No, not without a valid reason. Section 189 of the Penal Code prohibits carrying a knife in a public place, but makes exceptions for work, outdoor activities and other respectable purposes. Norwegian law has no length limit for carrying a knife. It is the purpose that determines.
Worth noting: There is a difference between owning and carrying. A pocket knife is legal to own, but it is not automatically legal to carry in your pocket on the town.
What does the law say about carrying a knife?
Penal Code Section 189 – the main rule
Section 189 of the Norwegian Penal Code prohibits carrying a knife or similar sharp instrument in a public place. The ban applies to all knives, including pocket knives, multi-tools and national costume knives. Violations are punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to 1 year.
The exceptions: work, outdoor activities and worthy purposes
It is legal to carry a knife when it is used for or carried in connection with work, outdoor activities, or another honorable purpose. What matters is whether you have a specific and acceptable reason at that time.
- Work: Carpenters, electricians, fishermen and others who use knives as tools in their work.
- Outdoor activities: hiking, hunting, fishing, campfires and spiking.
- Other worthy purpose: for example, a Bunad knife or a Sami knife for a kofte on May 17th, at weddings and on other holidays.
Self-defense is never a valid reason
Carrying a knife because you feel unsafe is not considered a worthy purpose. It is a criminal offense, even if the knife itself is legal to own.
When can you carry a knife? Situation by situation
The same knife may be legal in one situation and illegal in another. The overview shows how the main rule in Section 189 applies in common situations.
- On a hike, hunting and fishing: Legal. Outdoor activities are one of the exceptions in the law.
- At work: Legal when the knife is a work tool that you actually use.
- On your way to work or on a trip by bus or train: Legal when carrying the knife for travel or work. Pack it in your bag so you don't create unnecessary fear.
- With bunad or cardigan: Legal when the knife is part of the costume on May 17th and other holidays.
- In the car: The law does not have a separate rule for cars. If you have the knife with you because you are going on a trip or to work, the purpose is the same. A knife that is stuck in the car for no specific purpose is more difficult to defend.
- In the city, at a nightclub or at school: You rarely have a worthy purpose here. The knife should stay at home.
- On the plane: Knives with blades longer than 6cm are not allowed in hand luggage. Pack the knife in checked luggage.
Is there a legal knife length?
No, not for carrying a knife. Section 189 of the Penal Code does not mention any length, so a 5cm knife is just as illegal to carry around town as a 15cm knife. The three numbers that many people remember apply to completely different things.
The 7cm rule is Danish
In Denmark, it is permitted to carry a folding knife with a blade no longer than 7cm that cannot be locked in the open position. This rule is not found in Norwegian law, but it keeps coming up in Norwegian discussions about knives.
The 25cm limit applies to ownership, not carrying.
Section 3-6 of the Weapons Regulations prohibits the acquisition or possession of knives with a blade length of 25cm or more, including machetes.The ban does not apply when you have the knife for work, business, outdoor activities, household, sports, cultural activities or another respectable purpose. Knives with blades over 25cm should also not be sold or given to children under 16 years of age, according to Section 7-3 of the Weapons Regulations.
6cm only applies to hand luggage on flights
EU aviation security regulations do not allow knives with blades longer than 6cm in hand luggage. However, security may reject shorter knives, so it is safest to pack all knives in checked luggage.
Which knives are prohibited from being owned in Norway?
Some knives are prohibited from being purchased, owned, imported, or sold, regardless of purpose. They are considered products of violence with no legal use.
The list of prohibited items in the Weapons Regulations § 3-6
- Spring knives
- Batanga knives, also called butterfly knives
- Stilettos
- Throwing stars
The same provision also prohibits, among other things, fighting gloves, batons, electroshock weapons and pepper spray. The list consists of examples. The ban applies to all particularly dangerous objects that lack a legal use and appear to be the product of violence.
Machete and knives from 25cm
Machetes are not on the total ban list. They are covered by the 25cm rule and are legal to own when you have them for a respectable purpose, such as clearing, outdoor recreation or work.
Gray areas: karambit, throwing knife and training knife
Karambits, throwing knives and training knives without blades are not on the banned list. Whether a particular model is considered a product of violence is decided on a case-by-case basis. If you are in doubt about a knife, you can contact the police in your district before buying it or taking it with you.
Pocket knife and multi-tool: legal to own, not free to carry
Pocket knives, multi-tools, pocket knives and Sami knives are common utility knives and are completely legal to own. That doesn't mean you can carry them everywhere. Carrying follows the same rules as for all other knives: If you have the knife with you on a trip or to work, you are in. If it is in your pocket on a regular city trip, you are not.
If you're wondering which type of knife is suitable for what, we'll go through blade shapes and uses in the guide to different knife blades.
What happens if the police find a knife on you?
The police can search you in a public place when there is reason to investigate whether you are carrying a weapon, according to Section 7a of the Police Act. If they find a knife and you do not have a respectable purpose, the knife can be seized and you can be fined. The penalty according to Section 189 of the Penal Code is imprisonment for up to 1 year.
If you own a firearm, separate rules apply. Read more in the article about requirements for safe storage of weapons.
In short: Ask yourself why you have the knife with you right now. If you have a concrete answer related to a trip, job, or tradition, you are usually within the law.
The article provides general information about the regulations and is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions about knives and the law
How big a knife can you carry in Norway?
There is no legal length for carrying a knife in Norway. Section 189 of the Penal Code is about purpose, not length. You can carry a knife in connection with work, outdoor activities or any other respectable purpose.
Is it allowed to carry a pocket knife?
Not without a valid reason.The pocket knife is legal to own, but is subject to the ban on carrying a knife in public. It is legal to carry it on a trip or at work.
Is it allowed to carry a national costume knife?
Yes. A knife as part of a bunad or kofte on May 17th and other holidays is considered a worthy purpose.
Can you have a knife in the car?
There is no separate rule for cars. The main rule applies: If you are carrying a knife in connection with a trip, hunting or work, it is for a respectable purpose.
Is a butterfly knife legal in Norway?
No. Batangas knives, also called butterfly knives, are on the prohibited list in Section 3-6 of the Weapons Regulations and are prohibited from being bought, owned and sold.
Which knives are illegal in Norway?
Jumping knives, batangas, stilettos and throwing stars are prohibited. Knives with blades longer than 25cm, including machetes, are prohibited from being owned without a valid purpose.
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