Trip to China/Taiwan

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rwasham

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So I might have a chance to do some research work in china and taiwan coming up in spring 2010. Ill be working in the mountainous national parks of each country and was wondering if anyone could give me advice as to the laws restricting knives in that part of the world. Any and all help appreciated.
Ryan
 
I've been to Taiwan a few times and I have no clue what the knife laws look like there, but I can say that it didn't seem like any of the police really cared either. I saw people walking around with knives that looked more like broadswords... If there's any way you can get in touch with an embassy they could probably answer all of your questions.
 
I lived in Taiwan for most of the period from 1985 through 1993. The only knife I carried during that period was a Victorinox Spartan SAK. However, I do not remember much of a worry over there about knives. A friend of mine from New Jersey used to carry what I now think was a large Boker locking knife. I remember seeing some street vendors selling cheap camo-handled OTF automatics.

There was a period I used to carry a (practice) long spear with the metal tip covered to and from a kung fu class, and was never hassled about it, even by cops. In fact, on several occasions, I carried that spear into the Bank of Taiwan in Taipei near the Presidential Palace to cash checks after practice and no one gave it a second look. The "broadsword"-looking knives mentioned above were probably practice broadswords/sabers. While usually not sharpened, they are steel blades and usually also don't warrant much attention when carried in a strapped holster that holds the sword and its sheath.

I know that Taiwan has changed a lot since that time, but to what extent, and in what way regarding knives, I don't know. The period I was there was pre-CRKT, pre-quality production knife manufacturing in Taiwan. I wouldn't go around showing off and flipping your knife open and closed in front of people there, but if you're discreet about it, you should be okay, IMO. No one ever had a problem with my SAK. If you'll be in a national park, you should *really* have no problems at all with your knife(s).

Living in Taiwan, I had to leave the country every 6 months to satisfy the police requirements for a passport stamp. I'd go to Hong Kong or Korea a couple days then return. I used to travel by plane with the SAK in my pocket and had no problems in HK with it. Nowadays, I don't think you can. And I think HK is far stricter in regards to knives than in Taiwan.
Jim
 
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I was in taiwan--street vendors sold Autos, swords, daggers, everything. The locals carry around machetes in the mountainous regions. I don't think they care--they're tools.
 
this is only for mainland china. from what i have seen from researching the topic you can have a knife of any type as long as it's blade is shorter than 100cm and it's not a ballistic knife. On the other hand cops here have pretty vast discretionary powers and baggage loaders for airplanes are sometimes thieves. so i would take something good quality but not so expensive in case a police officer takes a liking to it or it gets stolen out of your checked luggage.

There are metal detectors at train stations, long distance bus stations and in beijing's subways but they have never asked about my pocket knife. and 90% of the time it's just on an nobody pay attention to the beeping. airplanes are serious though and have similar restrictions to the usa.


edit: i saw you'll be in national parks doing reasearch. if it's in a wilderness or rural area carry bring whatever you think you need no one will care at all.
 
rwasham said:
So I might have a chance to do some research work in china and taiwan coming up in spring 2010. Ill be working in the mountainous national parks of each country and was wondering if anyone could give me advice as to the laws restricting knives in that part of the world. Any and all help appreciated.
Ryan
Click to expand...

The knife laws in Taiwan are pretty lax regardless what it might say on paper.
I have lived in Taiwan for a few years and have friends in the Police force here who I have asked about carrying and even given knives to because they had nasty Taiwan made knives :p.

The general rule for urban carry is as long as your not stabbing someone or acting like an idiot with a knife then there will be no pronlems.
I carry a CQC-12 all the time and often carry a small sheath knives as well. If im walking through the streets of Taipei or the like I would just tuck a neck knife or what ever away under my shirt as a matter of being polite rather than being worried about the police. Things like pocket clips showing on your pocket or a small sheath on your belt are nothing to worry about.

If you're out in the mountains then there is no problems regarding knives at all and if you don't have a good knife on you then your actually making a mistake TBH.
There is virtually no police at all out side the cities and the police you will see are going to be pretty useless uless it comes to drinking or chewing bin-lan :rolleyes:
I see your going to be doing research work so if the area your in has rangers they will know who you are and why you're there so again knives are not going to be a problem.
(some parks don't like people taking knives but that is just to stop the public harvesting rare plants etc.)

Depending on what area you're going to be in there may well be the chance to pick up a nice forged traditional blade. There is some really nice bush craft blades and there is also a tradition of head hunting in Taiwan so there are some nice big choppers to be had. Just dont buy one from a tourist shop ;)

:):thumbup:
 
Hi my friend! I am a Chinese.
As you refer to the knife laws here, it is very simple: Carrying any kind of Knife is forbidden. (forget the blade shorter than 100mm bullshit)
Carry knife on airplane is absolutely impossible, even if you put knife in luggage.
Anyway, if you keep others from knowing you carry a knife, any knife is OK.
Thanks.
 
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Last 2 days I've read at least of 2 stabbing cases in China. I'm not sure how this will affect knife carry but thought I'd throw that in.
 
I carried a knife when I was in mainland China, didn't know it was illegal. Those old people practicing Tai Chi in the park carry swords.

In China I personally witnessed a lady stabbed by a knifeman in front of hundreds of people. She lost a lot of blood but survived.
 
cotdt said:
I carried a knife when I was in mainland China, didn't know it was illegal. Those old people practicing Tai Chi in the park carry swords.

In China I personally witnessed a lady stabbed by a knifeman in front of hundreds of people. She lost a lot of blood but survived.
Click to expand...
The sords are OK, as they are not sharpened.
 
Hi my friend! I am a Chinese.
As you refer to the knife laws here, it is very simple: Carrying any kind of Knife is forbidden. (forget the blade shorter than 100mm bullshit)
Carry knife on airplane is absolutely impossible, even if you put knife in luggage.
Anyway, if you keep others from knowing you carry a knife, any knife is OK.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

do you have any links, either in chinese or english for that? when i look on the gov websites in english it's only "controled knives" that can't be carried. i about a year ago i asked my wife to look it up on the Chinese government site and it matched with the link below.

someone on BB had a pretty good discription
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27534

and a reference from the china daily a state run newspaper including the 10cm rule.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-11/13/content_7202745.htm

laws here change at whim so my info may very well be outdated.

also i'm seeing "self lock" knives on china air's list of no-no's but it has terrible english
http://www.air-china.us/en/managemytrip/baggageinformation/restricted.html

however other airlines like hainan air (which has better english) doesn't list those
http://global.hnair.com/File/TravelInfo/xlxx_xlys_new.html

that said i flew a month ago with a bunch of knives in my checked in luggage and had no problems (not that this necessarily means anything)
 
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I'm in Taiwan quite a bit and have asked around about the knife laws.
From what I understand, any length folder is okay as long as you're not
flashing it around and scaring people.

A machete is okay on the trails, but having a sharpened long sword is illegal.
You'll see people walking around with long swords for martial arts training, but the blades are not sharpened.

A few years back, an attempt was made to ban switch blades and balisongs,
but the law didn't pass.:D However, unlike the old days, knives can no longer be sold in night markets - at least not legally.

I've brought knives in and out of Taiwan and never had a problem. Knives are
very common tools in part because of the traditional markets everywhere. Vendors use knives publicly everyday, so seeing a knife is
not too big a deal for most people.

If you buy a locally made knife that is not a U.S. brand, they are pretty cheap -say a Jaguar balisong or some folder. If you buy, for example, a CS knife that's made in Taiwan, it'll be several times what you'd pay for the same knife in the U.S.

If you don't already know this, a piece of advice - beware of the wasps/
hornets in the mountains. The vipers are dangerous, but a hive of angry wasps/hornets is deadly.

Enjoy your trip. My impression has always been that for the most part,
people in Taiwan are very helpful and generous to foreigners. It's a good
place.
 
http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/115244653.html?fr=ala1

ok the laws have changed, controled knives are bayonets, 'hunting knives" (basically a catch all for scarry looking knives), daggers, switchblades or double edge. common fixed blades with a tip angle of 60 degrees or less and blade length bigger than 15cm if it has a greater than 60degree tipe angle it's limited to 22cm.
these can't be made, bought or carried legally without a "dagger license" available to police, researchers, geologists, park rangers, hunters etc.

also martial arts knives that can be sharpened (swords) are not allowed

biggger traditional minority knives are ok to buy, sell, and carry in the minority areas.

locking folders are now limited to 8cm.

and then there is the catch all "knives dangerous to the public" to let cops do whatever they want when they want

hahaha what is so awsome is i have seen every one of these illegal knives for sale in every night market i've ever been to :D
 
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