Security Decree: “save” the sailor’s knife, but watch out for rules for carrying it

Do you remember this article.? It was about the sailor’s knife and all the issues related to the new “security decree” that was going to hurt a whole range of categories such as hunters, mountaineers and boaters. Well, there is good news. With the final text, one key point is clarified: it is permissible to take certain types of knives out of the home (or assimilated) as long as there is a justified reason.

The sailor’s knife is “safe”

A mariner’s knife is much more than a tool. It is tradition, safety, an automatic gesture. It sits steady aboard every boat, but also in your pocket, ready to free a line under tension or intervene in an emergency. Likewise, it is an ally of divers and fishermen. Today we can say that, after the pressure and criticism triggered by the first formulation of the rule, the sailor’s knife is “safe,” and that is good news for those who go to sea.

On April 24, the House gave final approval to the newly debated Security Decree, introducing some important corrections from the initial version, including one on the disputed ban on carrying folding knives with a blade of more than 5 centimeters and a locking system.

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Seaman’s knife, what you can carry

The clampdown, which was created to counter the spread of “blades” among minors, ended up directly affecting even those who use knives for work or passion: electricians, mechanics, divers, hunters, farmers, and, of course, those who go to sea. But what can be brought, then, today?

They fall within the permitted tools:

• Knives with a fixed, sharp or pointed blade with a length of more than 8 centimeters;
• Folding knives with a blade of five centimeters or more, single-edged and sharp-pointed, equipped with a locking mechanism or that can be opened with one hand.

The latter category includes, precisely, classic sailor’s knives, as well as those used for hunting or mountaineering.

Justified reason

The concept of justifiable motive remains central: the person carrying a knife must be able to prove its practical utility. Boating, doing a job or hunting are good examples. But they must be proven. In the absence of plausible grounds, possession may be considered unlawful, and the burden of proof is on the citizen in the event of a check. Penalties for violators are heavy: they range from imprisonment of 6 months to 3 years, in addition to any ancillary administrative penalties decided by the prefect.

What remains prohibited

In contrast, no justifiable reason is allowed for the carrying of:

• knives with double-edged blade and sharp point
• Knives with blades greater than 5 centimeters single-edged and sharp-pointed equipped with a snap mechanism
• knives with sharp or pointed blades of the butterfly type or disguised as other tools or concealed in other objects.

The Security Decree was published in the Official Gazette on April 24 and went into effect the following day.

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