Is a SAK allowed in checked luggage?

D

duncanmclawd

Joined
Dec 3, 2003
Messages
93
Hello guys,

I'm travelling in Europe (to Greece - Athens) by airplane in a few weeks.
My EDC is usually a Victorinox Spartan. I tend to think that this is quite a sheeple friendly knife.

Is there a problem with taking along the vic spartan in my checked luggage?
Anyone have any experience on this?

Anyone know if I should expect problems in Athens having a SAK with me?

Thanks for your advise!
 
You'll have no trouble bringing it in your luggage and a Vic is legal to carry everywhere in Europe. The only problem would be when going to some museums and galleries. They usually do bag checks because they don't like people around 2000 year old art with tools. You can usually leave your knife and bag at the coat check though.
 
the Vic may not be a problem, but check that your headache tablets don't contain Codeine.

Panadeine is a class A narcotic in Greece......
 
Thanks for the quick reply guys.

So I guess I'll be ok with the SAK in my checked luggage.

Any idea on the best way to store the SAK in my checked luggage? Was thinking on throwing it in the small bag that contains my shaving stuff, deodorant, ... that goes into my suitcase.
Or just leave it in one of my pants that I put into the suitcase?

Sambo, I don't have a headache often and it's only for a few days so I'll probably won't be taking many painkillers with me. But thanks for the advise!

Regards,
 
duncanmclawd said:
Thanks for the quick reply guys.

So I guess I'll be ok with the SAK in my checked luggage.

Any idea on the best way to store the SAK in my checked luggage? Was thinking on throwing it in the small bag that contains my shaving stuff, deodorant, ... that goes into my suitcase.
Or just leave it in one of my pants that I put into the suitcase?

Sambo, I don't have a headache often and it's only for a few days so I'll probably won't be taking many painkillers with me. But thanks for the advise!

Regards,
Click to expand...

It shouldn't matter how you store it in your checked luggage. Somebody may be able to verify this for me, but I think the only way that they are going to know that you have it is if you get searched going through customs. But like others have said, so long as you don't have it past security, you'll be fine.
 
canook said:
You'll have no trouble bringing it in your luggage and a Vic is legal to carry everywhere in Europe.
Click to expand...

Just don't visit Denmark - I've read the story of a carpenter who ended up in jail for a week for carrying a carpet-cutting knife, in a toolbox, in the front of his van. And of a prison-guard who wished to become a police-officer, only to see his dreams shattered because he ended up in jail himself for a week. Similar reason. The Danish are really "out there" when it comes to knife-laws...

I'd however be careful carrying any knife in Greece as well, because of the volatile situation regarding the recent riots in Athens and Thessaloniki.
 
Last edited:
I traveled throughout all of europe with a leatherman charge, never a problem.

My advice is to bury it as deep and as difficult as possible in your bag, and get an airport approved lock for your bag.

Luggage handlers have sticky fingers. Several times I picked up my bag with the zipper partly open, even though I'm religious about locking the zips up. I kept my leatherman in a concealed compartment in my bag where the rain liner is kept. Hard to find if your not familiar with the bag.
 
It's never a problem taking an inexpensive knife in "checked baggage", just not in carry on. I'm going to Germany in June and I'm taking along a Vic Bantam. Perfect travel knife.:)
 
Another thing I do is to not carry my knife but buy one at the destination after landing. SAKs are cheap in Europe and Germany has lot of good knives to buy! That way my collection grows too :D
 
Keep a checklist in your checked luggage. That way sticky-handed bag handlers will think twice before taking whatever they want.
 
Watchmaker said:
Just don't visit Denmark - I've read the story of a carpenter who ended up in jail for a week for carrying a carpet-cutting knife, in a toolbox, in the front of his van. And of a prison-guard who wished to become a police-officer, only to see his dreams shattered because he ended up in jail himself for a week. Similar reason. The Danish are really "out there" when it comes to knife-laws...

I'd however be careful carrying any knife in Greece as well, because of the volatile situation regarding the recent riots in Athens and Thessaloniki.
Click to expand...

A legal EDC in Denmark need to be 7 or less centimeters and not be able to lock when opened. A Spartan is legal and not going to be a problem.
I'm from Denmark and EDC a vic camper among other knives.
And I do believe we are the only country that allows knives on-board planes as carry on. ;)
 
Greece is no problem, my check in luggage was searched due to a bomb threat when I was on my way home from hollydays, In the bag was my xl Voyager, my Vic Hunter and a Leatherman Wave...
Only thing that seemed to bother the customs inspector was the "curly" cable for my shaver, LOL.....
The Leatherman just seemed to intrigue them, because they asked me if they could see it, with a childlike look in their eyes, LOL...

And in Denmark you need a permit from the police to carry anything over 7 cm, if I understand the rules correctly... They call it something like: Shiny weapons permit or something like that..
 
Bobber said:
Greece is no problem, my check in luggage was searched due to a bomb threat when I was on my way home from hollydays, In the bag was my xl Voyager, my Vic Hunter and a Leatherman Wave...
Only thing that seemed to bother the customs inspector was the "curly" cable for my shaver, LOL.....
The Leatherman just seemed to intrigue them, because they asked me if they could see it, with a childlike look in their eyes, LOL...

And in Denmark you need a permit from the police to carry anything over 7 cm, if I understand the rules correctly... They call it something like: Shiny weapons permit or something like that..
Click to expand...

No, you need a valid reason to carry anything over 7 cm, like going hunting, fishing or going to work. You just can't put a 10 cm blade in your pocket and go buy some milk.

You need a shiny weapons permit (Blank våbens tilladelse.) if you are going to buy a sword or something like that, and then you still can't carry it around with you.

On the other hand an axe does not require a permit of any kind ;)

If it sound a bit confusing, don't worry about it, most Danes can't understand it either.
 
Hawkings said:
You need a shiny weapons permit (Blank våbens tilladelse.) if you are going to buy a sword or something like that, and then you still can't carry it around with you.
Click to expand...

The permit is needed for any knife with a blade lenght over 12 cm, regardless of purpose. It is meant for collectors who likes to hang swords on their wall. An outdoorsman with a +12cm blade will also need that particular permit so he can legally own and use the knife.
 
kmm said:
The permit is needed for any knife with a blade lenght over 12 cm, regardless of purpose. It is meant for collectors who likes to hang swords on their wall. An outdoorsman with a +12cm blade will also need that particular permit so he can legally own and use the knife.
Click to expand...

Well not exactly, for instance you are allow to purchase a kitchen knife (of more then 13 cm) and transport it home and use it to make your food. With out a permit.

With out a permit, you can not hang the kitchen knife in your living room as decoration, but hanging it on a mag-block in the kitchen is legal. (You can not use a rock-wool knife to do this, as its not made as a knife to be used in a kitchen)

If you work with rock-wool insulating houses, its okay to carry a knife of more then 13cm to cut the rock-wool with. If its a knife that is made for the purpose.
Its not legal to carry a sword to cut the insulation with.(You can not use a kitchen knife to do this, as its not made to be a rock-wool knife)

In short, a knife of greater then 13 cm can be legally carried and used if there is a noteworthy purpose for it, AND the knife is suited to do the work.

A fixed blade of LESS then 13 cm or a locking folder is okay to carry IF you NEED a knife and it does not have to be a specific type of knife.

Folders that is made to be opened 1 handed is illegal (All most)no matter what.

The not so short version, is here.

If in doubt use your common sense, a Busse on you belt will most likely get you in trouble, a buck 110 at the bottom of you pack will most likely not. Even if it is not legal for you to carry.
 
Hawkings said:
A legal EDC in Denmark need to be 7 or less centimeters and not be able to lock when opened.
Click to expand...

So a Stanley retractable utility knife would be a prohibited weapon? what kind of carpet cutting knife was that carpenter allegedly carrying? :confused:
 
M@elstrom said:
So a Stanley retractable utility knife would be a prohibited weapon? what kind of carpet cutting knife was that carpenter allegedly carrying? :confused:
Click to expand...


A Stanley retractable utility knife is okay to carry at work, because you have a reason to have it as a carpenter (Or a smith or mechanic or nurse or sitting behind a desk all day or any other kind of work.)

Here is the funny part, you can take it with you in your car, when you go home, IF you go straight home BUT if you stop by, say the McDonald drive-trough, you will be breaking the law ;)
BUT if you do exactly the same, the only difference being, that you cheat your boss and go home ½ hour before you are supposed to, and you hit McDonald with in the ½ hour.........You are not breaking the law with regard to the knife, because you are still at "work"

The law was made to keep knives out of the nightclubs and that part of life, not to harass people.
(Yes, surprised surprised, people who stab other people, don't really care all that much about the law in the first place :foot:).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top