by Jeffjuice3886 » Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:32 pm
Interesting, the worlds laws on knives seem to just be getting more and more strict. Jarhead, is there anything you can do like asking the US embassy to retrieve your knife/ask them to atleast have it mailed back to your home?
Some interesting info re: Germany's knife laws via wiki [I know not the most credible, but the quickest :p and decent for this discussion]
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German law explicitly forbids a few types of knives and regards other types of knives as weapons.
German law defines a weapon to be any item that is intended to reduce or eliminate the ability of a person to attack another person or to defend themselves. Example: A bayonet is intended to injure or kill people, hence it is regarded as a weapon by the law, while a machete is regarded as a tool to clear dense vegetation. A knife with a two-sided blade and a switchblade which is not illegal as described below are always regarded as weapons. Sabres and similar items are regarded as weapons.
German law explicitly lists the following knives as being illegal to manufacture, import, sell or possess:
Butterfly knives
Gravity knives
Push daggers
Switchblade knives are the only knives where the law makes restrictions on the length of the knife:
All OTF switchblade knives are regarded as illegal to possess.
All side-opening switchblade knives are illegal, except when the blade is no longer than 8.5 cm
The law makes an exception for push daggers: These knives may be owned and used by owners of a hunting permit, or by members of the fur industry.
All weapons are subject to restrictions, including a minimum age of the owner, they have to be stored properly and may not be carried at certain public events. All knives that are not illegal or regarded as weapons can be purchased, owned and carried by anyone.
--- BUT-----
In February 2008 a new law was passed which outlaws the carrying of certain types of knives without commonly awarded purpose:
All switchblades, even those formerly allowed for carrying.
All locking folders with one-handed opening mechanism. If the knife has just one of these two features, it is still legal.
All blades over 12.0 cm.
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Found a person by "ookami" on another forum wrote this, regarding his life in Germany, and he wrote what he knew about the german knife laws
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 and a blade width of less than 20% the blade length in the middle of the blade (basically a ban on those slim stilettos)
- hidden weapons meaning knives and other weapons disguised as everyday items; including but not limited to sword-sticks, belt buckle knives, and even those goofy plastic hair brushes with a hidden plastic knife
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
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
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, or similar.
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I suppose 12cm is for all blades, fixed and folded? Since I don't often see a 4.724 inch [12 cm ] folding knife [minus cold steel etc]. And I wonder if it is just the cutting edge or whole thing. Also found it interesting that if you do have a knife that it must be "in a locking container". Haven't found a definitive answer in my quick search, i wonder if that means you can use those Velcro knife wallets/pouches, or a button lock knife sheath [like those leather ones] etc. Sigh. Does anyone else find it ironic that Solingen, Germany is considered/named their "city of blades" [with companies like Boker, Wusthof, J.A. Henckels] with a rich metallurgic/sword- knives- razer manufacturing history? [Comparable to Seki and Sakai cities in Japan].
I do hope that you can get things sorted out, and hopefully they will allow you to at least send your knife home.
