Acceptance of Vic Rucksack in Europe

S

Scott Free

Joined
Sep 15, 1999
Messages
3,319
I have a friend that frequently travels to Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Amsterdam on business, On the weekends, he spends his time either hiking or skiing. To get to his ski/hike destinations, he uses public transportation --usually a train. I'd like to get him a SAK for his excursions and was hoping to get him a Vic Rucksack. The problem is, I don't know how well the larger knives are accepted in Europe. Would the standard size SAK be less likely to get confiscated?

Scott
 
My wife and I traveled throughout England, France, and Italy both by rail and air with a Rucksack and we did not encounter any problems. No one even turned a head when we produced it out of our backpacks to cut up bread and cheese in the public squares.
 
I carried an opinel #8 throughout most of europe and no one seemed to mind even when I used it one trains, although it seems that it was illigal in england as the blade is longer than 3 inches and it locks, but I didnt know that then.

-Lyle
 
Guess the issue realy is its deployment.
Sak's are the most sheeple friendly knives known to man. If you want it even more sheeple friendly put a lanyard on it. Preferably in a bright colour. My extensive research waving edged weapons round the office has proved it ;)
 
Germany & Austria are save

Switzerland also

in Italy the issue is complicated but a SAK is generally accepted and will only get you in minor trouble (confiscation of the Knife) if you insist in entering a guarded building or the Vatican. Beside this, as always, responsible behavior does matter!

don't know bout the Netherlands
 
hannes w said:
as always, responsible behavior does matter! don't know bout the Netherlands
Click to expand...

In the Netherlands it's okay to carry that Rucksack (or any other SAK). Folding knives are allowed over here as long as: 1) the opened knive is not longer than 28 cm (about 11 inches) and 2) the blade is only sharpened on one side. Maybe some other Dutch forum members can comment on this. And of course (as Hannes said): responsible behavior does matter.
:)
 
Unfortunately the Rucksack is illegal for EDC in the UK. The only legal EDC is a sub-3" slipjoint. That is why we are a crime-free Socialist paradise ( ;) ).

Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 states:

"Offence of having article with blade or point in public place.

139.—(1) Subject to subsections (4) and (5) below, any person who has an article to which this section applies with him in a public place shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, this section applies to any article which has a blade or is sharply pointed except a folding pocketknife.

(3) This section applies to a folding pocketknife if the cutting edge of its blade exceeds 3 inches.

(4) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had good reason or lawful authority for having the article with him in a public place.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4) above, it shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had the article with him—
(a) for use at work;
(b) for religious reasons; or
(c) as part of any national costume.

(6) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(7) In this section "public place" includes any place to which at the material time the public have or are permitted access, whether on payment or otherwise."

http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/Ukpga_19880033_en_12.htm#mdiv139

maximus otter
 
WHOOP! WHOOP! Thread Hijack! :eek:
Been waiting a few days to ask a similar question about carrying a Case Medium Stockman (>3" main clip blade) and a SAK Champ in Germany and Italy (Sicily) through the holidays. They will travel in checked luggage as necessary and both are gifts and the idea of confiscation or theft doesn't appeal much.
Can I wear the SAK in a belt pouch or must it be out of sight?
I love to stretch the law in Texas where I speak the lingo but I don't fancy a foreign calaboose experience. :(
 
The short answer? Your friend will have ZERO problems with that knife. For a longer explanation, see "Mnblade's fool-proof guide for tourists carrying a knife in Europe," below.




Mnblade's fool-proof guide for tourists carrying a knife in Europe:

* Leave the stillettos and balisongs and martial-arts-looking cutlery at home. Carry any sort of SAK (small or a larger locking model matters not; if you're worried, make sure it's a red-handled model - they're universally understood to be just a tool). Other options include Opinels or Lagouiles or a multi-tool. Likewise a traditional slipjoint. Frankly, I wouldn't even hesitate to travel around Europe with a knife along the lines of a Delica or Griptilian but would probably steer away from serrated edges.

* Look and dress somewhat normal (i.e. if you hair's dyed green and your face is pierced several times over, you might want to remove the eye- tongue- and nose-rings and wait until your natural color grows back before carrying a knife around Europe).

* Don't go breaking the law (if you're caught with drugs, or commit some heinous mortal sin like punching an organ grinder's monkey or chucking a beer bottle at rival soccer fans, the local cops will NOT care that your knife is only for cutting bread and salami). On the other hand, as long as you fit in and don't raise hell, no one's ever going to care if you have a knife in your pocket, period. If you need to prep some food, slice away. If you need to fix up your backpack, cut away. If you need to open a nice bottle of vino, corkscrew away.). :D

* If for some reason, you DO end up in a discussion with the local law (not very likely if you follow the first three guidelines), remain friendly, play dumb, and wave around a guidebook asking where the nearest MacDonald's is (even if -- God forbid -- you're IN a MacDonald's. ;)

I'm American but lived on this side of the pond from 1993-98 and from 2003 until present. I've carried many different knives -- including a large SAK -- all over the place, using it openly when needed. NO ONE has ever raised an eyebrow.
 
No problem in Belgium. Some people openly carry knives in beltsheaths. I carry my Spyderco openly. BTW, u should look into a closed vertical mounted belt cell phone pouch. U can carry the SAK in the pouch and no one would even think about it not beeing a cell phone.
 
Don't let AT&T hear this. I already have a cell phone that opens my garage door, makes me taller instantly, helps me meet beautiful women and milks my cat. Having it cut stuff would be too weird... :D
 
My most recent trip to Europe involved a week in Scotland and a week in Hungary. I used my olive green handled griptilian, both in city and in rural areas, and no one cared.
 
The SAK's, especially the rucksack are popular in Germany. I lived in Wiesbaden in the late 80's, early 90's and I actually bought one of those in Frankfurt and carried it for a long time. Slip joints are popular in Germany, even the one-handers. Many Germans have a "high regard" for culery also.
 
i don't think having a knife on you will cause u real problems in Europe. If u have a "normal" size pocketknife, in most country's in the E.U. the law won't bother at all. Only when the knife is used as a weapon or u have bad knife ettiquette they will intervene. The "weapon"paranoia hasn't crossed the ocean yet.
 
Hi mnblade-

Excellent post that more succinctly says what I've been preaching for years...

I've traveled all over the world and have brought along one of my Benchmade folders (usually a Mini-AFCK) on each and every journey. Sure, one can try and research knife laws for EACH place they intend to visit, but that could take an eternity. The accuracy of the knife laws could change, too.

The simple thing to do is pick a pedestrian-looking, plain-edge model and toss it in a fanny-pack or daybag until you get a "feel" for the place you're visiting. Once you absorb your surroundings, you can move the knife to the inside of a pocket, or even use the clip to facilitate day-to-day cutting chores.

Dress normally, smile to everyone you meet, attempt to speak their language, and keep a friendly twinkle in your eye. Steer well clear of any street/political demonstrations and don't flout obvious quality-of-life laws like littering, spitting, or jaywalking. Following the simple concepts suggested by mnblade, my knife and I have freely traveled in four continents without problem.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Here in Rotterdam, I risk needing to hand over my knives (I always carry a mid-sized SAK and a Spydie, Benchmade or WH) to the cops, AND paying a fine of E100,- ($130). That is, when they'd see me wearing/handling it on the street. They can pat down anyone they (dis)like, without having to tell you the reason. I've so far not lost any knives to the cops but this is the state we're in. The same goes for Amsterdam BTW, plus 5 other major cities (would need to look them up).

Knives are very much unaccepted here by the general public, brain-washed by the anti-knife/weapons lobby. Sad but not unique in this world... After the politically/ideologically inspired killings in the last few years in the NL's, including a muslim-terrorist slaughtering an outspoken filmmaker (who actually worked a lot with arab/ethnic minorities himself!) with - yes - bullets and a knife, things won't get better in the area of knife-acceptance. Keep your knife well-concealed and you'll probably be fine though.
 
I hear in the UK it's illegal to carry a locking blade of any sort. If you carry a small stockman or non-locking SAK you should be ok there, as long as the blade is 3" or less.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top