Indians For Guns

i want to know if its possible to bring a katana through customs in an indian airport even if i put it in my luggage will i need documents or will they confiscate it because its an symbol of a culture and not a weapon anyone know about the laws on this one

I think you will need a license. I am pretty sure blades over a certain lenght are not allowed...

IIRC blades more than 9" in length and/ or more than 2" in width would be a problem. Excepting agricultural implements.

Cheers!
Abhijeet

I am planning to get one too. Did you get it. Please do let me know. There is not much info on getting swords.

swordfish123 wrote:I am planning to get one too. Did you get it. Please do let me know. There is not much info on getting swords.

Swordfish, did you read what the posters above wrote?

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Vikram

katanas can be imported by baggage or by air cargo.the duty for knives and katanas are 29%of the cost and shipping charges.for imports visit www.swodsofeast.com they will send u a quote for price and shipping through ups.try to get them using your international credit card.ups will get it cleared from customs and deliver it to you.you have to pay them the shipping charges and custom dutys at your door step

aarkay wrote:katanas can be imported by baggage or by air cargo.the duty for knives and katanas are 29%of the cost and shipping charges.for imports visit http://www.swodsofeast.com they will send u a quote for price and shipping through ups.try to get them using your international credit card.ups will get it cleared from customs and deliver it to you.you have to pay them the shipping charges and custom dutys at your door step

seems like it is http://www.swordsoftheeast.com/

A sword will fall in category V,ie arms other than firearms.

"Rule 19.Arms other than firearms.
Unless the Central or State Government by notification in the Official Gazette so directs,no license shall be required for the manufacture,sale,possession for sale or test,of arms of Category V except in the areas notified under Section 4"

Ok I am not understanding anything. I live in mumbai and have been practicing martial arts for the past 10 years. I've been doing kenjutsu for the past seven years and now my sensai finally thinks I am fit for a katana. I've got a seller. I've got my finances intact and everything but I just cant make Head or Tail of the legal implications. Do I need a license to IMPORT, POSSESS and CARRY a Katana in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India? if so where am I supposed to go for that? What do I do? One place tells me I dont need license for non-firearms and The other tells me I need a license for a blade above a particular measurement. Really really confused. Somebody help.

I've had some katanas made here locally, copied from surrendered arms from WWII(Andamans), by our own sakligar families. They are the old swordsmiths to the Rajput clans. Should anyone want any made as per his requirement please PM me, i'll explain what can be done. However, point to be noted is that cost is major factor, transport should be handled by the buyer and all legal angles are the buyers responsibilities.

Katanaji beware, plans being made to smuggle you!

Jokes aside, the problem with WW2 era katanas (officer class) was that they were cheap machine reproductions of the fabled Katana.

One in a thousand or even less was an antique katana modified (downgraded) to make into an officer class. I dont think we are lucky enough to have such a piece in india. And even if we do, do we have the experts to spot it?

When you say the local blacksmiths can make similar ones, do you refer to the shape/style or the technique too?

pauldeathangle wrote:Ok I am not understanding anything. I live in mumbai and have been practicing martial arts for the past 10 years. I've been doing kenjutsu for the past seven years and now my sensai finally thinks I am fit for a katana. I've got a seller. I've got my finances intact and everything but I just cant make Head or Tail of the legal implications. Do I need a license to IMPORT, POSSESS and CARRY a Katana in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India? if so where am I supposed to go for that? What do I do? One place tells me I dont need license for non-firearms and The other tells me I need a license for a blade above a particular measurement. Really really confused. Somebody help.

You cannot import a Katana until you have a license against the same. Arms act clearly state that you would require a license to possess a blade that is more than 9 inches in length or 2 inches in breadth (unless it is practiced by the religion that one is following, for eg. Sikhs).

The license can be procured the same way an arms license is procured. You would have a genuine case as it is part of an art that you're practicing. You would be required to attach relevant papers to prove your case in front of licensing authority.

Hence, the best option would be to visit the Licensing Authority, check with the officer for papers required and get it over with, and then only go for the import.

Regards

Shooter,

Pleasure to reply to your posts once again! Been a long time.

You are absolutely correct about the fact the Japanese officer class must have been issued katanas that would have been massed produced. However, let us not decieve ourselves in thinking that they were of inferior craftsmanship. Even after 65 years of the Jap surrender, these blades could just slice a man in two! That was precisely the reason and that at the end of the war, the Japs were issueing bamboo sticks instead of the swords to their troops, because it would take hell of a long time to keep making them.

Now about the swords that I have had made-these were literaly copied design wise, including the steel scabbard, unlike the wood/ bamboo laquer that is done on made to order blades. Secondly, made to order blades would have silk thread bindings on the hilt. The military swords have leather thongs. Like 'pattis' so to speak. As for the blade itself I just had them tempered twice and electroplated. The craftsmanship required on the swords that I had made, require new dyes for brass pieces for the scabbard, pommel and hand guard. That really took up a long time.

But, of course, patience and art go hand in hand. The end result is good and much appreciated. Also, we must remember that these pieces are commisioned for pleasure and not for actual usage!

Moreover, if I'm not mistaken there is a factory in Dehra Dun which makes katanas, altough I'm not sure if they do still make them. They are the same outfit that makes Khukhris for Indian Army.

M24,

Just about any Rajput household would have swords, believe me, even today. They are revered and worshipped almost on a daily basis. Gain the trust of a Rajput friend and the treasure will come tumbling out! There are a thousand and one types of steel for various purposes and of varying craftmanship. However, I can't justify where a katana would fit in here. But after years for seeing swords I can just say that the art of sword making peaked in India itself. The Perso-Mughals just refined it. The Japanese and European/ Western edged arms are not a patch on what was made here. The sad part is that there are few patrons of this art and the new generation of swordsmiths would be hard pressed to join their peers.

Regards,
Katana

Katana ji , very true.

Katana wrote:
Moreover, if I'm not mistaken there is a factory in Dehra Dun which makes katanas, altough I'm not sure if they do still make them. They are the same outfit that makes Khukhris for Indian Army.

Regards,
Katana

Khukri making is almost a cottage industry in Doon.
Amongst the better known names here is the "Windlass Steelcrafts" ......The guys who made Khukris for the British Army (Gurkha Regts) . Also the armour , helmets and swords for Hollywood Blockbusters like "Gladiator" and "Lord of the Rings".