The law and the go bag

[ForgeCorvus]

Holomon - you're at where I want to be buddy.

That's a good point though, if any locking knife is illegal then does that mean my Gerber Suspension multi-tool is a no go as well? It has a locking blade and a locking serrated saw type blade. :/

Might have to buy one of those wire saws - will the £1.97 cheapy one do on ebay?

Think I'll have to rethink the whole thing actually. Got some good ideas from here already though, thanks you's!

Not Illegal (unlike gravity-knives, concealed knives or switchblades), just illegal to carry without Good Reason. Going camping, weedwacking at Dad's place or (as in my case) for work are all Good Reason. "Because I want to" or "For protection" are not (and the second one will get you nicked as a matter of course)

Saws are not knives, however sharp pointed items are

Laws seem to be written by people who do not think things through.

[Holomon]

Probably easier just to link straight to the Gov.uk guidance note;

https://www.gov.uk/find-out-if-i-can-bu ... ry-a-knife

"With lock knives, unlike ‘reasonable excuse’ in the Prevention Of Crimes Act 1953, you have to show ‘good reason’ (section 139 of the 1988 act), which has a much tighter interpretation...You could say that you use it in your work, but even this explanation will not vindicate you – after arrest it will be a matter for the courts to decide. Finally, there is no way you will convince a court that your lock knife is a religious instrument or part of your national costume." - Taken from the Law Society Gazette (http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/analysis/la ... 53.article)

[dangerman]

I'm confused then - they're not on the banned list, so it's clearly ok to buy them and use them in certain circumstances. But but then it says "Lock knives (knives with blades that can be locked when unfolded) are not folding knives, and are illegal to carry in public."

So, I'm allowed to own it, but it implies that under no circumstances, even with a good excuse, am I allowed to have it in public. What's the point of having it then?

You're right ForgeCorvus - they seem to be making laws that make no sense. But I bet there isn't a judge in the land that wouldn't throw the book at anyone breaking them.

Thanks for the heads up on the saw Holomon - I'll try and find one. Are those foldable 10" efforts ok to carry? I've got one of them with my main equipment. Might just swap my stuff out.

[Hamradioop]

Dangerman, it is fairly simple carry a lock knife and you will probably be arrested if searched by the plod. You will then be tried by a court, who will decide if you had good reason to carry it. An expensive way to prove a point. You can blame the labour party for the state of the law, and I cant see it being sorted out for a long time. just get a good legal folder.

[ForgeCorvus]

I found This on British Blades, somebody has spent a lot of time wading through the mess that is the CJA.

Who, What, Where, When and Why are important in deciding 'Good Reason'.... After all magistrates are just average people.

[Holomon]

Thanks for the heads up on the saw Holomon - I'll try and find one. Are those foldable 10" efforts ok to carry? I've got one of them with my main equipment. Might just swap my stuff out.

They're ok mate, it's only the size and weight that's a factor. If you're fine with those and don't need to cut down weight, stick with it

[rik_uk3]

Right, so I'm sure this has come up before, but I have a concern about the practice of carrying my 'go-bag' with me places.

As you'd imagine, everything is in there that I could ever imagine coming in handy (it's continually growing) and this includes some fairly dangerous and anti-social kit.

I've got a bit of a fettish with Bear Grylls Gerber stuff at the moment - I've got the Ultimate knife, Compact Parang, Gerber Suspension multi-tool and of course, the little keyring multi-tool. I've also got a whole host of fire making toys in there. I've got food and water, clothes, radio, solar charger, emergency shelter and blankets etc.

I keep it in the boot of my car - sometimes I go away for a day or two to visit my dad in Somerset on the back seat of the motorcycle.

My worry is that the law says that I'm permitted to have this stuff if there is a good reason. However, it is down to the plods digression what 'good reason' is. If they arrest me for any reason, that would mean incurring costs for vehicle towing and storage, yes? Plus, I'd have to go to court.

Am I being paranoid or is this a realistic fear? I'm preparing for a career that requires me to be an upstanding citizen - if I were to be arrested I reckon it could ruin my career. Hence why I'm trying to research it to see where I stand.

I'm off to Somerset tonight - I think I'll be leaving my knife and parang behind. But I wish I didn't have to. They're really cool bits of kit and I like using them when chopping wood and scouting with my lad. I think that's a good enough reason.

Why do you feel the need to carry all this kit with you? Are you new to prepping? Apart from a nuclear strike or a dirty bomb being set off all of a sudden there will be plenty of time to grab your bag...massive social events that would need you to carry it daily just don't happen in an instant.

Cash
Debit/credit card
button torch
SAK

Will be fine for the vast majority of the time, carry more and IMHO your just wearing the often percieved 'prepper uniform', no offence meant chap.

[dangerman]

To be honest, I carry it because it makes me feel a bit reassured.

I had a night in Dublin once but I didn't plan my 24hr visit very well, I froze on the street all night after I spent all my money on a bus ticket and beer. Also, I got snowed in at my uncles house in South Wales once. I also got stuck in Warrington once when the roads were too slippy to drive my Dispatch van on. Also, I was living in Toxteth a few years ago when the riots started. I had to make a sharp exit to stay at my brothers house, and then onto my sisters.

Should I have had my go bag/EDC on any or all of these occasions I'd have been much better off.

I've set it up so that there is a bag within a bag - if I need to go anywhere on foot I can remove the inner bag in the car/house containing the not so likely needed items and then it frees up the weight.

[dangerman]

No offence taken, btw. I'm grateful for constructive criticism.

[dangerman]

Oh, also, being a very financially challenged but persistent biker I've found myself stranded at the side of the road on a fair few occasions. Cold, wet, hungry.

With my bag of goodies I'd be fine. Could probably just make a little home for myself at the side of the road. Make a fire, pitch a shelter, wrap up and cook some pigeon or rabbit.

Win!