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☖ Forums → Discussion Forum → Eurossassians, I have a question for you.
12
Eurossassians, I have a question for you.
2007-10-28, 5:12 AM #1
I'm about to continue my hobo-adventure on your side of the pond, and I would greatly appreciate if any of you could provide an answer for my friend and myself. What are the knife carry laws like over there? I've only been able to find a specific blade length for Germany, but I would love to know what the max lengths for other countries (especially the Netherlands, France, England, and Ireland), as well as limitations on folders/fixed-blade designs. If any of you can help me out, I promise to stay far away from you as I drift through your countries these following weeks. Thank you.
omnia mea mecum porto
2007-10-28, 5:21 AM #2
3 inches or something, not enough to get through the blubber.

Not sure why it matters, I don't know anyone who carries a weapon.
Detty. Professional Expert.
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2007-10-28, 5:23 AM #3
No knives in England, according to memory and the minds of PC Gamer.

Well, not in public. Unless it's folding and three inches. So, yeah. Like Mr. Detty said.
Hey, Blue? I'm loving the things you do. From the very first time, the fight you fight for will always be mine.
2007-10-28, 5:27 AM #4
Originally posted by Detty:
Not sure why it matters, I don't know anyone who carries a weapon.

There are other uses for a knife than just stabbing people.
omnia mea mecum porto
2007-10-28, 5:29 AM #5
not in england. you can barely walk a mile in any direction without hitting a road.

(ie you're a few hundred years too late for wilderness uses :))
Detty. Professional Expert.
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2007-10-28, 5:30 AM #6
Originally posted by Detty:
not in england. you can barely walk a mile in any direction without hitting a road.

(ie you're a few hundred years too late for wilderness uses :))


Originally posted by Roach:
There are other uses for a knife than just stabbing people.


Slashing tires.
2007-10-28, 5:31 AM #7
ah
Detty. Professional Expert.
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2007-10-28, 5:32 AM #8
I suppose you could stab a few rabbits.
Detty. Professional Expert.
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2007-10-28, 5:35 AM #9
Haha, fair enough, what if I wanted to sell small wooden carvings on a street corner? :P

Ok, 3" is smaller than the German limit, I don't think I have any knives that small, I think I may have to fix that as soon as I get a few more replies.
omnia mea mecum porto
2007-10-28, 8:40 AM #10
Yeah I'm fairly sure its illegal to carry a knife in britain unless it folds away.

Oh, and I think switchblades are illegal period, theres a hefty fine for carrying one. Knives are sort of the general crime tool here since guns are banned.
nope.
2007-10-28, 8:47 AM #11
Between 8 and 12cm, not allowed to be a lock-knife and you need a good reason to be carrying it.
2007-10-28, 9:14 AM #12
Yeah, I just looked that up, I think that's for a "trade"/traditional/religious blade, it looks like I can carry a 3" blade in England without needing a "good reason." Thanks, Britssassians, fear not, I will be sure to avoid you all. Now I just need the Krauts to see if any of them know if I was informed correctly that the Netherlands' blade laws are fairly similar to Germany's.

[And switchblades aren't exactly legal over here either. What good is a switchblade aside from stabbing someone anyway?]
omnia mea mecum porto
2007-10-28, 9:23 AM #13
Looking cool or pretending to be that bloke from trainspotting.
nope.
2007-10-28, 9:28 AM #14
Originally posted by Roach:
[And switchblades aren't exactly legal over here either. What good is a switchblade aside from stabbing someone anyway?]


Slashing tires.
2007-10-28, 9:28 AM #15
I suppose I never looked at it that way.

Yes, and thank you Rob for spoiling my tire-slashing-extravaganza before I even make it to the EU.
omnia mea mecum porto
2007-10-28, 10:16 AM #16
I don't know about operational switchblades, but broken ones where the blade won't stay out are fun. You can pretend to go around stabbing people.
the idiot is the person who follows the idiot and your not following me your insulting me your following the path of a idiot so that makes you the idiot - LC Tusken
2007-10-28, 10:27 AM #17
Get a butterfly knife that follows the limit.
Back again
2007-10-28, 10:35 AM #18
...a 3" butterfly knife? Riiiiight.

Wolfy, that sounds like a good way to get counter-stabbed.
omnia mea mecum porto
2007-10-28, 10:52 AM #19
Originally posted by Baconfish:
Yeah I'm fairly sure its illegal to carry a knife in britain unless it folds away.

Oh, and I think switchblades are illegal period, theres a hefty fine for carrying one. Knives are sort of the general crime tool here since guns are banned.


So after they ban knives, will they be banning rocks? Or will they realize that crime isn't a problem that can be solved by removing weapons?
2007-10-28, 10:52 AM #20
Yeah, I know. Minimum 6 inches could make me happy, for a butterfly knife. I'm sure you could whip out some cool tricks with a 3" butterfly knife.

Why don't you buy a baton or some club?

Obi, they banned handguns over there. America hasn't.
Back again
2007-10-28, 10:54 AM #21
The fact that those are banned in a lot of the EU and have absolutely no use to me might have something to do with it.
omnia mea mecum porto
2007-10-28, 11:07 AM #22
Originally posted by Obi_Kwiet:
So after they ban knives, will they be banning rocks? Or will they realize that crime isn't a problem that can be solved by removing weapons?


...Handguns were banned after a shooting in a PRIMARY school.
nope.
2007-10-28, 11:12 AM #23
I imagine it's a lot harder to go on a killing spree with a knife than with a gun.

The ban on guns wasn't to lower crime, it was to lower the severity of the crimes.
Detty. Professional Expert.
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2007-10-28, 11:47 AM #24
Exactly.
nope.
2007-10-28, 11:54 AM #25
Personally I'd rather be shot then bludgeoned.
2007-10-28, 12:23 PM #26
Originally posted by Baconfish:
...Handguns were banned after a shooting in a PRIMARY school.


Yep.

And it seems to have kind of almost worked in Britain.

Anyway, my primary use for a switchblade is that I can open it with one hand. Very useful at work, with hands full, and very very useful for when I am performing military duties and I need a knife but have my weapon in the other hand.

Also, it's very useful during a fight and during sex.
Epstein didn't kill himself.
2007-10-28, 1:02 PM #27
O_o
My girlfriend paid a lot of money for that tv; I want to watch ALL OF IT. - JM
2007-10-28, 1:04 PM #28
o_O and D:
Back again
2007-10-28, 1:36 PM #29
Originally posted by Baconfish:
...Handguns were banned after a shooting in a PRIMARY school.


So?
2007-10-28, 1:38 PM #30
are you trying to say that a shooting in a primary school is trivial? or are you saying that everyone should be educated in the home like you and become replications of their parents?
My girlfriend paid a lot of money for that tv; I want to watch ALL OF IT. - JM
2007-10-28, 1:50 PM #31
He's just mad because the only people he has to shoot are his mom and his cat.

I hear that cat picked on him alot in school. Probably has it coming.
2007-10-28, 4:41 PM #32
Stop stealing my material!

Also Obi, the bloke killed 17 6 year olds, it was a bit worse than your standard american high school shooting.
nope.
2007-10-28, 4:51 PM #33
Originally posted by Ford:
are you trying to say that a shooting in a primary school is trivial? or are you saying that everyone should be educated in the home like you and become replications of their parents?


The fact that a primary school shooting happened has about as much to do with banning knives as 9/11 had to do with Saddam Husein.

Learn the fine art of reasoning.
2007-10-28, 4:59 PM #34
...seriously...your first post was about the ineffectiveness of banning weapons, someone responded with reasoning behind ban of the weapon, you respond with indifference. you sound indifferent to the fact that kids were shot up at school, and the subsequent banning of the handgun. there is no faulty reasoning here, except maybe yours, since the banning of knives had nothing to do with the post i responded to.
My girlfriend paid a lot of money for that tv; I want to watch ALL OF IT. - JM
2007-10-28, 6:28 PM #35
A point (but I'm not sure his) is that banning guns is a sorta band-aid-over-a-gaping-wound solution. If school violence and shootings are a major issue, banning guns will help but not resolve the "real" problems. Banning is sort of a knee-jerk panic reaction that can give a false sense of security and the feeling that a problem was actually solved when it wasn't, until the next nasty surprise rears its head due to the root never being resolved. As trite as it is, guns don't kill people, people with guns and issues kill people.

The problem I have isn't the ban itself but that the people who push for them think that whatever is being taken away is the cause of the problem, and that once it's gone, problem solved. This, to me, actually prevents anything constructive getting done.
2007-10-28, 6:47 PM #36
To be fair handgun crime has been largely eliminated outside of london. :P
nope.
2007-10-28, 8:31 PM #37
Here's some info I pieced together from some forums and stuff (trust at your own risk):

Quote:
  • A leatherman Juice will not be a problem. Other than that the laws are a bit confusing. Expect different laws in every country.

  • I can tell you one thing NOT to carry: a balisong of any kind. Virtually all EU countries do not permit these. Also, in general, it is not wise to carry any autos, especially OTF's. Over 35 years of being in and out of most western european countries, I have not been bothered, (being military), but even locals own and carry a lot of items that are not legal.

  • Balisongs and Autos (OTF's) are allowed in Austria (the small heart of Europe)

  • France 101 : knife law in a nutshell

    non locking blades only, according to the law.
    Multitools tolerated.
    SAK : ok
    Case slipjoint : ok
    laguiole : ok
    emerson : not good

    No fixed blades either.

  • In Ireland balisongs and autos are not legal.

  • In Belgium avoid carying a bali or an auto.

  • Forgot to add, if you are visiting Italy and the Vatican don't bring a blade of any type as you won't be allowed into Saint Peter's (and presumably the Vatican museums too - I didn't go this time). I didn't get in with a Leatherman, and a guy a bit behind me didn't get in as he was carrying a full size Italian style flick-knife.

    I had to hand in the Leatherman at a museum as well, but could deposit it while visiting, whereas in the Vatican you are just turned away (or you can put it in the bin provided - yeah right).

  • Belgium has a problem with locking blades. Other than that you should be fine. Leathermans are the exception to the rule. Don't bring a Balisong, they ARE illegal and the same goes for switchblades/auto's.

  • Generally Hungary is a quite knife-friendly country.

  • I spent 8 years in Western/Eastern Europe, all of which spent under the employ of Uncle Sams State Dept DSS/RSO. I lived in Holland, split between SHAPE and BENELUX region. I dont remember ever being asked about my knife carry,ever. I do remember NEVER carrying anything when we went to the UK, I know they are the most Anal about anything construed to be used as an offensive or defensive weapon.

  • Czech Republic - all knives are legal

  • In Denmark you are only allowed to carry a pocketknife op to 70 mm. It is illegal if it can be locket or opened with one hand. The penalty is 5000,- danish kroner.
    I hope you can understand my terrible english.


Also, the following link was hailed as a good resource for knife laws in all European countries. It's in German but I thought it could be of use to you, Roach.

http://www.messermagazin.de/
"it is time to get a credit card to complete my financial independance" — Tibby, Aug. 2009
2007-10-28, 8:37 PM #38
Awesome! Thanks Free, you included a few countries we were somewhat considering visiting that I didn't list earlier.
omnia mea mecum porto
2007-10-28, 8:46 PM #39
Originally posted by Ford:
...seriously...your first post was about the ineffectiveness of banning weapons, someone responded with reasoning behind ban of the weapon, you respond with indifference. you sound indifferent to the fact that kids were shot up at school, and the subsequent banning of the handgun. there is no faulty reasoning here, except maybe yours, since the banning of knives had nothing to do with the post i responded to.


Or maybe, just maybe, I said, "so?" because I didn't see what the a shooting at the school had to do with banning knives. It's not a very hard leap to make if you spend three seconds to think about it instead of automatically assuming the worst about someone.

In addition to that, why on earth would you think the the effectiveness of banning weapons has anything to do with the nature of the effect it's try to cause. (Namely the reduction of violent crime.)

:rolleyes:
2007-10-28, 8:56 PM #40
Originally posted by Baconfish:
To be fair handgun crime has been largely eliminated outside of london. :P


This has nothing to do with the banning of guns. Obviously, they've fixed the environments that cause shootings to occur, and no one feels the need to shoot someone else. Srsly, don't blame the guns.
:master::master::master:
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