@Joe: Yes, it´s a pity! After the recent amok runs the voters demanded a more restrictive weapons law. As if Germany already hasn´t one of the most restrictive ones!

So, what do you do if already virtually no one is allowed to own a gun? Yes, you turn over to knives.

Meanwhile it is illegal to carry single hand opened knives or automatic knives. Fixed knives with a blade length of over 12 centimeters are also prohibited. You may carry all these knives in a closed "container" which can be anything from a suitcase to a rucksack.

You may as well carry these knives if you have a "qualified reason" to do so.

This law is valid throughout all the states of Germany with no exceptions.
What you still CAN do is buy those knives in Germany or import them from other european countries. I am not sure what would happen if I would import a switchblade from the US for instance.

The customs might confiscate it.
