Travelin' overseas: Which knife?

Take a SAK or multitool and I suggest a kitchen knife. Think 5" chef's knife.Things that look non-threatening have a lot less chance of getting you canned than a tactical folder. I've been overseas quite a lot and never been hassled over it even when in open sight.
 
Originally posted by fudo
Take a SAK or multitool and I suggest a kitchen knife. Think 5" chef's knife.Things that look non-threatening have a lot less chance of getting you canned than a tactical folder. I've been overseas quite a lot and never been hassled over it even when in open sight.
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Agree! I live in Denmark and our knifelaws are amongst the strictest anywhere (and about to get worse).
It is forbidden to carry knives in public places (which is basically everywhere apart from your home) unless for fishing, hunting or work. Folders with sub 2,7" blades are OK for public carry, but one hand openers are strictly forbidden!
In urban settings, I usually carry my SAK Recruit or LM Micra and at times "something else"!
As far as I know, it's almost the same in Sweden apart from (again only to my knowlegde) one hand openers are allowed.
Germany should be OK with most knives apart from larger automatics.

I would not carry anything that could get me in trouble on a holiday/prolonged trip!
Just came back from Sweden and only carried my SAK.

Edited to add: Fudo's advice on a kitchen knife is good! Either get a small but high quality kitchen knife and make a leather/kydex/plastic/whatever sheath for it (specifically not for carry!!!) or pick a non-threatening fixed blade like a Fällkniven F 1,
Benchmade Outbounder or something that can pass as a scout/outdoors knife.
The police here tends to go nuts over "tactical" looking knives!lleyes:
 
Wow, I went out of town after I posted this and haven't been able to reply yet. Thank you all for the nice response.

I hadn't even considered the legality of carrying any of the knives I mentioned, just the overall practicality of them. I guess I ought to rule out the autos; no sense in asking for trouble.

Thanks Bellamy for the reality check. SAK's are nice and handy and cute and all, but I'm not betting my life on one. And I know a lot of different ways to open a bottle of beer without one.

I think I've decided on the following to take with me:

- SOG Powerlock
- Fallkniven A1 for outdoor use (though their Northen Lights series look pretty sweet!)
- BM 733-02 (ARES w/ red winewood handles) for EDC

I don't think I could get myself to carry a 3" blade. I just returned a BM 690 because the 3 1/4" blade just seemed too puny for EDC. Not trying to be all macho here, but I mean, if you're gonna carry a knife, carry a freakin' knife. So I decided on the BM 733-02. The blade is 3.6". This is likely longer than the legal limit in a few of the countries I'll be travelling to. However, I'm hoping the nice red winewood handles will make the knife look less threatening to anyone "in charge" and I ought to be able to talk my way out of any encounters. I choose this over the Al Mar SERE 2000 for just this reason (S2K looks a bit too "tactical").

Is there a company I can send the pocket clip to get some kind of coating put on it? Would BM put, say, the BC1 coating on it for me if I asked?

Oh, I did forget one knife. I'll be carrying my Theirs-Issard straight-razor with me also. I hope a gentleman can still shave with style over there...

Thanks again,
-Willey.
 
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