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Russian Knife Laws
- Thread starter mort
- Start date
I think Putin replaced Yeltsin since then, his government might have a different stance on the issue.
check out www.russianmartialart.com and ask in the Water Cooler, they have people who are interested in combat, some which go to Russia regularly and have contacts there.
check out www.russianmartialart.com and ask in the Water Cooler, they have people who are interested in combat, some which go to Russia regularly and have contacts there.
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2001
- Messages
- 1,536
Ok, I have actually been to Russia and can offer a bit of advice from that and what Russians have told me. First of all, folders are legal, and I know of no size limits. Autos are legal as long as the blade is 85 (maybe 95? I forget) mm or less in length. I do not know about fixed blades. You can buy cheap OTF and stilletto autos at many flea markets and kiosks in the cities you mentioned. I brought some back with me.
Now, this is Russia, so there is a bit more. Just because it is legal does not mean you might not get a hard time over a knife. I would not take anythhing ultra expensive or of sentimental value. But DO take a knife with you, as the ones I saw for sale there were of shoddy quality for the most part. If an officer gets bent out of shape over a knife keep in mind that American money greases a lot of wheels over there. Still if they want to keep it, let them. Chances are though, that they will be better able to use $20 than an $80 Benchmade. Also, do not take the knife to any govt building, museum, sporting event. They have much tighter security at such places than the states do generally.
Hope this is some help. I loved my trip there and home to return some day. Make sure to check out the places like the Hermitage, Peter and Paul Fortress, Pushkin, Kremlin, the TV tower in Moscow, etc. There are more but it is hard to think of all of them off the top of my head. Hope you have a great time.
Now, this is Russia, so there is a bit more. Just because it is legal does not mean you might not get a hard time over a knife. I would not take anythhing ultra expensive or of sentimental value. But DO take a knife with you, as the ones I saw for sale there were of shoddy quality for the most part. If an officer gets bent out of shape over a knife keep in mind that American money greases a lot of wheels over there. Still if they want to keep it, let them. Chances are though, that they will be better able to use $20 than an $80 Benchmade. Also, do not take the knife to any govt building, museum, sporting event. They have much tighter security at such places than the states do generally.
Hope this is some help. I loved my trip there and home to return some day. Make sure to check out the places like the Hermitage, Peter and Paul Fortress, Pushkin, Kremlin, the TV tower in Moscow, etc. There are more but it is hard to think of all of them off the top of my head. Hope you have a great time.
Ok. I never was in Russia, but I did lived in CCCP 
so laws should be similar:
1. you can't carry any fixed blade
2. you can't carry any folder with any kind of lock
3. there was no blade length limitations. officially.
P.S. and advice from my friends that do lot's of business with Russia:
you can bribe 99% officials in Russia. Just have wallet with only few $. the bustards can get greedy, especially if you from America
so laws should be similar:1. you can't carry any fixed blade
2. you can't carry any folder with any kind of lock
3. there was no blade length limitations. officially.
P.S. and advice from my friends that do lot's of business with Russia:
you can bribe 99% officials in Russia. Just have wallet with only few $. the bustards can get greedy, especially if you from America
- Joined
- Nov 25, 1999
- Messages
- 1,499
Well, I see you have really tight situation to get any reliable info in this subject. This is pretty strange especially taking into consideration that here are some Russian Forumites, for example search for username Dmitry (use partial match function, Im not sure about is it full user name or not).
Im not first-hand source but Im in contact with some Russian gun and knife magazines (simply writing for them, my Russian is a bit better than my English). Last year November visiting Moscow Knife Show I have searched this subject pretty thoroughly and here are some results:
There are not too many imaginable situations when you should (and first of all could) defend yourself with a knife. In fact I have entered Moscow Metro (subway - pretty interesting thing as itself) at 11 P.M. without any concerns about my safety.
BTW, dont forget to visit Hermitage in Saint-Petersburg and Weapon Chamber in Moscow if you want to see outstanding historical blades in excellent condition.
There are a lot of interesting places in both Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, tell us about your impression when you will be back, please.
A small bit of self advertising: ask for magazines ÏÐÎÐÅÇ (cut) issued in Moscow and ÐÓÆܨ (rifle) issued in Saint-Petersburg (however they both should be available in all large Russian cities) and you will find there my writings on knife subject, in Russian of course.
Ooopsss, this software doesn't accept cirrilica characters, please call me via e-mail if you want to know how their titles look in Russian.
Have a nice trip
Im not first-hand source but Im in contact with some Russian gun and knife magazines (simply writing for them, my Russian is a bit better than my English). Last year November visiting Moscow Knife Show I have searched this subject pretty thoroughly and here are some results:
- According Russian laws all knives are divided into two categories weapon and utility tool. First category requires federal license to buy, sell or carry.
- You can buy, sell and carry each knife if it is certified by suitable federal institution as being utility tool. However you should have a copy of this certificate with you carrying this knife. All utility knives in Russian knife stores are sold with such certificates. This is theory, in practice fixed blades, even being certified as utility tools, are not especially welcome in urban environment.
- To be certified as utility tool a knife shouldnt cross one of such limits the blade not thicker than 2,4 mm or not longer than 95 mm or the handle without handguard. This is no sense to think thoroughly about this requirement application to your knife because according Russian law each type of knife should be certified individually. Sometimes this causes pretty odd situations. For example all BENCHMADEs I saw in Moscow knife stores (including autos and Nimravus fixed blade) were certified as utility tools but KATZ KNIVES Special Forces folder and all their fixed blades were counted as weapons. SPYDERCO Military was certified as utility tool but their Chinook as weapon. Not excluded that now importers could get certificates and such situations have changed.
- There are metal detectors in government buildings, the most of well-known museums, casinos, nightclubs and another public places. Naturally you have few chances to enter airport secured area with the knife in your pocket. So visiting such places would be better to leave your knife in the hotel. However the security level doesnt differ any noticeably from average in Europe (I have no experience with America but I think there is no difference also). Saying simply I could enter there with concealed submachine gun if I would like. But please do not try to do something like this, I have worked for long time as security guard in my nearest past so I know in advance and exactly what, where and how they will search.
There are not too many imaginable situations when you should (and first of all could) defend yourself with a knife. In fact I have entered Moscow Metro (subway - pretty interesting thing as itself) at 11 P.M. without any concerns about my safety.
BTW, dont forget to visit Hermitage in Saint-Petersburg and Weapon Chamber in Moscow if you want to see outstanding historical blades in excellent condition.
There are a lot of interesting places in both Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, tell us about your impression when you will be back, please.
A small bit of self advertising: ask for magazines ÏÐÎÐÅÇ (cut) issued in Moscow and ÐÓÆܨ (rifle) issued in Saint-Petersburg (however they both should be available in all large Russian cities) and you will find there my writings on knife subject, in Russian of course.
Ooopsss, this software doesn't accept cirrilica characters, please call me via e-mail if you want to know how their titles look in Russian.
Have a nice trip
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2000
- Messages
- 3,794
Not sure what the laws are at this moment, but as usual it will depend on the officer 
At least when I lived there LEOs didn't care much about the law and I suspect didn't know much of it either.
Especially if you're the foreigner in there. I've known people who had their permits(something like visa, saying you're there from, to...) torn to pieces by patrolling officers and then given the choice, either 100$ (well, your ammount may varry) or an arrest for walking Moscow with no permit, illegaly being there etc...
Hopefully the situation is better now, but anyway, most likely you can "work out" the situation with the LEO...
So, like Serg said, get a blade, and try to stay out of trouble Metro as usual won't be a problem, except may be the patrol will ask for the documents, or if in the bad mood then see above...
At least when I lived there LEOs didn't care much about the law and I suspect didn't know much of it either.
Especially if you're the foreigner in there. I've known people who had their permits(something like visa, saying you're there from, to...) torn to pieces by patrolling officers and then given the choice, either 100$ (well, your ammount may varry) or an arrest for walking Moscow with no permit, illegaly being there etc...
Hopefully the situation is better now, but anyway, most likely you can "work out" the situation with the LEO...
So, like Serg said, get a blade, and try to stay out of trouble
Metro as usual won't be a problem, except may be the patrol will ask for the documents, or if in the bad mood then see above...
- Joined
- Nov 25, 1999
- Messages
- 1,499
Yes, Gator is right law knowledge certainly wouldnt be the strongest side of LEOs. Not only in Russia at least. French LEO measured the blade length of my Delica against the width of his palm 
Since he had pretty narrow palm and blade was a bit longer he decided to do not let me into EUROSATORY2002 exhibition secured area with this knife. So they have kept my Delica until I have exited, then they returned it to me. Im just wondering if I would deal with LEO who have wider palms I probably wouldnt have any problems to enter with my knife 
As to Russian LEOs I couldnt consider them nor too active neither too aggressive. The funny story occurred when I have climbed onto granite pedestal of the pretty artistically made cast iron street lamp at Theater Place in Moscow to take a shot of November 7-th (the anniversary of the Great October Socialistic Revolution in 1917) from somewhat higher position last year. Normally this couldnt be considered as any civilized behavior but Im journalist...
LEO said me its not allowed, please go down. What isnt allowed I have asked to make pictures? No he said make your pictures as much as you want but it is not allowed to climb onto street lamps. OK I said Im already here so Ill make just one shot and go down. No he said it is not allowed! What is not allowed? I have asked.
Probably we could keep such discussion endlessly but I have hanged in pretty uncomfortable position with camera in my hand, so I considered to go down without making this shot. With no more action from LEO side, they even didnt request my press card or passport.
So I think the situation with Russian LEOs is not as tragic as it sometimes is assumed in advance.
Since he had pretty narrow palm and blade was a bit longer he decided to do not let me into EUROSATORY2002 exhibition secured area with this knife. So they have kept my Delica until I have exited, then they returned it to me. Im just wondering if I would deal with LEO who have wider palms I probably wouldnt have any problems to enter with my knife As to Russian LEOs I couldnt consider them nor too active neither too aggressive. The funny story occurred when I have climbed onto granite pedestal of the pretty artistically made cast iron street lamp at Theater Place in Moscow to take a shot of November 7-th (the anniversary of the Great October Socialistic Revolution in 1917) from somewhat higher position last year. Normally this couldnt be considered as any civilized behavior but Im journalist...
LEO said me its not allowed, please go down. What isnt allowed I have asked to make pictures? No he said make your pictures as much as you want but it is not allowed to climb onto street lamps. OK I said Im already here so Ill make just one shot and go down. No he said it is not allowed! What is not allowed? I have asked.
Probably we could keep such discussion endlessly but I have hanged in pretty uncomfortable position with camera in my hand, so I considered to go down without making this shot. With no more action from LEO side, they even didnt request my press card or passport.
So I think the situation with Russian LEOs is not as tragic as it sometimes is assumed in advance.
I think Russian LEO may be allowed a lot of leeway when it comes to dealing with people than in other places if you know what I mean.
It's just a guess after viewing caviar poachers getting thrashed (apparently an acceptable practice over there) on TV in a popular American live action cop show (I forgot which.) The narrator ended his commentary by saying they should not have broken the law (more or less.) How is that for Hollywood money grubbing media sleaze. Anything to boost ratings.
Oh another necro thread I didn't realize
It's just a guess after viewing caviar poachers getting thrashed (apparently an acceptable practice over there) on TV in a popular American live action cop show (I forgot which.) The narrator ended his commentary by saying they should not have broken the law (more or less.) How is that for Hollywood money grubbing media sleaze. Anything to boost ratings.
Oh another necro thread I didn't realize
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.....what are you doing?
