lockblades in europe

Denmark I think doesn't allow locking knives, as well as knives that can be opened with one hand.
 
In Norway it is forbidden to carry a knife in public places. No matter what it is.
The law is however very relaxed, and I`ve never heard of anyone I know beeing fined for carrying a knife, at least not in the north of the country.
In Oslo it is a different matter, but I carry my multi-tool in plain sight when I`m there too, and I`ve never been stopped by the police.

In summer many people carry fixed blades or multi-tools even the tourists. The police would be busy if they were to arrest everyone carrying a blade in the hunting season. Every truck stop is almost like a knife show:D .

It is only the autos and butterfly knives that are illegal to own. Other than that one can buy and import almost anything.
 
To expand on what Andy L said, the law states that you can carry a non-locking folding knife with a blade not exceeding three inches. Anything else is OK if:

1. You need it for your job.
2. It's part of a national costume. (Skein Dhu for example)
3. You have a reasonable excuse.

Point 3 allows some flexibility, so while it's illegal to carry a Leatherman Wave because of the locking blades, you're unlikely to get into trouble over it because the police know that people buy them as tools and not weapons.

The notable exceptions are automatic or gravity knives, balisongs, or "knives not readily detectable by conventional means, unless specifically for food use". This covers plastic knives (not toys!) or knives disguised to look like something else. All of these are illegal. If you own one from before they were illegal, you can usually keep it as long as it stays in your home.

It's also illegal to sell or market a knife as being suitable for combat, although sell the self-same piece of steel as a "survival knife" and you're fine. Go figure.

Chris
 
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