text: am i allowed to take ornamental swords from china into britain? the swords do have blades, but are only for display. can i just declare them at the counter> am i only allowed to mail them? thanks in anticipation ! dear phildoc  in answer to your question, there are legal uk restriction's on the bringing into this country of any weapon, whether fake, real, or as a ornament display.   just like knives, swords, whether sharp, or blunt are classified in the uk as being an offensive weapon and therefore unless you clear your ornamental swords with the uk statutory authorities first before making your journey to the uk, you will find out that upon your arrival in the uk, you will be arrested and your ornamental swords will be impounded by the uk criminal authorities irrespective of what reason you may have for bringing them into this country.  my advice is that you should leave these commodities at home in your own country in order to save the inevitable happening when you reach the uk as ornamental swords are quit easily obtainable legally in the uk.  after reading this, if you still wish to bring into the uk your display of ornamental swords, then you should contact the british embassy in china in order to obtain the addresses of the people you have to clear your swords with first before bringing them into the uk.  please print off a copy of this reply for any future use.  i therefore trust that this answer's your question  mr steven newbert jp her majesty the queen's justice of the peace for england & wales