It is regularly discussed in "Forum knife" threads and still an unsolved question for me:
- Should a "Euro knife" be so that the largest amount of Europeans possible (and of course folks living under silly knife laws elsewhere) can actually carry it LEGALLY (so non looking and rather small)?
- ... or should it be a model most folks just enjoy the most and find the coolest, regardless if a LEGAL carry is possible...?
I can just say from my own experience:
- In Austria, where I live, I can carry legally whatever I want. And I do so openly and both proudly and humbly-gratefully - most times a locking, Endura sized Spydie for EDC.
- But I cross the border to Germany quite frequently (just a few miles north of where I live), and they have crazy laws (you can't carry a folder there that is both locking and can be opened one handed... so not even a DFly is allowed .. ).
Do I bother then with switching out the knife in my pocket?
Honestly: No.
Perhaps in very crowded places I'll not use the clip and hide the knife loosely deeper in the pocket, but that's all and I never, ever ran into any troubles.
I think if I was German and not Austrian, for a cool exklusive (or forum knife) I personally would still prefer a model I really like over one that is completely legal but otherwise not really for me.
If I could have both though: Perfect of course.
And yes, the UKPK looks like a pretty cool AND legal-in-many-places option.