Is It Legal to Post a Knife
USPS is ideal for shipping small packages that include most knives. Also, make sure you`ve insured your knife for everything it`s worth before shipping, just in case there`s an accident. It will help you sleep a little better at night, trust me. Knowing which knives you can and can`t ship can be very stressful because you don`t want to damage or lose your knife. While there are many rules and regulations, it`s not that hard to understand if you take a minute to review the rules that each carrier has for itself. (Follow the American Knife & Tool Institute`s efforts to protect knife users traveling from state to state with the introduction of the Federal Interstate Transportation Act. The burden of knife users to know, understand and comply with complex laws and legal authorities is replaced by adequate protection.) The U.S. Postal Service has been around for a long time and is a great way to ship your knife reliably. USPS reaches every address in the US, so if you`re shipping your knife into the country, this is a fantastic option. USPS has a long list of shipping restrictions, but cutlery is not listed; It is completely legal to ship knives with USPS. When we say “knives,” we are actually talking about a variety of tools. Knives are technically defined as sharp or sharp instruments such as kitchen cutlery, ice axes, and even razor blades. That said, whether you`re sending a handmade Japanese sushi knife or a set of Ikea butter knives, you can ship it! UPS says they will ship certain dangerous goods and weapons only on a contractual basis.
So it really depends on whether your knife is considered a weapon or a dangerous good. I would say that most pocket knives are tools and should not be classified as dangerous goods or weapons. Be sure to wear plenty of cushioning material to protect the people handling the packaging and the knife it contains. When you have finished packing a knife for shipping, there should be no way for the knife to cut through the packaging material and injure anyone who comes into contact with the package. Make sure the knife you`re shipping is legal wherever you send your package! The best rule when shipping knives and sharp instruments is to avoid shipping dangerous items that could hurt postal workers: loose knives; improperly packaged sharp objects; and automatic, ballistic and self-opening blades. If you travel between states or to federal entities (such as a federal court, post office, or military base), you submit to federal jurisdiction. Committing a crime while subject to federal law and carrying a knife can have extremely serious consequences. Federal crimes are punishable under criminal law, and these regulations treat the carrying of a knife very poorly. You can receive an additional sentence for carrying a knife while committing a federal crime. In addition, you may not be entitled to penalty reductions and other safety valve reductions for a first or minor infraction.
The knife packs you want to ship with USPS should be extremely secure and difficult to open. USPS recommends an outer and inner packaging layer for knives (such as wrapping your knife in bubble wrap and then placing it in a box). At the time of writing, UPS ships to over 200 countries, countries, and territories, so there`s a good chance you can ship your knife with UPS, regardless of your location. AKTI and others have been instrumental in reforming knife laws at the state level, and a growing number of states now have “preemption laws.” In a state with preemption laws, state law automatically supersedes all local ordinances. So if a knife is legal to carry in one part of a state, it is legal in any part of the state, regardless of local city ordinances that have not been revoked. Check out our list of states with preemption laws. Let`s go straight in and see how to ship a knife safely and correctly with major USPS, UPS, and FedEx carriers. When shipping a knife, it`s best to add more cushioning material than you think to make sure your knife stays safe during transport.
You want to avoid a broken knife at all costs, and careful packaging and padding of your knife is the best way to make sure that doesn`t happen. Imagine a trip from one city from one state to another. Boston, Massachusetts to Providence, Rhode Island, for example. On this one journey of about 50 miles, a knife owner is subject to no less than six different laws governing the carrying of knives: 1) Massachusetts laws; (2) the Boston Ordinances; (3) ordinances of cities and municipalities adopted during the trip; 4) Laws of Rhode Island; 5) Decrees of Providence; and (6) federal laws. Therefore, before traveling, you should check all the laws and regulations of the state of departure and city, each transit through the states and cities and the state of arrival and the city, as well as the federal laws on carrying knives. To mark your package, USPS recommends that you DO NOT mark your package in any way to indicate its contents. For up-to-date information on packaging and marking a USPS package containing a knife, visit the website. Rail transport is very restrictive in terms of carrying knives.
Amtrak, for example, bans knives altogether. They are not allowed on you, in your carry-on luggage or your stowed luggage. In general, this policy is not enforced as strictly as TSA guidelines, but its lack of enforcement does not mean that laws and regulations do not exist. Greyhound allows knives in stowed luggage, but not on your person or handling. Always be sure to check the regulations of the company you will be using. This is not legal advice. This cannot be due to the multitude of legal considerations. These are tips for travelers who support measures. If you have legal questions, ask a lawyer.
The exact definition of a switch blade changes slightly depending on who you`re talking to, so be sure to follow the USPS description. Any knife that is not considered a switch blade knife falls into the general category of knives. If you decide to ship a knife, make sure it is safe. If possible, use a knife roller or padded case and attach the blade to the handle if it is a backrest, and attach the sheath to the knife if it is a solid blade. Also consider insurance for the knife as well as a signed receipt if the knife is very expensive. For more information on packing your knife for shipping with UPS, visit the UPS Packaging Policy page. In addition to multiple and sometimes conflicting legal powers, there are five main forms of restrictions. Note that in some places it is also important to know if the knife is hidden or not. Note that some knives are legal to possess but not to carry. The main forms of regulation are: Sharp instruments include all sharp devices such as knives, tools, ice axes, razor blades, stiletto heels or similar devices. If there is uncertainty as to the ability to ship a sharp instrument or blade knife, an order may be requested from the local postmaster (see 215.3). Most countries have no restrictions when it comes to shipping cutlery to another country.
If you want to ship a knife internationally and this knife belongs to a cutlery set or it is a kitchen knife, the most important thing is to carefully prepare the packaging. You must pack the knives individually and make sure that there are plenty of packaging materials so that the courier or anyone else involved in the transport process is not injured.