FairyNuff Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Does anyone know the rules in France for carrying a small penknife? I have been told that as long as the blade is shorter than your palm it's allowed, but someone else warned me when they saw it - "Attention aux Gendarmes!" I carry one occasionally, so I'd like to know the possible problems.Many thanksFairyNuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Blades, knives and other weapons which are not fire-weapons are called armes blanches.According to art. 2 of decree n° 95-589 of 6 may 1995 (previously decree of 18 avr il 1939 art. 1), armes blanches are "all objects which may constitute a weapon dangerous to public safety". This includes needles, crossbows, knuckledusters, tear-gas sprays...Technically, if you carry such a weapon outside the home without legitimate cause, you may be committing an offence.It is the legitimate cause, not the carrying of the weapon which determines whether or not the an offence is being/has been committed.If you are a fisherman or a hunter on your way to or from fishing or hunting, you have a legitimate cause to carry a knife.In practice, I very much doubt you have any cause to worry about carrying your small penknife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 You forgot when going to the village BBQ Clair when, as you sit down to eat all the men produce their knives to eat with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Any self-respecting French resident has legitimate cause to carry one of those knives which include a corkscrew/bottle opener. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Almost all the men and many of the woman around here carry penknives. They are often of a very good make and ones that they've had for years. I suppose the fact they are nearly all farmers or smallholders would be suficient reason for carrying them if they were stopped by the police.Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Enough!Enough!!Enough!!! [:D] [:D] [:D]I did say technically (as FairyNuff had asked for the rules) and in practice [:P] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairyNuff Posted July 21, 2009 Author Share Posted July 21, 2009 Thanks for all the replies. In fact I only carry it when I'm on first aid duty, so I'm probably fairly safe to continue. It has a small pair of scissors amongst other things, including the all-important cork screw!FairyNuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerise Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 You're safe! All able bodied people here carry scary looking knives and do dangerous things like slice bread towards their bosoms with them. Not having your own knife at a village fête marks you out as a culturally impoverished foreigner[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 [quote user="FairyNuff"]Thanks for all the replies. In fact I only carry it when I'm on first aid duty, so I'm probably fairly safe to continue. It has a small pair of scissors amongst other things, including the all-important cork screw! FairyNuff[/quote]That sounds more like "Thirst aid" than first aid [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I have carried a legal length knife ever since I travelled, I feel kind of naked without it, iI use it a lot, very often to aid people struggling with their own blunt instruments, whenever I whip it out to help anyone (ooh - err!) in France they never seem peturbed whereas when I do the same thing in England you would think that I had pulled out a cocked and loaded AK47 assault rifle by the shocked and frightened reactions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 [quote user="teapot"][quote user="FairyNuff"]Thanks for all the replies. In fact I only carry it when I'm on first aid duty, so I'm probably fairly safe to continue. It has a small pair of scissors amongst other things, including the all-important cork screw! FairyNuff[/quote]That sounds more like "Thirst aid" than first aid [:D][/quote]LOL, Teapot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Plombier Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 FairyNuffThat is exactly the advice I have been given from French artisans when I have questioned them when drawing knives and carving up their lunchLe Plombier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I agree with that, anyone I have asked (usually because they are cutting up their casse croute or picking their teeth with a Rambo combat knife) has replied that the blade should be no longer than the distance across the base of your four fingers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Here in France, my son has to take a penknife to boy scouts, ever since he was only 9 years old. He has to hand it back as soon as he gets home! And just in case you ask, he did injure himself (hand bandaged for a week) - on the third outing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 A funny, but true story about knives.I was stopped at Portsmouth ferry port on a trip back to france, and asked if I had any weapons in the car (my old jeep). "No", I replied and then remembered the one in my door pocket so, "apart from this one" I said. He looked at my knife ( an american 'Buck' folding lock-knife) and said "I'm going to confiscate this"................. "like bloody hell you are, I live in france and use it for cutting bale twine and stuff"The reply ...........absolute classic."Oh, are you a farmer sir? , thats OK then" and gave it back to me. [:D][:D]I did ask about cutlery draws in caravans (usually full of knives) but didn't get a response. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 At Tours airport there are signs telling you what you can take and what you cannot. Clearly shows a penknife which is ok as long as the blade is 4.5 cm or less.Obviously Bugbear you needed your knife for your work,.....as would a terrorist [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Strange isn't it that in the UK a knife of any sort is villified as a weapon and its only use is stabbing someone. Other parts of the world have a more relaxed attitude even encouraging children to have a knife as in My First Victorinox http://www.victorinox.ch/index.cfm?page=207&lang=E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 It always brought a smile to my face in various Pacific islands to see toddlers proudly dragging their first macheté behind them, usually taller than they were [:D]Now can you imagine the reaction if a child did that in Camberwell or Stoke Newington? [:-))] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave21478 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 On the flip-side, my neighbours son was stopped on his moped coming home from a night out a while back. The feds searched the `ped and found a knife in the bottom of the wee storage box. He is an apprentice cabinetmaker,so often carries tools around, and he had genuinely forgotten this was in his bike.( I believe it was a stanley knife, or similar) He spent several hours in the cells, and was given a pretty hefty fine for carrying it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Plombier Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I get stopped frequentlyIf they decide to search my van I will be looking at 5 to 10 years insideLe Plombier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprogster Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 FairyNuff, I think it is fairly safe from the responses that you have received to your post, that none of us really have a clue what the proper legal position is!The danger is that the Feds take much less of a relaxed view, than the local Flic who may know you. Like many things in France it depends on the mood of the individual official on the day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I carry the jack knife type it has a saw blade for baguettes ...some days you need it ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairyNuff Posted July 25, 2009 Author Share Posted July 25, 2009 Thank you for so many replies. As I only carry it when I'm in uniform for a first aid duty it's hopefully highly unlikey that the gendarmes are going to stop me and search the car (or me!). Generally it stays in my pocket, unseen by anyone. I feel that the whole situation is rather elastic, having seen all sorts of blades and weapons for sale at brocantes and vide-greniers with what seems to be apparent impunity. FairyNuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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