🔪 Can I carry a knife in public in Lithuania?

With conditions

Quick answer

It depends on the type of knife — an ordinary knife may be owned and carried, but some knives are banned outright, and the popular myth that "any blade over 10 cm is a weapon" is misleading. Under the Law on the Control of Weapons and Ammunition, kitchen, tourist, hunting and so-called survival knives are not treated as weapons, so the blade length in itself decides nothing. What is prohibited in civil circulation are knives with an automatically opening or folding blade if it is longer than 8.5 cm, narrower than 14 percent of its length, or sharpened on both edges, together with knuckledusters and throwing stars. The key point people miss: throwing knives, daggers, stilettos and swords are category D bladed weapons — they may be bought from age 18, but carrying them in public is forbidden. Carrying an ordinary knife is allowed, yet threatening someone with it or using it to frighten people is already a public-order or criminal offence.

📋 The rules

Kitchen, tourist, hunting and "survival" knives are not weapons
Banned: automatic knives whose blade is longer than 8.5 cm, narrower than 14% of its length, or double-edged
Knuckledusters, throwing stars and other striking bladed weapons — prohibited
Throwing knives, daggers, stilettos, swords — category D, bought from 18, but no public carry
Carrying any weapon while intoxicated (over 0.4 per mille) or on drugs is banned (CAO Art. 227)

🔓 Exceptions

A knife may be transported and used for its purpose — work, fishing, hunting, camping
A category D weapon may be transported cased (e.g., to a range or hunt), but not carried day to day
Collector, decorative and souvenir items with no combat properties are not weapons

⚠️ Penalties & fines

What matters is not the length of the knife but its type and how you use it. Prohibited knives (automatic ones meeting the 8.5 cm or double-edged criteria, plus knuckledusters and stars) never enter lawful circulation — they are confiscated, and keeping or carrying them brings administrative liability. Carrying a category D bladed weapon in public breaches the weapon-carrying rules: under Article 229 of the Code of Administrative Offences the fine is €20 to €60, on repeat up to €180, and the weapon may be confiscated. What people miss: even a lawfully held knife, once used to threaten or frighten, is treated as criminal threatening or a breach of public order under the Criminal Code, while carrying any weapon while intoxicated (over 0.4 per mille) is banned by Article 227. Criminal liability also follows if someone is injured — the knife then becomes an aggravating circumstance.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Can I carry a knife in my pocket?

An ordinary household or utility knife, such as a folding pocket knife, may be owned and carried, because it is not treated as a weapon. However, displaying it in public, threatening or frightening people with it is prohibited and can lead to administrative or criminal liability.

From what length is a knife a weapon?

The law sets no general blade-length limit for an ordinary knife — kitchen, tourist and hunting knives are not weapons regardless of length. The 8.5 cm limit applies only to knives with an automatically opening or folding blade, which are precisely the ones that are banned.

Can I own a combat or hunting knife?

Hunting, combat and "survival" knives are not treated as weapons unless they meet the criteria for prohibited automatic knives, so they may be owned. Even so, carrying such a knife in public without a clear purpose is unwise, as it may be seen as a threat to public order.

Are automatic and butterfly knives legal?

Automatic (flick) and folding knives whose blade is longer than 8.5 cm, narrower than 14 percent of its length or sharpened on both edges are prohibited in civil circulation. If they are kept or carried, the weapon is confiscated and the person faces administrative liability.

What is the penalty for carrying a knife while drunk?

Carrying any weapon, including a category D bladed weapon, while intoxicated (over 0.4 per mille) or under the influence of drugs is banned by Article 227 of the Code of Administrative Offences. A fine is imposed and the weapon may be confiscated, with repeat breaches treated more severely.

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