Carrying Knives Safely

Simply put, it's important to remember that kitchen knives can be very dangerous.

It's crucial to take extra care when storing them to avoid accidentally cutting yourself or others as the blades and tips of Japanese knives are very sharp. Additionally, at least in Japan carrying it around incorrectly or for the wrong purpose can be in violation of certain laws and regulations. For other countries, always be sure to look up the appropriate laws around carrying knives to avoid accidentally getting in trouble. That said, here's some tips to make sure you're carrying your knives safely.

Be careful not to injure yourself

When you're carrying your knife you're effectively right next to it. This does mean injuring yourself is a very potential risk. Exercise caution carrying it, and especially when unsheathing or taking it out of what you're storing it in. Also be careful when opening your knife roll or case, as knives may have moved during transportation.

Be aware of the laws around carrying knives where you are

While we've mentioned it already, make sure you're up to date with carrying laws where you are with kitchen knives. You don't want to accidentally end up in trouble with law enforcement - or have your knives potentially confiscated!

Protect the knife from chipping

Just like how you need to be safe from the knife, the knife itself also needs to be safe from injury in a sense - chipping is a major concern when carrying. An unexpected impact on brittle steel could cause chips or other scratches and damage your knife.

Put your blade in a saya and cover it.

This method is the simplest and safest way to carry knives.

A saya is a sheathe for Japanese knives. You can often find wooden and leather ones, but either way make sure to choose one that is sturdy to protect from impact damage, or from the knife piercing the cover. We carry saya online, but as wooden ones are done by hand and can vary we only sell those at the same time as knives. Below are some samples of leather saya that we sell:

Store in a special knife case or roll

Dedicated knife cases are a great solution for carrying and transporting multiple knives. This is often employed by chefs who own a variety of knives and want to carry them easily.

Owning several knives can pose storage challenges in the workplace, and the use of cases provides the added benefit of organized storage within the case.

This is a great solution for taking knives to and from work. See our recommendations at the bottom of this blog.

Make your own special knife case or carrying system

Surprisingly, many people use this approach, and some even craft their own cases using newspapers or cardboard.

This method is particularly useful for those who don't regularly carry knives or need a makeshift case for transporting knives as a one-off, especially in situations like taking your knife to a repair shop. We use this a lot when it comes to moving knives around the store that need sharpening. Sometimes a simple method like this is best, but please be careful or risk of injury.

As knives are considered edged tools, anyone intending to carry them should be aware of the equivalent Sword and Firearms Control Laws in your area, or the area you're taking your knives to (such as bringing them to Japan for repair.)

Carrying knives without understanding the relevant regulations may accidentally lead to legal violations and you getting in trouble. It's important to be informed to avoid any unintentional breaches of the law to avoid your knives being confiscated. Here's an example of the Sword and Firearms Control Law in Japan. Please consult the official Japanese law websites for official verbiage, as this is simply a translation and may have errors as a result.

The Sword and Firearms Control Law states that, except for those with legitimate reasons or engaged in official duties, individuals are prohibited from carrying blades with a blade length exceeding six centimeters, as specified by Cabinet Order. However, this restriction does not apply to scissors with a blade length not exceeding eight centimeters, folding knives, or other types of knives with specific shapes or characteristics as determined by Cabinet Order.

Source: Firearms and Swords Possession Control Law - Japan

In summary, in Japan it's prohibited to carry a knife larger than 6cm without a valid reason. That reason could be one of the following:

• Taking a knife home after purchasing it
• A cook or chef bringing their knife to or from work to home or an event site
• For using knives when out and about, such as camping or at a barbecue, or transporting your knives to such an event.

It is mandatory in Japan that the knife is being carried for the purpose of using it.

However, even if the purpose is legitimate, depending on how you carry it, it may be illegal.

Therefore, it's also necessary to store the knife in a case or sheath, or to carefully pack it in newspaper or another material when transporting it.

This storage has to be able to prevent instantaneous use of the knife when carrying it around. We recommend making sure your knives are properly seated in a knife roll or case and cannot move so they don't accidentally fall out. This could cause injury, and scare others around you.

Again, make sure to check the relevant laws and regulations in your area. It may seem like we are bringing this up frequently but it is of extreme importance.

While we are knife professionals, we aren't lawyers so consult proper legal advice concerning knife carraige in your area.

Make sure to know the law in your area about carrying kitchen knives! It may be different to other knife laws.