Why you can’t give knives and how to get around the ban

Why is it considered illegal to give knives?

It's all the fault of superstition, which exists not only in Russia, but also in many other countries of the world. A common belief across cultures is that a knife can "cut" the relationship between the one who gives the gift and the one who receives it.

If a sharp object is given as a wedding present, it can magically destroy the love of a young couple in the same magical way.

Superstition also offers a way out of the situation: the gifted person must pay a nominal fee for the knife. This turns the gift into a purchase and eliminates all negative consequences.

How to give a knife so that everything is fine

If you are going to give a gift superstitious give a coin to a person along with a knife and ask him to return it, explaining the essence of such a ritual.

As for the gift itself, before buying, make sure that it does not turn out to be a melee weapon. First of all, check if the seller has a certificate confirming that the knife is household or souvenir. If there is, feel free to buy it. There will be no problems with such a product, even if it looks intimidating and well sharpened.

But if you order a handmade gift from a private master, there is a risk of getting a copy that falls under the definition of edged weapons. Wearing this without a license threatens a fine of 500 to 2,000 rubles and confiscation of the item.

According to GOSTs, edged weapons considered knives with the following parameters:

• blade length - more than 9 cm;
• butt thickness (blunt side of the blade) - 2.5–6 mm;
• the hardness of the steel from which the blade is made is from 42 HRC;
• recess depth on the handle for a comfortable grip - from 4 mm;
• only one notch on the handle or finger stop with a depth of 5 mm or more;
• sharpened blade.

But even a knife that meets all these criteria may not fall into the category edged weapons, if it has a rounded point, a blade with a bend that makes it difficult to stab, and also does not have a notch and a finger stop on the butt.

If the master does not have certificates for his products, and it seems to you that the knife fits the definition of edged weapons, check this point with him before buying.