It's Official; Canada Customs Deemed my Salt Prohibited

[flipe8]

I just got the word yesterday that my appeal was denied and my Salt 1 has been deemed a "prohibited" weapon. I had ordered the knife back in late August and they finally made their decision. Not exactly quickly, though. I was told that it doesn't mean "all" Spydercos or knives in general, just "that" one, as they were able to "flick" it open. I'm now left with the choice to 1)give up the knife 2)pay to have a bonded carrier send it back to the seller, eventhough it will be fairly pricey due to the fact that it's "prohibited" 3) appeal to a higher office.
Not sure what I'm going to do, but it really bothers me to say the least.
I even suggested to the officer they should send it to a soldier overseas(at my expense) rather than destroy it.

Sal, any chance you could put adjustable pivots on all your knives in the future?

[Padawan]

Does this also mean that there are no Canadian knife dealers that sell the Salt 1? I can understand wanting to deal with certain preferred dealers here in the U.S. due to their excellent service and pricing, but it seems that simply purchasing from a Canadian dealer would eliminate a lot of hassle if it were possible.

[lc1]

I feel your pain. I had a similiar experience with Canada Customs. They seized a regualer folder that I had bought claiming it was "prohibited". Funny, 2 months earlier I ordered the same knife in a different color (for my collection) and that one came through with no problems. I gave up the knife, it was going too much to get it shipped back...

[deeker]

That sucks. Doesn't sound like any of the options you listed are very good. I had two Tasman Salts sent up with no issues, as well as a 93mm Rescue... They must have found the one you got to be fairly easy to flick open.

I have no further suggestions, but I offer my consolations for something that is very frustrating.

[shabbasuraj]

Man that sux...

Write you MP and let him know what has happened. This is the only way things can change. In your letter stress the fact that the law is so ambiguous and some times knives get in and some times knives don't and state that fact that one can buy the same knife without any issue at a brick or morter store. Also state that if the issue is to prohibit certain types of weapons then the law must be re-examined because there are obvious holes that need to be addressed.

The thing that bothers me is that the law is applied inconsistently.

good luck...

[flipe8]

Does this also mean that there are no Canadian knife dealers that sell the Salt 1? I can understand wanting to deal with certain preferred dealers here in the U.S. due to their excellent service and pricing, but it seems that simply purchasing from a Canadian dealer would eliminate a lot of hassle if it were possible.

It would absolutely be easier to purchase in Canada, and it is possible. The major determining factor was cost and availability. The first Customs officer I talked to suggested I buy from Canadian dealers in the future. If dealers here didn't put the prices up so high, it would be the natural choice. The closest local dealer to me that is about an hour's drive away charges $155+taxes for a SS Delica vs. $48 from the dealer I buy from. Even with shipping, exchange and taxes, there's a huge price difference.
To me , it's the inconsistency involved that is bothersome.

[bluemist]

this makes me sad

[flipe8]

Man that sux...



The thing that bothers me is that the law is applied inconsistently

Just read that after I posted as I just stated the same.

[JD Spydo]

It just makes me totally sick to my stomach that both our countries ( USA & Canada) are losing freedoms. I do understand that both countries are taking very pre-cautionary stances because of terrorism and for that I commend them to a degree. But for crying out loud what serious terrorism could anybody implement with a simple pocket knife

Especially the ones in the Salt series which are truly designed for work in Marine conditions and hostile conditions in general. I could have sort of understood had it been an extreme looking tactical of some sort but come on folks the Salt series is about as benign as a Delica for crying out loud. Like I said in a previous thread we the citizens of both countries have got to get involved and lobby to restore some form of sanity and common sense in these laws.

I don't hold this against the customs officers per se because they are only doing what is commanded from on high. But in the name of sanity this has just got to be taken a serious look at.

[merciful]

You will fail on appeal: if the Border Patrol guy who looked at your knife could flick it open, the Compliance Officer who reviews the case later will be able to do the same thing. Give up now and find a bonded carrier to ship it back to the dealer.

The next time you order any folder from the USA, simply have the dealer tighten the pivot to the point that the blade will barely (or even won't) open, and you'll have no issue. The BP guy who ruled on my "1 of 500" Kershaw Spec Bump told me that, and it has held true since, with a number of folders that have been opened at Customs and passed on to me with no problem.

[John G.]

Sorry to hear about your loss. The Canandian customs law sucks.

Just out of curiosity, do you guys find you can flick open Delica's while pinching the sides of the handle ? I can only open mine by holding the blade hole and flicking the handle down.

Does Canadian customs consider both types of manuevers "flicking a knife open" ? If so, Buck 110 lockbacks (and everything else with a heavy handle) are probably illegal too...

[JspyEDC]

So sorry about your plight up there. About 40% of my Spyderco business is overseas, and I ship to Canada at least 2x a week. How was your Salt I shipped.....? Airmail Post, Airmail Parcel, Global Priority...? What was put on the customs form?

Sounds a little to me like the gov't or customs officials are not only ruling ambiguously on the legality of the knives , but also protecting Canadien dealers as well.... in a way. I can understand that more than someone ruling a Salt I is an automatic....please!

Good luck!

[merciful]

I can understand that more than someone ruling a Salt I is an automatic....please!

Well, that's clearly not what happened. The fellow ruled that it can be opened with a flick of the wrist, not in an auto fashion (they'll have pointed to the section on opening via "centrifugal force" or "gravity", not to the section on knives opened with a "button" not attached to the blade.)

All said, we can all agree that the law itself is absurd, particularly as a knife imported legally can then become illegal as it breaks in and the pivot loosens ("whether by design or through wear", I think the law reads). The Yojimbo is my pocket is thus illegal, not that a cop would care.

[elt1]

flipe8,

Sorry to hear about the confiscation. Majority of Spydies almost never get deemed "flick" knives cause the pivot screw is usually tight enough.
I had a Benchmade confiscated by Can customs because it opened by gravity (when the appeals customs officer heard that it was a BM he said "yeah, we get/confiscate alot of those")

My advice would be to have the knife shipped back to the sender... friends who are customs officers say that if a knife fails the appeal, your name will be flagged as having imported a prohibited weapon- which may or may not lead to issues when you're crossing the border & dealing with Can customs. That being said, I'm sure there are many Canadian knife collectors/knuts who've had several knives seized in the past and probably havent had issues.

UPS and FedEx wont ship the knife. I believe Purolator will. So will DHL (but they're not as big). If you call and get an agent who wont ship it based on the fact that its a "prohib" weapon, call back a few hours later and try another agent. Shipping policy appears to differ between agents- mostly since they want your $$$.

You will have to fill out a few customs forms as well.

Also you may have to meet the courier agent at the Customs office to coordinate the entire transfer (at least I did). Customs agents seem to hate to deal with resends and tend not to sign anything (maybe cause they're allergic to paperwork) so dont expect any assistance from them when trying to get your knife sent back.

Hopefully your experience wont be as bad as mine. Good luck!

[STR]

Canada customs are the worst on planet earth for taking things in my experience. I am just about ready to stop mailing stuff there again if one more gets lost in the mail or stolen by one of them examining it.

I am currently waiting to hear if a Skirmish by BM gets to its final destination there after doing a custom pocket clip for one. It if ends up out in la la land like two others did thats it for Canada and STR.

STR

[Blub]

Yeah, what a drag! I went throught the same thing, only with police badges that I had been collecting. I received a creepy letter from US Customs saying I would be prosecuted if I filled out the claim form for the badge and could spend time in prison. I called to see what was going on and the guy on the phone was NOT friendly. When I told the guy my grandfather was a US Customs agent, now deceased, he got a bit friendier and advised me just to drop it and I would not be contacted any further if I didn't respond to the letter. Who knows?

[enduraguy]

Cant issues like this be avoided by using Fed Ex?? When I order Absinthe from overseas for example, the only method my preferred distributor ships through is via Fed Ex to avoid customs issues, and guarantee delivery. Just a thought. (By the way I'm not doing anything illegal. It's only against U.S. laws to manufacture/distribute Absinthe state side, not to own, or consume it.)

[merciful]

Cant issues like this be avoided by using Fed Ex??

No: things that ship via Fed-Ex are still subject to evaluation by Customs. It's dead simple to avoid the issue, like I said before: have the pivot tightened so it won't open with a flick; receive knife. I just wish I hadn't had to learn the hard way.

[shu]

It's dead simple to avoid the issue, like I said before: have the pivot tightened so it won't open with a flick; receive knife.

All well and fine, except the Salt series doesn't have an adjustable pivot screw--they are riveted.


Someone suggested on another thread that a zip-tie through the thumbhole would prevent opening the knife. Apparently Canadian customs is not allowed to 'tamper' with goods being shipped...?

[merciful]

All well and fine, except the Salt series doesn't have an adjustable pivot screw--they are riveted.


Someone suggested on another thread that a zip-tie through the thumbhole would prevent opening the knife. Apparently Canadian customs is not allowed to 'tamper' with goods being shipped...?

Damn, didn't know that; thanks.

They can't mess with the stuff being shipped, you're right. When my knife was being held (permanently) I asked the fellow if he wouldn't mind tightening the pivot and sending it on: "That would be against the law", he said.