It is illegal to bring, possess, sell, rent, lend or give away a knife prohibited in the UK, unless otherwise required by law. Paragraph 2 also prohibits the introduction of knives of this type from 13 June 1959. [61] The above legislation criminalizes the conduct of the original owner or seller of an auto-opening or gravity meter, not the new owner or acquirer; In addition, the law does not criminalize the possession of such knives, with the exception of possession for the purpose of sale or rental. It is therefore not illegal in itself to simply possess such a knife, although the difficulties in acquiring one without breaking the law make it (almost) impossible to obtain one without committing or facilitating a crime. [Citation needed] If a person is found by a law enforcement officer in unauthorized possession of a prohibited knife, they are liable to up to 5 years in prison and the weapon seized. The Crown can then ask a provincial court judge to have the weapon confiscated and destroyed. The import and export of prohibited weapons is also strictly regulated and enforced by the Canada Border Services Agency. [14] In France, any knife of any blade length with a fixed blade or a folding blade with a locking system is a non-regulated Category D weapon (Category D weapons over-the-counter). [26] Category D unregulated weapons can be purchased legally if they are over the age of 18, but they must not be worn on their own bodies unless they are worn “for a good reason,” for example as part of the tools of one`s own profession. If these knives are transported in a vehicle, they must be placed in a secure and locked compartment that is not accessible to the occupants of the vehicle. [9] In addition, French law provides that the authorities may classify any knife as a prohibited object depending on the circumstances and the discretionary power of the police or judicial authorities.
Since “reasonably sized” knives are only tolerated in most cases, the authorities can confiscate them without further delay. [27] No one wants to conflict with the law when travelling, especially abroad. Basically, the legal regulations for knives in all European countries are always similar: There is often an upper limit for the length of the blade that can be worn. Regular wearing also requires a “legitimate reason” or “legitimate purpose”. And in the end, almost all countries have a list of cutting tools, each of which is considered a prohibited item: transport to these countries can lead to a severe penalty if caught. An important note first of all: Even if the description of the legal situation in the different countries has been compiled to the best of our knowledge and conviction, it is necessary to familiarize yourself again with it in case of doubt. In addition, all4shooters.com would like to point out that it is not always necessarily wise and appropriate to do so simply because something may be legal. Precisely because there are practically no rules for carrying knives in Austria or the Czech Republic, for example, it is strongly discouraged to walk around the city center of Vienna or Prague with a combat knife or sword openly worn in the style of a Japanese katana. However, some knives cannot be transported in public, which is defined as the exercise of real control over a restricted class knife outside the home, business or private property. [29] The constant emergence of new knife designs, such as knives with auxiliary openings, can complicate questions of legality, especially if state laws have not been carefully drafted to clearly define the new model and how to classify it in existing law. This omission has historically led to cases where state courts have replaced their own understanding of knife design to interpret legislative intent in enforcing laws criminalizing certain types of knives. [91] [122] In Italy`s popular seaside resort, the situation is unfortunately relatively opaque.
There is no length limit for knives and many knives banned in other countries can be purchased in many places. They may be legally owned, but you are not allowed to have them on hand. However, knives disguised as everyday objects are absolutely prohibited. A licence is required for certain sharp weapons. In general, care should be taken to carry only a knife that is compatible with the activity you are doing (e.g., fishing, hiking). A court will decide if you have a good reason to carry a knife if you are accused of carrying it illegally. “A planned camping holiday in a European country, maybe with a fishing rod: Add a knife to your travel bag, and off you go – it was once. Meanwhile, most European countries have indeed adopted fairly strict and confusing rules and laws on which knives and cutting tools can be worn. all4shooters.com tries to give an overview of the rules to be respected.
