So off to Japan for a month and it appears that my EDC is going to suffer as Japanese law prohibits people carrying any sort of edged tool unless they need it for their work. Kinda sucks for a country known around the world for crafting sharp blades.
Apparently any sort of run-in with law enforcement pretty much guarantees a bad time if you have so much as a Swiss Army knife with you. Keeping in your hotel is fine, but walking around with it is not.
Makes me a bit (lot) sad. I’ve EDCed a small Kershaw or Benchy with me for the better part of the last 5 years or so.
Backup plan is going to be a flashlight or two. Those aren’t prohibited. Probably a Hank light and a tiny rechargeable I can keep in my pocket.
They make swiss army “knives” that don’t have a blade. Some are even allowed on a plane.
Gonna pick up a cheap Swiss tool with no blade and see if it’s ok. According to everything I’ve read it’s small enough and non bladed so should be fine. And if they decide to confiscate it not a big loss for me or a big windfall for them.
A screwdriver and pliers should be enough for minor repairs and I suppose I can use it to coax a package open if necessary.
Rank and file TSA doesn’t really know what’s up but there are options. If I traveled more I’d get a victorinox Jetsetter. And when I say they don’t know what’s up they might take stuff that’s fine or not really know many of the rules.
I have a Kershaw bottle opener pry tool thing that hasn’t been confiscated yet. People had to ask their boss about it and then look a bit flustered they didn’t need to take it. The main reason I have it so I’m not tempted to fuck up a knife prying on something.
It’s pricy, but have you considered a Big Idea Design Pocket Tool? There is a flat head screwdriver side that is not sharp at all, but can still work as a pry bar or a scraper in a pinch. If you are ok with it, it also comes with a dull insert that is good enough to open packages. The other side is kind of a camp fork that looks a lot less aggressive. Otherwise, just leave the insert at home. You’ll still have a flat head screwdriver and a wrench at least. It’s designed to take any old notched utility knife blade.
I started carrying mines regularly in places I can’t carry around a pocket knife or a multitool with a blade.
I’m investigating a scraper replacement for my leather man for times where an edged blade is not possible.
I’ve seen replacement blade blanks that look like they would work well.
I wonder where things like prybars fit into that. At work, knives are discouraged, so I carry a LNW prybar. If I’m being honest it’s probably more functional than a knife for the things I do day to day like cutting tape to open a box, or popping tabs or as a flathead to open something. You know, things you really shouldn’t be doing with a knife anyways.
Ya, good question, the “sharper” tip on the end isn’t quite a knife edge, so it would probably be up to the discretion of the law enforcement official to see if they want to make a big deal about it or not. I suspect that if you’re mature, and not acting like a problem, there wouldn’t be a problem, however the Japanese are notorious sticklers for “following the rules” (usually a good thing), so I’m not sure I’d want to risk my entire vacation because of it.