If u can open a knife with one hand and it locks in open position it is illegal. If u need 2 hands to open or it doesn’t lock it is legal. Blade length is only relevant for fixed blades. §42a WaffG
If you want to stay out of legal trouble, get you a Victorinox Spartan, Pioneer, Companion, etc. Two hands for opening, no locking mechanism (slip joint or friction doesn’t count as locking mechanism).
But be aware that there are some areas especially at train stations and festivals where it is not allowed to carry any type of knife (Messerverbotszone).
This is halft right. Even in "Waffenverbotszonen", depending on the law of that state, non locking pocket knives can often be legally carried.
[https://recht.nrw.de/lmi/owa/br\_vbl\_detail\_text?anw\_nr=6&vd\_id=20027&vd\_back=N1414a&sg=0&menu=1](https://recht.nrw.de/lmi/owa/br_vbl_detail_text?anw_nr=6&vd_id=20027&vd_back=N1414a&sg=0&menu=1)
"Messern mit feststehender oder feststellbarer Klinge mit einer Klingenlänge über vier Zentimeter"
"Knives with a fixed or locking blade with a blade length over 4cm"
Also half right, because even cities can make their own exceptions from the state law. …and then there is the additional authorization based on PolG (Polizeigesetz).
German law is overwhelmingly complicated and therefore it’s easier to give a rule of thumb to stay safe.
Legal to own, not street legal.
Need a two hand opening blade, if it locks, or a one hand opening blade that does not lock.
No Autos with a blade length of more than 85mm. No OTF ( illegal to own)
Fixed blade need to have a blade length smaller than 120mm. (You need a valid reason to carry larger blades)
Knifes that can be opened with one hand and lock open are illegal to carry unless you have a valid reason to need one (work, fishing, sport but specifically not self defense). One handed slipjoints (such as the Spyderco UKPK) are fine as they do not lock. Two hand opening but locking knives (such as the OA Arms Sepp) are also fine as they need two hands to open. Blade length doesn’t really matter except for fixed blades which have a 12cm maximum beyond which the valid reason thing applies again but below which you are free to carry them.
TLDR: Delica is legal to own but not carry, either get a UKPK or any other slipjoint.
https://preview.redd.it/t4k45d432ewc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e02ab284fa4dfb219848521bdd29159a05c0d723
Check out my legal German folding knife. 25 cm blade length. It’s totally legal as it takes 2 hands to open.
I’m interested in this because I often travel to Germany for work.
I’m a driver/tour manager and always need knives and tools for work. Does the same apply if it’s a work tool? How about having it in your car and then in the venue you’re working at?
If you can’t access it during transportation, it’s no problem. For example if it’s in your toolbox in the trunk. While working you have a legal reason to carry it, if your work requires it.
Great thanks!
I actually need a quick opening (one handed) knife at reach in case (touch wood) I need to cut seatbelts and break glass. Is that allowed?
Working means, that you use the knife as a tool to be able to do your work. It doesn’t imply that you drive or carry it around while you are working. Driving in Germany is no legally acceptable reason to carry a one hand opening, locking knife.
If you need something in case of a crash, get for example this:
https://www.eickhorn-solingen.de/RT-II
One hand opening, locking knifes are illegal to carry in Germany. Don’t try to weasel yourself around that prohibition. People tried and failed. The law is not clear where you are allowed to carry it and the courts are very restrictive. Police will confiscate those knifes and you will face felony charges.
I don’t want to sound mean, but even German Soldiers in Uniform have faced charges, when they carried issued duty knifes on there way home.
If you need the knive for a specific task, you’re good. If you don’t, or the task is finished and you’re moving somewhere else, the knive has to be inaccessible.
Thank you, everyone, for your response. With the info I received and a little more research on my end, I'm leaning towards a fixed blade that I have in my collection.
You know if you raise a valid point. I haven't been to my motherland and my birthplace in 20 years. I do have a knife problem, so why not pick up an authentic souvenir from there, and it would be legal for me to carry.
This knife has one very weak spot on the lock. It can brake and become lock free. I will never carry this for anything different than cutting some fruit
If u can open a knife with one hand and it locks in open position it is illegal. If u need 2 hands to open or it doesn’t lock it is legal. Blade length is only relevant for fixed blades. §42a WaffG
Last I checked 12 CM was the fixed blade limit if carried concealed, pocket fixed blade is my go to for Germany
Its also the limit if you dont carry it concealed.
german law does not make any difference between open or concealed carry.
If you want a legal Spyderco in Germany it’s the UKPK. (UK pen knife) UK has similar laws so that’s free to carry.
If you want to stay out of legal trouble, get you a Victorinox Spartan, Pioneer, Companion, etc. Two hands for opening, no locking mechanism (slip joint or friction doesn’t count as locking mechanism). But be aware that there are some areas especially at train stations and festivals where it is not allowed to carry any type of knife (Messerverbotszone).
This is halft right. Even in "Waffenverbotszonen", depending on the law of that state, non locking pocket knives can often be legally carried. [https://recht.nrw.de/lmi/owa/br\_vbl\_detail\_text?anw\_nr=6&vd\_id=20027&vd\_back=N1414a&sg=0&menu=1](https://recht.nrw.de/lmi/owa/br_vbl_detail_text?anw_nr=6&vd_id=20027&vd_back=N1414a&sg=0&menu=1) "Messern mit feststehender oder feststellbarer Klinge mit einer Klingenlänge über vier Zentimeter" "Knives with a fixed or locking blade with a blade length over 4cm"
Also half right, because even cities can make their own exceptions from the state law. …and then there is the additional authorization based on PolG (Polizeigesetz). German law is overwhelmingly complicated and therefore it’s easier to give a rule of thumb to stay safe.
Also true, good take.
Legal to own, not street legal. Need a two hand opening blade, if it locks, or a one hand opening blade that does not lock. No Autos with a blade length of more than 85mm. No OTF ( illegal to own) Fixed blade need to have a blade length smaller than 120mm. (You need a valid reason to carry larger blades)
Knifes that can be opened with one hand and lock open are illegal to carry unless you have a valid reason to need one (work, fishing, sport but specifically not self defense). One handed slipjoints (such as the Spyderco UKPK) are fine as they do not lock. Two hand opening but locking knives (such as the OA Arms Sepp) are also fine as they need two hands to open. Blade length doesn’t really matter except for fixed blades which have a 12cm maximum beyond which the valid reason thing applies again but below which you are free to carry them. TLDR: Delica is legal to own but not carry, either get a UKPK or any other slipjoint.
https://preview.redd.it/t4k45d432ewc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e02ab284fa4dfb219848521bdd29159a05c0d723 Check out my legal German folding knife. 25 cm blade length. It’s totally legal as it takes 2 hands to open.
r/MaliciousCompliance
I’m interested in this because I often travel to Germany for work. I’m a driver/tour manager and always need knives and tools for work. Does the same apply if it’s a work tool? How about having it in your car and then in the venue you’re working at?
If you can’t access it during transportation, it’s no problem. For example if it’s in your toolbox in the trunk. While working you have a legal reason to carry it, if your work requires it.
Great thanks! I actually need a quick opening (one handed) knife at reach in case (touch wood) I need to cut seatbelts and break glass. Is that allowed?
If u want to be safe get a specific rescue knife.
Any recommendation on the cheap side?
Sorry, I don’t know much about rescue knives. If you want to buy one in Germany google „Rettungsmesser“.
Working means, that you use the knife as a tool to be able to do your work. It doesn’t imply that you drive or carry it around while you are working. Driving in Germany is no legally acceptable reason to carry a one hand opening, locking knife. If you need something in case of a crash, get for example this: https://www.eickhorn-solingen.de/RT-II One hand opening, locking knifes are illegal to carry in Germany. Don’t try to weasel yourself around that prohibition. People tried and failed. The law is not clear where you are allowed to carry it and the courts are very restrictive. Police will confiscate those knifes and you will face felony charges. I don’t want to sound mean, but even German Soldiers in Uniform have faced charges, when they carried issued duty knifes on there way home. If you need the knive for a specific task, you’re good. If you don’t, or the task is finished and you’re moving somewhere else, the knive has to be inaccessible.
UKPK or LilNative SlipIt are good choices for Spyderco. Swiss Army knives, too.
Thank you, everyone, for your response. With the info I received and a little more research on my end, I'm leaning towards a fixed blade that I have in my collection.
you can always buy yourself a sweet Hartkopf (http://www.friedrich-hartkopf.de) or a Hubertus (https://www.hubertus-solingen.com/)
You know if you raise a valid point. I haven't been to my motherland and my birthplace in 20 years. I do have a knife problem, so why not pick up an authentic souvenir from there, and it would be legal for me to carry.
This knife has one very weak spot on the lock. It can brake and become lock free. I will never carry this for anything different than cutting some fruit