Are there any Spyderco or Kershaw knives that would comply with the German knife law?

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flyingkite

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May 8, 2009
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I have relatives in Germany and would like to give them a Spyderco or Kershaw knife as a present, they do a lot of gardening (one is actually a professional gardener), work outdoors etc.
Unfortunately, I've just learned that in February 2008 a new law was passed which outlaws the carrying of all locking folders with one-handed lock mechanisms and all blades over 12.0 cm.

I would appreciate any help in finding a good EDC knife (not necessarily Spyderco or Kershaw) that would formally comply with the new law.
 
Is a lock back a one handed locking mechanism? I have always had to use two hands...

If a lock back is legal, both companies offer many options.
 
There are several Spyderco knives, such as the UK Penknife, that probably comply. They're slipjoints ("slipits") rather than locking designs.
 
JNewell said:
There are several Spyderco knives, such as the UK Penknife, that probably comply. They're slipjoints ("slipits") rather than locking designs.
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UK Penknife looks good, but I'm rather looking for something like Kershaw Cyclone or Spyderco Military BG-42. Spyderco would be just fine, but the quesstion is, can it be opened by one hand?
 
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flyingkite said:
UK Penknife looks good, but I'm rather looking for something like Kershaw Cyclone or Spyderco Military BG-42. Spyderco would be just fine, but the quesstion is, can it be opened by one hand?
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lol

Yes, yes they can. Both can be opened at lightning speed, the Cyclone with no practice at all.

If Germany has strict laws on knives, the last thing you want is a laser-sharp, pocket-sword like the Military, or an assisted opening knife like the Cyclone, which would probably be viewed as a switchblade.

Check out the Urban and UKPK from Spyderco. They are small, unassuming knives that are still very functional and appealing. I doubt they would give much trouble over them.
 
J85909266 said:
lol

Yes, yes they can. Both can be opened at lightning speed, the Cyclone with no practice at all.

If Germany has strict laws on knives, the last thing you want is a laser-sharp, pocket-sword like the Military, or an assisted opening knife like the Cyclone, which would probably be viewed as a switchblade.

Check out the Urban and UKPK from Spyderco. They are small, unassuming knives that are still very functional and appealing. I doubt they would give much trouble over them.
Click to expand...

J85909266,

Thank you.

I have my own Cyclone, their Speed Assist is a great feature, but how about Spyderco knives, like G88 from SALT series or CatBird?
 
flyingkite said:
While T-mag doesn't have a lock (only magnetic one) accordingly some reviews it still can be easily opened by throwing.
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Well I don't recommend throwing any knife, except maybe throwing knives. It isn't rare for a folder to partially open if they are dropped or thrown.
 
hwpaintballer said:
Well I don't recommend throwing any knife, except maybe throwing knives. It isn't rare for a folder to partially open if they are dropped or thrown.
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I think he might mean by flicking, but I'm not sure.

The T-Mag is one of the easiest opening knives I've seen, super smooth too. :thumbup:
 
There`s always the ubiquitous Opinel.... I doubt anyone`s gonna give you a hard time about carrying one of them.
 
Kershaw gentlemens folder seems like a good knife for your limits. It's 2 hand open, 2 hand close and I believe under 10 cm, my math is bad so I can't tell you for sure.
 
@flyingkite: Where do your relatives live? Carrying a one-hand locking folder is allowed as long as you have a "legitimate purpose". The only problem is that no one has ever defined what exactly that is. If your relatives don't live in one of the larger cities, there shouldn't be a problem. I live in the north of Germany and I never had any problems of any kind and I do carry a Military and a Kershaw Leek as EDCs. The aim of the new law was to take away knives from young folks who might cause problems with them (only Berlin does have a real problem with this kind of violence). So if your relatives are well-respected grown-ups, they should be perfectly fine. If you run into the wrong policeman of course, your knife will be confiscated, even if it's legal.

Leaving all that aside: The Gentleman Folder from Kershaw is a beautiful knife, I'd be happy if it got one. ;)
 
Found Sal's posting on the German knife forum:

http://www.messerforum.net/showthread.php?t=64380

"Registriert seit: 15.03.06
Beiträge: 35 AW: New German knife law

Just about any locking folder can be opened with one hand, either by snapping the blade, or by grabbing the blade and snapping the handle.

How can we make a locking folder tht can ONLY be opened with two hands?

Would we be better off to concentrate on a smaller one hand open non locker like the UK of the smaller Urban? Functionally, they are more convenient to use. In friendly colors or higher line with bolsters and scales?

sal "


Also from thread:

"..The new unpleasant part in the german weapon law about normal one hand knives is the following:

Zitat:
)(1) Es ist verboten[...]
3. Messer mit einhändig feststellbarer Klinge (Einhandmesser) oder feststehende Messer mit einer Klingenlänge über 12 cm zu führen.
(2) Absatz 1 gilt nicht
1. für die Verwendung bei Foto-, Film- oder Fernsehaufnahmen oder Theateraufführungen,
2. für den Transport in einem verschlossenen Behältnis,
3. für das Führen der Gegenstände nach Absatz 1 Nr. 2 und 3, sofern ein berechtigtes Interesse vorliegt. Weitergehende Regelungen bleiben unberührt.
(3) Ein berechtigtes Interesse nach Absatz 2 Nr. 3 liegt insbesondere vor, wenn das Führen der Gegenstände im Zusammenhang mit der Berufsausübung erfolgt, der Brauchtumspflege, dem Sport oder einem allgemein anerkannten Zweck dient.

(1) It is forbidden to carry knives with one-hand locking Blade (Onehandknife) oder fixed blades with a blade length over 12 cm.
(2) Part 1 does not apply for
1. use at foto-, film- or tv-shootings or theater
2. for transport in a locked case
3. carrying it if you have a "legal reason".
(3) a "legal reason" is particularly with regard to your job, traditional stuff, sport or a generally accepted purpose.


Fixed blades under 12cm blade length are definitely okay, two-hand-folders too.

Everything else is unclear..."
 
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Likewise Spyderco could make German versions of their regular locking knives only without the spyder hole! :eek: :eek: :eek:

This would make it so the blades had to be pinched open. In order to preserve the look of a Spyderco, they could laser engrave a circle where the hole WOULD be. ;)

In response to "drop the handle" method of opening...make a spring-loaded safety that locked the knife closed. One hand would be occupied unlocking the safety while the other would pinch the blade open.
 
flyingkite said:
(1) It is forbidden to carry knives with one-hand locking Blade (Onehandknife) oder fixed blades with a blade length over 12 cm.
(2) Part 1 does not apply for
1. use at foto-, film- or tv-shootings or theater
2. for transport in a locked case
3. carrying it if you have a "legal reason".
(3) a "legal reason" is particularly with regard to your job, traditional stuff, sport or a generally accepted purpose.


Fixed blades under 12cm blade length are definitely okay, two-hand-folders too.

Everything else is unclear..."
Click to expand...

If the relative in question is a gardener by trade, wouldn't a locking knife be acceptable, as it is for work (bolded in quote). If so, I would go with a spyderco endura.
 
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