Can I import a knife or sword from China?
Yes, potentially, if the exact design is not prohibited and delivery arrangements meet the applicable rules. Personal use does not override a weapon ban. Check the blade, opening mechanism and destination before paying. Factory photographs and specifications can be gathered by Cambridge China Bridge.
Check the actual knife before ordering
Start with the exact model, not its description as a kitchen or camping knife. Ask for photographs showing the blade, handle and markings, measured drawings, and a video demonstrating opening, locking and closing. Record whether pressure on a device opens the blade automatically, whether gravity releases it, and whether the handle splits or conceals the blade.
Specified weapons are prohibited from import unless an applicable exemption permits them. Keeping the purchase for yourself does not settle that question. Compare the specification with the current official banned-weapons descriptions. Use our import restrictions guide for the wider authority enquiry.
Check decorative swords and unusual blades
Do not approve a sword from a catalogue photograph. Obtain a measured drawing and close-ups of the tip, edges and spine. Curved swords and ninja swords appear on the banned-weapons list. Ask a solicitor to assess any proposed exemption against the actual item before payment.
For knives with serrations, spikes, holes or extra points, send detailed photographs for a zombie-style weapon assessment. Record where each feature sits and how it is formed. Treat the checks below as screening steps, not an exhaustive list or import approval.
| Design | Exact check |
|---|---|
| Curved sword | The listed description covers a curved blade of 50 centimetres or over, measured in a straight line from the top of the handle to the tip. |
| Possible ninja sword | Check the 14 to 24 inches blade range, straight cutting edges, blunt spine and tanto or reverse tanto point. Supply a drawing showing the tip angles for assessment. |
| Possible zombie-style knife or machete | Measure the blade and document the plain edge, pointed end, serrations, holes, spikes and additional points. Ask for assessment of the complete design. |
Agree adult delivery before dispatch
For England and Wales, the overseas-seller delivery offence concerns a delivery company knowingly arranging delivery of bladed articles for an overseas seller and handing an article to someone under 18. It covers business and residential premises. A business address does not remove that age requirement.
Ask the seller and carrier to confirm an age-checked handover to someone aged 18 or over, acceptable identification and parcel marking. Agree no unattended delivery or handover to a child. These are purchasing instructions. For Scotland or Northern Ireland, obtain destination-specific advice rather than extending this England and Wales guidance.
Separate importing, possessing and carrying
Permission to import does not answer whether possession or public carrying is lawful. Prohibited weapons can also be illegal to possess in private unless an exemption applies. A plan to display the item at home therefore needs its own assessment.
In England and Wales, carrying a bladed article in public generally requires good reason or lawful authority. The folding-pocketknife exception concerns a cutting edge no longer than 3 inches and does not include lock knives. Do not treat a camping label as proof of good reason; obtain advice about your actual use and journey.
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Make shipment approval a documented decision
Keep the accepted model, photographs, mechanism video, drawings, destination advice and carrier agreement together. Require approval before substitution or dispatch. Ask Cambridge China Bridge’s own staff in China to compare the factory’s proposed shipment with that file. Describe the goods accurately in the customs documents.
Border Force controls cover international mail as well as other transport. If goods are seized, preserve the notice and order records and follow our seizure guide. Resolve the stated reason before arranging a replacement.
Frequently asked questions
Can I order a kitchen knife from China for myself?
Potentially. Check the exact design against the prohibited-weapons descriptions and agree suitable delivery. Ask for photographs and a mechanism video before paying.
Can I import a sword if it is only for decoration?
Do not rely on that label. Check blade curvature, length, edges and point, then obtain advice on any claimed exemption. Keeping a prohibited weapon at home can also be unlawful.
Can a knife parcel be delivered to my office?
For the overseas-seller delivery offence in England and Wales, business premises are covered too. Arrange an age-checked handover to someone aged 18 or over.
Can I carry an imported camping knife in public?
Importing and carrying are separate checks. In England and Wales, most bladed articles need good reason or lawful authority in public. Ask about the actual knife, intended use and journey.