Posting knives

[mammoth200]

After some advice! I know there are other members here who sell knives, but this typically seems to be as part of a business.

I have a knife I'd like to sell, mainly as I've never used it, and someone else might get some use out of it. The trouble is, as a non-business, it seems remarkably difficult to try and send one through the post/courier.

I can understand the why's here, but what I would like to know is if anyone can recommend how I can ship a knife to a potential buyer, and then I can at least get it listed somewhere, probably here.

My only recent experience was a bit of a pain in the backside when trying to return a faulty penknife to Victorinox under warranty. I'd safely boxed it and took it to the post office, and was told they cannot accept it as it's a bladed object, and I'd need to arrange for collection from home. I managed to do this at the time, postie came and collected, and there were no other issues.

Trouble now is the knife in question is a fixed blade at around 100mm blade length (200mm ish total length), so it seems it's considered a 'prohibited bladed item'.

Am I missing something, or am I completely unable to send this via mail/courier?

 

[andyk]

There was a bit of discussion around this when RM changed their rules on posting knives.

IIRC, there is an exemption for utility knives (or some such) and you could probably sneak a normal hunting knife under it, but it’s a grey area.

Personally, I’d be content to send something of a standard type, i.e. 4-5” max blade, single cutting side etc without much worry. Anything bigger, or a bit more ‘tactical’ and I’d be more concerned of it being stopped and being unable to argue that I’d stayed in the rules.

Others may be along with a better understanding.

 

[User00056]

I've bought butchery knives online and had them delivered via Royal Mail. The only stipulation is that the recipient needs proof of age

 

[mammoth200]

There was a bit of discussion around this when RM changed their rules on posting knives.

IIRC, there is an exemption for utility knives (or some such) and you could probably sneak a normal hunting knife under it, but it’s a grey area.

Personally, I’d be content to send something of a standard type, i.e. 4-5” max blade, single cutting side etc without much worry. Anything bigger, or a bit more ‘tactical’ and I’d be more concerned of it being stopped and being unable to argue that I’d stayed in the rules.

Others may be along with a better understanding.

Image of the knife in question.. You could absolutely use this for a myriad of things - i.e utility, though I'm not sure whether the blade shape lends itself to hunting specifically. I certainly wouldn't call it tactical or similar.

I'd be up for trying to send it with age verification, just trying to head off any issues before trying, much rather it reaches its destination than getting destroyed for falling foul of the rules!

 

[Rory]

Image of the knife in question.. You could absolutely use this for a myriad of things - i.e utility, though I'm not sure whether the blade shape lends itself to hunting specifically. I certainly wouldn't call it tactical or similar.

I'd be up for trying to send it with age verification, just trying to head off any issues before trying, much rather it reaches its destination than getting destroyed for falling foul of the rules!

That's not one of the 'illegal knives', so according to their own guidance here (scroll down to 'bladed items')- Personal help & support hub | Royal Mail - it is fine to send in the mail, with age verification

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

Posting knives is relatively easy to do, you will have to use RM online services to do it, though.

The only problem just now is that insurance is limited to £150.

I would be happy to post all the details and instructions on how to do it over the weekend when I have a little more time.

 

[cjm1066]

Posted a knife via RM what is it, refused. Next post office didn't ask, delivered safely.

 

[nic531]

woodworking tool for whittling!

 

[mammoth200]

Appreciate the responses! I shall see about getting it listed up, in fact I might have a rummage and see if I've got any other pointy things I'd be happy to part with.

 

[mammoth200]

Posted a knife via RM what is it, refused. Next post office didn't ask, delivered safely.

This is essentially what happened with me, but I arranged collection after failing at the post office. The chap collecting didn't seem to give a hoot what was in the box.

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

Follow this link: https://send.royalmail.com/send/youritem

Select the country to which you are posting, and also your parcel size, weight and click continue.





Scroll down to 8 more services and click that.




That (or the 48) is the service you require.

From there, it is all pretty straightforward; you can enter an email address and phone number for the tracking. I tend to use their email/my phone, or vice versa, so we are both kept updated.

Next is the delivery address. The postcode search option is very good.

Then recipient or company name.

Following that, where are you sending from, there is an option to print this address on the label too. Why would you not?

Sender's name.

Make your payment through the site, and following that, you can print your label, it gives various options of where to drop your parcel off, or you can arrange to have it collected.

No printer, no problem, you can still arrange a collection, and they will bring a label with them (30p extra), or there are various free drop-off points at which they will print the label for you.

You are also required to label your parcel advising that it contains a knife, something sharp/pointed. I have attached a PDF of what I use. There are four on there as I print them onto an A4 sheet of four sticky labels; obviously, you only require one of those blocks of text.

I hope that helps.

 

[mammoth200]

Follow this link: https://send.royalmail.com/send/youritem

Select the country to which you are posting, and also your parcel size, weight and click continue.


View attachment 437982


Scroll down to 8 more services and click that.


View attachment 437983

That (or the 48) is the service you require.

From there, it is all pretty straightforward; you can enter an email address and phone number for the tracking. I tend to use their email/my phone, or vice versa, so we are both kept updated.

Next is the delivery address. The postcode search option is very good.

Then recipient or company name.

Following that, where are you sending from, there is an option to print this address on the label too. Why would you not?

Sender's name.

Following that you can print your label, and it gives various options of where to drop your parcel off, or even have it collected.

No printer, no problem, you can still arrange a collection, and they will bring a label with them (30p extra) or there are various free drop off points at which they will print the label for you.

You are also required to label your parcel advising that it contains a knife, something sharp/pointed. I have attached a PDF of what I use. There are four on there as I print them onto an A4 sheet of four sticky labels; obviously, you only require one of those blocks of text.

I hope that helps.

Super, very much appreciated, thank you for the guidance!

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

Posting knives is relatively easy to do, you will have to use RM online services to do it, though.

The only problem just now is that insurance is limited to £150.

I would be happy to post all the details and instructions on how to do it over the weekend when I have a little more time.

Compensation cover has now been reduced to £75.

 

[Bowland blades]

Posting knives is relatively easy to do, you will have to use RM online services to do it, though.

The only problem just now is that insurance is limited to £150.

I would be happy to post all the details and instructions on how to do it over the weekend when I have a little more time.

Well i think it must work better where you are Stuart . I have had any knives lost by royal mail firearms " dangerous goods " team, never have i had a refund . Indeed I have had them just hang up, even had a Parcel force van and the diver killed in one event . the £150 fee isn't really a big thing in my experience as its so difficult to get the pay out! They never paid out . The best/ easiest course of action is to build another knife , customer returns for sharpening etc ?
I think trading from Scotland is a heck of a deal easier with their knife trader scheme . If this new brainwave by the nutty bunch that currently England and Wales ....... ? I feel the supermarkets just wont sell knives
None of Britain prisons have not been able to keep illegal drugs and so called "shanks " ( bits from bed frames etc ) . And there is i believe a fair old amount of various drugs coming into prisons .
Blaming mans oldest tool for the troubles ? utterly Barmy !

 

[finnbear270]

UPS

 

[Bowland blades]

UPS

I think the Government want the business to go the way of parcel- force ( the post service they own / Run ) and the worst carrier of goods

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

Well i think it must work better where you are Stuart . I have had any knives lost by royal mail firearms " dangerous goods " team, never have i had a refund . Indeed I have had them just hang up, even had a Parcel force van and the diver killed in one event . the £150 fee isn't really a big thing in my experience as its so difficult to get the pay out! They never paid out . The best/ easiest course of action is to build another knife , customer returns for sharpening etc ?
I think trading from Scotland is a heck of a deal easier with their knife trader scheme . If this new brainwave by the nutty bunch that currently England and Wales ....... ? I feel the supermarkets just wont sell knives
None of Britain prisons have not been able to keep illegal drugs and so called "shanks " ( bits from bed frames etc ) . And there is i believe a fair old amount of various drugs coming into prisons .
Blaming mans oldest tool for the troubles ? utterly Barmy !

Agreed, don't get me wrong, I have never fortunately had to attempt to get a pay-out in the event of a knife of my making being lost, and if I did I wouldn't fancy my chances, not without a fight anyway.

I think you'd stand more of a chance if it was a 'shop bought' item with a receipt etc.

 

[Bowland blades]

Agreed, don't get me wrong, I have never fortunately had to attempt to get a pay-out in the event of a knife of my making being lost, and if I did I wouldn't fancy my chances, not without a fight anyway.

I think you'd stand more of a chance if it was a 'shop bought' item with a receipt etc.

That surprises me a great deal pretty much all RFDs have horror stories to tell . Perhaps its better on the east side? Had a guy drive up from London to collect some knives just last weekend . I never had one disappear when we all used RMSD and that was the norm for years .
The Scum will always have knives and pistols to be frank and most illegal drugs are going through the regular post