bil

Does anyone know the rules on this? A friend is coming over, he usually carries a swiss army knife with him but wants to know what the rules are here so he doesn't fall foul of the law.

Thanx.

Fred James

It should be all right.

You cannot carry daggers or double sided blades or "automatic" knives - presumably flick knives.

http://www.pegatiros.com/download/reglamento_armas.pdf

Section 4. 1.f covers it.

bobd22

in that case why not leave it at home? unless there is a specific need to carry one. I could tell you the uk rules but not Spanish. One thing if flying will not be allowed on the person or in hand luggage.

teuchterpete

Agree with bobd. Why does he need to carry one at all? Having said that my daughter's partner (native Spanish) always carries one!
Pete

Dick Dasterdly

I seem to recall a car driver being arrested in one of those Costa del Crime docs. for that very thing,.... carrying a Swiss Army knife.

A bit ridiculous really when there are other things such as screwdrivers that can be legally carried in a car and do possibly far more damage.

jimenato

I always carry a leatherman in my "manbag". I have a friend who does the same and his has been confiscated a couple of times. Mind you he was being arrested both times...

It always strikes me as a bit odd that they will take a nail file or a tiny pair of nail scissors off you at the airport but will then sell you a litre bottle of brandy that you can take as hand luggage. I would have thought that a broken bottle was a far more effective weapon.

agoreira

I've always carried a similar type knife in my camera bag and always take that bag to Spain. Never happened before, but I didn't even remember it was there, and whilst it went through the UK end OK it was confiscated by Spanish customs. He asked me if I wanted the cover for it back, I smiled and told him to give it to his son.

bil

Thanks to all for the useful and helpful comments. I have told him the stuff about customs etc. He's someone for whom the swiss army knife is a part of im I suppose, and he feels naked without it.

I agree, I'd leave it at home were it me.

I too have a leatherman. If stopped with it in the UK, I would be in trouble, because the terrifying 2" blade locks into place, and lockknives are illegal, unless I could demonstrate a good reason for having it on my person. Mine doesn't even leave the garden/house. If I'm going out, it stays home.

bil

I hope to god he did. It would be a shame to see a useful thing like that binned.

bil

OK, that's sparked a question.

Why are knives classed as 'white' (arma blanca) ??

Domino

had a small pair of scissors in the bottom of my in cabin bag for 12m, several trips back and forth - just been found by Malaga customs. Forgot they were there and started to argue that there was nothing to pick me up for.

Fred James

I think it is just to distinguish them from any sort of firearm. I don't know why they are "white" but then in English a black fridge is still classed as "white goods".

bil

Yes, but the origen of that lies in the fact that originally all those items were white. (or at least that was the general impression, and the majority were.)

I'm just interested to know the origen of the use of 'white' for edged weapons. It just seems a curious choice.

agoreira

Ditto, I'm not sure how many trips my knife had done, but quite a few. It's a Lowepro camera bag, so loads of little inside pockets, I'd completely forgotten it was there.

bobd22

To me that shows they did there job well they have the rules for valid reasons which we have seen the outcome of. Most people would innocently carry a pocket knife and yes they can be forgot about in luggage. Howevefr if they ask the question and you say no then it is found I would accept that and not argue. Rules for lokcing blades goes abck to the 50's with lock knifes, I think if you are stopped in the uk with a locking blade the type you describe descression would kick in, if one of the rioter types was stopped then he would no doubt not just have it confiscated but would see the inside of a cell for good reason. comment about the nail file and the bottle AGHHH that is wher it falls down bottom line they didn't sell you the nail file but they did the bottle!!! I wouldn't mind so much with that if they at only sold airside in those plastic bottles but they don't.