Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting Bringing a Pocket Knife Over the Border into Canada?

[Buffalo]

Recently, I was reading the Canadian Governments website concerning bringing guns & knives into Canada. I have a Benchmade #710 folding pocket knife that has the Axis locking device. The blade is just short of 3" & has an opening stud going through the blade to allow the owner to open the blade with one hand. Therein lies the problem (I think).



On the website, it says that a knife that can be opened with one hand is considered illegal & not allowed into Canada. I'm thinking they are refering to "switchblade-type" knives however, the site seems to be a bit vague in their descriptions.



Last week, I phoned Benchmade & they said that they sell that knife to dealers in Canada so, I called a dealer(in B. C. ) & he said that he wouldn't bring it into Canada because the border inspectors MAY consider it to be illegal & confiscate it. I'm going to contact the Canadian Government & try to find out, for sure. I sure do like this knife & would hate to leave it home if there is any chance of confiscation. Ten or more years ago, I paid over $100 for it & don't want to take a chance. Am thinking of buying a cheap knife for the trip but, I really like the ability to open the blade with one hand.



Any thoughts?



Joe F.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Read the writing of the law. If it's as vague as "opening with one hand" then I'd be leery of taking it. Chances are, it's left up to the officer to make the ultimate decision, and if you get a newby who wants to prove something, he'll prove you made a mistake..... I'd go with the cheapo or mail it to wherever I'm going.

 

[Newt]

Any thoughts?



Joe F.

Do you really have to go to Canada?



Being a full time RV'er with a CHL. Canada and Mexico are on my list of places I won't go.



Newt

 

[KBurgoyne]

pocket knives are weapons of mass destruction in canada. especially in the frech parts.

 

[RCorbeil]

Where are the frech parts? A pocket knife with a less than 3" blade is okay.

I've carried a pocket knife for more than 40 years, both sides of the Border with no problems.



Ron

 

[Buffalo]

Newt,

With all due respect, what is a CHL?



Regarding not wanting to go to Canada, my trip is up to Alaska. Other than the Sea Highway, which is pretty expensive for a pick-up & 25' travel trailer, the only other way I know of to get to AK is by going thru Canada. Besides, I'd really like to see the scenery. I've been to Vancouver, BC, Calgary, AB. , Banff, AB. & found it very beautiful. Been to Ontario, Toronto, Wasaga Beach, etc. , also. Always had a good time. However, their laws ARE different & if you are going to go thru Canada, it's a good idea to respect them. It's their backyard & they make the rules, I guess.



Your hesitancy to go to Mexico is understandable. I'm pretty short as it is & wouldn't want to have my head chopped off causing me to be even more vertically challanged. I've never felt unsafe in Canada.



Knives are OK in Canada. Knives that can be opened with one hand are in question. I don't know if they are refering to switchblade, spring assisted or what. The knife I have has to be opened with your thumb but, it can be opened with one hand. That's why I bought it. I figured that if I ever had something in my one hand, I could still open the blade with the other hand without putting down the object I was holding.



Joe F.

 

[Newt]

Newt,

With all due respect, what is a CHL?



Joe F.

Joe



CHL is Texan for Concealed Handgun License. As a full time RV'er, I have too much stuff I would have to do something with if I wanted to go to Canada. The Canucks don't take kindly to handguns.



Newt

 

[HBarlow]

Joe, your own words apparently quoting the Canadian website "it says that a knife that can be opened with one hand is considered illegal & not allowed into Canada" seem pretty clear to me. The intent seems to be any one-handed operable knife is prohibited for obvious reasons.

I would leave your favorite pocketknife at home for this one trip. If you mention the knife at a border checkpoint, the Canadian border officials may confiscate it. If you don't disclose it and they pick up on a subtle hint that you are deceiving them or simply decide to search and find it your trip could turn unpleasant in an instant. They are serious about what they consider weapons.

Canadian border officials tend to be a little more concerned about vehicles with Texas license plates. I'm sure they are aware that a lot of Texans carry guns. They may have a similar opinion of Arizonans.

I've made a couple of dozen trips into and through all of the Canadian provinces including a short excursion into Quebec on a recent motorcycle trip. I've always enjoyed the trips and the scenery.

I did have one unpleasant experience in BC more than 20 years ago. I was carrying a handgun and turned it over to a hardware store in Bellingham for storage but they wouldn't accept the clip with live rounds in it. I showed the receipt and the clip at the border and explained. The officials made my wife and me sit on the curb while they searched our truck and trailer but ultimately let us go.

 

[Buffalo]

Thanks for your replies. I'm already searching for a clip-on pocket knive that requires two hands to open. There are not that many on the market. Almost everything requires only one hand.



I called Benchmade (maker of my knife), in OR. , & asked them about the legality of bringing that knife into Canada & they said that it should not be a problem since they sell their knives to stores throughout Canada. I called one of them in Vancouver, BC & he recommended not bringing it over the border but, to stop in & buy one from their store!!!!!



Joe F.

 

[mpaulson]

Just put it in your cuttlery drawer in the trailer and drive over. We Canadians get blamed for hording the terrorist, yet when we are picky at the border about what comes across, we are considered jerks. Go figure, you can't win. I've traveled through all the western states from Calf/Ariz north in the past 15 years and can say I've had no problems coming down and traveling there. One thing I noticed is that when you put your signal light on in on a big city freeway, people let you in. I guess that may be because people are known to be carring a gun and people are scared that if you don't let someone in, they might use theirs on you.

I have a couple of knives with the little knob on the blade that make it so you can open it with one hand, both bought here in Canada.

 

[idlinthetruck]

As long as the knife isn't a switchblade or something obscene, you should have no issues. It's the same with anything from fireworks, to knives, to dog food... depends on the border agents attitude... the less 'questionable' items that you bring across, the less you'll have to worry. Since you're crossing on the west coast, you'll be dealing with a more washington state or oregon-type attitude for the most part. It's quite different entering into each province... . much like each state, laws vary

 

[Buffalo]

Thanks for all the replies!!! Really appreciate the response. Mpaulson: The knife with the knob on the blade is exactly what I have. It's a Benchmade product & I'd really hate to lose it at the border. I think I'm eventually going to send the model number into the Canadian Government & let them approve or deny entry into their country. Most likely, they will throw my request into the garbage but, you never know. Sure hate to leave that knife at home. I'm planning to bring a Remington 870 HD 12ga. shotgun on the trip (for personal safety) & bringing a knife along, also, might be too much. That's another thing. I've heard that you do not want to tell the border agents that you are carrying a weapon for personal safety. However, I have NO plans to hunt or fish for anything. Not too sure just exactly how to approach that problem, yet. What are your thoughts on telling the border agents that the shotgun is for personal protection from 4-legged critters that think I'd be a tasty snack? Might as well include 2-legged critters in the list.

Joe F.

 

[mwilson]

Thanks for all the replies!!! Really appreciate the response. Mpaulson: The knife with the knob on the blade is exactly what I have. It's a Benchmade product & I'd really hate to lose it at the border. I think I'm eventually going to send the model number into the Canadian Government & let them approve or deny entry into their country. Most likely, they will throw my request into the garbage but, you never know. Sure hate to leave that knife at home. I'm planning to bring a Remington 870 HD 12ga. shotgun on the trip (for personal safety) & bringing a knife along, also, might be too much. That's another thing. I've heard that you do not want to tell the border agents that you are carrying a weapon for personal safety. However, I have NO plans to hunt or fish for anything. Not too sure just exactly how to approach that problem, yet. What are your thoughts on telling the border agents that the shotgun is for personal protection from 4-legged critters that think I'd be a tasty snack? Might as well include 2-legged critters in the list.



Joe F.

If you risk crossing with the shotgun you better have a good poker face...



It will be a question asked when you cross and if you so much as twitch while answering all Hell is going to break loose.

The question asked is "Do you have any weapons, pepper spray or mace?". . That is asked everytime as far as I know.

Then you have the random thing where every so many vehicles will be searched no matter if there are suspicions or not.



I would NOT ever try to cross with a firearm. There may be a way to do it legally but you really need to contact Canadian Customs.



My In-Laws are crazy SOB's and they always ship the guns to Alaska rather than trying to deal with Customs. If they won't try it that is good enough for me.



As far as your knife, the cutlery drawer suggestion is dead on. That will work.



Do not babble or offer any other information while crossing, only answer the questions that are asked. If you get rattled easily don't even try it.



Also, do you have a Passport or Passport Card for each person???



Mike.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Quote



. One thing I noticed is that when you put your signal light on in on a big city freeway, people let you in.



Where is this going to happen?? I thought that turning on a signal just lets the people behind you know to CLOSE UP THE GAP BEFORE YOU CAN MAKE A LANE CHANGE.



When going to another country JUST DO WHAT THEY ASK OR DONT GO!!!!!! Very simple



I wonder if the wifes toys would count as weapons

 

[BIGNASTY]

And my favorite is you can scalp yourself just brushing your hair!!!!! She often has her hair in a Pigtail this is a hair thing? its a throwing disc she doesn't need the 9mm she carries

 

[mainer29]

QUESTIONS ABOUT CROSSING THE BORDER INTO CANADA. Q. What do I need to bring my firearms into Canada?



http://www.canadawelcomesyou.net/faq.html But the vast majority of guns seized at the border belong to Americans who simply didn't know they could bring their shootin' irons with them on vacation or while transiting to Alaska with no paperwork.

" Intentionally packing a gun and failing report it at a border point is not an honest mistake. Stupid, yes. Honest, no," said another. "Use your time in Canada to learn something about the culture. Come to understand why Canadians are not gun crazy. "



http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dail...-student-jail-bringing-handgun-194626839.html

 

[BIGNASTY]

Stupid yes!!!!! do I blame people for their mistakes NO BUT I DO EXPECT THEM TO PAY FOR THEM

 

[mwilson]

Just reviewing mainer29's link, that brought to mind the OUI thing.



If you have ever been convicted of an OUI or DWI, don't bother trying to cross into Canada. You can't. Ever.



Many a truck driver has discovered that at the border crossings over the years.



It also appears with a P. A. L. permit that you can take that shotgun with you for hunting purposes only. I did not know that was an option.



Mike.

 

[KrisKringle]

Well, jeepers, I had a problem with getting to the Statue of Liberty with the family with my Buck POCKET KNIFE, given to me by my Father 20 years ago... here is the story... (http://englishspokenhere.de/ESHblog/?p=230) you will have to scroll down a bit, but what a fiasco. Airport-type security; an American Vet all but bent over for a cavity search but a bunch of Red-eyed Jamaicans (or who ever they were, but English was not their first language)...

 

[BIGNASTY]

Well then I guess I should leave my Gator Serrator (aka Gator Castrator) at home have it on my belt all the time.