knives legality

[kernewek]

Am I right in saying a folding knife with a blade of 3" or less is legal to carry in the UK? If you were stopped would you still need to have a valid reason to be carrying it though? Obviously a Swiss Army Knife has a variety of uses but how would you justify something which is purely a folding blade.... or wouldn't you?

[pseudonym]

Here is the Gov Definition:

https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives

Your question revolves around:

It is illegal to carry a knife in public without good reason - unless it’s a knife with a folding blade 3 inches long (7.62 cm) or less, eg a Swiss Army knife

My bold.

HTH

[kernewek]

Basically it seems you wouldn't have to have a reason for carrying it. However, it would still seem good to have one if stopped by a police officer. I wonder what justification you could give?

[tanstaafl]

Am I right in saying a folding knife with a blade of 3" or less is legal to carry in the UK? If you were stopped would you still need to have a valid reason to be carrying it though? Obviously a Swiss Army Knife has a variety of uses but how would you justify something which is purely a folding blade.... or wouldn't you?

A knife that has a "blade" length of 3" or less and is "non locking" may be carried "without " a reason ,except in certain places (courts etc)

It is just the same as carrying a pen or pencil in the eyes of the law (if not plod) so you may give the answer "because I can" tho it goes without saying , never say "for self defence " for anything , even a newspaper as it then becomes an offensive weapon...

A knife with a blade length of over 3" or is a locking knife may also be carried "with reason" and that is where it gets pretty much a grey area.......


A forester in a forest would be quite legal with a machete

You down the pub with leatherman would probably would not be legal "as its a locking blade" unless you had a reason , so.......

the aforementioned forester on his way home stopping for a quick pint at 7.00pm who has a leatherman, would probably ok if he explained his job , but would probably not be if searched drunk as a skunk at midnight.............


personally when I was at work I carried a locker any other time a non locker unless camping hiking etc.


Big long thread about this over on British Blades http://www.britishblades.com/forums/for ... mp-the-Law

[pseudonym]

Basically it seems you wouldn't have to have a reason for carrying it. However, it would still seem good to have one if stopped by a police officer. I wonder what justification you could give?

Depends on where and when you were stopped.

On the way to a footy match - definitely knicked, no matter what knife

On the way back from a walk in the woods- reason to carry

It also depends on your age, dress, Officer's understanding of the law, etc....

I always have a Swiss Army knife on me. I don't fit the profile; don't break the law so therefore don't get stopped.

I was once in a RTI and had to be cut out of my car, told the Officers at the scene of the axe and woodlore knife in the boot with all my camping equipment.

Came out of X-Ray, my kit was all there piled up waiting for me, no questions asked.

[kernewek]

Any recommendations for decent quality legal to carry 3" blade folding knives? Always assumed in an urban environment I couldn't get away with more than my Swiss Army.

[tanstaafl]

Basically it seems you wouldn't have to have a reason for carrying it. However, it would still seem good to have one if stopped by a police officer. I wonder what justification you could give?

Depends on where and when you were stopped.

On the way to a footy match - definitely knicked, no matter what knife

On the way back from a walk in the woods- reason to carry

It also depends on your age, dress, Officer's understanding of the law, etc....

I always have a Swiss Army knife on me. I don't fit the profile; don't break the law so therefore don't get stopped.

I was once in a RTI and had to be cut out of my car, told the Officers at the scene of the axe and woodlore knife in the boot with all my camping equipment.

Came out of X-Ray, my kit was all there piled up waiting for me, no questions asked.

Spot on

[Yorkshire Andy]

Any recommendations for decent quality legal to carry 3" blade folding knives? Always assumed in an urban environment I couldn't get away with more than my Swiss Army.

Depends what your after doing with it and personal preference

I like a few the svord peasent mini/ spideeco bug / Swiss army camping or a leather man none locking variant

[tanstaafl]

Any recommendations for decent quality legal to carry 3" blade folding knives? Always assumed in an urban environment I couldn't get away with more than my Swiss Army.

number 7 from left crkt Edgie self sharpening knife £11.95 http://www.heinnie.com/crkt-edgie-self- ... -now-12-95

Number 8 British Army Knife (Belgium to be exact but the same) £5 thread on here last week





Lansky world legal knife , legal but a monster,Keep mine in the car for seatbelt/window breaking duties

[tanstaafl]

Any recommendations for decent quality legal to carry 3" blade folding knives? Always assumed in an urban environment I couldn't get away with more than my Swiss Army.

Depends what your after doing with it and personal preference

I like a few the svord peasent mini/ spideeco bug / Swiss army camping or a leather man none locking variant

Andy, I don't hold with the logic meself but it has been argued by some on my knife forums that the Svord could be construed as a fixed blade with a rotating sheath..............