importing Keris to UK

tom hyle · 18th April 2005, 09:11 AM

Dunno specifically, but it can be a can of worms. I know coming into USA gifts are not taxed, but commercial goods can be taxed on the sale value, or as far as I know, whatever value the government wants to assign (and I hear that this can get real ugly).

vinny · 18th April 2005, 09:54 AM

Hi Tom

Thanks for the advice. My Brother bought some keris a few years ago in Kelantan, and put them in his cargo luggage. The vendor wrote him out a certificate stating that the items were Malay antiques, as she said he might get problems with them being confiscated as weapons. I think things are alot stricter now. I have had a look around at customs websites etc, and I think bladed items are generally frowned on. But if its a bonafide antique? I dunno either.

Regards
Vinny

spiral · 18th April 2005, 10:52 AM

Ive imported many antique kukri into the UK, as long as not Ivory there is no problem, with swords etc.

The post office/customs often use metal detectors & xray equipment & subterfuge may not be appreciated.

Tax & fees seem to vary massively.

Spiral

vinny · 18th April 2005, 11:31 AM

Hi Spiral

Thanks for the info. Very helpful.

Regards
Vinny

Jens Nordlunde · 18th April 2005, 01:38 PM

Hi Vinny,

I don’t know, so I can’t help you, other than advise you to have a look at the English Customs homepage. This ought to give you all the information you need.

Jens

tom hyle · 18th April 2005, 02:35 PM

Or at least every legal power or rule they might use

. I know that in some US states (they're standardizing, but still there's a wild profusion of state and local laws over here) double edgedness is specifically a factor. AFAIK, though there's rarely any trouble about this, it is illegal to buy, import (from anywhere, United State, or not), and maybe possess, a double-edged blade in California and Massachusetts (though AFAIK enforcement is sporadic and selective); every place that sells such mail-order seems to have a warning about these two states and some won't even ship such to them. The mail seems to me to be significantly safer/less minded than luggage taken with, at least USA-wise. Also, I don't think you'll get in any worse trouble over an edged weapon in the mail than having it stolen or owing a tariff (in USA they're known to come knocking at your door over some pills or ivory), so I have often just sweated it until the thing came, then been glad when it does, but a friend who got hit ONCE with the taxes says they were more than the item is worth and swears "Never Again [source country deleted before it's repeated

]!"

Jens Nordlunde · 18th April 2005, 04:30 PM

Although most of the forumites, most probably, live in the States, there are some, living in Europe, which will soon have troubles - if they don't have it already. In Germany knives like katars are forbidden, and will most likely be confiscated if passing Germany, even if the destination is not Germany. Notice that a mail central for Europe is placed in Germany, and they decide what is sent on and what is confiscated/returned. Have a look here http://forums.swordforum.com/showthr...threadid=50184
The Swiss rules can be found here, and they are to be changed http://internet.bap.admin.ch/ notice the rules for antic weapon. In Scandinavia a collectors licens from the police is needed to have a collection and to buy and sell, even antic weapons.

Andrew, would it be an idea that the rules in the different countries were put on the forum, and that they are updated when they are changed?

Jens

18th April 2005, 09:11 AM	#1
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Dunno specifically, but it can be a can of worms. I know coming into USA gifts are not taxed, but commercial goods can be taxed on the sale value, or as far as I know, whatever value the government wants to assign (and I hear that this can get real ugly). Last edited by Mark Bowditch; 19th April 2005 at 10:14 PM.

18th April 2005, 09:54 AM	#2
vinny Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: England Posts: 31	Hi Tom Thanks for the advice. My Brother bought some keris a few years ago in Kelantan, and put them in his cargo luggage. The vendor wrote him out a certificate stating that the items were Malay antiques, as she said he might get problems with them being confiscated as weapons. I think things are alot stricter now. I have had a look around at customs websites etc, and I think bladed items are generally frowned on. But if its a bonafide antique? I dunno either. Regards Vinny Last edited by Mark Bowditch; 19th April 2005 at 10:14 PM.

18th April 2005, 10:52 AM	#3
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Ive imported many antique kukri into the UK, as long as not Ivory there is no problem, with swords etc. The post office/customs often use metal detectors & xray equipment & subterfuge may not be appreciated. Tax & fees seem to vary massively. Spiral Last edited by Mark Bowditch; 19th April 2005 at 10:16 PM.

18th April 2005, 02:35 PM	#6
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Or at least every legal power or rule they might use . I know that in some US states (they're standardizing, but still there's a wild profusion of state and local laws over here) double edgedness is specifically a factor. AFAIK, though there's rarely any trouble about this, it is illegal to buy, import (from anywhere, United State, or not), and maybe possess, a double-edged blade in California and Massachusetts (though AFAIK enforcement is sporadic and selective); every place that sells such mail-order seems to have a warning about these two states and some won't even ship such to them. The mail seems to me to be significantly safer/less minded than luggage taken with, at least USA-wise. Also, I don't think you'll get in any worse trouble over an edged weapon in the mail than having it stolen or owing a tariff (in USA they're known to come knocking at your door over some pills or ivory), so I have often just sweated it until the thing came, then been glad when it does, but a friend who got hit ONCE with the taxes says they were more than the item is worth and swears "Never Again [source country deleted before it's repeated ]!" Last edited by tom hyle; 18th April 2005 at 04:52 PM.

18th April 2005, 11:31 AM	#4
vinny Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: England Posts: 31	Hi Spiral Thanks for the info. Very helpful. Regards Vinny

18th April 2005, 01:38 PM	#5
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Vinny, I don’t know, so I can’t help you, other than advise you to have a look at the English Customs homepage. This ought to give you all the information you need. Jens

18th April 2005, 04:30 PM	#7
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Although most of the forumites, most probably, live in the States, there are some, living in Europe, which will soon have troubles - if they don't have it already. In Germany knives like katars are forbidden, and will most likely be confiscated if passing Germany, even if the destination is not Germany. Notice that a mail central for Europe is placed in Germany, and they decide what is sent on and what is confiscated/returned. Have a look here http://forums.swordforum.com/showthr...threadid=50184 The Swiss rules can be found here, and they are to be changed http://internet.bap.admin.ch/ notice the rules for antic weapon. In Scandinavia a collectors licens from the police is needed to have a collection and to buy and sell, even antic weapons. Andrew, would it be an idea that the rules in the different countries were put on the forum, and that they are updated when they are changed? Jens