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

[Weiss]

Those who deny the ownership of arms by the peaceful render them victims to the violent; indeed, such deniers stand firmly with the violent who will not only come for the peaceful who can no longer resist, but eventually those who enabled their predation. This is a losing strategy. It empowers evil and weakens good. Who would do such a thing? Stupidly evil people. That’s who. Those who cannot recognize the inevitability of consequences.

Putting that another way, denying things to good people because of the abuse of those things by the evil does nothing to prevent evil. Preventing evil has nothing to do with making good vulnerable to evil. It has everything to do with stopping those who perpetrate evil.

To go one step further: there is no clearer sign of tyranny than when the tyrant denies your right to self defense. At that point you become a victim of the tyrant. The only question is, how much more of a victim will you become? The tyrant cares not for your safety, yet often benefits from the facile appearance of good. Enrobed in the appearance of good — by which many are persuaded — the tyrant always perpetrates greater and greater evil. Right now, that’s incremental oppression.

You are living through this. I’m sorry.

The solution is better leadership. Sometimes that means tossing out bad ones and electing good ones. Sometimes that means picking up the mantle of leadership yourself.

 

[BladeFreek]

We do have certain laws in the USA around blades but it’s usually specific to certain states/cities (areas). I view the knives as a tool though nothing more. So I am guess if it did come down to where I couldn’t have one then I would just have to move on from the hobby.

 

[DennisM]

"Legally" follow all the regulations and procedures with hopes to be granted the privilege of becoming a citizen.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Nothing like a good old criminalizing of the population instead of just punishing the criminals. Personally I'd get really vocal in local and broader politics and make sure any politicians that represent me know how I feel about the situation. They would need to know where my contributions and votes will be going if things don't change for the better.

 

[VCM3]

No, I'm not moving!
I'm at home here, and I have family obligations, my job, my house...

Anyway, it wouldn't change much. All European countries will end up adopting the same type of restrictions. It's for the same reason that the vote won't change anything: everything is now decided at the European level, by unelected people who don't care what citizens think.

For now, we are trapped by this system.

My goal isn't to break the law. Furthermore, in theory, I can carry a folding knife if I have a "legitimate reason". But there's no definition of what a "legitimate reason" is, which makes the situation very uncertain. Especially since there's been a real psychosis about bladed weapons in the country for several years.

This is what the Vice-President of the National Assembly presented in May as "weapons seized from students"...

My (other) grandfather told me that during the Second World War, when the Germans occupied my region, he and his friends used to carry a penknife in their wallets to avoid getting caught.

I should think about that!

I have a small Douk Douk that I could probably fit in a wallet. There’s a few other styles too like the Coursolle pen knives. It could work

 

[BootKnifeFan]

I don't think that "carrying" will ever become totally illegal, because most knives are viewed as tools first and weapons second. Granted, there are knives that are specifically designed for military/self defense applications but I am not referring to those. Yes, NYPD went full-retard with knife arrests for at least two decades, but most of this nonsense was directed at the so-called "gravity knives" which were locking folders. Most compact single-edged fixed-blade knives with blades under 4" remained perfectly legal to carry there, as long as they were completely concealed. I saw many photos of evidence tables showing confiscated knives in NYC, courtesy of rabidly hoplophobic Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance. The vast majority were common, inexpensive, WalMart and hardware store type folders, along with double edged daggers and a few machetes.I didn't see any sub-4" single-edged blades.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I remembered those tiny pocket sized flat head screw drivers are still pretty common despite personally no longer having a need for one. Useful and pokey in a pinch.

 

[fuyume]

I would caution people against applying American cultural and legal standards anywhere overseas. We are the only country in the world that constitutionally guarantees the right to keep and bear arms to its people (not, as some people mistakenly believe, its citizens only). I will admit to having carried knives in juridictions overseas, including in Europe, where it was probably illegal for me to do so, so that was out of ignorance of the laws of those countries, at the time. I would never do that, now.

The UK has a similar restriction on carry of knives in public without "legitimate purpose", and what constitutes "legitimate purpose" is that you must be presently engaged in work which requires the use of a knife. Otherwise, in the UK, you are limited to a sub-3", non-locking blade. Japan is even more restrictive. No knives over 6 cm may be carried without prior permission of the local police department. You actually have to get a permit in Japan to buy a kitchen knife, believe it or not, but theoretically, a Victorinox 58 mm model is permitted, although the police will harass you and likely detain you, even for weeks, if they find one on you.

It seems implausible to suggest that France, home of Laguiole and Opinel and wine and picnic culture, would ever ban the carry and use of pocket knives, but it is likely that they consider a picnic to be a "legitimate purpose". As I am not French or a resident of France, and I am unfamiliar with the French legal system, my advice would be to listen to people who are experts in French law on this matter.

Unfortunately, in far too many jurisdictions, what qualifies as "legal" or "permissible" is subject to the arbitrary discretion of local law enforcement officers, which means that enforcement of the law will be inherently unduly discriminatory. This is ture even in the US, where in many jurisdictions, like New Jersey, the police have arbitary authority to deny firearms permits.

I can tell you that in the US, the one place where knives are universally forbidden is on passenger airlines, but we are allowed scissors up to 4" from the pivot point, so when I fly, I carry a traditional manicure kit with manicure scissors, and a first aid kit with bandage shears. I will either drop-ship a pocket knife to my destination, or if I can afford to check baggage, I will put my knives in my checked baggage, provided they are legal at my destination. but, even then, TSA security personnel at the checkpoint have final authority on what flies or doesn't, and if they decide to confiscate, there is no recourse.

 

[fuyume]

I don't think that "carrying" will ever become totally illegal, because most knives are viewed as tools first and weapons second. Granted, there are knives that are specifically designed for military/self defense applications but I am not referring to those. Yes, NYPD went full-retard with knife arrests for at least two decades, but most of this nonsense was directed at the so-called "gravity knives" which were locking folders. Most compact single-edged fixed-blade knives with blades under 4" remained perfectly legal to carry there, as long as they were completely concealed. I saw many photos of evidence tables showing confiscated knives in NYC, courtesy of rabidly hoplophobic Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance. The vast majority were common, inexpensive, WalMart and hardware store type folders, along with double edged daggers and a few machetes.I didn't see any sub-4" single-edged blades.

Part of the reason why I own my Gerber Harsey AirFrames is that they are 3.875" blades, a length that was specifically chosen so as to not violate NYC law. As a native of NYC, there will never be a time when I am willing to go without a tool by my side.

 

[BootKnifeFan]

Part of the reason why I own my Gerber Harsey AirFrames is that they are 3.875" blades, a length that was specifically chosen so as to not violate NYC law. As a native of NYC, there will never be a time when I am willing to go without a tool by my side.

My EDC of choice is a 4" CS Voyager, with the pocket clip removed and carried deeply concealed. I am retired and do not have to worry about the possibility of an arrest costing me my job and ruining my career.

 

[Riz!]

To answer the OP’s question on my personal choice, if I needed a knife as a tool (which is why I always carry one) I would carry anyway.

If I was feeling reasonable, likely a spyderco UKPK or other slipjoint, clipless and out of view. Ide also consider a leatherman multiool or similar. Also likely clipless.

If I was worried about self defense and was thinking I would need a weapon, I would carry a combat cane/walking stick of some sort.

Some alternate weapons ide consider are monkey fist keychains with a lead or steel ball inside it or a thick leather belt with a heavy metal buckle. I have seen them used as impromptu impact weapons and they are surprisingly effective.

There are even leather coin purses that unfurl into slapjacks and use the coins as the weight for the impact surface. 25 or 30 one euro coins would be a significant impact and might be the best money you ever spent.

 

[RPZIP]

To answer the OP’s question on my personal choice, if I needed a knife as a tool (which is why I always carry one) I would carry anyway.

If I was feeling reasonable, likely a spyderco UKPK or other slipjoint, clipless and out of view. Ide also consider a leatherman multiool or similar. Also likely clipless.

If I was worried about self defense and was thinking I would need a weapon, I would carry a combat cane/walking stick of some sort.

Some alternate weapons ide consider are monkey fist keychains with a lead or steel ball inside it or a thick leather belt with a heavy metal buckle. I have seen them used as impromptu impact weapons and they are surprisingly effective.

There are even leather coin purses that unfurl into slapjacks and use the coins as the weight for the impact surface. 25 or 30 one euro coins would be a significant impact and might be the best money you ever spent.

Another, if you can justify it - you are riding a bicycle. Or you are headed to a supermarket and attach your clutch bag/handbag to the shopping cart etc etc ...... a small cable lock that uses a small padlock. A 1 and 1/2 to 2 foot cable sling with a chunk of steel to swing around if needed. Effective, and versatile enough to be used non-lethal/less than deadly force. .... And, instantly transitional to deadly force.

 

[jfk1110]

Another, if you can justify it - you are riding a bicycle. Or you are headed to a supermarket and attach your clutch bag/handbag to the shopping cart etc etc ...... a small cable lock that uses a small padlock. A 1 and 1/2 to 2 foot cable sling with a chunk of steel to swing around if needed. Effective, and versatile enough to be used non-lethal/less than deadly force. .... And, instantly transitional to deadly force.

Sho is........