SA Knife Laws

[geotek]

I travel with a folding pocket knife. Is this illegal in South Africa? Is
there a limit on blade length? Are fixed-blades legal?
geotek

[petrus]

if you are a criminal, it is legal, if not it is illegal

[geotek]

Post by petrus
if you are a criminal, it is legal, if not it is illegal

Then perhaps I should become a criminal! ; }
geotek

[Skokkie]

Post by geotek

Post by petrus
if you are a criminal, it is legal, if not it is illegal

Then perhaps I should become a criminal! ; }
geotek

Naturally petrus' flippiant comments are reflexive as usual, based in
bigotry and do not contain any whimsical wisdom.

The laws are not as strong as in the developed countries and the cops do not
have the time to enforce them as indicated in petrus' response. You can be
assured that the cops will not hesitate to pull the laws out and dust them
off at a moments notice if they need to. This is especially true if you are
a criminal that has been getting too big for his boots and they want an
excuse to bring you in.

Generally anything that you buy in a shop is barely legal - they would have
to work hard to make a case in court because you can say that the laws are
vague and the knives are widely available.

Maybe in 2009 there will be a new government that will have the will to
tighten all of this up.

[Moira de Swardt]

Post by geotek
I travel with a folding pocket knife. Is this illegal in South Africa? Is
there a limit on blade length? Are fixed-blades legal?

Folding pocket knives are legal, as are fixed-blade knives carried
concealed (except on airlines). Switchblades are not legal to
carry. I do not think there is a limit on blade length, although I
vaguely do recall something about length. Standard pocket knives
are within the limit.

Moira, the Faerie Godmother

[conciliator]

Post by geotek
I travel with a folding pocket knife.

I always have my Swiss Army knife with me. Have found it very useful,
especially when there is no corkscrew or bottle opener is available!

Post by geotek
Is this illegal in South Africa?

Ordinary pocket knives are not illegal as far as I am aware. However, don't
have it on you, or in your hand luggage, when you intend flying somewhere.

I recently flew to Cape Town from Port Elizabeth, and my briefcase was duly
scanned in P.E. without any problem. However, when I arrived at CT airport
for the return flight, I was called over when my briefcase had been scanned
by an extremely bored, overweight Afrikaans lady, who could hardly speak
English, and told that she had detected a Philips screw driver in my case.
One of the other attendants asked me to open the briefcase, which I quite
happily did, knowing that I had no screwdrivers with me. Nothing was found,
and the case was scanned again. "There are a Philips screwdriver in your
case" the bored lady managed to utter. Again we looked, and in one of the
side pockets, we discovered a small set of jeweller screwdrivers, the
largest being about 6cm in length, and the thickness of a thread. Anyhow, I
was told this was a sharp instrument, and I wsn't allowed to take it on
board. I explained to the affable chap that I could hardly use it to open a
locked cockpit door, and hijack the aircraft. Quite so, was his reply, but
it was still a sharp object, and not allowed on board. So, I dumped it in a
small box attached to the wall. Not having realised it was there, I must
have carried it around for years, and certainly wouldn't miss it. I have
slightly larger ones anyway, which are far more useful.

Post by geotek
Is there a limit on blade length? Are fixed-blades legal?

I would think that walking around with a 9 inch blade pocket knife might
arouse some suspicion! Even a fixed blade one. The latter would be rather
difficult, and even dangerous, to put in one's pocket!!! But, again, if you
go hunting, or bushwacking, a fixed blade knife in a sheath carried on the
belt would not be taken as unusual.
--
conciliator

Post by geotek
geotek

[conciliator]

Post by conciliator

Post by geotek
I travel with a folding pocket knife.

I always have my Swiss Army knife with me. Have found it very useful,
especially when there is no corkscrew or bottle opener is available!

Post by geotek
Is this illegal in South Africa?

Ordinary pocket knives are not illegal as far as I am aware. However, don't
have it on you, or in your hand luggage, when you intend flying somewhere.
I recently flew to Cape Town from Port Elizabeth, and my briefcase was duly
scanned in P.E. without any problem. However, when I arrived at CT airport
for the return flight, I was called over when my briefcase had been scanned
by an extremely bored, overweight Afrikaans lady, who could hardly speak
English, and told that she had detected a Philips screw driver in my case.
One of the other attendants asked me to open the briefcase, which I quite
happily did, knowing that I had no screwdrivers with me. Nothing was found,
and the case was scanned again. "There are a Philips screwdriver in your
case" the bored lady managed to utter. Again we looked, and in one of the
side pockets, we discovered a small set of jeweller screwdrivers, the
largest being about 6cm in length, and the thickness of a thread. Anyhow, I
was told this was a sharp instrument, and I wsn't allowed to take it on
board. I explained to the affable chap that I could hardly use it to open a
locked cockpit door, and hijack the aircraft. Quite so, was his reply, but
it was still a sharp object, and not allowed on board. So, I dumped it in a
small box attached to the wall. Not having realised it was there, I must
have carried it around for years, and certainly wouldn't miss it. I have
slightly larger ones anyway, which are far more useful.

Post by geotek
Is there a limit on blade length? Are fixed-blades legal?

I would think that walking around with a 9 inch blade pocket knife might
arouse some suspicion! Even a fixed blade one. The latter would be rather
difficult, and even dangerous, to put in one's pocket!!! But, again, if you
go hunting, or bushwacking, a fixed blade knife in a sheath carried on the
belt would not be taken as unusual.
--
conciliator

Post by geotek
geotek

Further to my story about my briefcase being scanned, the funny part was
that when "lunch" was served, we were given a metal knife and fork set. Far
more usuable to do someone some injury then my little jewellers
screwdrivers!
--
conciliator

[Moira de Swardt]

Post by conciliator
Further to my story about my briefcase being scanned, the funny part was
that when "lunch" was served, we were given a metal knife and fork set. Far
more usuable to do someone some injury then my little jewellers
screwdrivers!

I lost a good pair of embroidery scissors on one flight where I
carried a ten or twelve kilogram statue which could have been used
to bludgeon someone to death.

Moira, the Faerie Godmother