Weapons Act (WaffG) § 42a Prohibition on carrying imitation weapons and certain portable objects

1. It is prohibited
• to carry imitation weapons,
• to carry bladed weapons as per Annex 1 Section 1 Subsection 2 No. 1.1, or
• to carry knives with one-handed locking blades (one-handed knives) or fixed-blade knives with a blade length exceeding 12 cm.
2. Paragraph 1 does not apply to:
   • use in photo, film, or television recordings or theater performances,
   • transport in a locked container,
   • carrying the objects listed in Paragraph 1 Nos. 2 and 3, provided a legitimate interest is present. Further regulations remain unaffected.
3. A legitimate interest as per Paragraph 2 Sentence 1 No. 3 is deemed to exist particularly when carrying the items is connected to professional activities, cultural preservation, sports, or serves a generally recognized purpose.

What does "knife with a one-handed locking blade" mean exactly?

"One-handed locking" knives are knives that feature a mechanism for one-handed opening and a blade lock. If a knife has only one of these characteristics, it is not affected by § 42a. 

(Source: https://www.boker.de/waffenrecht)

This means a knife is § 42a compliant if

• it does not have a mechanism for one-handed opening
• or the blade cannot be locked

A pocket knife that meets both criteria, such as most Swiss Army knives or slipjoints, is also § 42a compliant.

Please note:

Please note that we have classified the item to the best of our knowledge and belief. This is generally only a guideline for you and not a binding legal advice.

It is possible that a pocket knife we consider § 42a compliant may still fall under the carrying prohibition.