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rayitodeluna

Nov 6, 2011, 12:51 AM

Post #1 of 5 (735 views)

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Laws and attitudes on knives (pocket and up to 7 inches)

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Just wanting to get a feel for not only the actual laws in Mexico regarding knives, but how the general public ( and officers of the law) feels about carrying knives.

Specifically, anything from a small pocket knife (3 inch blade or so) to a knife like a Marine KaBar like so
http://www.amazon.com/...raight/dp/B001H53Q6M

The Kabar has a 7 inch blade.

To clarify : i DO NOT plan on stabbing anyone with these. I have used knives for day to day tasks my entire life. Thats what you get when raised in a household of Boyscouts and a Dad who grew up on a farm. ;). I cut apples, open things, shave my face with it ( just kidding!! Im too girly for facial hair lol). I already own these knives, some are mine and some were my Dad's who we lost this past year ( on sept 16th no less!!) . Some have sentimental value. I intend to carry them as a TOOL not a weapon. I was taught never to pull a weapon on someone unless you are SURE they cant take it from you.

Question boils down to: is there a limit on knife length in Mexico for an American on the 6 month visa ( and then a longer term one)? will people freak out if I whip one out to cut a mango?

Thank you in adnvance for any response. If it matters, we are headed for D.F.

~~~~~~ Enjoying the big city life in D.F. with our family of Americans and chilangos.
Family and expat blog here : http://threecurlygirlys.blogspot.mx/ ~~~~~~

YucaLandia

Nov 6, 2011, 7:03 AM

Post #2 of 5 (706 views)

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Re: [rayitodeluna] Laws and attitudes on knives (pocket and up to 7 inches)

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US State Department advises:
Knives
"It is best not to carry even a pocketknife into Mexico as this can result in a weapons charge if a knife is found on a traveler who is arrested for a separate offense. "This question came about 5 years ago on a different board, and my memory is that Mexican law prohibits having any knife with a blade longer than 4 inches, but there were exceptions for obvious utility knives that are tools like kitchen knives and butchering knives, coas, machetes. The conclusion was that that pretty "show" knives and things like the KBar etc would be considered as a weapon and liable to cause the person trouble.
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Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.wordpress.com/

rayitodeluna

Nov 6, 2011, 7:39 AM

Post #3 of 5 (698 views)

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Re: [YucaLandia] Laws and attitudes on knives (pocket and up to 7 inches)

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In Reply To

Oh man, that stinks. I will definately leave them in the states then, thank you for your respo se and clarification on what length is ok.

I have smaller, non showy ones, will just pack on of those instead.

Thanks again

~~~~~~ Enjoying the big city life in D.F. with our family of Americans and chilangos.
Family and expat blog here : http://threecurlygirlys.blogspot.mx/ ~~~~~~

TxMex

Nov 7, 2011, 6:39 AM

Post #4 of 5 (586 views)

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Re: [rayitodeluna] Laws and attitudes on knives (pocket and up to 7 inches)

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That was not my personal experience. We took quite a few knives with us. Used them as gifts and barter items. I'm not sure that a tactical military knife would be appropriate, but we never had any trouble with normal pocket knives. As I recall we had an officer admire a hand made skinning knife that was in the door pocket of the truck. Heck, where we lived half the men were walking around with machetes on their hip.

Like many many things in Mexico. It depends on who you are dealing with as to how rules/laws/attitudes will be handled.

Sculptari

Nov 7, 2011, 6:47 AM

Post #5 of 5 (584 views)

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Re: [rayitodeluna] Laws and attitudes on knives (pocket and up to 7 inches)

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I think you are over reacting about the knives - the big issue for U.S. law enforcement is concealment, in Mexico there is the additional factor of self enrichment though. As far as U.S. State Department - they are notoriously prissy, and very often wrong. What would the State Department have to say about recently cancelled protest marches in Atlanta - one reason - they had a news video of a young, shaved head white man, walking down a crowded Atlanta street, with a LEGALLY REGISTERED AK47 assault rifle slung over his shoulder!

Ask Don Pedro of these forums. He has been known to publicly carry a large knife in it's sheaf. He also rides his bike without a helmet. He seems to get along O.K., once the local cops get to know him and his story.

Good luck on your move to Mexico - your timing is perfect. I can't think of any better place to raise a young family!