[J.W. Owen]

Hello,
I'm from Australia, but I'm currently in Alaska. My problem is that I'm moving to Hannover, Germany in one month. Now, I own one sword (of horrid quality) and I was planning on buying another (a mortuary) but now I'm holding back as I'm unsure if I could get them into Germany. So my question is if there is anyone familiar with German weapon laws who could clarify for me whether I could get them in, would s/he please respond?

Thanks

[Adam Simmonds]

hi there,

I once turned up at Frankfurt airport with a walloon hilt in my backpack. The security guards gathered around the xray machine seemed interested in my bag -they were trying to figure out what it could be. When I told them it was a sword, they became very interested and asked me if i did martial arts. As I was flying out of Frankfurt, they helped me to repackage it in a more appropriate manner, insuring me that it would be safer and that they would put it amongst the fragile items. The german security officers were very respectful, almost reverential towards the old sword. Could be that i just lucked out with some rather enlightened young officers, i don't know. There was no mention of any legalities involved.

good luck, adam s

[J.W. Owen]

Thanks Adam, that's encouraging. Last time I flew through Copenhagen but I'll look into Frankfurt this time.

[Michael Edelson]

A word of caution...

People will tell you all sorts of things, most of them assumptions. I recently asked about bringing swords into the UK and got all kinds of answers, some of them from well meaning people full of caution and warning, basically telling me I could lose my sword or maybe get into trouble. Most of the advice I got revolved around having some proof of why I needed a sword...club ID, etc. Some residents assured me I would be fine.

When I declared my sword to UK customs upon entering the country, they asked "Is it one of those great big things?" I said yes, and they said it was okay. No club ID or other proof of why I need a perfectly legal item was necessary.

I know Germany is not the UK, but the point is that different people will tell you different things. Only listen to those that have actually done it, or just call German customs and ask them.

[Max von Bargen]

[Ralph Rudolph]

Hello J.W.

I am from Germany and can give you the legal situation here. I had a look into German Weaponry Law when I ordered my Albion swords, knowing they have to pass customs on entry and fearing they might be held back
Here you are free to own swords and some other edged weapons, which have not to be registered with the authorities (firearms are, like special knife-forms where the blade is hidden, so that it cannot be recognised that you are holding a weapon). Albeit, you are not allowed to wear swords in public, especially in crowds of people. There, again, are exceptions for dedicated events like re-enactments or the ever more popular medieval-feasts within our old castles, when those are registered with the local authorities (i.e. precautions are evident to avoid harm to spectators).

So, you might not experience problems importing your sword into Germany. However (there is always a however) I do not know how law enforcers behave at airports, where there is special attention and high nervousness about terrorist danger. You even have to leave pincers and scissors behind when entering an aircraft. If you can, it would be best to send your sword separate with your other belongings when moving to Hannover, there should be no problem in that.

Good luck,
Ralph

[Michael Edelson]

[J.W. Owen]

Thankyou all very much, and sorry the thanks took so long. I've been having firewall issues