Community Designed AH Hunting Knife

[UNTAMED KNIVES]

Mine was also broken, all 4 corners. Knife is fine though.

Hmmm, ok. Thanks for the info.

Anyone else's box broken on arrival? Need to look at whether or not I need to improve the box design, shipping packaging or something else

 

[cwickgo9]

Is that box broken?? How on earth did the shipper manage to do that???

yep - all four corners. FedEx handling it like the old samsonite commercials with the gorilla beating their suitcase around a cage.

 

[CJNJ]

Awesome! Glad its there.

I do not understand how the tariff and imports are working. Some guys are paying nothing, some only $19, some $50, and some one even got hit for $90!!!

And there's no rhyme or reason to it. Seems someone just decides on the day

Its extremely frustrating

I'm suspicious of corruption. I paid nothing and yet others in the US paid substantial amounts. We assume the shipper is honest when we get a bill but I wonder...

 

[Bullthrower338]

My box was broken also

 

[Doug3006]

My box was also broken. I was also surprised because it’s a sturdy box.

 

[Doug3006]

I'm suspicious of corruption. I paid nothing and yet others in the US paid substantial amounts. We assume the shipper is honest when we get a bill but I wonder...

I wonder if tarrifs are different for different items. My knife was described as custom cutlery.

 

[UNTAMED KNIVES]

yep - all four corners. FedEx handling it like the old samsonite commercials with the gorilla beating their suitcase around a cage.

My box was broken also

My box was also broken. I was also surprised because it’s a sturdy box.

OK guys, thanks for the feedback. Will have a chat to the Mrs and see what we can come up with to improve our packaging.

I'm suspicious of corruption. I paid nothing and yet others in the US paid substantial amounts. We assume the shipper is honest when we get a bill but I wonder...

I wonder if tarrifs are different for different items. My knife was described as custom cutlery.

Its extremely frustrating. Constantly moving goal posts. And at least a couple out of every shipment we make get stuck in Memphis for no apparent reason. They all have the same information on them, same description, same everything. Yet for whatever reason, there's always something somewhere.

Its the most stressful part of mine and the Mrs job, wondering what headaches FedEX will throw our way next.

 

[Doug3006]

OK guys, thanks for the feedback. Will have a chat to the Mrs and see what we can come up with to improve our packaging.






Its extremely frustrating. Constantly moving goal posts. And at least a couple out of every shipment we make get stuck in Memphis for no apparent reason. They all have the same information on them, same description, same everything. Yet for whatever reason, there's always something somewhere.

It’s the most stressful part of mine and the Mrs job, wondering what headaches FedEX will throw our way next.

“Efficient” is a term that’s almost never applied to US government services. Those who advocate for more government control of the private sector must never have had to deal with it!

My knife arrived in fine shape despite the damaged box. The bubble wrap saved the day.

 

[V.Veritas]

Ross, if I would have to guess, this is how IKEA discovered that the furniture should be shipped in pre broken down pieces with assembly instructions.
Just to spite the government employees that there was nothing left for them to break down.
Also, pack the knife in bubble wrap and slide it into an ABS pipe.

 

[UNTAMED KNIVES]

DIY knife making kinda puts me out of a job though

We are definitely going to increase our packaging, but my Mrs in particular has put great effort into our boxes, so don't want to change away from that, but if we can make it fit into the pipe then that's an option for sure

 

[Bullthrower338]

DIY knife making kinda puts me out of a job though

We are definitely going to increase our packaging, but my Mrs in particular has put great effort into our boxes, so don't want to change away from that, but if we can make it fit into the pipe then that's an option for sure

The boxes are very cool, maybe some of those brass corners glued on would help. I’m going to try and repair mine.

 

[Laura AK64north]

I wonder if tariffs are different for different items. My knife was described as custom cutlery.

Link to the "Harmonized Tariff Schedule" at https://hts.usitc.gov/ so you have that document in hand.

Then....do a separate browser search on "How much should customs and tariffs be on a custom knife from Zimbabwe." Maybe also try custom "blade, cutlery", too.

Good luck!

What you are doing is trying to find the acceptable code category for a "custom knife or cutlery." And that is confusing because apparently custom knives or cutlery are in a broader category. But I am sure Ross knows exactly the proper way to code the paperwork.

On to FedEx: I think FedEx personnel are honest but sometimes confused.

I purchase many things from another country. When I make those purchases, the company I buy from shows me the cost of tariffs as I add items to my cart. I pre-pay that tariff total as I pay for what I am purchasing.

I tried shipping via FedEx and FedEx insisted on charging me the customs duties again, in an amount more than the original amount the company I purchased from calculated and I paid. I am sure the company I ordered from was correct--they ship several thousand boxes of items to the US each month. I already paid the fee on the front end. FedEx should not have charged me again or added any additional amount.

If I have the items shipped USPS (after the shipping partner of the business I buy from brings them into the US), there has never been an additional or duplicate customs fee or any confusion. Sometimes a shipment gets held up for some reason or another, but eventually they show up. So, I stopped using FedEx for these shipments even though FedEx was faster.

In addition to the tariff, there are some small additional fees added to the total.

I don't know how to separate if the issue with some of us getting charged different amounts and some no amount at all or the knife being held for "further information" is on the FedEx side or the US Customs side. But I think it has to do with what HTS category an employee thinks the item falls within.

Maybe others with more experience can add information.

Laura

U.S. Customs & Tariffs for a Custom Knife from Zimbabwe​

If you are importing a custom knife from Zimbabwe into the United States, the tariff rate depends on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification of the knife, not just the country of origin. The U.S. applies a Section 301 tariff to most steel articles, including knives, unless the HTS code qualifies for a lower rate.

Key points from current U.S. customs rules:

 

[Spartan5]

Following

 

[JPbowhunter]

As a knife collector I’ve shipped or received maybe 30 to 40 knives from or to the states.

So far I’ve never had one lost, although one did take 3 months to turn up. My suggestion is always to call it something other than knife e.g. “woodworking tools”, “gardening tools” or “forestry tools”.

Rough handling is just how it is, people have no care factor anymore and you have to assume that packages will not be treated with respect. I always bubble wrapped the knife inside the package then bubble wrapped the packaging itself. Haven’t had any problems that way.

As for tariffs, who knows. I’ve had people had to pay a lot and others nothing.

 

[Rare Breed]

I love mine!!! When not in use it hangs on my wall with my collection of Zim village axes

 

[Africa1]

Andy B. of TIA fame uses a beautiful kydex diagonally positioned on your backside sheath. Securely locks when the knife is inserted and very comfortable. I'd consider materials for the handle teak; Cape buffalo horn and warthog tusk "doesn't yellow like ivory". Drop point blade of D2. Stainless bolster. Length 3.75 inches. A doable compromise giving you the length for larger game but maintaining the dexterity for fine work. AfricaHunting.com on one side of the blade, Untamed Knives on the other. No lanyard hole. A finger stop so your guide finger doesn't slip over the guard area while cutting and sever your finger. Again, made of stainless steel. This should be a knife that speaks to us of Africa, made to use worldwide and a visual pleasure to behold. It should display a mastery of craftsmanship AND purpose. Materials used in it primarily sourced IN Africa. A USEING knife and a no-brainer go-to on any big-game hunt. I collect knives and have a passion for well-designed for purpose carry-art,

 

[UNTAMED KNIVES]

The boxes are very cool, maybe some of those brass corners glued on would help. I’m going to try and repair mine.

Thanks and good idea. Will look into some brass inserts for the corners

 

[UNTAMED KNIVES]

Link to the "Harmonized Tariff Schedule" at https://hts.usitc.gov/ so you have that document in hand.

Then....do a separate browser search on "How much should customs and tariffs be on a custom knife from Zimbabwe." Maybe also try custom "blade, cutlery", too.

Good luck!

What you are doing is trying to find the acceptable code category for a "custom knife or cutlery." And that is confusing because apparently custom knives or cutlery are in a broader category. But I am sure Ross knows exactly the proper way to code the paperwork.

On to FedEx: I think FedEx personnel are honest but sometimes confused.

I purchase many things from another country. When I make those purchases, the company I buy from shows me the cost of tariffs as I add items to my cart. I pre-pay that tariff total as I pay for what I am purchasing.

I tried shipping via FedEx and FedEx insisted on charging me the customs duties again, in an amount more than the original amount the company I purchased from calculated and I paid. I am sure the company I ordered from was correct--they ship several thousand boxes of items to the US each month. I already paid the fee on the front end. FedEx should not have charged me again or added any additional amount.

If I have the items shipped USPS (after the shipping partner of the business I buy from brings them into the US), there has never been an additional or duplicate customs fee or any confusion. Sometimes a shipment gets held up for some reason or another, but eventually they show up. So, I stopped using FedEx for these shipments even though FedEx was faster.

In addition to the tariff, there are some small additional fees added to the total.

I don't know how to separate if the issue with some of us getting charged different amounts and some no amount at all or the knife being held for "further information" is on the FedEx side or the US Customs side. But I think it has to do with what HTS category an employee thinks the item falls within.

Maybe others with more experience can add information.

Laura

U.S. Customs & Tariffs for a Custom Knife from Zimbabwe​

If you are importing a custom knife from Zimbabwe into the United States, the tariff rate depends on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification of the knife, not just the country of origin. The U.S. applies a Section 301 tariff to most steel articles, including knives, unless the HTS code qualifies for a lower rate.

Key points from current U.S. customs rules:

As a knife collector I’ve shipped or received maybe 30 to 40 knives from or to the states.

So far I’ve never had one lost, although one did take 3 months to turn up. My suggestion is always to call it something other than knife e.g. “woodworking tools”, “gardening tools” or “forestry tools”.

Rough handling is just how it is, people have no care factor anymore and you have to assume that packages will not be treated with respect. I always bubble wrapped the knife inside the package then bubble wrapped the packaging itself. Haven’t had any problems that way.

As for tariffs, who knows. I’ve had people had to pay a lot and others nothing.

Thank you for the information. Most of this is do already, it just seems to be a moving goal these days, with very little consistency. Last year I shipped over 300 knives, didn't lose one or have any issues.

This year has been a different story, and I'm nothing has changed from my end.

 

[UNTAMED KNIVES]

Andy B. of TIA fame uses a beautiful kydex diagonally positioned on your backside sheath. Securely locks when the knife is inserted and very comfortable. I'd consider materials for the handle teak; Cape buffalo horn and warthog tusk "doesn't yellow like ivory". Drop point blade of D2. Stainless bolster. Length 3.75 inches. A doable compromise giving you the length for larger game but maintaining the dexterity for fine work. AfricaHunting.com on one side of the blade, Untamed Knives on the other. No lanyard hole. A finger stop so your guide finger doesn't slip over the guard area while cutting and sever your finger. Again, made of stainless steel. This should be a knife that speaks to us of Africa, made to use worldwide and a visual pleasure to behold. It should display a mastery of craftsmanship AND purpose. Materials used in it primarily sourced IN Africa. A USEING knife and a no-brainer go-to on any big-game hunt. I collect knives and have a passion for well-designed for purpose carry-art,

Thanks for the reply. Are you suggesting this for a second go around at the AH knife?

 

[Bonk]

Recieved my knife Friday. Absolutely gorgeous. The box was destroyed but the knife was intact and unharmed.

As far as tarriffs go I received a letter from FedEx wanting me to pay a tariff for something I ordered from Europe. I just ignored it. As far as I’m concerned the tariff was reflected in the purchase price. FedEx can pound sound.