Spyderco Forums

I recently ordered a Spyderco Persistence through Amazon.ca, but it was seized by Canada Border Services as a "prohibited weapon". That is unfortunate, since it involves an appeal, or abandonment. Has anyone else had this problem getting a mere Persistence in Canada? Seems like they have incorrectly classified it as a switchblade, or else Amazon is breaking the law by selling it here.

Sorry you lost your knife.

FWIW, Canadian Customs has been doing things like this for years, and not just with Spydercos. From what I've read here and elsewhere, it's hit or miss, but some Customs officers get very creative when it comes to deciding whether a knife being imported by an individual gets classified as a "flick knife". Dealers are another matter, they seem to have no problem importing the same knives that Customs seizes when shipped to an individual. In this case, I don't know what you'd have saved by shopping Amazon, if the knife made it to you but, as things turned out, you'd have been better off buying from a Canadian dealer. Warriors & Wonders, for example, has the Persistence for $48 CDN.

Another option is S&R knives.

Whenever I have anything shipped to Canada I request that the dealer tighten down the pivot screws and even zip tie the blade shut. If some border services finds a knife they will attempt to open it by way of a very hard wrist flick.....if it opens it is considered a gravity knife.


In this case, you would probably win an appeal but it would cost you far more than the knife is worth.