Shipping Nihon-to to the UK

[echizento]

I apologize if this question has been asked before. What are the laws related to shipping swords to the UK from the US?

[Geraint]

Hi Ron.

 

Others will have more to add I am sure but here are some starters. Perfectly legal to do this, the recipient may have to demonstrate a legitimate reason to own it. Evidence that you belong to one of the sword societies usually works. The recipient will be very glad if you document the swords age as much as possible which means a reduced level of duty if the sword is antique.

 

The law in effect states that it is illegal to import a Japaneses word unless it was made in Japan before 1945, was made in Japan by a licensed swordsmith or is for use by a member of a martial arts society. So basically any Japanese sword that was not made in Japan, (????) and any Japanese sword made anywhere else if you are going to use it for martial arts. Don't ask!

 

The problems seem to come from customs officials who do not have a clue what they are looking at, but then why should they?

 

At least that's a start.

 

All the best.

[Dr Fox]

Hi Ron

 

I can tell you that there is a very recent discussion on this very topic, take a minute on the search system.

Cheers.

[peter]

Hi Ron,

Geraint is correct it is not illegal if you can prove it has been made by traditional methods , my recommendation is communication with customs, also plenty of information about the item in with the sword addressed to the customs. paperwork, information and communication is the key.

Peter

[IanB]

Ron, Yes this topic has been dealt with before, but it doesn't hurt to repeat things.

 

UK law permits anyone to own 'antique' weapons (generally taken to mean over 100 years old) of any kind with the exception of some firearms for which ammunition is still available. There are other exceptions that need not worry us. Some years back there was a law passed prohibiting the owning, buying, selling, hiring and so on, 'samurai swords'. By the time various influential parties had stuck their oar in, the law became virtually meaningless except when the authorities want to use it. In practice, the recipient will be informed by customs that a prohibited weapon destined for them has been seized. All the recipient need do is provide documentary evidence from the seller , that it is antique and it will be released. It is no use the recipient declaring it antique, it must be from the seller. Occasionally there will then follow a load of nonsense about the rate of import duty the sword should attract, but a letter pointing out that since it was accepted as being antique and released for import, it should only attract the lower rate of duty will settle matters.

I note others have replied but I will still post.

Ian Bottomley

[echizento]

Thanks all for the information.