[HGUNHNTR]

Hey yall,

I am going to be moving to Cologne Germany for about a year. I am pretty bummed about having to suspend firearms ownership for that length of time, but need to look at some alternatives for self preservation. Does anyone have a working knowledge of German knife laws? Can I take a knife with me? Any restrictions? Thanks in advance THR crew.

[glistam]

Doesn't matter, by American Disabilities Act, nobody can meaningfully question the need for a cane.

Well, technically German Disability Equalization Act. But I don't know how it works or if they have an equivalent to the Medical Privacy Act of 1974

Anyhow, while knives have their share of issues as SD weapons, they are still useful regardless, so here is my best understanding of the law for carry in public:
-It cannot both lock and have a one-handed opening feature (this includes thumbstuds and such). In can have one or the other, so for example an Opinel or that UK-legal Spyderco model that I forget the name of are both good.
-No daggers
-Fixed blade has to have a blade less than 12 cm (4.72 inches)

In all cases there must be a obvious and provable utilitarian usage. Self-defense is not valid as a reason.

[Owen Sparks]

Sounds like a big Buck 101 will do.

[Gordon]

Buy a nice one over there! I always use weapons I can buy in countries I visit as my fist shopping priority. Surprising the nastiness one can come up with an a nice trophy to take home.

[steveno]

when I was stationed at Rhein Mein AB in the early 1970's there was some nice knife shops in Frankfurt. I wished I had bought a few more knives than I did. Puma's were real cheap back then.

[ArfinGreebly]

First thing:

Germany is one of those places where one can carry an umbrella and not look ridiculous. I carried one in Europe for years.

The Unbreakable Umbrella (http://www.real-self-defense.com/unbreakable-umbrella.html) can be a solution for those times when a knife simply isn't an option.

I have one, and I believe there are other forum members who have one.

And it makes a very competent umbrella as well.


The other thing:

As long as the knife you take in your checked baggage (or that you ship to yourself with household belongings) complies with the local laws you should have no problem.

However, Germany isn't a "knife desert" and there are some pretty respectable brands over there (Böker and Linder come to mind, among others).

American brands are also available over there.

Do you have ex-military status that will give you access to US bases? There are always some good pieces available at the PX/BX.

In general, I recommend a knife that looks as ordinary as possible. A Buck Vantage is sharp, well made, will open rapidly, and has a very ordinary profile.

Good luck over there.

[Carl Levitian]

Quite frankly, if I were going to Germany for a year, I sure wouldn't bother carrying any knife over with me. With such nice knives being made there like the German Hubertus, Hartkopf, Linder, and Mercator, and the the French Laguiole's from the Forge De Laguiole and Fontenille, I'd be buying them and shipping them home. They have great knives over there that are not available here. Some of the locking Fontenille Laguioles are great knives. The Italian Maserin' are very very nice knives.

Buy there, ship home and you'll have a very nice collection of knives at very reasonable prices.

Carl.

[chez323]

Not sure about the knife laws, but I was stationed at Bitburg Air Base back in the mid 80's. Cologne was a short train ride away and it's a great town...... German's are a very friendly people with great beer.... your going to have a great time!

[crazyjennyblack]

When I went to Germany, I bought a cheap knife as soon as I arrived. Not knowing I could bring it back with my in my checked luggage, I left it there....

Honestly, Köln was probably the nicest and safest city on my entire trip, and felt much safer than some American cities I've been in that were much smaller.
Buy a couple of small non-locking utility style knives and rest easy. You'll have a good time in Köln! If I were to pick a foreign city to move to, it would be there or Toulouse...:D

[lemaymiami]

Since I already have one.... I'd look for another old Henckels folding knife (don't believe they make them any more). It looks like a Case Sodbuster with cherry wood grips and is, bar none, the sharpest, cleanest cutting folder (carbon steel blade) I've ever owned...

[hso]

The OP asked a simple question and you guys pile on about other things instead of offering the info he asked for. Not exactly high road to ignore his question and treat him like that.

Knife laws in Germany changed in the past several years so here's what one of the German members at Britishblades compiled. Perhaps a couple of our German members will scan this and let us know if it is still correct.???

Looks like any fixed blade non-dagger smooth spine under 12-cm (4.7-in) is legal to carry as long as it isn't designed and marketed as a weapon (defensive or otherwise). It is remarkably easy to carry a small fixed blade knife with a blade of 3-in in a pocket sheath with a chain attached to the belt like a watch or wallet chain.

You can carry any of the following knives without legal reason:
- non-locking folders
- two handed opening knives, regardless of blade length or locking mechanism
- fixed blades with a blade length of 12cm and under

In Germany the following knives are banned:
- push daggers
- otf and gravity knives
- butterfly knives/balisongs
- knives with knuckle duster handles
- switchblades with a blade length of more than 8.5cm (blade width doesn't need to be more than 20% the blade length in the middle of the blade anymore)

Under the following circumstances knives are considered weapons:
- blade is double edged
- sawback might also count as double edged
- the knife is intended to be a weapon, e.g. the manufacturer says so (e.g. Kabar TDI is sold as a weapon, so it is seen as a weapon despite the short blade length)
- knife is a switchblade
Weapons are only to be carried in locked containers. Weapons of any kind are not to be carried when attending public events, because carring weapons in such cases violates the right of assembly. The right of assembly only grants the right to assemble peacefully, i.e. without weapons.

The following knives may not be carried outside of a locked container without legal reason (includes job, sport, and knives as a part of traditional/national costume, and also for socially adequate use - whatever that is supposed to mean; I'd stick to one of the other, more palpable reasons):
- locking folders that can be opened one handed
- fixed blades with a blade length above 12cm

Knives and other dangerous items (including axes, batons, and even eggs) may not be carried if you attend political events like demostrations or speeches of politicians on the market place, or similar.

[j1]

While in europe I was told in a knife shop that a small knife which can be opened with one hand by using the small knob on the blade was illegal. I asked if the little knob were unscrewed from the blade if it would be legal and I was told that yes as it then required two hands to open it.

This may not help exactly because it was either Sweden or Norway but it does bring up my point, which is to find out when you get there what the Greman laws state about carrying a knife concealed on ones person. Here I would just call up the state police and ask.

[JoergS]

You can carry a fixed blade knife as long as the blade is no longer than 12cm. No daggers.

You can't carry a locking folder that can be opened with one hand.

You can't carry any knife when you go to an event. A football game is an event. A bar is not.

In your own home, you can carry a Samurai sword if you want.

[HGUNHNTR]

^Thanks dude, I appreciate it.

[Ryden]

While in europe I was told in a knife shop that a small knife which can be opened with one hand by using the small knob on the blade was illegal. I asked if the little knob were unscrewed from the blade if it would be legal and I was told that yes as it then required two hands to open it.

This may not help exactly because it was either Sweden or Norway but it does bring up my point, which is to find out when you get there what the Greman laws state about carrying a knife concealed on ones person. Here I would just call up the state police and ask.

Must have been Norway then, because in Sweden there is a total ban on carrying knives in public places, school property or in vehicle in public places.
Removing the button would not change the knife's status at all.

[seeker_two]

Of the options discussed, a small bird/trout knife sounds like the best bet.....small enough to keep in a pocket & easy to deploy one-handed....

http://www.agrussell.com/ag-russell-bird-and-trout/p/AGBThhh8A/

http://www.agrussell.com/ag-russell-woodswalker-in-leather-hip-pocket-sheath/p/AGPRS/

....or the German equivalent....