Outdoor knives and §42a WaffG: what you may carry on tour

A good knife is part of the basic kit for almost every bushcrafter, but in Germany the legal side is trickier than many people think. OUTDOOR Magazin has summed up the most important rules of §42a of the Weapons Act (WaffG) for hiking and camping.

Carrying in public is prohibited for one-handed knives whose blade can be opened and locked with one hand, and for fixed-blade knives with a blade longer than 12 centimetres. A fixed-blade outdoor knife up to 12 cm is therefore basically fine. Large machetes, Bowie knives or "Rambo knives" are usually longer. If a knife is explicitly designed for combat, it can count as a stabbing and cutting weapon regardless of its length.

"Carrying" means having the knife within reach outside your own home or fenced private property, whether on your belt or in your rucksack. Simply transporting it is different: if the knife is in a closed container and not readily accessible, that generally does not count as carrying. An outside pocket is not enough; it must be a closed piece of luggage with a secure lock.

The law also allows carrying with a "legitimate interest", for example for work, tradition, sport or another generally recognised purpose. Since the term is not defined more precisely, much of this remains a grey area. The magazine's advice: separate the journey to the place of use from the use itself, and plan transport carefully.

I think notes like this are important because they prevent unnecessary trouble. If you are heading into the woods with a knife, you should know the rules before you set off.

Source: OUTDOOR Magazin