Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Europe Hunting or pocket knife in Europe

Being a pocket knife kind of guy and a travel bug I have many funny stories about getting through security check points and metal detectors while carrying a knife. I was only denied entry once. We were going up to the rooftop of the cathedral in Milan. I went outside and stuck my knife in the fork of a tree and went on in. It was still there when we left. 👍

UK

Every day use no issues - <3” folding, no lock.
Over 3”, locking or fixed requires ‘ a good reason’ to carry it in public.

This good reason is a defence not an instant let off and may be tested in court ie you might be arrested. If you go to the pub with your large lock knife on you after a hunt you’re probably going to get arrested.
If you pay for petrol before after a hunt common sense should prevail

The law is a blunt tool that doesn’t differentiate between an ‘innocent’ hunter and a ‘guilty’ gang member. The days of police being allowed discretion are gone.

UK police will generally carry a telescopic baton, pepper spray and if more experienced a taser. Our law is SO different, the consequences of discharging a firearm on duty, are life changing and not just for your job. As a result most ordinary cops don’t want to be armed and even armed cops are giving up

https://bnnbreaking.com/world/uk/me...nted-recruitment-crisis-amid-legal-fears

That would be like sending Fire without hoses or extinguishers. Or sending EMS without a med bag.

Wonder if anyone carries a spare tire?

They will confiscate that in a carry on......

.

That has not been my experience. That being said. I keep it on my keychain that is normally in my iPad bag not my pocket and you never know. TSA has many "standards" to pick from. My most recent experience was to Texas and back last week.

It wasn't always this way. I was born in 1967 in God's own county of Yorkshire in the UK. Growing up, my dad had a knife in his pocket every day and did until the day he died in 1995. First was a simple slip joint Sheffield made folder, with stag handles, kinda like an Uncle Henry style. Last was a Chinese copy of a classic Buck with brass ends. I made him a leather case for it as it worn holes in his work jean's pocket. His knives were razor sharp and the only person who got cut with them was himself, lol.

He gave me a slip joint knife with 2 blades when I was 10. Told me "you're getting older and every man needs to carry a knife." Did so every day thereafter until I left the land of the lost (UK) in 2005. Here I always have at least 2 knifes on me all the time; one for general duties and the other for anything requiring an uber sharp knife.

Went back to the UK in 2018 to bury my oldest sister and one of my older brothers. Bought a simple, small Swiss Army knife for fingernail cleaning duties and a Gerber multitool with a non locking blade for any thing such an item might be needed for.

The UK has traditionally had much less armed crime than the US for the last century or so. Prior to the first Firearms Act of 1922, (in response to the threat of Communist inspired rebellion) it was usually up to the individual cop if he slipped a Webley Bulldog or similar in his greatcoat pocket while patrolling the very mean streets of poverty stricken London. After 1922, it was frowned upon to do so and then became prohibited. While, as noted, there are a few more coppers carrying firearms now than there used to be, most still don't wish to be armed. It was a HUGE issue when it was proposed to give cops pepper spray and the clutching of pearls was a sight to be seen when they were trying to issue Tasers...

Sadly, the UK of today is NOT the one my father fought for in WW2 nor my grandfathers in WW1; it has become the haven of the oppressive, woke socialist cnts who have ruined a once proud and prosperous nation that owned or controlled 1/4 of the world's surface. Socialism was the end of the UK and now its only a matter of time before it becomes Muslim. So glad my dad isn't around to see it.

FYI, ANYTHING that can be considered an "offensive weapon" will likely result in arrest so no expandable batons, pepper spray, 'coin purses' filled with dimes or anything at all similar. There is zero tolerance for such items which makes the UK the functional equivalent of Nazi Germany or the USSR where complete obedience to the state is demanded under pain of incarceration for 'hate speech.' 1984 indeed, just 4 decades later.

I really hate to be without a pocket knife but I know the laws vary from country to country and I don't want to be arrested in a foreign country.

As an example look at the Americans that had a couple of rounds of ammunition in their baggage recently. 3-4 months of house arrest while things were straightened out, plus a fine.

My wife and I are going on a cruise in the Mediterranean from flying in to Venice and departing from Barcelona and I'd like to have something to defend myself in case something happened.

I understand that it may be possible to pick up a knife while I am over there, and that is a consideration. My wife and I will both be carrying a telescoping walking stick for support on cobblestone. It came in handy for support in the past.

What other options can you think of that I might consider? I have seen several ads for "tactical" pens, what may be your thoughts on that

I appreciate ideas that you may have

I hope you have a great trip. We're looking at cruise options ourselves. My wife and I loved Barcelona, I'm sure you will too.

swiss army knife, with corkscrew of course, “i like wine.” wooden dowel. wrench.

Yep

Do what bikers do. Carry a heavy padlock on a loop of chain.

I think most threats in Europe are pick pockets and purse snatchings. The thing that most Americans fail to realize is most European petty thieves work in teams. Some are distracting you while the others rob you and others are ready to get handed loot and get lost in the crowd or foil your pursuit.

Our friends got pick pocketed in Madrid, before we all met up for an ibex hunt. They hit them on an escalator in a department store, getting away with an envelope that had $4K euro. Unfortunately, my buddy's wife has "babe in the woods" written all over her.

Situational awareness is always the key.

When traveling I try to avoid having any issues with authorities and airline employees. My hunting knife goes in my checked luggage and I never try to carry anything "pointy" on a flight. Period.

Please post pics and a report when you get back. A Spanish Ibex hunt would be my dream hunt. Good luck to you. . . 👍🏻

I think the thing most Americans - and everyone else - fail to realize, is that most European thieves - petty or otherwise - are actually African. . . 😂

Probably true most everywhere.

This thread goes way back, but the topic is still very current.

What Brad says is spot on...for continental Europe.

That said, knowing how England is today, imagine back to the mid 1960's when a young yank of about 12 flew into England from Central America, with a switchblade (blade about 4" IIRC) bought in the airport lounge in Guatemala City in his pocket......and not an eyebrow was raised. Times sure have changed.

Fast forward to a couple years ago when I lived in Atlanta, I had a couple visitors from England who got bug eyed when I told them I was carrying concealed. Should have offered to let them see it, but that would probably have induced a panic attack. LOL.

What we take for granted.....

I thank God I'm an American.

I was in Germany three years in the service and didn't have trouble with any laws there. Think before I'd even go into another country, England or Spain, I find out about some of their laws and like England and Spain, simply not go. Guy had trouble over a pocket knife in England? Unbelievable!

EDIT:
Come to think of it, some countries don't allow you to hunt with rifle's that fire military cartridges, Mexico being one as I understand it. Wonderful! One of my favorite cartridges is my 6.5x55 mod 70! Four or five years ago I started using a 30-06 for the first time, my elk rifle! All time favorite hunting rifle was a Rem mod 660 in, yep, 308!

Got him with their silli stick did they? Tried to knock some sense into him.