Article: https://tg.la7.it/cronaca/bolzano-coltelli-stampante-3d-a-scuola-denunciato-minore-26-01-2026-251562

Local student arrested for 'manufacturing weapons.' In reality, he printed some PLA shivs that would probably shatter if they hit a piece of parmesan cheese. The police seized the printer like it was a meth lab. 10/10 for the dramatic crime scene photo, though.

(Backstory: a few weeks ago a student in another city/school was stabbed with a (iron) knife and died so now politicians need to show that zero tolerance policies are successful.)

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 76 points 8 months ago (8 children)

This is the really weird thing. If these knives were made of metal and in a kitchen drawer, nobody would think of them as being weapons. But since they are 3d printed, that's novel enough to warrant some panic or something...

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 8 child comments
  • [–] 14 points 8 months ago (6 children)

    Not sure how rules are in Italy, but where I live "switchblades" and other one-hand operated collapsible knives are illegal.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 6 child comments
  • [–] 10 points 8 months ago (5 children)

    Afaik, all single hand operation deployment knives are illegal in Italy. It's somewhat of a nonsensical rule when there are teenagers stabbing themselves with kitchen knives, but still...

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 5 child comments
  • [–] 5 points 8 months ago* (4 children)

    You can make surprisingly sharp objects, I once cut myself with my printed bed-scraper by accident.

    These printed knives can absolutely also be used to hurt/kill someone, if you wanted to...like all type of knives and basic cutlery really...these being an illegal type is the trigger here I believe.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    Let's just hope that the politicians never realize the danger of sharpened sticks or they might ban trees and bushes too.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 9 points 8 months ago

    It's not because they are 3d printed. He was distributing them at school! That is the problem.

    If he were to file down toothbrushes and do the same he would still be arrested and his files confiscated.

  • source
  • parent