Anyone succesfully purchased a sword from outside India?

[Skyman]

GBM, note as per your advice, i asked if ANY restrictions were in force under arms rules.I did not specify knives.Therefore asked for restrictions regarding guns knives swords whatever.Flat no was the reply.


Here is the text of the rti query.

Home Department

Vidhanasoudha
Dr. Ambedkar Veedhi, Bangalore 560 001
Karnataka


1) Please provide me one certified copy each, if there exist notifications issued under Section 4 of Arms Act 1959/ Rule 19 of Arms Rules 1962 that are in force for Bangalore city.

2) Also please let me know if besides notifications under Section 4 of Arms Act 1959, are there any other laws or notifications related to arms other than firearms that are in force for Bangalore city. If yes please provide me one certified copy each of the same.

I asked for Karnataka, and especially Bangalore.This will stand yes? Good enough do you think for sword imports?

[goodboy_mentor]

You asked for Bangalore city in RTI, got reply for Bangalore city that State government has not issued any restrictions under Arms Act. Appears good enough for import of any "arms other than firearms" provided the Customs do not have their own import restrictions, which appear to be none.

[Moin.]

Skyman, avoid all hassles, If it was possible, some veteran member here would have inported one by now. Specially if you don't have money to spend and resources at your disposal.None of us do.

Go to Amritsar or Jaipur and buy what catches your fancy. From 500 to 5 lakhs, everythings available. May I ask which sword are you planning to import which led to this thread ?

Regards
Moin.

[Skyman]

Sword imports are a go then.!!! Thank you for making this happen,GBM.

Moin, i am not importing anything.Merely ready to act as a conduit because i have that rti reply at hand.It was just a thought which lead to the thread.However, if some one will put up the cash, i will try to get some cheap katana through customs and we will see from there.Something like space monkey.Might be the loss of 80-100$ at the worst, katana in hand otherwise.

I think other forum members steered clear of sword imports because they did not have a foolproof way to convince customs otherwise.I might be wrong.

What shall i say, will you take me to Amritsar?

[Moin.]

Sword imports are a go then.!!! Thank you for making this happen,GBM.

Moin, i am not importing anything.Merely ready to act as a conduit because i have that rti reply at hand.It was just a thought which lead to the thread.However, if some one will put up the cash, i will try to get some cheap katana through customs and we will see from there.Something like space monkey.Might be the loss of 80-100$ at the worst, katana in hand otherwise.

I think other forum members steered clear of sword imports because they did not have a foolproof way to convince customs otherwise.I might be wrong.

What shall i say, will you take me to Amritsar?

I had guessed so , 80 to 100 USD gets me a very good folder or a very decent fixed blade, why would anyone spend that kind of money on a junk piece of steel. If I remember correctly Rajat had one Katana Custom made perhaps in Rajasthan. Katanaji had one replica made as well and had offered it to the memebers of this forum some time back.

I'm sure these would be a hundred times better that the 80 to 100 USD ones you are referring to.


USD 100 is INR 5600 add customs duty and shipping. About USD 30 to 40 more. About INR 9000 or so. Are you willing to risk 9k since you referring to it very casually as only USD 100

[Skyman]

I meant inexpensive, not cheap.Can get one for 40-50$ plus another 40-50$ shipping.SO thats a good 5 grand or so.
I amn't putting up any money.Willing to get it through thats all.Money is tight for me.I had to huff and puff before i got my boker for half k, will go into cardiac arrest before i throw 9 k away!!

Seen katanas with high carbon steel, razor sharp for 50$.

[jayanta mukherjee]

Skyman you have a pm and have also texted you. Hope to hear from you pretty soon.
Cheers

[slingshot]

I meant inexpensive, not cheap.Can get one for 40-50$ plus another 40-50$ shipping.SO thats a good 5 grand or so.
I amn't putting up any money.Willing to get it through thats all.Money is tight for me.I had to huff and puff before i got my boker for half k, will go into cardiac arrest before i throw 9 k away!!

Seen katanas with high carbon steel, razor sharp for 50$.

I feel that, in case a member buys a Katana, it should be the genuine article. The katana is not just a sword. It is a philosophy and a way of the warrior. A decent katana should put you back by a minimum of USD 1200. That is about the cheapest. The better ones, the beautifully forged, hand made classics could end up costing from INR 5 lakhs to 15 lakhs.

I know that it may sound silly to put so much money on a sword...but as I said...for the Bushi...it is not a sword alone.

However, in case someone wants to go for a cheap alternative, there are options available. Please see the link below as only an indicative point of reference

http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/authe ... words.html

[jayanta mukherjee]

Well Slingshot am planning to go for the Cold Steel heavy duty Cane Sword which costs around USD 85. SO what is your take on that? Rather opinions from all the members are highly appreciated

[Skyman]

Slingshot, once we know customs will let swords through with proper documents, i would advise all members to look at the cheness cutlery website.Beautiful swords with authentic forging for like 150$ onwards.For 200-300$, you get all the katana amateurs need.

http://www.chenessinc.com/1045.htm

[Moin.]

Well Slingshot am planning to go for the Cold Steel heavy duty Cane Sword which costs around USD 85. SO what is your take on that? Rather opinions from all the members are highly appreciated

Cane sword or Guptis as they are locally know are prohibited and specifically mentioned in the arms act if memory serves me right. You have money to burn please donate to an NGO

Regards
Moin

[slingshot]

Well Slingshot am planning to go for the Cold Steel heavy duty Cane Sword which costs around USD 85. SO what is your take on that? Rather opinions from all the members are highly appreciated

Hi Jayanta, I think that the CS Cane Sword is a great option. It is light weight and very well constructed as most Cold Steel products.

However, as Moin pointed out, these are a NO NO in India. I think Moin made a very interesting observation some time ago. You need not import a sword and suffer the risks. There are some very good craftsmen in India who make outstanding swords. I am not an expert in this area. However, there are some very interesting posts from Moin and Katanaji and other sword experts on this forum. The only hassle that you will have, is to probably travel to Gujrat, Rajasthan, Punjab for choosing your sword. Apart from the fact that you would be supporting a very old yet dying art in India, the sheer art of these blades will captivate you. A production sword pales in comparison...when you can get a custom made sword, by a craftsman, steeped in the culture of warriors...right here in India.

And if you want a katana...my request is that you get the original, hand made one someday...by one of the masters. Something that I am aspiring to do some day.

[Moin.]

Here is what I had picked from Jaipur for my boss who's extremely well connected. Did'nt know it was illegal till pointed out by Winnie in one of the posts. This one was for 6 or 7K i think.



Regards
Moin

[goodboy_mentor]

Cane sword or Guptis as they are locally know are prohibited and specifically mentioned in the arms act if memory serves me right. You have money to burn please donate to an NGO

Please do not jump to conclusions that guptis are always illegal etc. It is the notification under Section 4 of Arms Act 1959 that decides what "arms other than firearms" are illegal and how. If no notification under Section 4 of Arms Act 1959, then no "arms other than firearms" are illegal without license.

[Skyman]

Which means they are legal in Karnataka. .

While we do understand True Katanas cost 20,000$ and upwards all the way to priceless,our aim is to see if it can be done.Can a sword be imported? Thats what we seek to clear once and for all.

Moin, that wicked cane sword looks like it is the manifestation the the killer shark from " Jaws "!!