Scandal: Calvados bans knives – must be handed in by December!

Scandal: Calvados bans knives – must be handed in by December!

In recent weeks, an important change in gun legislation has been announced in Normandy. On September 5, 2025, the French Interior Ministry drastically tightened the rules on carrying weapons. This particularly applies to bladed weapons, which are now subject to strict regulations. The Prefecture of Calvados only informed on October 23, 2025 of the new regulations adopted in response to the alarming increase in violence among minors, and many citizens are now required to hand over their knives and other weapons.

The new regulations cover various bladed weapons that are now banned. These include, among others, so-called “zombie” knives, large knives over 40 cm, double or serrated blades and certain models of brass knuckles that are either historical or combined with other weapons. The owners of these weapons must act by December 7, 2025 and hand in their weapons to the police or gendarmerie to avoid severe penalties.

Reactions to the new regulations

The prefecture has clearly communicated that violations of the new regulatory requirements could have serious consequences. After the deadline, owners of banned weapons face up to 5 years in prison and fines of 75,000 euros. Similar regulations also apply to dealers: They must also hand over their stocks by December 7th and are no longer allowed to manufacture or sell the corresponding bladed weapons after this date. Anyone who does not adhere to the new regulations risks up to 7 years in prison and a fine of up to 100,000 euros.

In addition to the new tax regulations, the list of dangerous bladed weapons has long since been revised. From now on, butterfly knives, automatically opening folding knives and ninja stars are also banned weapons. This means that France is increasingly moving away from a more liberal attitude towards certain bladed weapons.

Authorizations for traders and dealing with minors

Another important point concerns dealers in bladed weapons. They must obtain prefectural approval by March 7, 2026 if they want to sell certain bladed weapons, such as daggers and batons. This obligation applies not only to armor, but also to stores that carry unclassified bladed weapons. The sale of these weapons to minors remains strictly prohibited and dealers must ensure that they take the necessary measures to monitor the responsible distribution of their products.

In summary, the new regulations show that the French authorities are committed to improving public safety and curbing violence among young people. The measures are based on a report that was already handed over to the Prime Minister on May 28, 2025. For many citizens, this is now a call to action: there is not much time left until mid-December to adapt to the new regulations and avoid possible penalties.

For the well-being of our young people and the general safety of our society, these regulations are a necessary step to counter the “worrying increase in violence among minors,” as noted by French government officials.