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Information on the “§42a-compliant” label


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.

Wichtiger Hinweis: Dieser Artikel gibt einen allgemeinen Überblick und ersetzt keine Rechtsberatung. Im Zweifel wende dich an eine Fachanwältin oder einen Fachanwalt für Waffenrecht.

§ 42a WaffG: Was sagt das Gesetz?

§ 42a des Waffengesetzes regelt das sogenannte Führverbot – also das Verbot, bestimmte Gegenstände in der Öffentlichkeit mit sich zu führen. „Führen" bedeutet dabei: das Messer griffbereit oder zugänglich bei sich zu haben, zum Beispiel in der Hosentasche, am Gürtel oder im Rucksack.

Das Gesetz verbietet das Führen von:

  • Anscheinswaffen (z. B. täuschend echte Nachbildungen von Schusswaffen)
  • Hieb- und Stoßwaffen gemäß Anlage 1 Abschnitt 1 Unterabschnitt 2 Nr. 1.1
  • Einhandmesser – Messer mit einhändig feststellbarer Klinge
  • Feststehende Messer mit einer Klingenlänge über 12 cm

Entscheidend für alltägliche Messerträger ist vor allem der dritte Punkt: das Einhandmesser.

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.

Fazit: Was du beim Kauf beachten solltest

Wenn du ein Messer kaufst, das du in der Öffentlichkeit bei dir tragen möchtest, achte auf folgendes:

  • Ist es ein Slipjoint? → In der Regel 42a-konform
  • Hat es einen Flipper oder Daumenpin UND einen Lock? → Nicht zum Führen in der Öffentlichkeit geeignet
  • Ist die Klinge kürzer als 12 cm und feststehend? → Dann nicht wegen Klingenlänge betroffen, aber Öffnungsmechanismus prüfen
  • Achte auf unsere Produktkennzeichnung → Alle bei uns als „§42a-konform" markierten Messer erfüllen die gesetzlichen Anforderungen nach unserem besten Wissen und Gewissen

Alle §42a-konformen Messer entdecken →

Häufige Fragen zu §42a WaffG

Darf ich ein Taschenmesser in Deutschland in der Öffentlichkeit tragen?

Ja – solange es sich nicht um ein Einhandmesser im Sinne des § 42a WaffG handelt. Ein klassisches Klappmesser ohne Daumenpin und ohne Klingenarretierung (Slipjoint) ist legal in der Öffentlichkeit zu führen. Modelle mit Flipper und Liner Lock hingegen nicht.

Was ist der Unterschied zwischen einem Slipjoint und einem Liner-Lock-Messer?

Ein Slipjoint hat keine Klingenarretierung – die Klinge hält durch eine Feder in Position, kann aber mit Kraft zurückgeklappt werden. Ein Liner Lock (oder Frame Lock) rastet die Klinge in der offenen Position fest ein. Nur das Slipjoint ist 42a-konform, wenn zusätzlich keine Einhandöffnung vorhanden ist.

Gilt das Führverbot auch im Auto?

Das Führverbot gilt für das griffbereite Mitführen. Ein Messer im verschlossenen Koffer im Kofferraum ist legal transportiert – nicht „geführt". Liegt das Messer hingegen griffbereit auf dem Beifahrersitz oder in der Mittelkonsole, gilt es als geführt.

Ist ein feststehender Messer mit 11 cm Klingenlänge legal?

Ja. Das Gesetz verbietet das Führen feststehender Messer mit einer Klingenlänge über 12 cm. Bei 11 cm liegt man unter dieser Grenze. Allerdings können feststehende Messer unter anderen Gesichtspunkten trotzdem relevant sein – im Zweifelsfall Rechtsrat einholen.

Was bedeutet „berechtigtes Interesse" beim Führen von Einhandmessern?

Das Gesetz erlaubt das Führen von Einhandmessern, wenn ein berechtigtes Interesse vorliegt. Dazu zählen beispielsweise die berufliche Nutzung (z. B. Handwerker, Jäger), die Brauchtumspflege oder sportliche Zwecke. Das Interesse muss jedoch nachvollziehbar und im Zweifelsfall belegbar sein.

Wo erkenne ich, ob ein Messer bei Knife Lounge 42a-konform ist?

Alle Messer, die bei uns als „§42a-konform" gekennzeichnet sind, erfüllen nach unserem besten Wissen und Gewissen die Anforderungen des Waffengesetzes. Bitte beachte, dass dies kein abschließendes Rechtsgutachten ist. Im Einzelfall kann es Abweichungen geben.

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Diese Messer sind §42a-konform und sofort verfügbar:

Acta Non Verba Z200 G10 – Bild 1
Acta Non Verba Z200 G10
Blade finish: Stonewashed | Handle Color: Olive
Acta Non Verba Z200 EDC folder Made in Czech Republic G10 handle scales Two handed opening with opening groove on the blade Superluminova luminescent pin  Linerlock locking system (Super) Deep Carry wire clip for discreet carry

€120.00
Details
ANV M311 Comp Topo KnifeLounge Exclusive – Image 5
ANV M311 Comp Topo KnifeLounge Exclusive
ANV M311 Comp Topo KnifeLounge ExclusiveThe compact version of the tactical fixed ANV M311Topo Edition - KnifeLounge Exclusive!Green Micarta handleElmax steel blade with DLC finishIncludes paracord and Kydex sheath

€279.00
Bastards Knives Xerxes – Image 5
Bastards Knives Xerxes
Handle Material: Green Canvas Micarta
Clipoint or Persian? The Xerxes is definitely not a knife for those who like to stay in the middle lane. With its proportions of roughly two-thirds handle to one-third blade, it sits solid and secure in the hand – even with glove size nine. Designer Matteo Morini really nailed the balance here. Bravo! The Persian-style blade with its distinctive polished swedge nods to classic pike or clip-point shapes – but here the false edge runs almost the entire length of the blade. Careful: this knife is pointy. And by pointy, we mean really pointy. So pointy that Bastard Knives had to reinforce the leather sheath just to prevent the tip from poking straight through. Smart move – and honestly, pretty necessary. Speaking of sheaths: you get sturdy leather with a titanium clip. Leather for tradition, titanium for everyday carry. That way, the Xerxes rides comfortably in your pocket. The blade steel is CPM-3V: extremely tough, highly resilient, and wickedly sharp. Just give it a little care when it comes to rust, and in return you get a knife that won’t back down any time soon. The handle comes with screwed-on Micarta scales, available in green or natural. Micarta feels great in hand and only gets better with age. Screws instead of glue mean you can take it apart whenever you need to clean it after some hard use. At just 17.5 cm overall, the Xerxes is not only compact but also fully 42a-compliant. If you’re into compact, lightweight EDC fixed blades but want something with a bit more character than the usual suspects, the Xerxes should definitely be on your list.

€185.00
Benchmade 165BK Mini Bushcrafter, CruWear, Carbon (Benchmade, BM165BK) – Bild 2
Benchmade 165BK Mini Bushcrafter, CruWear, Carbon
CPM-CruWear blade with black Cerakote coating – extremely edge-retentive, tough, and corrosion-resistant.Rugged sheath with Quick-Release mechanism – rock-solid retention and lightning-fast access with just a thumb press. CruWear & Carbon Fiber Small in name. Big in everything that matters. When you choose this knife, you’re not just buying a piece of steel with handle scales. You’re buying precision from Oregon – hand-assembled, inspected, and finished to perfection. You’re buying CPM-CruWear: a powder-metallurgy tool steel that combines toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance so well that even the harshest outdoor work leaves no mark. The carbon fiber handle scales aren’t just light and elegant – they’re machined to the millimeter and accented with red liners, a detail you’d usually only see on custom knives. And then there’s the sheath: injection-molded, modular, weather-resistant, and built to last. The integrated Quick-Release mechanism locks the knife securely in place until you need it – then lets it go instantly with a single press of your thumb. Whether you carry it cross-draw in Scout style, classic on the belt, or hanging low, your Mini Bushcrafter rides safe and stays ready. None of this is by accident – it’s the result of Benchmade’s commitment to building knives that last a lifetime… and then another. Yes, it comes at a price. But it’s the price for a tool that doesn’t get replaced – it gets passed down.

€487.00
Benchmade Successor – Image 1
Benchmade Successor
Version: Burn Brass Aluminium
Aluminum handle SpearPoint blade made of M390 with black DLC finish Made in USA

€259.00
Benchmade Successor – Image 1
Benchmade Successor
Version: Blue Aluminum
Aluminum handle SpearPoint blade made of M390 with satin finish Made in USA

€259.00
Big Idea Design - USA Lookout Fixed Blade Nitro V – Image 2
Big Idea Design - USA Lookout Fixed Blade Nitro V
Blade material: CPM Magnacut | Handle Material: Titanium
Compact trouser pocket fixedMade in USA VersionBlade steel: Nitro V2 Kydex sheaths included (for left or right trouser pocket)Includes a titanium pocket clipMADE IN USA!  The nod to “view” in the name is no coincidence: “Lookout” refers to Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga – a place with perspective. Just like this knife. Designed with one goal in mind: to be a reliable companion. Not a decorative piece, not a shelf queen, but a tool built to be used. Every day. Outdoors. In everyday life. Or wherever a sharp blade is needed.  Now for the best part: this version is Made in the USA. No imports – fully crafted in Big Idea Design’s brand-new workshop in Tennessee. The flat-ground Nitro-V blade is sharp, corrosion-resistant, and made for daily use. The handle, with its screwed-on scales in Micarta, G10, or Ultem, sits solid in the hand, even when wet or dirty. Thanks to its compact size and low weight, you get one of the ultimate pocket-fixed blades here – big enough to handle real work, small enough to stay out of the way in your pocket. Included: two Kydex sheaths – for both left- and right-hand carry – and a sturdy titanium clip.

Variants from €239.00
€289.00
Details
Big Idea Design - Ti Lookout Fixed Blade – Image 9
Big Idea Design - Ti Lookout Fixed Blade
Big Idea Design - Ti Lookout Fixed BladeCompact trouser pocket fixedTitanium handle scalesBlade steel: M3902 Kydex sheaths included (for left or right trouser pocket)Includes a titanium pocket clip

€205.00
Big Idea Design USA Signal Fixed Blade (Big Idea Design, BID37G10) – Bild 1
Big Idea Design USA Signal Fixed Blade
Handle Material: Black G10
If the Big Idea Lookout had a growth spurt, this is exactly what it would look like – a true evolution signal (gotta catch ’em all). The Signal is the second fixed blade to come out of Big Idea’s US production, and it’s an absolute powerhouse. Crafted from Nitro V steel with a blade length of 8.2 cm, it slices smoothly through firewood out in the wild – or, for the desk warriors among us, through the hundredth pack of printer paper. For the handle, you can choose between a bold and mood-boosting black G10 or a natural micarta that develops a beautiful patina over time. As always with Big Idea’s fixed blades, it comes with two Kydex sheaths and a titanium clip.

€259.00
Details
BMKT EDC1 Bowie – Image 6
BMKT EDC1 Bowie
Blade Finish / Handle Material: Blackwash / Black G10
BMKT EDC1 Bowie available in three colors: Olive green (OD), black or natural (brown) canvas micarta. handle construction: bead blasted Torx hardware comes with black Kydex sheath with belt loop customs knife made by Bestech Field Spec When a popular knife designer has a small batch produced, it's always exciting. In the case of BMKT's EDC1, this decision is not surprising because demand for Brendon Millekers most popular custom fixed is incredibly high. No wonder: after all, this compact EDC fixed is not only an extremely capable cutting tool, but also a real eye-catcher. The high blade provides a beautiful and eye-catching contrast to the slim, almost elegant handle finish. The Bowie Blade of the EDC1 is made of Böhler's M390 steel, which has been given a robust stonewash finish. The large Torx screws that secure the micarta handle scales to the tang of the blade have also been given a similar matte finish. Included with the knife is a snug-fitting Kydex sheath, so you can carry your EDC1 safely and easily in your pocket. Did you know that the model for the Field Spec series was Heidi Blacksmith? Brendon Milleker is a huge fan of Heidi's knives. After Heidi's great success with his Heidi 1 - which is also made by Bestech - it was clear to Brandon that he wanted to follow a similar path to meet the high demand for his knives.

€239.00