Next year, once I have completed my high school studies, I plan to travel for a year or 2 with two friends. It will involve urban travel AND adventure/wilderness travel.

I want to carry a blade that I can use for the outdoor travel. the problem is that, as I will be living out of a backpack for a year, I will have these "dangerous weapons" in my luggage in cities. I know that the laws concerning knives and weapons in the US espessially is quite strict.

So, here is the scenario: For some reason, the policman finds a 6inch fixed blade in my backpack, in a major city. he asks me why i have such a big weapon, and I reply that i am living out of this backpack for a year, and this my kitchen/outdoor/utility knife. I have no where else to store it, as I am constantly on the move. Will he, according to the law, accept this as a valid excuse, or do a spend the year with only a swiss army classic?

Well, the law in the UK states that it is illegal to carry anything except a sub 3" non-locking folder without good reason. But i'm afraid that the definition of a good reason is behond me. I think that should be all right as long as it is non-threatening looking and you specify 'kitchen'. You will not have to carry a Vic classic, you could even carry a Swiss Champ (if you can get your hand round it <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />).

Well I think that I'd go with a SAK for sure, they are much more "tool like" and not looked upon as "weapons". I wouldn't go to expensive on the fixed blade knife, just in case you loose it. When in the cities keep it in your backpack with the rest of your cooking/eating stuff. That may help. Laws here (USA)vary from state to state and city to city. PM me if you need any Califorinia information.

awesome! traveling is AWESOME! especially backpacking. ive only been able to do a 1 1/2 months in europe and most of the US so far. i definetly plan on hitting up africa in the next couple of years...

as far as knives. well, in the US. a small foling knife will serve pretty much anything your going to encounter. i would NOT recommend carrying a fixed blade knife, even if your reason is somewhat substantiated. if you insist on carrying the fixed blade, make sure you keep it in your pack...DEEP in your pack.
as far as Europe goes...even worse. they dont like weapons of any kind. i wouldnt even recommend a pocket knife in some of the more metroplitan areas. ( i do have a funny story about a guy at an Austrian knife shop decimating my brand new CRKT and refusing to re-imburse me though). if anything, just remember this. your knife is a TOOL, never ever a weapon. id personally hate to get caught in a situation where my knife was used as a weapon. much less in another country...

Thank you all for the info.

I guess I must really give this a lot more thought. I doubt I will have a problem with a Leatherman Wave. A large, locking folder, as long as is stuck in my pack when I am in metropolitan areas (along with my eating gear) sounds ok too. I would to like to carry a fixed blade, as I plan to do a lot of trekking/self guided wondering in the bush.

So, I must begin pondering...

Any other info regarding travelling, feel free to PM me if it is not appropriate to this thread.

The bad guys in the US have put a lot of people "in the bush" in a position of fear when the "good people" see someone with a fixed blade knife in an area that a fixed blade knife normally makes sense to have.

Some "Bambi & Lion King" believers riding bikes through one of our national parks areas were attacked by cougars lately with one fatality and partial digestion of said fatality.

A "sheepel" fixed blade knife like my old Craftsman with a 4 1/2" blade with a compressed rawhide handle and light weight leather sheath probably would get by a lot of people "in the bush", but my carbon steel kalishnakov 6" bayonet with a metal scabbard would probably mark me as a "mad hatter" or an out of touch militia type. The bayonet is tougher for hard use, but most people don't see it that way.

I have not had any problems pulling out my 3" Field & Stream, blue aluminum handled one hand opener even while using a tactical speed open technique. I think the main reason for that is that when I do open it, it is immediately put to work doing the job I opened it for and people around me know right away that is the reason I opened it. Now if I were to flick it open and stand there looking at the blade, looking out into space, or chanting "Hari Kirshna" mumblings, there would probably be a lot more concern about my intent by those around me.

The Sheriff's department has a saying around here that; "Attitude is Everything", and that can easily apply to the possesion or use of knives.

Bountyhunter

here in holland, there are certain area's with a total ban on knife's. That includeds knife's deep in you luggage. The police do preventive searching in these area's ( and sometimes others )so they will find it. But most of holland the rules aren't very strickt, BUT one of the laws says that if you got any object that can only be used to injure other, than he can take legal action against you. Since thats a opinion, you might get in to trouble if you don;t have a good reason.

To all the non USA residents that have places any kind of knife is prohibited.

What do the authorities use as reasoning for these types of laws if the majority of the population are good people? Does it make sense to you? Do the people of your country have a tendency to be bad if they have certain implements?

I seem to recall that Austria used to outlaw private possesion of typewriters. Do they still do so and are word processing programs outlawed?

Bountyhunter

In UK, I believe the 3 inch non-locking rule applies to "on or about your person"... That apart, how would you propose to get a fixed blade through airport (I assume) security, and onto the 'plane in a backpack ??? I ask this because I have successfully brought various "offensive" items from UK., but this has always been in a suitcase (hold baggage).
All the best with the trip, and look me up if you're in this neck of the woods (I'll lend you one !!?@?!!)

PC2K

Where can I find out these areas? I am possible meeting up with some friends in Holland. I would prefer not to spend any length of time in a foreign prison <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />