Can I carry a knife in a public place in Luxembourg?
It depends on the knife — and the famous "7 cm limit" no longer exists. Since the law of 2 February 2022 on weapons and ammunition, which replaced the old 1983 law, it is no longer blade length alone that counts, but the type of knife. Prohibited weapons — impossible to carry, with no authorisation available — include switchblades and automatic knives, butterfly knives, throwing knives, knuckledusters, nunchaku and blades that conceal their true nature. By contrast, a plain pocket knife (blade of at most 9 cm, a single cutting edge, no guard) escapes the restrictions. Beware, though: any object, even a kitchen knife, becomes an illegal weapon the moment the circumstances show you carry it to threaten or injure. The myth: "a blade under 7 cm is always allowed" — false; that threshold belongs to the old law, and carrying a knife without a legitimate reason can cost you a seizure and prosecution.
📋 The rules
- The 2022 law, not the 1983 one: the weapons regime is now set by the law of 2 February 2022 and its Grand-Ducal regulation of 28 February 2024; the old law of 15 March 1983, still quoted everywhere, is repealed.
- Prohibited bladed weapons: switchblades and spring-loaded knives, butterfly knives, throwing knives, knuckledusters, nunchaku, throwing stars and concealed blades are banned — no carry authorisation can be issued.
- Pocket knife tolerated: a knife without a guard, with a single cutting edge, whose blade does not exceed 9 cm and is at least 20% of its length in width, escapes the restrictions.
- Intent criminalises the object: a kitchen knife, a box-cutter or any object becomes an illegal weapon if the circumstances show it is carried to threaten or injure others.
- Weapons subject to authorisation: sabres, swords, bayonets, daggers and stylets are not carried freely; their transport is tolerated only on the direct route to training, a club or a gunsmith.
🔓 Exceptions
- A compliant pocket knife: blade of at most 9 cm, single edge, no guard and no locking mechanism — a penknife or multi-tool of this kind stays legal even if it opens one-handed.
- Legitimate and work-related reason: carrying a knife for cooking, work, fishing, hunting or gardening is accepted as long as the use is justifiable and the context is not threatening.
- Martial arts and sport: members of a club affiliated to an approved federation may hold and transport the blades of their discipline to training or competition, without ministerial authorisation.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Carrying a prohibited bladed weapon is not a mere nuisance: it is an offence under the law of 2 February 2022. Holding or carrying a prohibited weapon can be punished, in the most serious cases, by 3 to 8 years in prison and a fine of EUR 25,001 to 500,000, either penalty being applicable on its own. In practice, most convictions end in fines — there were 41 convictions in 2023 and 75 in 2024, of which around twenty were prison sentences. In every case the knife is seized and confiscated, and the conviction is entered on the criminal record, which weighs on employment, permits and travel. If the knife was used to threaten, the charge escalates towards threats or assault, with far heavier penalties and civil liability for any harm caused.
📎 Official sources
- Grand-Ducal Police · bladed weapons (legislation page) →
- Legilux · law of 2 February 2022 on weapons and ammunition (official journal) →
- Ministry of Justice · Weapons Service / prohibited weapons →
❓ Frequently asked
Is a pocket knife or a multi-tool allowed?
Yes, a genuine pocket knife escapes the restrictions: a blade of at most 9 cm, a single cutting edge, no guard and no automatic locking mechanism. A multi-tool fitted with such a blade stays legal, but as soon as the knife locks with a spring mechanism it moves into the category of prohibited weapons.
Does the 7-centimetre limit still exist?
No, that threshold came from the old 1983 law and is no longer the criterion since the law of 2 February 2022. Today it is first of all the mechanism and shape of the knife that decide whether it is prohibited: a short switchblade is illegal, while a 9 cm pocket knife is not.
Can I carry a kitchen or work knife?
Carrying a knife for a legitimate reason — cooking, DIY, fishing or work — is not banned in itself, provided you can justify it. But the same knife becomes an illegal weapon if the circumstances show that you are carrying it to threaten or injure someone.
What is the risk of carrying a prohibited bladed weapon?
Carrying a prohibited bladed weapon is a criminal offence that can lead to a fine, the seizure of the object and, in the most serious cases, a prison sentence. The knife is confiscated and the conviction is entered on the criminal record, with consequences for employment and travel.
Is a collector's butterfly knife allowed?
No, butterfly knives and switchblades are among the prohibited weapons, whether for carrying, holding or collecting. No authorisation can be issued for these models, unlike certain bladed weapons such as sabres, which fall under an authorisation regime.
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