Sentimental Pocket Knife -- Can I Take It from UK to US?

Hi Everyone!

I am in the midst of blitz-packing and coming across all sorts of odds and ends for my move -- flying from Dulles (Washington, DC) to Heathrow on July 11, just 5 days from now!!

I have come across a pocket knife that was a gift to me from someone special.  Does anyone know definitively if this is something I can pack in my checked luggage?  The blade is only 2 1/2 inches long if that makes a difference.

If the item can't be taken in checked luggage (I know it's not allowed in the carry-on!), can it be mailed from the US to the UK somehow?  Or am I going to just have to dispose of this memento?

Thanks so much!
Cheers!
~Teddy

There's nothing to say that you can't pack it in your checked luggage.  Just be sure to let the check-in agent know there's a knife there in case it shows up on screenings.  I brought over a whole set of kitchen knives in my bags a couple of years ago with no problems.

The only real rules about knives in the UK is that you can't carry one around in public without "reasonable excuse", i.e. a good reason. Moving a knife with sentimental value from one house to another packed away in a bag would be absolutely fine. As for knives in checked baggage, I flew around with a similar sized one in my hold baggage for several years before I found it (bought the bag as army surplus on eBay).

I carried a penknife in my pocket every day of my adult life in the US. Remembering not to on days I was flying was always a problem. I flew with it in checked luggage dozens of times. A folding knife that small, checked, I wouldn't think was even worth mentioning.

The thing that broke me of the habit, incidentally, was going to Croydon for a visa appointment. Didn't even think about the knife until I got pulled out of the security line and Talked To. They gave it back to me in the end, though.

Then you see guys out here in the country with honking great Leatherman rigs on their belts. Yeah, there are - what? - three or four big knives on those things.

Well, I see I was so tired in the midst of packing with just 4 days till the big move that I put the subject as "from UK to US" when what I meant, of course, was "from US to UK."

I've got fog-brain syndrome, but thought I skimmed a Wikipedia article about knives in which the only tidbits of info that made it past short-term memory purge was that the UK has among the world's most stringent laws regarding carrying knives.  Also, I seem to remember some distinction between knives that somehow could considered a weapon versus knives that are intended for other purposes.  This distinction fails me b/c a kitchen knife could be just as damaging as a "serious" knife.

Anyway, seems like the consensus here is that I can take it.  Just looking for quick answers, and the time crunch prevents me from doing a quick and thorough investigation!

Thanks & cheers!
~Teddy

Also, I seem to remember some distinction between knives that somehow could considered a weapon versus knives that are intended for other purposes.  This distinction fails me b/c a kitchen knife could be just as damaging as a "serious" knife.

The law means you can't carry a knife in public without "reasonable excuse" or some such wording. If you're going on a picnic carrying a kitchen knife to cut your tomatoes, nobody will bat an eyelid. Taking a Bowie knife or similar along to do the same thing will at the very least cause some raised eyebrows. It's more down to the context than the knife - e.g. if you're dressing up as a Samurai at some tourist attraction then carrying a Samurai sword will probably be OK. Doing it on inner city streets at 2am will not be.

Just my two cents: I would just ship it to the UK.. I wouldn't want to chance losing or having a sentimental item confiscated 

I also have a knife that is important to me.  I'd like to bring it from the UK to the US, and back again as needed.  My brother engineers and manufactures knives and gave me one that has my name engraved on the blade.  Pretty cool!

It's a 5 inch switchblade.  It doesn't have a spring or any type of assisted-open mechanism, but you can swing it and have it lock open with one hand very easily.  I typically only have it when I go camping or when I am working outside on a forestry research project. 

Do you think I could bring this in my packed luggage or mail it?  It's clearly not a kitchen knife- my brothers company only manufactures hunting/fishing knives and law enforcement/military knives. 

I don't want to risk losing it, or risk being arrested and/or deported.  Apparently assisted-open knives are considered automatic weapons in Canada; I was almost arrested in the airport on felony charges while returning from a camping trip! 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switchblade#United_Kingdom

Switch blades are usually called flick knives over here.  Although what you have sounds like what the Wiki entry describes as a gravity knife.