Weapons

Ruprecht

Hi - to anyone who can help,

I have bought a sword in Jaisalmer - it is nothing special, kind of rusty but well-balanced. Anyway, I am wondering whether I can pack it in with my luggage, and if not, is it OK to just send it by post, or would that pose a problem?

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Nick-H

I doubt if you could take in in hand baggage on any airplane.

As to what happens when you get to the UK... I don't know how they define offensive weapons. Maybe if it is old and rusty and antique-looking?

Ruprecht

Alright Nick! I didn't mean hand baggage, I think that would be extremely crazy! But I wasn't sure if it would be OK if stowed with the luggage, in the belly of the plane, as such.

Yes, it is very antique-looking; it is still sharp, though.

I only ask because a guy here (local) is telling me to pay him and he will package and post it for me, but that he will pay them under the counter to get it through and avoid X-rays, etc etc blah blah. I am dubious of this, and also I just don't see what's wrong with posting a sword or packing it up with the luggage.

robotvoice

just stuff it down your pants and play dumb.

sorry, i just had to get a smart a*$ answer in. couldn't tell you about it it in reality.

04274108

I'd swallow it for the flight and then sit very upright for the trip.

machadinha

I'd think if you just pack it in your luggage and declare it there shouldn't be a problem. I mean it's not like something you need a permit for (I think). But... don't take my word for it, and these days... Best to call your airline about it I reckon.

There are rules governing taking antiques older than X years (something like a century) out of India btw, that you may need to look into, although it doesn't sound that special.

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Nick-H

Don't be like that Mach, its special to Ruprecht !

Seriously, I think the guy is giving you bull. Unless it is antique, I can't see the export being any problem. It's the UK end I'd be concerned about.


Just my uninformed opinion...

wonderwomanusa

It sounds like one of those scams -- when (or if) you got that parcel at home, would the same sword be in it? Somehow, I think it might never arrive and the sword have been sold to some other tourist...

So yes, take it with you and put it with your checked luggage, and it should be just fine.

shashank.aggarwal

you simply purchase the sword, take a bill (Invoice? receipt?) for the amount you paid and pack the sword in the check-in baggage..

if they ask about the sword, tell them that it a fake or whatever and show them the receipt as a proof of the same..

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capt_mahajan

Maybe worth pointing out that any knife or dagger more than a certain length of blade cannot be openly carried in India.

Dunno what the length is, but a sword will exceed that

As for packing, get it nicely packed in your presence, take the invoice, confirm it is not an antique and check it in.. if it fits into your bag so much the better.

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PeakXV

If your carrying/sending out a Mughal gold koftgari steel khatar - then the Director of Antiquities, Archaeological survey of India might want to have a cup of chai with you ....... but if it's an "aged" Raj period or later piece it should be good to go, with post-9/11 packing protocols in mind of course.

The seller shouldn't be too insistent on "sending" it himself though - that would definitely raise some alarm bells. Use your own gut-feeling with him & procede accordingly.

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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

edwardseco

Been there, check in luggage..

brownboy66

So there's two issue here:

1)Indian regulation re the export of the sword,
2)UK customer regulations re import of the sword.

There are long time IM regulars who can probably give a better steer on the first - but in most cases it will come down to something like whether or not its an antique, etc - in which case its likely to be banned. Also in some cases - airport authorities will have a policy to prohibit the movement of all weapons unless the proper authorities have been notified in advanced, and an export license is obtained. It's a blanket policy which is designed to capture everything (you would be surprised at the number of people who try to take souvenir landmines and grenades home....I kid you not).

Import into UK,

Ok...it looks like the import of swords are banned (check out the links below). Turns out a number of brits visiting Japan for example attempt to bring fake samurai swords into the UK - and have them confiscated (found one quote from a police officer saying names of offenders were being registered in a database of offensive weapons). Wasn't able to find the specific HM customs reg re this - and don't really have the time to search their site - but did find a couple of articles below.

Chances are you could take the sword into the country if you were a registered collector or something like that, or have an import license - but the best bet really is to contact UK customs (maybe at the British High Comm) from here before you travel home and put the sword in your baggage. It could be there is a separate declaration form for this sort of thing the simplifies the whole process! Turning up at a UK airport with a potentially banned offensive weapon (their terms, not mine)could be the start of a very bad episode. Airport authorities these day don't really have a sense of humour about these things.

good luck.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/3867309.stm

http://golondon.about.com/od/getting...toms_visas.htm

PeakXV

Depending on which country you are from the importation regulations can be mind-blowingly restrictive. Even the customs officers are, for the most part, oblivious to many of these rules and IMO would prefer only a layman's description of any given object - to avoid confusion, clarifications, & ultimately queueing delays.

I bought a wooden carving in India once, brought it back, declared it as a "wooden carving" .... only later to be told that it was rosewood & rosewoods are considered endangered and an illegal import to Canada. It's probably wise, within obvious legal reasons, not to describe purchases/handicrafts too specifically as to their composition ..... or, if you're the meticulous-to-the-nth-degree-full-disclosure-type, do proper due diligence on your country's full rules & regulations before you go shopping abroad.

edwardseco

The UK is a critical issue it seems..