Shipping Swords out of the UK

[Akitombo]

Hi,

 

I know that Royal Mail will not allow any type of bladed item to be shipped now, but today I arranged for DHL to come round and pick up an African antique sword to go to the USA.

 

They turned up, then said no, as they will not carry any type of sword, dagger, Etc,.

 

What is going on ?????????????????????????????????????

 

God Bless the UK

 

David.N

[pcfarrar]

Royal Mail and Parcelforce are still ok for swords.

[paulb]

DHL have refused to ship swords for quite some time (at least they refused to ship one for me at least two years ago) Apart from speciality shippers like HMC who both Peter and I have used successfully in the past I still think the best and safest service comes from FeDex in the UK. I have shipped all over the world using them and they have never been anything other than efficient and helpful.

Parcelforce are also ok and a little cheaper. Choice would depend on the value of what was being shipped.

[Akitombo]

Hi,

 

Well, I have already been refused shipping of a sword to the USA, for Parcelforce

 

David

[paulb]

Hi David,

I have only used them in Europe and not for some time. Looks like FeDex is the best bet. I have used them twice in the past month once to Germany and one to the USA neither presented any issues

Good luck

Paul

[Jiro49]

A friend just sent me a sword using Parcelforce, It's on its way to me now. I can ask if he had any issues or hoops to jump thru.

 

Good luck!

[Alex A]

Im not sure if this is correct, but i was told this a short while ago. If you go into a post office and they take the item over the counter, then they are obliged to get the item to its destination. Ive been into the post office 2 or 3 times with swords and ive never been asked whats in the box. Ive posted hundreds of items around the world, and again, ive never been asked what is in the box, or have they checked the label. Within the uk ive posted de-activated grenades, guns etc, and again ive never had a problem with the royal mail or been asked what is in the box. (again). Are you by any chance telling them whats in the box, in advance?.

 

Alex.

[drbvac]

I wondered the same thing - that said if you don't say what it there or try and call it a "Japanese wall hanging" or antique back scratcher and it gets lost or stolen - then what - and usually NO way to insure them for the true value.

[Jiro49]

How about original Japanese art? No temptation for thieves and hopefully gets around some of the stupid red tape!

[Alex A]

The insurance with the royal mail is limited, £2500 is the limit with airsure, you add the level of cover you want. If you want more cover then you could insure independently or try Fedex. As long as the labeling is correct, ie Japanese antique (if you do put "antique Japanese sword" i dont think they would notice, the guys in my post office wouldnt, just glad of business), and they take it over the desk with no questions asked, should there be a problem?. I would leave information for the customs in an envelope taped to the box, as someone recently did for me, a good idea, hopefully it may help to prevent unnecessary rummaging.

 

Alex.

[paulb]

I had a conversation with my local post office regarding changes to what can and cant be shipped. they informed me that as of July this year rules were changing to comply with international laws. Therefore for international shipments a number of items are banned. These include all weapons and ammunition (except airgun pellets) and numerous other things.

I have a copy of their document so if anyone wants to see it pm me and I will send a scan.

I think these changes are for international shipments only and do not effect internal shipping but this should be confirmed.

regards

Paul

[Alex A]

Cheers Paul, so where now only left with Fed-ex?, how long before they throw the towel in, i wonder.

 

Alex.

[cabowen]

I am in the process of purchasing a tanto from a fellow in Scotland and he is telling me that he has spoken to parcel force, etc., and no one will ship. I will suggest he try Fedex.....

[pcfarrar]

I am in the process of purchasing a tanto from a fellow in Scotland and he is telling me that he has spoken to parcel force, etc., and no one will ship. I will suggest he try Fedex.....

 

Tanto will ship Royal Mail Airsure to the US. Cost of about £15, just tell him to write paper knife or artwork on the customs description. Problem solved.

[Alex A]

Hi Peter, i couldnt help but wonder, will "artwork" work with a katana etc, presuming so.

 

Alex.

[paulb]

please beware of vague descritions. Peter is right and on some occassions pieces will go through unhindered. But I have also experienced things being held up for days, examined mishandled etc when an over zealous offical didnt understand the description and decided to look further.

Surely it must be better to use someone who is willing/able to ship these things and call them what they are.

regards

Paul

edit as I said in the earlier post these rules come in to effect in July (I am told) and they affect all parts od Royal mail parcelforce airsure etc.

[Alex A]

"Antique Japanese sword", i suppose is the honest title, be nice if parcelforce etc would take "antique" into consideration.

 

Alex.

[paulb]

thats the description I use but then again for international shipping I always use FeDex

[pcfarrar]

The rules changed in January, they only specify you are not allowed to ship weapons. Antique swords are fine, as are antique guns. It sounds like over zealous post office workers misinterpreting the rules.

 

See here for clarification on guns:

 

http://www.gtaltd.co.uk

[paulb]

thanks for that Peter,

The leaflet he gave me was non specific and just stated no weapons were permitted. With this in hand it isnt surprising a post office worker would get confused. As said it was his opinion that the exclusions would take effect from July.

Lets see how it develops but hopefully they will offer clearer guidlines to their employees

[J Reid]

If you use the word "sword" in your description with anyone nowadays you'll have problems. Period. Use "Antique Japanese art" by fedex for international. Everyone else will send it back to you.

[w.y.chan]

How about "sporting good for Iai practice"?

[Alex A]

Hello all, i was wondering if anyone had any uptodate info on whether or not the Royal mail/Pacelforce are still ok for sending an antique Katana overseas?. Ive been into the post office on several occasions lately and they ALWAYS ask what it is that you are sending. I had a bit of a minor hassle posting a deactivated gun last week, the woman behind the desk automatically assumed it was a banned item, which was a bit annoying.

 

Anyway, ive pulled this off the post office website.......

 

"Weapons

Including Section 5 firearms (e.g. handguns, machine guns), CS gas and pepper sprays, flick knives,and other knives that are banned knives under UK laws, tasers and stun guns. Items that appear to be prohibited weapons may be subject to additional checks and delays."

 

It only mentions "banned" under UK laws, so i would take it that an antique katana would be ok to post?

 

If anyone knows better, OR knows of another courier they have used recently, id appreciate the info.

[Kronos]

Hello all, i was wondering if anyone had any uptodate info on whether or not the Royal mail/Pacelforce are still ok for sending an antique Katana overseas?. Ive been into the post office on several occasions lately and they ALWAYS ask what it is that you are sending. I had a bit of a minor hassle posting a deactivated gun last week, the woman behind the desk automatically assumed it was a banned item, which was a bit annoying.

 

Anyway, ive pulled this off the post office website.......

 

"Weapons

Including Section 5 firearms (e.g. handguns, machine guns), CS gas and pepper sprays, flick knives,and other knives that are banned knives under UK laws, tasers and stun guns. Items that appear to be prohibited weapons may be subject to additional checks and delays."

 

It only mentions "banned" under UK laws, so i would take it that an antique katana would be ok to post?

 

If anyone knows better, OR knows of another courier they have used recently, id appreciate the info.

 

They updated that a couple of days after I emailed parcelforce last November after being stopped in a post office. Before it was rather unclear, only giving examples of weapons. Now it specifically states "Weapons that are banned under UK law" which was always their intention, but now it's clearly put in writing and as we know Nihonto aren't banned under UK law like say flick knives. You may still have trouble at smaller post offices as they have no idea what they're doing so I'd suggest a printout from their website and hope the person behind the counter can comprehend what they're reading.

[Alex A]

Thanks James, taking along a printout would be a good way to combat those blank stares, luck favours the prepared mind, as they say

[paulb]

whole on the subject i have been have a long running correspondence (mainly one way, i.e. from me) with FeDex. At present I see little or no liklihood of them changing policy particularly as they actually dont seem to care very much. I havent given up and will keep you posted but as of now I think Parcelforce  is the only realistic option.

[Fuuten]

From January to i think end of February, i received 2 parcels with swords in their from the UK, (from Japan), and both were sent if i'm not mistakenly remembering it via DHL, and were traceable via the royalmail website, and a few stations in the delivery were stated as done by parcelforce, so unless in a few months they just outright stopped accepting these items it seems quite strange they won't pick up your package..

 

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