Rules on knifes?

BigglesPiP

BigglesPiP

BigglesPiP

Soldato
Joined
8 Mar 2006
Posts
13,300
Location
Near Winchester
Rules on knives?

What are the rules about carrying a knife?

I have a leatherman type tool in my locked toolbox, which is sometimes in the car. Sometimes it's in my pocket, but only when walking around an area where I'm using it.

Am I going to jail?
 
Last edited:
Lysander said:
Under the Offensive Weapons Act, if you carry a knife, you have an intent to use it. It's illegal.

As for the 'Leatherman tool'... they'd probably take a dim view of it.
Click to expand...

I believe you're allowed a knife with up to a three inch blade as long as it folds and doesn't lock in place, such as a Swiss Army knife or the leatherman he has.
 
Mark A said:
If the blade locks then its illegal to carry.
Click to expand...

How do I know if the blade locks?

If I stop keeping it in my pocket on sites where I'm using it and leave it in my locked toolbox more, is that still illegal?

What if I cover the blade tool with electrical tape?
 
As long as your use it in your job I think your safe as you can justify having it on your person.

Unless you get some idiot police officer with no common sense.
 
the police can be a bit funny if they catch you with the knife, as long as you dont keep it in the "publics view " you should be ok.however i think the law has changed i was listening to the radio the other day and they said that you could face upto 5 years for carrying an offensive weapon
 
tbh this is where the law becomes a bit of a mess. Presumably I could be prosecuted for taking home my cooks knife that I have just bought from argos? What about an angler whos going fishing or a scout going camping with a 6" blade. I myself used to use a stanley type blade at work and used to carry it home so it didnt get nicked from work.
 
Edinho said:
tbh this is where the law becomes a bit of a mess. Presumably I could be prosecuted for taking home my cooks knife that I have just bought from argos? What about an angler whos going fishing or a scout going camping with a 6" blade. I myself used to use a stanley type blade at work and used to carry it home so it didnt get nicked from work.
Click to expand...

it's at the polices discretion if you have a tool or a argos knife + receipt in the back seat when they pull you over for speeding you're going to be ok, if they pull you over for having a stolen car and you have a knife in your pocket you're screwed.
 
If you have a reasonable use for a bladed weapon, then you are allowed to carry it around in public, as long as you dont cause distress, like wave it around, and as long as you are transporting it to/from the place you intend to use it. For example, you can carry a katana with a live blade in public as long as its is in its scabbard, and in some sort of a bag, and you are going too/from iaido, or similar martial arts practice.
 
Mark A said:
If the blade locks then its illegal to carry.
Click to expand...

oh dear ,I carry a small 2 inch lockable penknife on my keyring ,comes in pretty handy ,like for trying to get vac packed packaging of something you just bought which is impossible to get of otherwise !
My dad always has a similar one on him too !
The only time I leave it at home is on a night out on the town .
 
Isn't it knives?

I used to work in an off-license when I was relatively young (19). The only knife we had in the place for opening boxes etc was a great big kitchen knife we stole off the butcher part. I used to wander around with that all the time, scared the crap out of a lot of customers :D
 
If you're clearly using it for work whether it be a lock knife or not I don't see the problem. If you're walking down the street with it concealed on you then yes you could get harassed unless you can obviously prove it. A leatherman is probably fairly easy to get away with. When I used to work on yachts I carried a lock-knife with me a lot, but usually around a harbour/docks (and not in the UK) but I'm sure that a bit of discretion or sensible investigation would have let me carry on about my day.

There's a clear different carrying a knife when you're not dressed for work or obviously performing a role involving labour which requires a knife to one that is being carried for the sake of it. It's just common sense.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom