Shipping Fixed Blade Knives From US To UK.

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greenwos

Joined
May 24, 2013
Messages
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Hello All!

I have been looking online at how UK prices compare to US.....double! All of the knives I wish to purchase are fixed blades and blade lengths of 7" or below. Are UK Customs likely to seize these for any reason? Don't really want to run the risk even if the temptation of saving my hard earned cash is there!!
Knives I am looking at are:

SOG Fixation Bowie
Boker AK10 Tanto
SOG Tsunami
Cold Steel Outdoorsman
Boker Plus Ginger Fighter Knife
Boker Plus Tactical Knife

CRKT Shinbu??? Over 7"


Thanks.
 
Should be alright as long as they are fixed blades and blade length < 50cm
But beware of the VAT charges as they can cost you quite a lot
 
OK, thanks for that tip......would these charges not be included on the order totals on the website i'm looking at???
 
From a USA vendor UK or EEC VAT charges would almost certainly not be included in the prices listed. As an importer those are your responsibility along with any applicable customs duty. I base this on other people reporting their experiences of importing items into the UK or other EEC countries. In fact many knife vendors will not do exports due to the varied laws and required paperwork so check the sellers fine print regarding overseas shipment or verify via email that they will do export shipments.
 
The blades themselves shouldn't be a problem as they are legal to own in the UK.

Although ...

The Knives Act 1997 prohibits the marketing of a knife or the publication of marketing material relating to a knife, in a way that either:

indicates or suggests that it is suitable for combat (the term 'suitable for combat' means that the knife is suitable for use as a weapon for inflicting injury or causing fear of injury to the person) - or is otherwise likely to stimulate or encourage violent behaviour involving the use of the knife as a weapon An indication or suggestion that a knife is suitable for combat may be made by a name or description in any of the following ways:

applied to the knife
on the knife or on any packaging in which it is contained
included in any advertisement which expressly or by implication relates to the knife

There are exemptions to allow sales of such items for legitimate purposes, such as for use by armed forces, as antiques or as collectors' pieces.

There are defences available to an offence if you can prove that you did not know or suspect that the way in which the knife was marketed, or the material, amounted to an indication or suggestion that the knife was suitable for combat or was likely to stimulate or encourage violent behaviour involving the use of the knife as a weapon. You also have a defence that you took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence.

I'm not sure but I don't think this applies to importation.

And now the important part - money !

As stated by tatfiend you may well incur import VAT charges. Be prepared to pay 20% on top of the declared value of the goods and the shipping costs. And ... a handling fee to Parcelforce or UPS - £14 IIRC.

In my experience the savings on the cost price by buying from the US can easily be wiped out by the extra import costs.
 
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