I’ve been surprised lately on some subreddits like “deduction” that many people are shocked if someone carries a knife. Sometimes it’s a fellow American expressing shock. Rarely, if ever, is the knife anything other than a small folder or multitool, but people react like it’s a heinous weapon.

Hey, I'm from Puerto Rico and I carry a knife daily. Few reasons as to why I do (personally). I work as a contractor and it helps with my daily tasks such as opening boxes, packages and handling materials. I also like the outdoors so I hike and go to the beach or rivers quite a bit, where having a knife is always a plus for different reasons.

Thing here is that it used to be extremely common for people from my mom's generation and back to carry a knife on themselves for different reasons. My grandfather always had a hawkbill on his person, slipjoint or lockback, but still, he had something and a machete most of the time, too. At some point, that got lost along the way and now, you can pull out a gun and everyone will go "ooh, ahh", but if you pull out a knife, you're instantly branded as crazy, a killer or a psycho, even though knife related crimes are almost non-existent here.

Knives aren't inherently illegal here, the law is extremely vague and it's mostly left up to the situation where you were found with said knife and the reason as to why you have it on your person and in terms of legality, what the judge wants to do or say. I've been told by my lawyer friends that if you want to walk around with a katana on your belt, you can, as long as someone doesn't complain that it offends or scares them or something.

I'm in Japan, anything outside of the smallest Victorinox is illegal to carry unless it's for a specific use case for work, camping, fishing, etc.

Even then, it had better be in your bag when going to and from that activity.

The laws are so broad that a cop could ruin your day / week / month if he really wanted to.

It's best to not risk carrying anything on your person.

First, I just want to say that I am a big fan of the CRKT Tuna you have there. It is currently my favorite knife to give as a gift to friends.

Second… my first job as a 9 year old kid was at a horse stable. Having a small folder was almost essential. I carried this small no name folder that my dad gave me when I started cub scouts the year before.

Worked on ranch as a teen. Have had many different jobs and with the exception of office work… I always needed a knife.

https://preview.redd.it/xd7zbjiqz8cg1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=610cae6f837dbc1371c7210239f416699b426e75

First folder and current knife in my pocket.

In the Philippines, specifically in the provinces. Men have machetes or bolos in wooden sheaths tied around their waists for getting through thick weeds and bushes. Like this:

https://preview.redd.it/0uekdiqyl9cg1.jpeg?width=410&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34d5a83c2bb19c21cdf19d8f5f72c4e4658d5bef

I carry a multitool (Leatherman Skeletool) in Poland. I doubt this is something special for Americans, but at least I don't see a point in having a knife when I can have it on a multitool and have many purposes of it, so I like efficiency and usage, not showing instagram ready fresh knives like some people here. Edit: also I think it's a bit of a reach to promote this as a men's hobby - I'm a multitool/knife collector, carrying one always, and a woman. Don't hit me with comments like I'm someone special lol

Uncommon to carry a knife in the Netherlands, rules are pretty strict. As a white woman who doesn't go out much I don't get searched at random search areas though. If they do a random search and find anything, they'll "ask" if you want to hand your knife over regardless if it's within the rules or not, that way they have less paperwork to do for a confiscation. Mine is within the rules, and they'll have to fight me for it (paperwork-wise, not physically), I'm pretty fed up with their bullying and incompetence.

I carry mine for daily tasks (also work construction) and for self defense as a last resort; I've had instances where I was attacked and the cops wouldn't even let me file a report, so obviously I can't depend on them to even take a report after the fact, let alone keep me safe.

In Spain it is illegal to carry sharp edge on public roads/street. There is a myth about being OK if it's under "4 fingers" (roughly 10cm) but it's just not true, by law, you can't carry any kind of edge.
However, actual interactions with the police are different, they depend on context. If you are in a rural area and you are a middle aged or an old man, they probably won't confiscate it. In a city they will confiscate it no matter what and very likely fine you. If you are a young man in a rural area, it depends on the policeman's judgement, a friend got his knife confiscated in a traffic stop when he was going hiking, the policeman explained that he had to transport it "securely" in a box/case (basically inside a locked box, as if it was some kind of gun lmao). He confiscated his pocket knife but let him collect it later at the police station, with no fine.
Everything about it is completely stupid because whoever carries a knife for criminal reasons is never deterred by current law.

It is uncommon in France, I'd say less than 10% of the broader population does it. More common among older people, those who fish, hunt, camp...

Even among outdoorsy types and blue collar workers it is surprisingly rare and I've seen my share of campers who only brought a steak knife from their kitchen. Among younger folks my experience is that women are more likely to have one than men, often for self-defense, which is... misguided, oh well.

In Sweden, the carrying of knives is prohibited unless it's work related or in connection with certain activities where having a knife is a normal occurance (e.g fishing, enjoying nature). Our supreme court has ruled that "a small folding knife, i.e a pen knife, is allowed - unless there are special circumstances with elevated risk of it being used in connection with criminal activities". The law in itself is rather vaguely written. There is no mention of blade length, one-handed operation etc, and leaves it to the police officer to decide. Even a "small pen knife" lacks a clear definition. I assume we are generally allowed to wear SAKs (unless we're at the pub, at a school or courthouse) because the wikipedia article for "pen knife" shows a vintage Victorinox Soldier. But, is the new Victorinox Synergy model to be considered a "pen knife"? It uses the same blade as the Soldier/Alox, it has a slipjoint backspring...but is also lockable?

Most people here just don't carry knives because the law is so fuzzy, or they've been taught that only criminals do.

Most people.

It's interesting how knife laws can vary so much from place to place, and it really makes you appreciate the practicality of carrying a reliable tool for everyday tasks.

Canadian here. I've carried a pocketknife of some sort since I was maybe 12 years old. My country has a reputation for being strict on "weapons" and that is true to some extent, but plenty of people carry pocket knives here, even in the cities. In the more rural areas nobody would look at you funny for having a fixed blade on your belt.

The carrying of knives is not explicitly banned, but what is problematic is the definition of a "prohibited" knife. As written, the law prohibits (among others) knives that "open by gravity or centrifugal force" which could be interpreted to mean ANY folding knife that the cop or customs officer can flick open without touching the blade. Since most modern "tactical" folders can be opened this way, it makes carrying one a risk, and ordering knives from the US a gamble because they can be seized at the border.

Personally, as I've gotten older I've been drawn to more traditional knives, and my office EDC is a Victorinox Recruit at the moment. It's acceptable in almost any situation, and no cop is going to give me a hard time over it (and it's not like they can just randomly stop and search people in the first place.)

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