whether its your occupation or just a reasonable everyday task that requires a knife, and really the final judge of any legitimate reason is the officer who stops you.

I am an apprentice electrician and i carry up to 4 (occasionally 5) knives on the job every day; a SE police 3 for cutting conduit and ducting and other plastic materials, a gayle bradley for finer cutting like stripping and cutting cables, plus a dedicated food prep knife (a stretch or a street beat), and a beater to loan out or for dirty jobs. To me those are perfectly good reasons for carrying them and i have never had any trouble.

I'm lucky in that i live in a relatively small rural town, i have grown up using pocket knives for everyday tasks and every cocky here has a knife on his belt, no one even bats an eyelid when i pull out a knife to cut my sandwich, a piece of fruit, or to open a package. Bigger cities are whole different kettle of fish.

EDIT: self defense is absolutely NOT a legitimate reason and saying that your knife might be used for self defense will most likely get you charged with carrying a weapon.

[pjtn]

Thanks for confirming that for me guys.

I'm also from a small rural town and farmers often will have a knife in a leather pouch on their belt. The likelihood of walking past a police officer is extremely slim and I do get the feeling they wouldn't care too much if I did have a knife. Plus I certainly give them no reason whatsoever to search me.

City people and knife collectors are probably the harder hit than myself but it still worries me were these laws are heading.

[pjtn]

I thought that I'd update everyone here and let you know that my order came through fine.

Customs did inspect it but did not remove anything. It contained a Spyderco Tenacious, Spyderco Cal 3, Leatherman Wave and a Spyderco Sharpmaker.

Knife Works did a great job tightening the pivots, there was no way they were going to come out easy. It was next to impossible to open the one handed at all.

The Caly 3 was quite slow even when adjusted. After popping a little oil in the pivot it seems to open much easier now.

Thanks everyone.

[ozspyder]

Excellent news !!! The Caly 3 would've been the one that was the likely candidate for seizure. I've had one out of 4 of mine taken.

KW do indeed try their hardest to look after customers.

Enjoy your goodies :)

[sean rorie]

Hi All I live in Sydney and have recently brought in
2 Sebenzas,one sent one back for warranty work
1 Strider Sng then sent it back for a spa treatment.
Spyderco ambitious
Manix 2 stag arms
Para 2 which customs opened then sent through with a flyer saying nothing taken,
Sanrenmu 710
I still have two other Para 2 on there way heres hoping.

[O,just,O]

Hello & welcome sean. You are one lucky little knife lover, the wheel has been stopping on your numbers. I wish you continued good luck. :)
O.

[pjtn]

The way Knife Works tightened the pivot on the Caly 3 I'd say customs would have passed it as a two hand opening knife.

Good luck indeed Sean, I hope it rubs off on me...

I can't believe that I've owned these knives for around 11 hours now and barely even cut myself

[sean rorie]

Thank You for the welcome.i suppose I have been lucky,I think customs only open 1 in 5 knives I import from overseas,but as far as I know I am not doing anything wrong I am just a person who loves a blade with them,does not make me feel secure but warm and fuzzy knowing I have a quality blade with me.(Parra 2)

[Armalite Native]

Wd Pj I have been wondering how you got on.
Cheers,
A

[oz-geo]

G'day fellas

i've imported quite a few knives over the past three years and never had a problem with customs. I'd say that half of my larger orders were opened up for inspection.

I just received a box of 7 knives from the US to Melbourne. Customs opened the box to inspect but all was OK. This delivery included a millie, para2 (and how good is this knife!), three enduras and a stretch.