Pocket knives in France

We're going to France for a week this June, for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. For decades now I've carried a pocket knife( Mini Griptilian Benchmade) on my person as a tool as most of us here do. I figured I'd check the laws in frog land as to their laws on the subject. No surprise it's not nearly as lax as in the U.S. and is rather convoluted as to the legality. Maybe I'll just leave it home to avoid trouble. Pain in the neck Europeans.

After 911 we went on the Statue of Liberty tour and I had one of those tiny Swiss army knives Y'know the one with the tiny tweezers and plastic toothpick? The dorks at the dock confiscated it. Sounds like others learn from us.

At first read... it seemed okay then I got to the part where "any knife is considered a weapon and can't be concealed". so it seems you are fine as long as you keep it folded and carry it out in the open in your hand? Huh?

What I would do is just buy a good quality Swiss army knife and keep it in my pocket... I would not carry something you don't want to lose.

How are you getting on the airplane with it?

hittman said:

How are you getting on the airplane with it?

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In checked baggage I suppose.

The article is contradictory. One line says that a knife can't be concealed so it must be in plain sight, not in a pocket. In another section it says a knife can't be carried in a sheath or holster. Doesn't leave much options.

Make life easy for yourself........... LEAVE IT HOME IN THE US.... why waste brain cells worrying about something so insignificant (?)
KISS (keep it simple stupid... a principle to live by)
IMHO of course.....

J.

Here in Idaho a pocket knife is considered a concealed weapon and does require a CCW. Some paradise, ay!

We really should have stayed out of WWII. The world would be better if Germany had Europe and Russia and Japan had Asia.

trebor44 said:

Here in Idaho a pocket knife is considered a concealed weapon and does require a CCW. Some paradise, ay!

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I live in Idaho and have to say your statement is false. We are one of the most free states in the country. A pocket knife is daily apparel here.

I visit Portland, OR a lot. So I can't fly with
my favorite Knife, so I just have one there
where I stay.

Funny story; TSA scanned my Carry On last
time and wanted to check it. I had it unlocked
for just an occasion.
I asked what's up. Inspector says I have a sharp
looking object inside.
I said better not be, if there is you guys planted it there because this bag has been locked up and in
my possession this whole time until now.
The Inspector looked at me with a dumb expression.

The image showed something long and
pointed. We looked inside the bag it was
a Black Tie with its pointed end.

I just said thank you, zipped up the bag,
padlocked again and put my boots on.

gnappi said:

After 911 we went on the Statue of Liberty tour and I had one of those tiny Swiss army knives Y'know the one with the tiny tweezers and plastic toothpick? The dorks at the dock confiscated it. Sounds like others learn from us.

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I know what you went through. About 25 years ago I was at Newark Airport traveling to Florida with my two young daughters. Went up to the baggage check counter and remembered I had forgotten to leave my pocket knife( Beretta Airlight) at home. Asked the counter creep if I could give it to him and if he could mail it to my home. He said no he can't do that and pointed to a big barrel behind him and I need to throw it inside. He said it with a wise ass smirk on his face which I know what that meant. I took the knife from my pocket and with him watching I opened it put the blade tip on the counter on its side and a pushed down breaking the blade from the grip then tossed it into the barrel with a F.U. look on my face.
His sleazy smirk disappeared quickly.

hittman said:

How are you getting on the airplane with it?

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Whenever I travel the knife goes in my shaving kit inside the suitcase that gets checked and in belly of plane. Never had an issue.

RC44Mag said:

I know what you went through. About 25 years ago I was at Newark Airport traveling to Florida with my two young daughters. Went up to the baggage check counter and remembered I had forgotten to leave my pocket knife( Beretta Airweight) at home. Asked the counter creep if I could give it to him and if he could mail it to my home. He said no he can't do that and pointed to a big barrel behind him and I need to throw it inside. He said it with a wise ass smirk on his face which I know what that meant.

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Well done...That's one he didn't get to sell on eBay...

The chances we take …… not for me, thank-you-very-much

When I read the heading I was thinking French made pocket knives. Buy a Douk-Douk or Opinel when you get there and carry it. Then put it in your luggage for the trip home.

leave home your pocket knife_period_
if you need one, you can buy one everywhere in ue, but you can't travel up&down with them on airplanes, airports, etc.: before your trip home, make a gift of it, or send it home in some way_
about the laws "here", one can buy blades everywhere but plainly isn't allowed to carry any blade, and I doubt France can be much better, even if I'm not updated about French laws_

Watertender said:

When I read the heading I was thinking French made pocket knives. Buy a Douk-Douk or Opinel when you get there and carry it. Then put it in your luggage for the trip home.

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This is the best idea. Leave it at home.

When we visit family in Bulgaria I usually bring a good kitchen knife as a present. They are harder to find and more expensive there. The quality knives. But I put the knife in the checked baggage and never have any problems with customs.

Last time we were in Switzerland, my wife bought a watch and I bought a Swiss Army knife. Since the restaurants were far too expensive we bought bread and cheese and tomatoes for picnics. My knife sliced cheese and tomatoes much better than her watch did.

hittman said:

The chances we take …… not for me, thank-you-very-much

Oklahoma man with ammo in Turks and Caicos airport faces 12 years in prison: 'Risk of losing everything'

An Oklahoma couple, Ryan and Valerie Watson, were arrested in Turks and Caicos on April 12 after island airport officials found ammunition in Ryan's carry-on bag.

www.foxnews.com

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I hope they can get him off the island and they're not stupid enough to ever go there again. A few boats should be able to get it done.

I traveled a lot for work. "My" knife stayed home. Cheap folders went in my checked bag. If I forgot on the way to the airport no great loss.

In this case I'd buy something when I landed and leave it when I left.

That Oklahoma Man with Ammo…facing 12 years
What is wrong with people. What don't they get
about traveling outside the USA?

Other countries are not liberal like us. Other
countries don't play around. I hope they
detain Oklahoma Man for awhile and scare
the heck out of him and family.

What's funny if it was a lesbian athlete it
would back in the USA already. LOL.