Packing, Shipping & Insurance for sword sales

Customs / Law

Shipping my swords to customers both inside and outside the European Union is 100% legal (for me to do) BUT please read my Customs Information page first before agreeing to buy.

Packing

I use double skinned cardboard boxes (except for the smallest items / sizes), which I buy or sometimes make myself. I make my own boxes for odd sizes and where reinforced cardboard is required. I also protect the swords inside the boxes with bubble wrap and other packaging materials as I would if I was sending the sword to myself; I often pack swords that do not have metal scabbards in hardboard tubes first and then pack that into a box. I charge for this service, which actually is a bargain based on the cost, time, effort and gasoline it costs me. If a buyer would rather not be charged for packaging, I am very happy to simply stick an address label and stamps on the sword itself and post it! My charges for standard packing are commensurate with the box size;

150cm x 150 cm x 1000cm (dbl skinned cardboard) - I charge £4
150cm x 150 cm x 1180cm (dbl skinned cardboard) - I charge £5
Above this size / bespoke boxes (dbl skinned cardboard) - I charge £15

I am also able to have a carpenter make a solid sword carry case (any sword size) out of chipboard for £100.

Shipping

I ship swords from either the Iberian Peninsula or UK; most are in the former. I have some swords in New Zealand but few that are listed on this site; if an item is in NZ, it will say so, otherwise it is in the EU. If I ship from the Iberian Peninsula, I use the Portuguese Postal Service (the Spanish postal services no longer allow carriage of any weapons, even antique ones). If I ship from the UK, I use ParcelForce. If a buyer requires shipping by UPS, I have to send the sword first to a Mail Boxes Etc. contact of mine as UPS do not accept antiques or edged weapons any longer, unless by special agreement, and Mail Boxes Etc. (as their subsidiary) have such an agreement. Please enquire for details.

Insurance

I can offer loss insurance for 4% of the sword purchase / insurance cost, or 6% for loss and damage insurance. I think insurance is a poor investment as I have sent and received hundreds of swords from and to around the world without problem except once to Russia (I warned the buyer not to have me ship there because of the known problems with that country, but he insisted) and one package to Australia which went on a slight detour before the sword arrived safe and sound at its down under destination a few days late. US customers be aware that US Homeland security directives can delay inbound parcels.

Is it legal to import?

Universal Postal Union Restrictions By Country - Arms are covered by Chapter 93 under each country. You will see all arms have been prohibited for carriage by the Spanish Postal Authority, so I am not able to ship to Spain (unless you insist and at your own risk). Some countries may require permits for certain edged weapons. For example, in Australia (where everything is apparently upside down), you do not require an import permit for a sword yet amazingly you do require one for a bayonet. Also be aware of CITES prohibition of certain goods (ivory, tortoiseshell, etc.). Any items with ivory (grips) or tortoiseshell (scabbards / grips) items I sell are all antiques, but you may still have to arrange an import permit, especially if you are outside the EU.

If you are inside the EU (yes, that does include the UK), it is "movement", not import / export of goods. Movement of Goods means that items can be sent from one EU member state / country to another without regular Customs declaration or inspection. So, if you are in the EU, unless your police department require you to have a license to own an antique / collectible edged weapon as I sell, you do not have to worry; I can send you anything listed on my site without any concerns.