What would you do if carrying a knife became illegal in your country?

[Louky]

For years, I carried a small Delica without clip, in the back of my pocket.
The blade length is sufficient, the VG10 is very suitable, the handle is rather long, suits my large hands well and the lock-back prevents accidental opening. It covers 99% of my knife needs.

About a year ago, I stopped carrying a knife, for the reasons I explain here.

Here is a flyer published by the “Central Service for Weapons and Explosives” ("Service central des armes et explosifs" : the state body which manages the regulation of weapons in France) on the subject of bladed weapons:

I asked ChatGPT to create a translation.

As you can see, the notion of "legitimate reason" is very vague.

 

[madcap_magician]

One of the real problems here with knives is that we mainly carry them as useful tools. If you're in a situation where it's illegal to carry a knife, now it's dangerous to use it as a tool in case other people see you with it and take a dim view of that, in which case... how useful is it to carry a knife you can't use?

 

[jfk1110]

I'm a 49-year-old man who works 50 hours a week and lives in a semi-rural area.
I've always had a habit of avoiding strange places, strange people, and strange situations.

When I'm at home, wherever I'm hiking in the hills, I always carry a Spyderco Delica or a Sage 5. No one here will give me any trouble. Elsewhere, it's much riskier.

In France, too, we're used to doing pretty much whatever we want. But this attitude is dangerous: on French forums, per example, no one wants to talk about these regulatory issues. Everyone thinks that, in any case, we'll continue as before and ignore the law, because the chances of getting caught are slim.
So, unlike gun enthusiasts (of which I am also a part), there is no effective defense association or professional organization.
The market is collapsing, and many small knife makers are shutting down.
Worse, knife culture (which is important in France) is disappearing.

This makes me sad and a little angry.

I live in Alsace, on the border with Germany. We speak a very old Germanic dialect that many people still speak: Alsatian. When something annoys us, there's a very old expression that says "I have the knife that opens all by itself in my pocket" : "Do geht eim s’Masser em Sack uf !"

Great!!!.....Now we or I need a video of it being said \ pronounced...

 

[Louky]

Ha! Ha! Okay: I'll try to find a way to add an audio file.

If you want to know what Alsatian sounds like, you should watch the movie "Witness" with Harrison Ford. It really struck me when I was young: the Amish speak (almost) Alsatian! Later, I learned that the Amish came from here (their community was founded in 1693) and that they settled in Pennsylvania in the 19th century.
From what I understand, this is mainly because war is completely prohibited among the Amish and, unfortunately, in our country, men were often drafted into the army.

One of the real problems here with knives is that we mainly carry them as useful tools. If you're in a situation where it's illegal to carry a knife, now it's dangerous to use it as a tool in case other people see you with it and take a dim view of that, in which case... how useful is it to carry a knife you can't use?

That's a very interesting observation.
I try to remain discreet no matter the circumstances, even though a folding knife doesn't scare anyone. You never know...

 

[shinyedges]

I'm not playing those games, can't do it. I, like many Americans suffer from a medical condition that keeps my knee from bending.

 

[RPZIP]

When a country's gov decides to criminalize the carry of any knife it's time to move. Because it's a sign that that country is on the verge of collapse. And there are plenty of other signs in that country as well that can not be discussed here.

 

[Louky]

The situation is worse than you can imagine.
But it's an old story, always the same:

Hard times create strong men.
Strong men create good times.
Good times create weak men.
And, weak men create hard times.

 

[knarfeng]

This thread keeps drifting in the Political Direction. Either that stops, or the thread will be closed.

What would you do if carrying a knife became illegal in your country?​

What would be your workaround? That is the question. Answer that specific question or move on.

 

[SharpBits]

Scissors or EMT shears would be my fallback, if forced into using an alternative.

There are some regional and city laws in the US that use similar vague wording. It allows them wiggle room to arrest some and let others go free. I’m sorry to see oppression of citizens is increasing almost everywhere.

 

[beeinak]

Use ‘stand off’ muzzle devices on my firearms.

 

[BootKnifeFan]

This thread keeps drifting in the Political Direction. Either that stops, or the thread will be closed.

What would you do if carrying a knife became illegal in your country?​

What would be your workaround? That is the question. Answer that specific question or move on.

Good point. Anti-weapons laws, whether edged weapon or firearms oriented, or both in many cases, tend to be political in nature. I agree on the workaround, though. The average "Joe" has little chance of changing a political environment in a given country. Often, economic pressures tend to be much more effective in achieving this. That is why I tend to stress, in the most absolute terms, the importance of choosing what is practical to carry on an everyday basis. A 3" to 4" folder, IMHO, checks most of the boxes. Much easier to explain away as a tool. Anything "tactical" will be viewed by the authorities for what it was intended for. Why look for trouble when there are plenty of good alternatives? Choose wisely!

 

[Sphinx3000]

You can't even carry the smallest Victorinox anymore without a reason in the Netherlands. If the reason does not make sense to the police officer, you will have your knife confiscated. Even worse, now you will have a criminal record. Our societies are changing for the worse FAST in Europe. Most know why, and those who don't will never get it. In the meantime, we, the non-criminals, are losing our freedom more and more. I applaud Poland and Hungary for keeping their culture.

 

[Louky]

Indeed... sorry for the shift to the political side of this topic...

A blade between 3 and 4 inches is, in my opinion, ideal for everyday use. In fact, the most iconic French knife (and the one that, thanks to its low price, is the most successful) is the Opinel N° 8, whose blade is 8.5 cm, or 3.35". We see them everywhere: in kitchens, gardens, on construction sites, at picnics/hiking/camping, hunting...

 

[BootKnifeFan]

Indeed... sorry for the shift to the political side of this topic...

A blade between 3 and 4 inches is, in my opinion, ideal for everyday use. In fact, the most iconic French knife (and the one that, thanks to its low price, is the most successful) is the Opinel N° 8, whose blade is 8.5 cm, or 3.35". We see them everywhere: in kitchens, gardens, on construction sites, at picnics/hiking/camping, hunting...

Well, that's good. Price is right and very utilitarian!

 

[BootKnifeFan]

You can't even carry the smallest Victorinox anymore without a reason in the Netherlands. If the reason does not make sense to the police officer, you will have your knife confiscated. Even worse, now you will have a criminal record. Our societies are changing for the worse FAST in Europe. Most know why, and those who don't will never get it. In the meantime, we, the non-criminals, are losing our freedom more and more. I applaud Poland and Hungary for keeping their culture.

When England basically took over Ireland back in the Middle Ages, one weapon the British authorities wanted to ban was the sheleighly. In the hands of a man who knew how to use it, it was a serious weapon. So, the Irish modified it into a basic walking stick. Not wanting to seem unreasonable, the British allowed the walking stick version. The British got their way and the Irish kept their now-modified walking stick. That is a real case of a successful workaround.

 

[scdub]

Carry scissors.

Scissors

This was my first thought as well, in part because I have already used this workaround many times. Mostly on airplanes where surprisingly the TSA allows scissors with a 4” blade.

I have several pairs of these Fiskars “airplane scissors” and they’re inexpensive enough that I wouldn’t mind throwing a pair away if needed.

Pro-tip: Scissors with points are a bit more useful and it’s an easy modification to make with most blunt scissors. Scissors that quickly come apart for cleaning are even MORE useful.



And a few other options:

I don’t like being disarmed.

 

[DMG]

One has not only a legal, but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.

― Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from the Birmingham Jail

 

[Drop bear]

Carry scissors.

By the way. I was sort of working sort of watching a local fight show and took the big pair along.

And man! They did basically everything. Cut off hand wraps, opened packets, cut tags off things, cut tape, cut rope.

The hand wraps were something I wouldn't use a knife for.

I am going to get a set of walk around with, minis.

They need a pocket clip or something though.

 

[Legendary_Jarl]

That's one of the reasons I left my ****ed up country Mexico but when I do go I risk carrying a small friendly looking folder.

 

[Mick Boardman]