taking weapons into Canada?

[skullsplitter]

My son is competing in a tournament in Pittsburgh, PA in a few weeks. From there we are heading to Niagara Falls for a short vacation so we'll have his gear and weapons with us.

Do any of you have any experience with taking weapons across the border from the US? It will be 2 creative bo and 1 hardwood traditional bo. I've searched some and haven't seen anything definitive yet.

[sensei8]

If it were me, I'd call the Canada authorities about these concerns before I'd cross the border!! If need be, I'd not even try even go into Canada with them; I'd find somewhere/someone I could leave them with that I could trust. Then, when I returned back into the USA, I'd then pick them up.

Yes, they're just Bo's, and not Nunchaku's or some other much more alarming to said authorities, but why take a chance?!

https://www.canada.ca/en/contact/contact-1-800-o-canada.html

The above link might be of some help. They'll require you to leave your email address so that they can send you additional information with phone numbers/links. From that, you should be able to accurately find out the answer to your question.

Good luck!!

[LLLEARNER]

You might be able to get them through on a form that declares that the goods will leave with you. Hunters do this with rifles all the time. They, of course, cannot be a prohibited person by Canadian law.

This link is the US equivalent.

https://www.cbp.gov/trade/nafta/guide-customs-procedures/effect-nafta/en-temp-admissions

There are a couple forms for goods entering a country. Goods entering and staying.

Goods transiting.

Goods entering, used, and leaving.

Goods for sale.

The sticky part might be the ability to identify the exact items (i.e. serial number).

Call Canadian Customs. Say this to them. I am planning to take sporting goods for transit (identify the goods). The items will leave with me upon returning to the US. They will not be sold nor transferred.

While Nunchuku are on the prohibited list as far as weapons go, there might be a slim chance for getting bo through under transit law.

Your best (least costly) and most convenient option will be to house them on this side before you cross. I would not try to lie at the border and say they are walking sticks.

Canadians are almost British when it comes to "weaponry".

Maybe someday I will tell my story about my invasion of Canada with enough arms to give the PM a brain aneurysm. Yes, it is true.

[Nidan Melbourne]

Speak to the Authorities in Canada and see if they have a Prohibited Weapons List online

[LLLEARNER]

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-eng.html