Mark Ackerson Posted September 10 Report Posted September 10 I’m in the process of buying a wakizashi from a site member here. It’ll be shipped from UK to USA. He got ahold of border force & was told it would be x-rayed and destroyed. Is there any way to get this safely shipped? Need any help available! Quote
Brian Posted September 11 Report Posted September 11 Only way I can think of is to find someone coming from the UK to the USA who can post it when they get to the US. Welcome to the new reality where inanimate objects leave people quaking in their boots. Quote
Matsunoki Posted September 11 Report Posted September 11 10 hours ago, Mark Ackerson said: I’m in the process of buying a wakizashi from a site member here. It’ll be shipped from UK to USA. He got ahold of border force & was told it would be x-rayed and destroyed. Is there any way to get this safely shipped? Need any help available! Wow that’s the first time I’ve actually heard border force say upfront that they will X-ray and destroy. My sympathies….the sword shipping situation in the UK has ground to a halt. Quote
Cola Posted September 11 Report Posted September 11 1 hour ago, Brian said: Only way I can think of is to find someone coming from the UK to the USA who can post it when they get to the US. Welcome to the new reality where inanimate objects leave people quaking in their boots. How would they get it out of the UK? Surely there's a huge risk of getting in trouble at the airport... Quote
Lewis B Posted September 11 Report Posted September 11 You would think, with the trajectory the UK authorities are taking, they would encourage and facilitate any citizen to ship their blades out of the country. One less evil edged blade to worry about. 1 2 Quote
Brian Posted September 11 Report Posted September 11 7 minutes ago, Cola said: How would they get it out of the UK? Surely there's a huge risk of getting in trouble at the airport... Postage is banned. I don't think there is a problem with checked luggage, but may stand corrected. Friends from here regularly (and recently) go over to the militaria shows and have edged weapons shipped back via cargo. Quote
Alex A Posted September 11 Report Posted September 11 Try UPS, List of Prohibited Items for Shipping | UPS - United Kingdom "Bladed products: It is forbidden to sell and deliver bladed products at a UK residential address without verifying that the recipients are over 18 years of age. Shipment should be made with the Adult Signature Required service available upon booking of the shipment with UPS." They only mention blades and 18 year olds in UK. Know of 3 swords imported into UK recently via UPS, one from a private seller. So in that case its a mystery why they wouldn't accept one for export. Its up to the exporter to contact them and ask. Not by stating "i want to ship a sword" but with correct terminology and tariff number. Lots here about that, not going over it all again. In fact, i would just book it through their online customer member website, but that's me. Not saying you should!. As mentioned numerous times, they have their own customs that deal with items. No one is breaking any law, assuming the blade is legai to own in UK, as in Antique, traditionally forged artwork. Stay away from Parcelforce, they have their own rules. Quote
Shugyosha Posted September 11 Report Posted September 11 Hi Mark, It might be a long shot but ask your seller to see if there are any UK auction houses or antiques shipping agents who might be willing to include it in one of their consignments. I assume that these guys are still moving stuff around so it has to be doable somehow. 1 Quote
Lee Bray Posted September 11 Report Posted September 11 3 hours ago, Cola said: How would they get it out of the UK? Surely there's a huge risk of getting in trouble at the airport... My parents flew out of the UK a few years back with two axes and a tachi for me. Checked in, obviously. I was worried but apparently they had no problems whatsover. 1 Quote
Alex A Posted September 20 Report Posted September 20 In light of the above and what i stated about UPS. My recent experience with shipping a blade/weapon with UPS. Not a wakizashi, but a WW2 Fairbairn Sykes commando dagger from UK to USA. I just want to make the point that shipping legal to own blades out of the UK has not ground to an halt just yet. An awkward item to describe really, Japanese swords much easier. Obviously could not be described as "antique" or "art". Hence described it as what it is, "WW2 Fairbairn Sykes collectable/souvenir" with tariff code to match. I'm sure if a WW2 weapon can be shipped via UPS, then an antique sword/ art sword should be no problem. I know they have brought a number of swords into the UK recently, as mentioned. Booked online through the UPS choices site, printed the shipping label and 3 invoices for customs, which they require. Boxed in cardboard tube. UPS turned up on the date stated and within the time stated, from my home. One thing i didn't like is they never sent a confirmation email, i was kind of wondering whether id booked it correctly. All went well, i did get a question from UPS clearance asking me a question. They emailed me asking "do you require a licence to ship this item?", i simply replied no, the item is fully legal to own in the UK and USA without a licence. Ten minutes later a reply to say thanks for the info, the knife then passed through UPS customs. Posted Tues, arrived today. The total price was £34 which included £500 of cover. For £1500 worth of cover, i think it was £15 extra but you had to drop it at a UPS depot, which i did not have time for. The knife was expensive, i took the risk. Fully tracked. See tracking below. The knife now belongs to an X sergeant of the US marines, gone to a good home. Left this here just in case some folks think blades cant be shipped from UK 20/09/2024 13:05Delivered DELIVERED JACKSONVILLE, FL, US 20/09/2024 9:17Out for Delivery Out For Delivery Today Jacksonville, FL, United States 20/09/2024 8:22On the Way Processing at UPS Facility Jacksonville, FL, United States 20/09/2024 7:27Arrived at Facility Jacksonville, FL, United States 20/09/2024 6:49Departed from Facility Jacksonville, FL, United States 20/09/2024 6:23Arrived at Facility Jacksonville, FL, United States 20/09/2024 4:47Departed from Facility Louisville, KY, United States 20/09/2024 1:14Import Scan Louisville, KY, United States 19/09/2024 11:32Arrived at Facility Louisville, KY, United States 19/09/2024 10:25Departed from Facility Philadelphia, PA, United States 19/09/2024 6:14Arrived at Facility Philadelphia, PA, United States 19/09/2024 1:44Cleared Import Customs Your parcel has cleared customs and is on the way. 19/09/2024 3:50Departed from Facility Castle Donington, United Kingdom 18/09/2024 20:12Export Scan Castle Donington, United Kingdom 18/09/2024 14:25Your parcel is on the way 18/09/2024 14:25UPS has received the information needed to submit your parcel for clearance. 17/09/2024 22:44Export Scan Castle Donington, United Kingdom 17/09/2024 17:21The package is at the clearing agency awaiting final release. 17/09/2024 21:09Arrived at Facility Castle Donington, United Kingdom 17/09/2024 19:48Your parcel is on the way 17/09/2024 19:48UPS initiated contact with the sender to obtain clearance information. Once received, UPS will submit for clearance. Castle Donington, United Kingdom 17/09/2024 19:24Departed from Facility Manchester, United Kingdom 17/09/2024 19:06Arrived at Facility Manchester, United Kingdom 17/09/2024 17:30We Have Your Parcel Collection Scan Manchester, United Kingdom 13/09/2024 17:07Label Created Shipper created a label, UPS has not received the package yet. United Kingdom Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.