Traveling to Europe

[gadgetgeek]

I carried a SAK, Roadie and an opinel while over there. Most of the time the opinel was in a backpack, and the other knives were pocket carried (SAK alternated)
A couple of things I noticed. Euro cops seem to be way more chill and have more discretion. I was also traveling under a Canadian passport, and at no time ever felt like I was going to get in that much trouble. Maybe I was wrong and lucky, but I think if you are doing everything right, you'll get a lot more consideration than if you are say, club-hopping and looking like a derelict, or at a football match. don't know if it makes a difference, but I also always carry at least a small FAK. Like everywhere else, read the vibe, and maybe discretion is the better part of valor in many cases, and knowing when to call it a night will go a lot farther than ensuring you have the absolute right on the line legal knife.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I haven't been across the pond in nearly 10 years. While I was in Ireland and Northern Ireland, I carried a SAK Explorer Plus. Friendly looking package with short blades. I like that the tools out number the edges. Plus, what knife with a cute little magnifying glass could be dangerous?

I carried it everywhere, but I only used it in our room or maybe in the car. Usually to cut the tags off something we purchased.

Just be mindful, and I'm sure you'll be fine

 

[rogatsby]

I would leave the Mora at home. It is very risky to carry a knife like that in Europe. I would stick with the SAK or other similar multitool. Regardless of what the actual laws are, the police over there have a lot of discretion and if you run into the wrong guys, it will be a headache. And you never want to get into any legal trouble in another country. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Murindo]

Ahh freedom, only the criminals and terrorists are free these days.

 

[dsd5150]

Was in Italy last year and carried this most:

Also carried a Lionsteel M1 for about a week (purchased in Rome) and nobody seemed to care.

 

[jdm61]

I am just the messenger. Talk to the guy who wrote the article. Admittedly, it was like 9 or 10 years ago when I was traveling to Europe with lots of knives, so things may have changed. IIRC, he said that had the permits and licenses you speak of and specifically said that he wlkedinto his local bank with his S&W Model 29 on his hip.

That is complete and total nonsense. Wrong on every point.

Correct, to carry a firearm in public you need a "Waffenschein" which is basically a Carry Permit (which virtually nobody obtains, exceptions are high level bodyguards and such). To hunt you need a "Jagdschein" (Hunting License) and a "Waffenbesitzkarte" (Permit to own a firearm) if you have those you can carry while you are hunting, you can't even carry on the way to the hunt. You need to lock your guns until you get there.

 

[b00n]

I am just the messenger. Talk to the guy who wrote the article. Admittedly, it was like 9 or 10 years ago when I was traveling to Europe with lots of knives, so things may have changed. IIRC, he said that had the permits and licenses you speak of and specifically said that he wlkedinto his local bank with his S&W Model 29 on his hip.

It's cool, second hand information isn't always all that accurate, not blaming you. I'm not saying it hasn't happened and I'm not saying it's impossible. Doing something illegal doesn't necessarily mean you get caught. A lot of it rides on the mood of the officer who might get called and how you approach it. If the guy came right back from a hunt, was on his way home and can produce all the paperwork they might let him off with a warning for it, at the same time if somebody called the cops out of fear and he barked at them with entitlement he might have gotten into serious trouble. The thing is, Bavaria is considered (jokingly) it's own country. To me it's Germany's Texas. If he's the local hunter who is in the bowling club, friends with the local head of police and the loudest guy in the town bar, people are used to his antics and nobody would care.

 

[jceckrosh]

I have been to Europe 4 times in the last 6 years (Scotland, England, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Italy). I just play it safe - a small folder, checked in my bag, carried discreetly, and behave like an adult. Never had any issues. I do take a "cheap" or budget knife though, in case I do have it confiscated or lose it or whatever. I looked around at the general laws and took into account it was highly unlikely I would encounter law enforcement of any kind and then just picked something less expensive and on the smaller side.

 

[Kevin Wilkins]

I am just the messenger. Talk to the guy who wrote the article. Admittedly, it was like 9 or 10 years ago when I was traveling to Europe with lots of knives, so things may have changed. IIRC, he said that had the permits and licenses you speak of and specifically said that he wlkedinto his local bank with his S&W Model 29 on his hip.

Sounds like a big mouth BS artist to me. What pisses me off about crap like that is that the German hunting and shooting community - and there is a large one - is incredibly responsible and law abiding. There are very few incidents involving legal firearms owners and legal firearms in the entire country. You just don’t find legal gun owners walking around carrying firearms, which is a serious violation of the law, because they know it’s illegal and stupid and even in Bavaria would get you arrested, cause all your firearms to be confiscated and all firearms permits to be revoked. Why do it? But any misuse of firearms usually gets press coverage and provides fodder for those who seek to further restrict legal gun ownership. That’s why some guy spouting crap like that pisses me off.

Regarding the original question: only carry a small SAK in Europe, which is all you need, most likely the corkscrew and the scissors. A fixed blade knife on your person in any German City will get you seriously in trouble if found by the police.

 

[reppans]

Boker Plus Chad Los Banos (2 sizes) is a modern slipjoint with super safe finger choil/blocker. Also watch out for high speed trains like TGV which have airline-like security/rules - lost my Vic Spirit to their 'TSA' with no option to check as all your bags go in the car with you.

 

[James Y]

As mentioned by others, I would only take an SAK. I wouldn't even chance carrying a small locking folder.

Jim

 

[sodak]

When I travel in Europe, I only have a non-sentimental (cheap) red celluloid SAK. It does the job, and is recognizable by 99% of non-knife nuts. I try not to use it in public, but if I do, I want the reaction to be "Oh, just a SAK", rather than "He has a knife"....

 

[canonfan11]

Thanks for the replies, guys. We will be in a car the whole time...no flying or trains. Also, in France, we will be in Provence and staying away from large cities like Marseilles. The consensus is to leave the Mora at home, which may be prudent, but the the SAK should be safe.

The legal aspect is complicated and confusing, even for the LEOs. In France, any object usable for maiming / injuring (a screwdriver, a carpenter nail, a stone) can be considered a 6th class weapon (the most "criminal" class of weapons : sword canes, stilettos, etc. in other words : weapons with intent of killing). It's up to the LEO to determine if you are or not a potential murderer. That's were things can go smooth (for a pocket folder, forget the sword cane...) or definitely go south (with an ignorant / suspicious / overcautious LEO). I would advise to stay on the safe side of things : bring no knife at all. Airports are hot spots, if any. Buy something local (non-locking...) and enjoy it reasonably (I mean, don't carry into a major attraction, like Eiffel tower, Disneyland or to attend another "gilets jaunes" riot...). If you really like your buy, send it home per post, otherwise gift it or sell it before going home.

Good advice, thanks. We will not be in Paris and I would say we are very "normal" looking tourists

I carried a SAK, Roadie and an opinel while over there. Most of the time the opinel was in a backpack, and the other knives were pocket carried (SAK alternated)
A couple of things I noticed. Euro cops seem to be way more chill and have more discretion. I was also traveling under a Canadian passport, and at no time ever felt like I was going to get in that much trouble. Maybe I was wrong and lucky, but I think if you are doing everything right, you'll get a lot more consideration than if you are say, club-hopping and looking like a derelict, or at a football match. don't know if it makes a difference, but I also always carry at least a small FAK. Like everywhere else, read the vibe, and maybe discretion is the better part of valor in many cases, and knowing when to call it a night will go a lot farther than ensuring you have the absolute right on the line legal knife.

Yeah no clubs or soccer matches here! We'll be in the countryside for the most part, with the exception of Milan.

I would leave the Mora at home. It is very risky to carry a knife like that in Europe. I would stick with the SAK or other similar multitool. Regardless of what the actual laws are, the police over there have a lot of discretion and if you run into the wrong guys, it will be a headache. And you never want to get into any legal trouble in another country. Better to be safe than sorry.

Good advice. No need to mess up a vacation over a 2.5" blade.

I have been to Europe 4 times in the last 6 years (Scotland, England, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Italy). I just play it safe - a small folder, checked in my bag, carried discreetly, and behave like an adult. Never had any issues. I do take a "cheap" or budget knife though, in case I do have it confiscated or lose it or whatever. I looked around at the general laws and took into account it was highly unlikely I would encounter law enforcement of any kind and then just picked something less expensive and on the smaller side.

Absolutely!

 

[canonfan11]

Regarding the original question: only carry a small SAK in Europe, which is all you need, most likely the corkscrew and the scissors. A fixed blade knife on your person in any German City will get you seriously in trouble if found by the police.

Agreed...SAK, and an event-freee vacation.

 

[Mannlicher]

Got detained in Turkey for having a Spyderco Native 5. Big mess. I quit going to Europe after that trip.

 

[GermanyChris]

Turkey isn't really Europe..and OP just carry a slip joint of some nature or form in real life no one will care but there's no point in inviting trouble.

 

[FullMetalJackass]

Going to France? Here is the most useful blade past dusk:

 

[Sedit]

This is the best advice i've read in this thread

I have been to Europe 4 times in the last 6 years (Scotland, England, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Italy). I just play it safe - a small folder, checked in my bag, carried discreetly, and behave like an adult. Never had any issues. I do take a "cheap" or budget knife though, in case I do have it confiscated or lose it or whatever. I looked around at the general laws and took into account it was highly unlikely I would encounter law enforcement of any kind and then just picked something less expensive and on the smaller side.

So I live in Vienna Austria and have traveled all across Europe. I always carry a knife, when I'm not in Vienna I mostly carry my Kershaw Westin or my CRKT M16 so if I do encounter law enforcement and they take my blade it's not too much of a loss.

I also don't take any knives to places where I know I'm going to be searched not even a SAK

the most important thing is not to draw too much attention to yourself and behave appropriately with your knife then nothing is going to happen to you.

kind regards
Matt

 

[rogatsby]

This is the best advice i've read in this thread


So I live in Vienna Austria and have traveled all across Europe. I always carry a knife, when I'm not in Vienna I mostly carry my Kershaw Westin or my CRKT M16 so if I do encounter law enforcement and they take my blade it's not too much of a loss.

I also don't take any knives to places where I know I'm going to be searched not even a SAK

the most important thing is not to draw too much attention to yourself and behave appropriately with your knife then nothing is going to happen to you.

kind regards
Matt

I'm sorry, but this is poor advice. You are basically saying that relying on luck and "discreteness" will keep you safe. I have a lot of European colleagues, and virtually none of them carry a knife for fear of the legal consequences. Yes, chances are good that if I walk around Vienna or Paris with a PM2 in my pocket, nothing will happen if I don't get myself into any troubling situation. Does that mean that is smart? Obviously, no. If you really want to carry a knife in Europe on your person, a small SAK is really the only safe choice. I wouldn't even carry a Delica or any similar knife in Europe. It's just not worth the risk.

 

[Sedit]

I don't know about Paris, but if you were to walk around Vienna with a PM2 nothing is going to happen to you, because the PM2 is legal in Vienna.

Except in two places in the city where law enforcement executed a "you're not allowed to carry anything that could hurt another person" zone.

Another thing is Europe is not all the same. Saying "If you really want to carry a knife in Europe on your person, a small SAK is really the only safe choice" is wrong.

In Denmark ,you are not allowed to EDC any kind of knife.