New law - New folder needed.

D

DonDisco

Joined
Nov 26, 2002
Messages
34
Hi everybody,

Germany is following UKs path into 1984.
Starting April 1st, we got a new weapons law, now it's illegal to carry folding knives that allow to lock the blade by just using one hand.
I've considered my past use of folders and realized that I need the one-hand-opening far more often than the strenght of a locked blade.
Therefore I'm looking for some advice regarding which folders might meet the following criteria:

1) Has a pocket-clip
2) Can be opened with one hand
3) Does not lock blade

(That would be a one-hand-opening slip-joint with a clip, I figure).

Do you have any ideas?
I've already started thinking about modding a medium Douk-Douk with a clip and a thumbscrew. But I'd rather not Dremelize it and instead buy something new.


Thanks a lot.
 
I think the Spyderco UK Penknife probably fits well.

It also has a rather short blade at 2.6".

It is designed for exactly this purpose. Fortunately you don't need the non-openable-with-one-hand limitation of some of the Scandinavian countries, IIRC.

-j
 
At least one of the old Sheffield manufacturers produced a one-handed opening knife that doesn't lock, I think it's still available.

The Cold Steel 'Ultralock' is an old model (I posted a thread a while back about these as I was having problems with the liner lock.) You might be able to pick one up though. This opens with one hand, but not obviously so.
 
I feel sorry for you, I read that new (censored :mad:) law.

I recommend the Spyderco UKPK, and the T-Mag, look at them.
 
Its been out for a long long time. Its called a friction folder.

Sounds like its your only legal alternative from what my German friends have told me.

STR
 
STR pegged it! Get a friction folder. If you use common-sense, you don't need a lock. I just ordered one and can't wait to get it. Let us know what you do.
 
What do you think? This would be legal?
It is a Masano folder :

P4090017.jpg


P4090019.jpg
 
That friction folder locks so therefore its not legal based on what I was told.
You want one with a longer rear flip on it to open it so your hand grasping the folder when opened is basically the only lock of a sorts and how strong it is is dependent on the grip strength of the individual holding it. If you think about it Vikings fought and used them so if your grip is good you can probably count on it for a lot once you get used to it.

STR
 
biogon said:
I think the Spyderco UK Penknife probably fits well.

It also has a rather short blade at 2.6".
Click to expand...
Maybe you are referring to the sharpened length (?), but the total blade length is just a hair under 3 inches (2-15/16" or 74mm). Similar to the Delica. A great size for EDC.

This would be my first choice. It is discontinued, but you should be able to find them in stock for a while. Get one while you can.
 
That's insanity. They continually push towards less safe knives. First, they won't let you have a fixed blade, then a locking folder. What's next, a law demanding that we run w/ scissors? Perhaps we need a massive public service announcement' campaign featuring some matronly nurses to explain the basics of knife safety.

I am curious if you can tell us anything about the basis on which they justified the new law?

Anyway, here is one I thought might qualify under your law. It's the William Henry 'Legacy' series of friction folders:
http://www.williamhenryknives.com/product/pocket/legacy/index.html
 
If you are not having frequent run-ins with the law, and do not have a felony criminal background, I would carry whatever knife I felt was needed for what i have to do. I am not familiar with german law or the enforcement thereof, but most police where I live are fairly understanding if you have a legitimate reason for carrying anything. ( I frequently walk around ((not in town)) with an 18 inch machete, 2 fillet knives, both 12 inch blades, a meyerco dive knife, and a benchmade folder.) I have all these on my fishing pack, and person, and have stood around talking to police and DNR and had absolutely nothing said. Just carry what you want, and don't commit crimes.
 
wutitiz said:
I am curious if you can tell us anything about the basis on which they justified the new law? http://www.williamhenryknives.com/product/pocket/legacy/index.html
Click to expand...

As has already been said this seems to be following the UK, but the thing is here, so far as I know, the law on knives as it was drafted doesn't actually ban lock-backs, it's the application of that law. When considering the matter originally the Government of the time considered banning lock-backs, but after consulting with the local cutlery industry, the Member of Parliament for Sheffield, Richard Caborn, expressed the view that a lock was a safety feature. Lock-backs therefore formed no part of the subsequent legislation which outlawed various knives, and prohibited the carrying of a folding knife with a blade length of more than 3" without good reason (for example work or leisure.) More recently though an overzealous prosecutor argued that there was no real difference between a fixed blade knife (which now required a lawful reason to be carried) and a lock-knife, as the latter required a secondary action to close the blade. A judge agreed with this, and because of the ruling in that case, which has never been overturned by another court, lock-backs have to all intents and purposes been outlawed (at least to the same extent as fixed blade knives.) So, this stupid 'law' wasn't even made by a stupid government, but by a stupid unelected judge bending over backwards to assist an overzealous prosecutor.
 
Thanks, Jack Black, for the reply. That is often how things work in the U.S., too. As bad as the legislative bodies can be, the courts tend to be worse. Dumb and Dumber, so to speak.

I do not agree with the advice of the poster who says to carry whatever knife you need and rely on police discretion to stay out of trouble. While that can work the vast majority of the time, if it doesn't it can turn into a major headache. I am a typical law-abiding guy--not even a speeding ticket in 10 yrs or so. But a year or so ago I was working out, around dusk, in a nearby park. Some lady called the police to report that I was harassing her. I had not talked to, or even looked at anyone the whole time I was there. Nonetheless two Bellevue cops showed up, snuck up on me from behind, and grilled me for about 10 minutes on who I was, what I was doing etc. I was not arrested or anything, but I still think about what could have happened if I had been carrying an (illegal) fixed edc or something and they had decided to search me.

When I pressed the police to investigate the female who had made up the totally false claim against me, naturally they weren't interested in doing that.
 
wutitiz said:
Thanks, Jack Black, for the reply. That is often how things work in the U.S., too. As bad as the legislative bodies can be, the courts tend to be worse. Dumb and Dumber, so to speak.

I do not agree with the advice of the poster who says to carry whatever knife you need and rely on police discretion to stay out of trouble. While that can work the vast majority of the time, if it doesn't it can turn into a major headache. I am a typical law-abiding guy--not even a speeding ticket in 10 yrs or so. But a year or so ago I was working out, around dusk, in a nearby park. Some lady called the police to report that I was harassing her. I had not talked to, or even looked at anyone the whole time I was there. Nonetheless two Bellevue cops showed up, snuck up on me from behind, and grilled me for about 10 minutes on who I was, what I was doing etc. I was not arrested or anything, but I still think about what could have happened if I had been carrying an (illegal) fixed edc or something and they had decided to search me.

When I pressed the police to investigate the female who had made up the totally false claim against me, naturally they weren't interested in doing that.
Click to expand...

I can certainly relate to what you say Wutitiz. You really don't have to be doing anything wrong to get adverse police attention. Here people are even being detained for carrying perfectly legal knives such as slip-joints and SAK's, and often sign to have their legal knives destroyed rather than extend their stay in custody. Last year there was a case highlighted in my local paper about an elderly doctor detained and held for hours because he happened to pass through a train station with a small SAK in his pocket.
 
12thsign said:
If you are not having frequent run-ins with the law, and do not have a felony criminal background, I would carry whatever knife I felt was needed for what i have to do. I am not familiar with german law or the enforcement thereof, but most police where I live are fairly understanding if you have a legitimate reason for carrying anything. ( I frequently walk around ((not in town)) with an 18 inch machete, 2 fillet knives, both 12 inch blades, a meyerco dive knife, and a benchmade folder.) I have all these on my fishing pack, and person, and have stood around talking to police and DNR and had absolutely nothing said. Just carry what you want, and don't commit crimes.
Click to expand...

That's stupid advice.

All it takes is to run into that one bad cop ONCE and your life is turned upside down. You're assuming that all cops think like you do and that common sense will prevail.

My wife was in court 2 days ago for a traffic ticket for failure to change lanes when passing a police officer giving someone a ticket (that's a law in Oregon). We had looked up the statute and realized that the facts of the case made the violation impossible in several ways - she was on a one lane road with cops on either side of the road, making a lane change impossible, so she slowed down instead. So armed with facts and the law, my wife went into court to plead her case. Right of the bat, the cop started lying - said it was a 2 lane road, that no other cop was there, that she almost hit him, that he was actually standing IN the road, that she told him that when he asked her if she knew what she did, she responded "I don't care" and talked badly to him. It went on and on. The judge gave her the maximum possible fine "because she was lying". It blew her mind. Partly because we have cop and law enforcement friends who are good, solid people, and she used to work in law enforcement and corrections and thought that she knew what to expect. But she just had an epiphany - not all cops are good and some will do whatever they can to use the law to punish you.
 
12thsign said:
I frequently walk around ((not in town)) with an 18 inch machete, 2 fillet knives, both 12 inch blades, a meyerco dive knife, and a benchmade folder.) I have all these on my fishing pack, and person
Click to expand...

I sincerely believe that if you walked down the street in the UK "armed" like that you'd be shot!

12thsign said:
Just carry what you want, and don't commit crimes.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, in many countries, carrying what you want means you've already committed the crime :(
 
Lurker said:
Maybe you are referring to the sharpened length (?), but the total blade length is just a hair under 3 inches (2-15/16" or 74mm). Similar to the Delica. A great size for EDC.

This would be my first choice. It is discontinued, but you should be able to find them in stock for a while. Get one while you can.
Click to expand...

Only the black one has been discontinued. They are now available with either foliage green or bright orange G-10 handles. The low-ride wire clip makes for very discrete carry. I've been carrying mine every day for about eighteen months now.:thumbup:
 
12thsign said:
If you are not having frequent run-ins with the law, and do not have a felony criminal background, I would carry whatever knife I felt was needed for what i have to do.
Click to expand...

The knife regulations are part of the weapons law and if I'm caught breaking it, I'd loose my permit for my handgun and all rifles. It would take at least 5 years before I could get it back.
And since I work in the main crack-dealing-center of town, I get searched at times (about once every 3 to 4 weeks).

Thanks all for the advice. I've dug out an old Greco friction folder and have ordered a UK pen-knive.

And I'm pressing thumbs that you're making the right choice on your next vote. Sometimes politics can have direct effects on your daily routine.
 
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