Going to Italy, knife laws?

From our beloved State Department:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1146.html

I dont know the specifics of their laws but I carried my Emerson commander throughout Italy, never had a problem.

I have never attempted to carry a knife in or out of a European country.

I buy one if I expect to be in the country a while and toss it when I leave.

I've only been to Italy once, Rome, Naples and Capri. That country stood out from my other European experiences. You have to be doubly on your toes. Pick pockets, thieving taxi drivers, thieving railroad employees, thieving hotel employees.

Expect to be short changed frequently. Some vendors hope you will walk away without counting your change. One time I stood there after receiving my change until the railroad employee begrudgingly threw more money at me.

I was not pick pocketed since I always carry everything of value in pouches under my clothes. However few of my friends got out of Rome unscathed.

I know this sounds discouraging, but, instead of continuing with my travel plans in Italy, I booked a flight to another European country I had never been to and had a ball.

BUT, if you are there, consider Capri. That island was my best experience in Italy. Beautiful, fewer thieves and a nice ship ride over from Naples.

If cities are a concern, will be going to Venice, Rome, Pompeii, Florence, Lavorno, Milan, Naples, Pisa, and a few others.

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Venezia, Roma, Pompei, Firenze, Livorno, Milano, Napoli, Pisa... these are their Italian names.

I'm Italian and I live in Genova (in English Genoa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genoa) if it's one of your destinations let me know.

However, talking about knife laws, sadly, in Italy you aren't allowed to carry a knife unless you can prove thet you really need it for a task you're going to do (gardening, fishing, hunting, hiking in the woods and so on). Walking through the streets of a city with a knife, even a pocket one, is illegal.
BTW, a simple knife can cause you legal troubles, a double edged one ore an auto are even worse because they're considered proper weapons (as guns) by our laws.

If you have other answers, feel free to ask.

BTW, not every Italian is like those met by harrygunner.

Ah, bella Italia! I love Italy. I studied in Firenze (Florence.)

For travel there I suggest a surefire flashlight small enough to have with you all the time. At night at least you could shine it someone's eyes and run. It's handy in dark cathedrals and hotels, too.

The tourist areas are pretty safe except for pickpockets, so just get some pants with inside pockets or carry one of those pouches that fit on your ankle or inside your pants.

In big cities in any country, including the USA, you are going to encounter some rude and mercenary people. The rudest people I've ever met were in Los Angeles.

p.s. notice the sig line.

On a lighter note... as some of my Northern Italian friends put it, and pardon me if I butcher the language, as it's been a few years: "Roma é una bella cittá... c'e solo una problemma con Roma... i Romani." "Rome is a beautiful city... there's only one problem with Rome... Romans."

Other than that, Italy is a great country to visit. Walking into one of their gun shops is a hoot. It's more secure than many banks in Europe (that's saying a lot) and you have to have a permit from the police to even buy a pistol magazine in Rome.

Try Eastern Europe. You won't be disappointed. Their gun shops are slick.

-Sans Authoritas

Not that I have money for it anymore, but when I used to travel to European countries, I would turn into a Sheeple and enjoy my trip and just make sure to stay in the normal realm of what sane tourists do. Never got into trouble and I have to say,it was both wierd and exhilirating to temporarily go unarmed. Did I say baaaaaa? Yeah, didn't even take spray or a pen knife.

On a lighter note... as some of my Northern Italian friends put it, and pardon me if I butcher the language, as it's been a few years: "Roma é una bella cittá... c'e solo una problemma con Roma... i Romani." "Rome is a beautiful city... there's only one problem with Rome... Romans."

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I agree with your friends.

I took a medium size Henckel SAK, a Leatherman tool called The Juice and a Surefire all packed in my suitcase. The only thing to attract attention was the Suefire. I left it in our Florence apt when we went out during the day and it was gone when we came back. We went out again and it had been returned to out bedside table. I carried the SAK in my fanny pack (don't say fanny in England) and the juice went in my wife's mini backpack. We went through security in many museums and they said the knife was no problem IN A FANNY PACK or a backpack. It is NOT Ok in your pocket. You won't need the weapons but we are Americans and its our tradition. Italian law does not allow violence against pickpockets. This is a minor crime in italy and they are lightly punished. Many of the pickpockets are women or children.
The SAK is best utilized on the end of an eight or ten inch lanyard. The juice becomes a Yawara when the pliers jaw is folded out.
I was told that pepper spray is not allowed but I'm not sure. You can but any kind of knife in Italy. Fox is a good brand and not too expensive. The Opinel is well tolerated in most countries. People who carry knives always swear that they were going to filet a fish or cut a sandwich. The crime is waaay higher in the south.
Good Luck

My younger sister got to go to Italy at the end of her senior year in high school. If a ditzy 18y/o girl can manage it, I think you'll be just fine. I'd probably bring a flashlight but I doubt I'd bother with a knife simply to avoid trouble with local authorities.

and Big Boomer
http://www.corporatetravelsafety.com/security_camera_straps.html

These types of security straps already exist and have stainless steel wires sewn right in.

Here's a crazy idea, re: your camera: Don't take anything along you can't stand to lose?

Knife laws

So they will cut your strap to steal the item with a knife they are not supposed to have. Sounds like knife control laws don't work either.

Ok first: no fanny packs. Fanny packs scream: "TOURIST". Second, no tactical dressing. You're in Italy. In Italy, being fashionable is practically the 11th commandment. So if you can't fit your stuff in your nice clothes, don't carry it. You might be able to scoot by with a Leatherman handy tool. Might.

Giolli,

You've also got a phenomenal firearm magazine over there: "Armi e Tiro." I wish we had something like it here. It's not comprised of 75% advertisements like the magazines here (the National Rifle Association and Guns and Ammo being two of the worst offenders.)

-Sans Authoritas

Giolli,
You've also got a phenomenal firearm magazine over there: "Armi e Tiro."

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It's my favourite Italian magazine (but also the other 3 are good).
I'll post your comment on its forum, I bet the editor will like it.

(I've even written a short article on "Armi e Tiro" about Oleg Volk, two years ago.)


BTW, I live in Italy since 1983 (birth) and nobody ever stole me anything... not every Italian city is the same (and Naples is probably the worst from this point of view) but usually you don't walk in a crowd of thieves in the Italian cities...

Giolli, the people who live in this geographic area often tend to have no idea of their surroundings. They're sheep, and of course, they lose their wool as a result. The borseggiatore have their game, and of course, the just Italians are used to the rules of the game.

The first rule any American should follow when in Italy is "No, don't 'look at the baby.'" Look at the little 5 year old kid who is behind you while you're looking at the baby. The second? Well, there's always room for one more person on the bus.

-Sans Authoritas