Need Help on Euro Knife Laws

[araneae]

My wife and I will be taking our much overdue European honeymoon in a couple weeks. We will be visiting Paris, France, Switzerland, and Barcelona, Spain. Can any European forumites advise me on knife carry laws for any of these locations? We will be traveling by train a bit if that matters.

I have considered an frn UKPK, but thought maybe something smaller would be safer. I will also carry a Swiss army knife which I assume should be fine. If the Kiwi Slipit is out in time I may just take that alone and give it a good 2 week test drive.

Thanks!

[ClusterFlux]

When ever I go to France to visit family, I always use a n°9 Opinel which has a 9cm locking blade, and have never had troubles (though I was primarily in the countryside not a major city). I don't know any specifics about the French knife laws, but the UKPK will most likely long as you aren't doing anything ridiculous with you're blade no one will give you any trouble. If you are worried, and need to use a knife in public a SAK won't get any second looks. Though this would be a good oppertunity to justify purchasing another Spyderco to you're wife ;)...

edit: I haven't been to any other of the countries you listed so I don't know a thing with their knife laws...

[jzmtl]

If I were you I would bring just a SAK, and buy some local flavor while I'm there. (France/Laguiole, Spain/Navaja, Switzerland/SAK)

[ChrisR]

Over at BritishBlades a few of the members have put together the threads where world knife-carry law has been discussed - here (http://www.britishblades.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?52-The-Law-Library).

As you might guess it's a bit of a nightmare, with different laws and different interpretations of the law in different countries. I can't recall all the different nuances but basically a non-locking, sub 3-inch folder (similar to the limitations in UK knife law) is probably going to be your safest bet. France is one of the more confusing countries, I hear, with very vague definitions of what constitutes a weapon and what is a tool.

Anyway, remember that if you don't flash a knife around and you don't get into any trouble then you aren't going to attract any unwanted attention and you'll probably never have to test out the local laws in the first place ;)

[araneae]

Well with one week until i leave I think I will be taking a Kiwi slipit and my Wings slipit. I will also pack a SAK and maybe my Honeybee. Should be safe choices.

I hope to pick up some knives while there including an Opinel, a Douk Douk and of course a SAK or two.

[burntrice]

I wouldn't carry anything i wouldn't mind losing, do you really need 4 knifes though? Maybe if its a camping holiday i could understand :)

[toomzz]

Netherlands: Forbidden: butterlies, gravity-knives and switchblades. Blade length between 7 cm en 9 cm forbidden to carry. If longer than 7 cm width must be at least 14 mm. No rules on one-handopening and locking blades yet.

Germany; all one-handopening locking blades forbidden to carry. Butterlies, gravity-knives and switchblades are totally forbidden. Don't know about sizes.

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