Is it legal to carry a knife in Ireland?
- Thread starter 9mmforMe
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kingpin008
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If it was legal, sure. Otherwise, not a chance. I'm not a fan of running afoul of law enforcement in foreign countries.
Overkilll0084
Member
Call ahead and find out for sure. If something happens, you don't want to be getting a tour of the Irish justice system.
If Ireland is anything at all like Britain, the answer will be no.
If Ireland is anything at all like Britain, the answer will be no.
Sunray
Member
"...Ireland is anything at all like Britain..." The North is Britain.
No knives in the South. http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=2545
No knives in the South. http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=2545
Owen Sparks
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Is it legal to eat a bacon in Iran?
Or sell beer in Alabama on Sunday?
Or carry a knife in Ireland?
What does any of this have to do with gun laws?
Or sell beer in Alabama on Sunday?
Or carry a knife in Ireland?
What does any of this have to do with gun laws?
Its a legal issue and could have gone either here or in the non-firearm forum...considering the legailites of carrying a lethal weapon seemed to take precedence, I posted here. Yes, this site is primarily for firearms, but clearly knives are covered given the existence of the non-firearm forum.
Would you like a beer to wash down THAT bacon?
Would you like a beer to wash down THAT bacon?
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71Commander
Member
What does that have to do with anything?
If you'd remove your head from the dark recess, you'd notice a non firearm weapons section on this forum. Hence the question in legal.
Calibre44
Member
Not true. Here in the UK you can legally carry a folding pocket knife so long as the blade does not exceed 3”and can not be locked in place.
I'm not sure about Southern Ireland though ... sorry.
Boanerges57
Member
In the irish republic the law is different, also in some areas of mainland UK they have a no tolerance policy on knives.
Sometimes this policy is not noticeably posted and is something you may simply be expected to know.
In the country you tend to get away with far more than you might if you were in an urban environment. The rural police (or garda) are often far more tolerant and less suspicious.
It is typically advisable not to carry a knife in the UK. Using it, even in the defense of your own life can get you in terrible trouble. Also do not under any circumstances get caught carrying any box cutter or razor type knife.
Sometimes this policy is not noticeably posted and is something you may simply be expected to know.
In the country you tend to get away with far more than you might if you were in an urban environment. The rural police (or garda) are often far more tolerant and less suspicious.
It is typically advisable not to carry a knife in the UK. Using it, even in the defense of your own life can get you in terrible trouble. Also do not under any circumstances get caught carrying any box cutter or razor type knife.
TimmyXD
Member
I know I just returned from Scotland a couple weeks ago and we were informed by our OIC when we got there that having a pocket knife could be considered the same as a concealed firearm in the states and was not allowed there. But at the same time I noticed several stores sold small pocket folders... I would agree try to find out ahead by either calling someone or looking it up on the state departments web page occasionally they will have information such as that.
+1
A normal Swiss Army knife would be alright to carry in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland), but a Buck 110 lockback would not be. Forget pepper spray, it's not legal in the UK either.
Can't comment on Ireland itself, but I would be very careful.
Then get a non-locking Swiss Army knife. Use the bottle opener, peel an apple, open a box with it.
The one thing you shouldn't do is defend yourself with it. Attitudes about self defense in the UK / Ireland are very different. If you so much as display a knife during an altercation, you will be arrested and treated as a criminal, no matter what your justification was. They are absolutely hysterical about "knife crime".
The one thing you shouldn't do is defend yourself with it. Attitudes about self defense in the UK / Ireland are very different. If you so much as display a knife during an altercation, you will be arrested and treated as a criminal, no matter what your justification was. They are absolutely hysterical about "knife crime".
Old outlaw biker trick: thread a bandanna through a closed padlock, tie the padlock into the middle, and carry it in your back pocket. Keep the key in your pocket. Improvised bludgeon (sap) with all components having defensible, legitimate uses.
Just don't cold cock yourself whipping out your hanky to catch a sneeze or blow your nose!
Just don't cold cock yourself whipping out your hanky to catch a sneeze or blow your nose!
Seriously you won't need a knife for defense here. Its not a violent country unless you're involved with some dubious individuals.
Natman is correct. Get a pen knife but don't ever use it for defense. Ever.
I'm not 100% on the actual laws but I afair open knives with a blade of over 3'' length are illegal. Flick/switch/lock/ butterflies etc of any length are also illegal. You would only be searched by the police if you've been acting suspiciously not for regular traffic stops etc. Carrying any knife if you've been stopped with good reason would be dimly viewed. If it contravenes the law you'll be charged otherwise it may be confiscated.
On the other hand the police here exercise good judgement and if you are stopped while fishing on a river bank in the countryside with a long fish gutting knife in your possession you're unlikely to be charged. You may however be asked for your fishing permit and what luck you've been having/ what bait are you finding is the best.....
Natman is correct. Get a pen knife but don't ever use it for defense. Ever.
I'm not 100% on the actual laws but I afair open knives with a blade of over 3'' length are illegal. Flick/switch/lock/ butterflies etc of any length are also illegal. You would only be searched by the police if you've been acting suspiciously not for regular traffic stops etc. Carrying any knife if you've been stopped with good reason would be dimly viewed. If it contravenes the law you'll be charged otherwise it may be confiscated.
On the other hand the police here exercise good judgement and if you are stopped while fishing on a river bank in the countryside with a long fish gutting knife in your possession you're unlikely to be charged. You may however be asked for your fishing permit and what luck you've been having/ what bait are you finding is the best.....
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Thanks Fitz...good to hear from someone who is a citizen of Ireland.
I'll bring a small knife, but won't employ it but for its practical purposes.
I'll just be aware of my surroundings, go to places that are known to be safe and hope all goes well...geez that really sucks!! Am i being paranoid in wanting to have something with me for protection?
I'll bring a small knife, but won't employ it but for its practical purposes.
I'll just be aware of my surroundings, go to places that are known to be safe and hope all goes well...geez that really sucks!! Am i being paranoid in wanting to have something with me for protection?
razorback2003
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A swiss army knife is not much of a knife for self defense. Knives are not that great in general because you have to get close to someone. The locking one hand opening folding knives, to me, serve a better purpose as a tool than a self defense object. Now the K-Bars and the Bowie knives, those might be more like self defense knives!
I think someone would be better served to either run or have a good maglite than use a pocket knife.
I think someone would be better served to either run or have a good maglite than use a pocket knife.
Owen Sparks
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Are walking cains still legal in Ireland? A 3 foot stick is far superior to a 3 inch knife in most cases.
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''I'll just be aware of my surroundings, go to places that are known to be safe and hope all goes well...geez that really sucks!! Am i being paranoid in wanting to have something with me for protection?''
You're probably just used to a different environment. In the US I've only ever been to rural parts of the Pacific North West and BC and never felt threatened by people. The bear and cougar tracks were a lot more disturbing..
But just like pretty much everyone worldwide we seen American movies and tv and we really dont have hugh ghetto areas like the US or Europe. Dublin only has a population of just over 4 million and its way far the biggest city. There are rough areas in the city but you'd be unlucky to end up in one and chances are nothing would happen. The larger cities have their junkies and drunks staggering around but they tend not to bother anyone.
Really, in normal living a bar fight would be the most you could expect and you'd have to work at getting into one!
I'm not saying we don't have any violent crime but its not on a scale that occurs in other countries and more often than not only involves people of 'questionable character'.
Frank
You're probably just used to a different environment. In the US I've only ever been to rural parts of the Pacific North West and BC and never felt threatened by people. The bear and cougar tracks were a lot more disturbing..
But just like pretty much everyone worldwide we seen American movies and tv and we really dont have hugh ghetto areas like the US or Europe. Dublin only has a population of just over 4 million and its way far the biggest city. There are rough areas in the city but you'd be unlucky to end up in one and chances are nothing would happen. The larger cities have their junkies and drunks staggering around but they tend not to bother anyone.
Really, in normal living a bar fight would be the most you could expect and you'd have to work at getting into one!
I'm not saying we don't have any violent crime but its not on a scale that occurs in other countries and more often than not only involves people of 'questionable character'.
Frank
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