No knives in mail?

[SamTuckerMTNMAN]

I learned a new law today that surprised me.
I had a read a thread recently about someone who was going to ship a gun and was denied. Some people were upset by this. Well, today I went to mail a small Kershaw pocket knife (3") wrapped in Christmas paper for a present. First the box was too small, which is fine. But when the USPS employee discovered it was a knife (my wife's doing) he said they don't handle knives of any sort - you have to be a dealer.

Can I just say I'm a knife dealer, I mean is there really a FKL (federal knife license) I have to have to mail 3" pocket knives?

Wow, anyway, any comments welcome.

ST

 

[Baba Louie]

I've mailed a knife to myself from the airport this past year cause I was stupid and overlooked one while packing. The post office clerk at the airport said they get people like me all the time... so whaddaIknow?

edited to add USPS link...
http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/posters/pos138.pdf

 

[hso]

No, there is no such thing as a "federal knife liscence".

Contact your Postmaster.

 

[CWL]

Go back to post office on another day and remail it, or you could go to another location and mail it. Do not let wife accompany you.

 

[El Tejon]

Just yesterday I received a pair of tiger hook swords in the mail. Can you guys send me Fig Newtons in the Bureau of Prisons?

Sam, some day I am going to compile a list of all the "laws" that exist when people do not feel like working!

 

[JShirley]

There is no end to the ignorance of quasi-Federal employees.

 

[mp510]

It's legal to mail knives and tools via USPS, on the condition that it is sheathed or in such a condition whereas the blade and point is covered and can't penetrate the packaging. Also, you can't mail switchblades and gravity knives.

Some post offices have posters regarding potentially hazardous materials that confirm the legality of shipping knives.

I often recieve knives via US mail. Two came from overseas, 1 from New Zealand and another from Sweden, and both clearly said that the package contained a knife on the CN-22 Customs decleration. The knife from Sweden (a German military Mauser pattern by Victorinox) was opened and inspected by Customs and Border Protection and cleared to come into the country. I have attached a pic of that one, and the customs decleration, blotting out personal info of myself and my friend who shipped it.

I also mailed a Vic SAK back for repair, told the postal clerk the contents, and there was no prob whatsoever.

Maybe the ignorant clerk confused pocket knife for handgun.

 

[SamTuckerMTNMAN]

thanks

to you all.

I don't mind taking it to another office to mail but I do want to, politely (really!), confront the office we were at and ask exactly why I had to be a dealer. I can be nice when necessary

Do not let wife accompany you.

*grin* . . . she's learnin'


ST

ps - I wondered because I have received so many knives, swords, and who knows what else over the years...through USPS.

 

[Maxinquaye]

You can't mail switchblades? That's odd...I just bought a Pro-Tech Godson online and they mailed it to me right away with USPS.

Speaking of ignorant federal employees, some of them aren't necessarily ignorant; they just feel like making their own rules up. I went to mail a rifle last year at the post office. I declared it to the clerk as required by law and she told me that their stationmaster had "decided" the other day that they were not going to accept rifles for shipment. I had her pull out the book and call the regional postmaster who grudgingly told her "there was nothing they could do to stop me" from mailing it.

 

[scout26]

Can you guys send me Fig Newtons in the Bureau of Prisons?

EL T, I can mail you a file inside the Fig Newtons, just as soon as I get my FFL (Federal File Licence).

 

[BigBlock]

I have a strict don't ask don't tell policy with the post office. I ship things nearly every day...and if they ever ask what it is they get nothing more than a dirty look.

The other day one of the clerks very rudely hassled me for using a red pen on the address, "it's hard for our machines to read that and it has to be hand sorted, don't do that again!" No, I don't think so. You work for me. I do not take orders from you. I am paying twelve bucks to ship this, if you have to read the address by hand then so be it! I now use a red pen on purpose.

 

[JTW Jr.]

2 things I adhere by :

dont intentionally piss of the people shipping your packages
or
preparing your food.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

It's BS and (if you follow the rules) you can also ship a firearm. It's done thousands of times everyday.

 

[hso]

but I do want to, politely (really!), confront the office we were at and ask exactly why I had to be a dealer.

Get the postmaster involved when you do. Approach it as a quality issue that the clerk wasn't fully trained on the rules.

 

[swampgator]

I guess I'm still lucky enough to actually know the name both of the postmasters in my area, Marlene and Gary, if you care.

The small town Post Office is wonderful. I recently dropped a letter in the mail that I had incorrectly addressed. I called the postmaster back and she said, "sure, I've got it right here, do you want me to change it for you to save a trip?"