Germany · checked 2026-10-26 · Medium confidence

Knife carry law in Germany

Carrying a knife that can be locked and used one-handed (Einhandmesser), or any fixed blade over 12 cm, is banned in public without a recognised reason or closed container. Switchblades and butterfly knives are banned outright. Since 31 Oct 2024 all knives are banned at public events and long-distance transport; states add local bans.

This summary rests on mostly official, partly secondary sources. Open questions are listed at the end. Treat anything marked unclear as a reason to leave the item at home.

How we apply the law

Rules are checked from the top. The first one that fits decides. Every verdict on this site comes from this list, not from hand typed cells.

1ProhibitedAny knife or tool, automatic
Switchblades (button/lever, incl. OTF) are Springmesser and banned to own or carry (Anlage 2 Abschnitt 1 Nr. 1.4.1). Only a narrow exception exists (side-opening, blade at most 8.5 cm, single-edged, plus a concrete need for one-handed use or a job).
Source
2ProhibitedAny knife or tool, gravity or flick opening
Butterfly (balisong) knives and Fallmesser (blade released by a lock and thrown out by gravity or a flick) are banned outright. A plain manual folder you flick open is not this category; classify it as one-hand-manual instead.
Source
3UnclearA folding knife, a multitool or a keychain tool, spring assisted
Spring-assisted openers: opening from a button/lever alone makes it a banned Springmesser; a flipper/stud model with a lock is at least an Einhandmesser (restricted). We found no official ruling on assisted openers.
Source
4RestrictedA folding knife, a multitool or a keychain tool, with any locking blade, one hand manual opening
Einhandmesser (opens and locks one-handed). Carrying in public is banned unless you have a legitimate interest (work, custom, sport, other generally recognised purpose) or it is in a closed container (§ 42a Abs. 2-3). The carrier must show it.
Source
5No restriction foundA folding knife, a multitool or a keychain tool, with any locking blade, two hand opening
A locking folder that genuinely needs two hands to open is not an Einhandmesser per the BKA. § 42a does not apply, but event, rail and local ban-zone rules do, and police or courts may judge borderline models differently.
Source
6No restriction foundA folding knife, a multitool or a keychain tool, no lock
A blade that cannot be locked open is not an 'einhändig feststellbare' blade, so § 42a does not catch it, even if you can open it with one hand. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply.
Source
7RestrictedA fixed blade, blade at least 120 mm
Fixed blade longer than 12 cm: carrying in public needs a legitimate interest (e.g. work, hunting, sport, custom) or a closed container. Exactly 12.0 cm is not 'über 12 cm'. The statute does not say how blade length is measured.
Source
8UnclearA fixed blade, double edged
Short double-edged fixed blades (dagger style) can be classed as a Stoßwaffe, which § 42a Abs. 1 Nr. 2 bans carrying regardless of length without a legitimate interest. Case by case; no source on specific blades verified.
Source
9No restriction foundA fixed blade
Single-edged fixed blade of 12 cm or less is not covered by § 42a. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply. Knuckle-handled (Faustmesser) fixed knives are banned outright and are not covered by this rule.
Source
10No restriction foundScissors only
Scissors without a knife blade are not a knife under the carry-ban provisions we read. Whether event 'Messer' bans reach scissors was not verified; treat as low-risk but unconfirmed.
Source
11UnclearAnything else
Combination not covered by the verified rules above; check § 42a and Anlage 2 or ask the local Waffenbehörde.
Source

34 popular knives and tools, checked here

Specifications come from the makers. Where a maker does not publish the cutting edge length, a length rule can only be answered if even the full blade length falls on one side of the line. Otherwise the result is unclear, on purpose.

Product	Specs	Result
Buck 110 Folding Hunter	blade 95.3 mm (3.75 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A locking folder that genuinely needs two hands to open is not an Einhandmesser per the BKA. § 42a does not apply, but event, rail and local ban-zone rules do, and police or courts may judge borderline models differently.
Victorinox Cadet (Alox)	blade 64 mm (2.52 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A blade that cannot be locked open is not an 'einhändig feststellbare' blade, so § 42a does not catch it, even if you can open it with one hand. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply.
Victorinox Classic SD	blade 40 mm (1.57 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A blade that cannot be locked open is not an 'einhändig feststellbare' blade, so § 42a does not catch it, even if you can open it with one hand. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply.
Victorinox Climber	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A blade that cannot be locked open is not an 'einhändig feststellbare' blade, so § 42a does not catch it, even if you can open it with one hand. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply.
Morakniv Companion (stainless, Hi-Vis Orange shown)	blade 104 mm (4.09 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Single-edged fixed blade of 12 cm or less is not covered by § 42a. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply. Knuckle-handled (Faustmesser) fixed knives are banned outright and are not covered by this rule.
Gerber Dime	blade 38.1 mm (1.50 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A locking folder that genuinely needs two hands to open is not an Einhandmesser per the BKA. § 42a does not apply, but event, rail and local ban-zone rules do, and police or courts may judge borderline models differently.
Nagao Kanekoma Higonokami SK (Niwaki-sold Kanekoma)	blade 71 mm (2.80 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A blade that cannot be locked open is not an 'einhändig feststellbare' blade, so § 42a does not catch it, even if you can open it with one hand. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply.
Victorinox Huntsman	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A blade that cannot be locked open is not an 'einhändig feststellbare' blade, so § 42a does not catch it, even if you can open it with one hand. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply.
ESEE Izula-II	blade 66.8 mm (2.63 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Single-edged fixed blade of 12 cm or less is not covered by § 42a. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply. Knuckle-handled (Faustmesser) fixed knives are banned outright and are not covered by this rule.
Leatherman Micra	blade 40.6 mm (1.60 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A blade that cannot be locked open is not an 'einhändig feststellbare' blade, so § 42a does not catch it, even if you can open it with one hand. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply.
W.R. Case & Sons Mini Trapper	blade 69.9 mm (2.75 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A blade that cannot be locked open is not an 'einhändig feststellbare' blade, so § 42a does not catch it, even if you can open it with one hand. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply.
Opinel No.07 Stainless Steel	blade 80 mm (3.15 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A locking folder that genuinely needs two hands to open is not an Einhandmesser per the BKA. § 42a does not apply, but event, rail and local ban-zone rules do, and police or courts may judge borderline models differently.
Opinel No.08 Stainless Steel	blade 85 mm (3.35 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A locking folder that genuinely needs two hands to open is not an Einhandmesser per the BKA. § 42a does not apply, but event, rail and local ban-zone rules do, and police or courts may judge borderline models differently.
Spyderco Roadie	44 mm cutting edge (1.73 in)	No restriction found Why A blade that cannot be locked open is not an 'einhändig feststellbare' blade, so § 42a does not catch it, even if you can open it with one hand. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply.
Victorinox Spartan	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A blade that cannot be locked open is not an 'einhändig feststellbare' blade, so § 42a does not catch it, even if you can open it with one hand. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply.
Spyderco Squeak	44 mm cutting edge (1.73 in)	No restriction found Why A blade that cannot be locked open is not an 'einhändig feststellbare' blade, so § 42a does not catch it, even if you can open it with one hand. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply.
Leatherman Squirt PS4	blade 40.6 mm (1.60 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A locking folder that genuinely needs two hands to open is not an Einhandmesser per the BKA. § 42a does not apply, but event, rail and local ban-zone rules do, and police or courts may judge borderline models differently.
Victorinox Swiss Card Classic	blade length not published	No restriction found Why A blade that cannot be locked open is not an 'einhändig feststellbare' blade, so § 42a does not catch it, even if you can open it with one hand. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply.
Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X	blade length not published	No restriction found Why A locking folder that genuinely needs two hands to open is not an Einhandmesser per the BKA. § 42a does not apply, but event, rail and local ban-zone rules do, and police or courts may judge borderline models differently.
W.R. Case & Sons Trapper	76.2 mm cutting edge (3.00 in)	No restriction found Why A blade that cannot be locked open is not an 'einhändig feststellbare' blade, so § 42a does not catch it, even if you can open it with one hand. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply.
Kershaw Leek	blade 76.2 mm (3.00 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why Spring-assisted openers: opening from a button/lever alone makes it a banned Springmesser; a flipper/stud model with a lock is at least an Einhandmesser (restricted). We found no official ruling on assisted openers.
CRKT Squid Assisted	blade 60.2 mm (2.37 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why Spring-assisted openers: opening from a button/lever alone makes it a banned Springmesser; a flipper/stud model with a lock is at least an Einhandmesser (restricted). We found no official ruling on assisted openers.
Leatherman Arc	blade 70.1 mm (2.76 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Einhandmesser (opens and locks one-handed). Carrying in public is banned unless you have a legitimate interest (work, custom, sport, other generally recognised purpose) or it is in a closed container (§ 42a Abs. 2-3). The carrier must show it.
Benchmade Bugout	blade 82.3 mm (3.24 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Einhandmesser (opens and locks one-handed). Carrying in public is banned unless you have a legitimate interest (work, custom, sport, other generally recognised purpose) or it is in a closed container (§ 42a Abs. 2-3). The carrier must show it.
Spyderco Delica 4 (Lightweight)	65 mm cutting edge (2.56 in)	Restricted Why Einhandmesser (opens and locks one-handed). Carrying in public is banned unless you have a legitimate interest (work, custom, sport, other generally recognised purpose) or it is in a closed container (§ 42a Abs. 2-3). The carrier must show it.
CIVIVI Elementum	blade 75.2 mm (2.96 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Einhandmesser (opens and locks one-handed). Carrying in public is banned unless you have a legitimate interest (work, custom, sport, other generally recognised purpose) or it is in a closed container (§ 42a Abs. 2-3). The carrier must show it.
Spyderco Ladybug 3	43 mm cutting edge (1.69 in)	Restricted Why Einhandmesser (opens and locks one-handed). Carrying in public is banned unless you have a legitimate interest (work, custom, sport, other generally recognised purpose) or it is in a closed container (§ 42a Abs. 2-3). The carrier must show it.
Benchmade Mini Bugout	blade 71.6 mm (2.82 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Einhandmesser (opens and locks one-handed). Carrying in public is banned unless you have a legitimate interest (work, custom, sport, other generally recognised purpose) or it is in a closed container (§ 42a Abs. 2-3). The carrier must show it.
Spyderco Para 3	67 mm cutting edge (2.64 in)	Restricted Why Einhandmesser (opens and locks one-handed). Carrying in public is banned unless you have a legitimate interest (work, custom, sport, other generally recognised purpose) or it is in a closed container (§ 42a Abs. 2-3). The carrier must show it.
Gerber Paraframe I (stainless, plain edge)	blade 76.5 mm (3.01 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Einhandmesser (opens and locks one-handed). Carrying in public is banned unless you have a legitimate interest (work, custom, sport, other generally recognised purpose) or it is in a closed container (§ 42a Abs. 2-3). The carrier must show it.
Ontario Knife Company RAT Model 1 (RAT I)	blade 88.9 mm (3.50 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Einhandmesser (opens and locks one-handed). Carrying in public is banned unless you have a legitimate interest (work, custom, sport, other generally recognised purpose) or it is in a closed container (§ 42a Abs. 2-3). The carrier must show it.
Leatherman Skeletool CX	blade 66 mm (2.60 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Einhandmesser (opens and locks one-handed). Carrying in public is banned unless you have a legitimate interest (work, custom, sport, other generally recognised purpose) or it is in a closed container (§ 42a Abs. 2-3). The carrier must show it.
CRKT Squid (Thumbstud)	blade 54.76 mm (2.16 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Einhandmesser (opens and locks one-handed). Carrying in public is banned unless you have a legitimate interest (work, custom, sport, other generally recognised purpose) or it is in a closed container (§ 42a Abs. 2-3). The carrier must show it.
Leatherman Wave Plus	blade 74.2 mm (2.92 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Einhandmesser (opens and locks one-handed). Carrying in public is banned unless you have a legitimate interest (work, custom, sport, other generally recognised purpose) or it is in a closed container (§ 42a Abs. 2-3). The carrier must show it.

What the verdict does not cover

Public transport and restricted zones: Long-distance (ICE/IC/Flix trains, long-distance buses, enclosed stations/stops): all knives banned by § 42b Abs. 1 unless an exception applies (e.g. job-related, or not accessible per § 42 Abs. 4a Nr. 3, or with operator consent for the stay's purpose). Local transport: states may ban knives by ordinance; verified examples: Niedersachsen (all public transport and stops, from 1 Apr 2026, only non-accessible carriage allowed), Berlin (ÖPNV, since 17 Jul 2025), NRW has a state Waffen- und Messerverbotsverordnung (amended 30 Mar 2026). Bundespolizei issues time-limited Allgemeinverfügungen for stations (example: Hamburg stations, 1-31 Oct 2026). Berlin also has street ban zones (Görlitzer Park, Kottbusser Tor, Leopoldplatz); other cities may too (not verified). This is a patchwork: check the state and city.
Schools, workplaces and events: § 42 Abs. 1 + 4a: ban on carrying any knife at public entertainments, fairs, markets, sports events, exhibitions, and at theatre, cinema and disco visits. Exceptions (§ 42 Abs. 4a S. 2) include trade/work, non-accessible transport, hosts and guests of gastronomy, custom/hunting/sport, and any generally recognised purpose, but the carrying must relate to that purpose. States can ban knives at schools and youth/education facilities by ordinance (§ 42 Abs. 5 Nr. 4). Workplace/school house rules were not researched.
In a vehicle: 'Führen' means having a knife within your control outside your own home/property, so a knife in a car or bag counts. § 42a Abs. 2 Nr. 2 excuses transport in a closed container. For events and transport bans, a knife is 'nicht zugriffsbereit' if it takes more than three hand movements to reach (Anlage 1 Abschnitt 2 Nr. 13). No separate car-specific knife rule found.
Age limits: Banned or Anlage 1-listed Waffen (Springmesser, etc.): handling only for 18+ (§ 2 Abs. 1); carrying even an exempt Springmesser requires carrying ID (BMI). The § 42a, § 42 and § 42b carry bans have no age exemption (Niedersachsen says its ban applies regardless of age). We found no federal statutory minimum age for buying an ordinary knife; many retailers use 18+ by policy. Not verified.
Buying and importing: Banned knives (switchblades, butterfly, Fallmesser, Faustmesser) may not be acquired, owned, imported or sold (§ 2 Abs. 3, § 52 Abs. 3 Nr. 1: includes 'verbringt'/'mitnimmt'). Springmesser amnesty ended 1 Oct 2025. Ordinary knives and Einhandmesser are not Waffen under the Act, so ordering them online is not itself prohibited by the provisions we read; carrying them afterwards is what § 42a regulates. We did not verify courier or retailer age-check rules.
Penalties: Carrying an Einhandmesser/fixed blade over 12 cm without a recognised reason, or any knife in an event/transport ban: administrative offence, fine up to EUR 10,000 (§ 53 Abs. 1 Nr. 21a, 21b, 21c, Abs. 2) and confiscation possible. Banned knives (Springmesser, Fallmesser, Faustmesser, Butterfly): crime, up to 3 years or a fine; negligence up to 1 year (§ 52 Abs. 3 Nr. 1, Abs. 4).
Recent changes: 31 Oct 2024 (BGBl. 2024 I Nr. 332): statutory knife bans at public events (§ 42 Abs. 4a) and in long-distance transport (§ 42b); wider state powers for knife-ban zones (§ 42 Abs. 5); stop-and-search in zones (§ 42c); Springmesser ban extended to side-opening blades up to 8.5 cm unless need/job, amnesty until 1 Oct 2025. § 42a itself was not changed. 2025-2026: several states adopted ÖPNV/zone ordinances (Berlin 17 Jul 2025, Niedersachsen 1 Apr 2026, NRW amendment Mar 2026).
Pending changes: No pending federal change to §§ 42a/42/42b found in the Bundesrat/Bundestag documents we checked (Aug 2026 bills concern semi-automatic handguns and customs-office restructuring). More state ordinances and Bundespolizei Allgemeinverfügungen are likely and change often.

Reasons the authorities have accepted

Work (e.g. trade, kitchen, rescue services) - carrying must relate to the job (§ 42a Abs. 3 'Berufsausübung')
Custom/folklore events (Brauchtumspflege)
Sport (e.g. hunting, fishing, climbing, sailing)
Any 'allgemein anerkannter Zweck' per statute; BMI examples for exempt Springmesser include hunters, climbers, sailors on the way back from the activity
Transport in a closed container (separate exception, no reason needed)

Sources

§ 42a WaffG (Verbot des Führens von Anscheinswaffen und bestimmten tragbaren Gegenständen) - statute text, gesetze-im-internet.de
“Messer mit einhändig feststellbarer Klinge (Einhandmesser) oder feststehende Messer mit einer Klingenlänge über 12 cm”
§ 42 WaffG (public events; knives in Abs. 4a; state ban-zone powers in Abs. 5)
“Absatz 1 gilt entsprechend für das Führen von Messern.”
§ 42b WaffG (weapons and knives in long-distance public transport)
“Es ist verboten, ... Messer in Verkehrsmitteln des öffentlichen Personenfernverkehrs ... zu führen”
Anlage 1 WaffG (definitions: Springmesser, Fallmesser, Faustmesser, Butterflymesser; 'zugriffsbereit' in Abschnitt 2 Nr. 13)
“Faltmesser mit zweigeteilten, schwenkbaren Griffen (Butterflymesser)”
Anlage 2 WaffG (Waffenliste, Abschnitt 1 Nr. 1.4.1: prohibited Spring- und Fallmesser and the narrow exception)
“Spring- und Fallmesser nach Anlage 1 Abschnitt 1 Unterabschnitt 2 Nr. 2.1.1 und 2.1.2.”
§ 52 WaffG (criminal penalties; Abs. 3 Nr. 1 covers banned knives)
“Mit Freiheitsstrafe bis zu drei Jahren oder mit Geldstrafe wird bestraft, wer”
§ 53 WaffG (administrative fines; up to EUR 10,000)
“Geldbuße bis zu zehntausend Euro geahndet werden”
§ 2 WaffG (age 18 for handling Waffen; Abs. 3 ban on Anlage 2 Abschnitt 1 items)
“Der Umgang mit Waffen oder Munition ist nur Personen gestattet, die das 18. Lebensjahr vollendet haben.”
BKA Feststellungsbescheid 'Titan Sepp' (BAnz AT 15.02.2022 B6): a two-hand-opening frame-lock folder is not an Einhandmesser
“Dies würde erfordern, dass es sich mit der das Messer haltenden Hand öffnen und feststellen ließe.”
BMI FAQ 'Waffengesetzänderungen 2024' (knife bans at events/long-distance transport; Springmesser rules)
“Die gesetzlichen Verbote, Messer zu führen, gelten für alle Messer, unabhängig von der Klingenlänge und der Beschaffenheit.”
Niedersachsen: Waffen- und Messerverbot im öffentlichen Personenverkehr (FAQ)
Polizei Berlin: Waffen- und Messerverbotszonen im ÖPNV
NRW Zweite Verordnung zur Änderung der Waffen- und Messerverbotsverordnung (30.03.2026)
Bundespolizei Allgemeinverfügung Hamburg Bahnhöfe, Oktober 2026 (example)

What we could not confirm

Statute and BMI/BKA texts are verified. The edge-case reading that a non-locking one-hand opener (slipjoint, Opinel-style) and a locking two-hand opener are NOT Einhandmesser rests on the BKA 'Titan Sepp' decision (which binds only that model) and on commentary plus one first-instance acquittal (Kehl, ring-lock knife, reported on strafrechtsiegen.de, which we read but did not list as primary). No Federal Court ruling found.
Treatment of spring-assisted openers (button-only vs flipper) not verified from a primary source.
How 'Klingenlänge' is measured for the 12 cm fixed-blade limit is not defined in the statute; not verified.
Whether short double-edged fixed blades are treated as Stoßwaffen under § 42a Abs. 1 Nr. 2 in practice: no source checked.
Full list of state ordinances (Bremen, Hamburg, Sachsen, Bayern etc.) and exact exceptions per ordinance not collected; only Niedersachsen, Berlin, NRW and one Bundespolizei order were read.
Retail/shipping and minimum-age rules for ordinary knives not verified from primary sources.
Airport/air-travel rules are out of scope and were not checked.

Keep going

General information, not legal advice. Know something we got wrong? Tell us and include a source.