Importation ban on one handed opening knives in Australia

[joea]

I was in at my local camping shop this afternoon admiring there line up of multies and knives.
They have just been told that a importation ban on all one handed opening knives (both knobs
 and holes) is about to introduced. They are allowed to sell existing stock and owning one will not
be illegal (not yet anyway) just wont be able to bring any more in.
This may mean that we will soon see the Dutch style Waves in the stores. Cheers, Joe.

[Zed]

I see this happening here in the uk, this is one of the reasons im trying out non locking non OHO MT's, shame really as its the smurfs that ruin it for us guys who use these things as tools and not weapons,plus lets fave it OHO and lock blades was a way forward in knife and MT's  soon we will be carring flint knives    well as long as under 3inches   

[mvyrmnd]

As far as I've seen with these new rules, MT's may be excluded, as they're not yet seen as weapons in the eyes of 'Today Tonight' which as all Australians know is the source of all reactionary media smurf that results in stupid laws.

I, for one, am buying up every flipper and OHO knife I can afford while I can.

The laws might be stupid, but until Channel 7 is off the air, we're stuck with them.

[bushidomosquito]

This kind of legislation sucks. I grew up knowing that Aussies knew what a knife was, and wasn't.

Crocodile Dundee - That's not a knife

[MultiMat]

Joe at this stage OHO knives are not banned , flipper blades are definitely banned AO Assisted Open blades have pretty much always been illegal to import.

Zen Imports , the official Leatherman importer for Australia, believes the new laws will not apply to multitools.
They have said they are no longer importing OHO knives like Spyderco's. That said there are knife sellers successfully currently importing OHO knives like Spyderco's. There is a awful lot of uncertainty & confusion surrounding what is legal & what is illegal in regards to OHO knives. Aussie customs has a insane test they do on knives that involves a wrist flicking action , if they can flick a blade open the knife will not get through customs.

 

Australian Customs "Flick" Knife Test

Privately importing a OHO knife into Oz has become a bit trickier,like buying a knife from US Ebay for example. I recently received a OHO Camillus knife since the new laws came into effect & it had been assessed/opened by Oz Customs & it got through ok , it has a thumb stud. But it sounds a bit hit & miss , apparently people have bought a number of identical knives & had some fail & others pass , I think largly due to the stupid 'flick test' Oz customs does.

I think currently they are making it up as they go  so this could change in the future & knives like folding Spyderco's could be deemed illegal to import , I hope not .

Have a look at this discussion at Australian Blade Forums  http://www.australianbladeforums.com/vb4/showthread.php?2198-From-Dec-14-new-rules-apply

[Zed]

I guess mat this is like here in the uk, laws state that blades over 3inches and locking are ilegal but you can still but them in the uk    but them blades on say a wave lock but you can still buy them  laws are odd 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I briefly chatted with a knife dealer from Oz at the SHOT Show and he had more than a few choice words about the new ban on importation of OH knives.  I'd like to reprint them here, but I'd hate to leave one or two out since I'm certain I'd be unsure of the spelling.  The physics of some of them are also somewhat in doubt... but I digress.

By way of protesting I'd be strongly tempted to start producing OH knives in Australia so there's no problem with importing them.  Just think, you'd have a captive market!   

Def

[dks]

They could make the Svord peasant in Australia... that is one hand opening, right?

I have just noticed they have a new model out with metal handles!

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

And I thought we had some stupid laws here in the U.S.!

 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Don't feel bad- the US has some stupid laws too, like making Kinder Eggs a banned substance.   

Seriously, dumb laws are everywhere because laws are made by politicians, which is the only job that someone can get when they are completely devoid of any talent or skill.

Def

[Zed]

Don't feel bad- the US has some stupid laws too, like making Kinder Eggs a banned substance.   

Seriously, dumb laws are everywhere because laws are made by politicians, which is the only job that someone can get when they are completely devoid of any talent or skill.

Def

Def you missed out brain as well  infact there devoid of my things in my opinion 

[joea]

Thanks for the info Mat. What annoys me the most is how they slip these laws in quickly and
quietly and the next thing you know it's just there. I suppose in the next few months things will become clearer. 

[AHB]

Look on the bright side guys, you'll have a chance getting your hands on some of these beauties.. 



But you'll miss out of alot of great stuff too, so hopefully your politicians comes to their senses..

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Something else to consider is whether or not the law will actually be enforced.  In California, we have a law that came on to the books a couple years ago that when ever you have your wipers on, you also have to have your headlights on as well, or get a citation.

In reality, I've never seen, let alone heard of, even a single incident of a CHiP or even a county mountie citing someone for no lights with wipers on...

[Grant Lamontagne]

In Canada all vehicles are required to have their lights on while moving.  It wasn't until the Maine Meetup a few years ago that I realized that wasn't the case in the US, and let me tell you, it was a bit of a surprise!

Def

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk