You should contact your local police department to check if a knife or gun is illegal. We hope our guide to knife laws in the UK has helped you get the most out of your knives. Looking for more information about our knives? Contact our team of experts on 033 0300 0400. It is illegal to possess a knife or prohibited weapon. It`s also illegal: it`s a misconception to say we can wear for no reason. If a search is conducted and a legal carrying knife is found, we must always be able to tell why we are in public with a knife if the officer suspects that we are carrying it for illegal purposes. We have yet to be able to defend ourselves against the accusation that we are carrying the knife for illegal purposes. Even if it falls under the law, it can still be used as grounds for arrest if the officer believes we are trying to exploit a loophole. In general, it depends on the context. A middle-aged man taking his children to the park, legally seen by police with a Swiss Army knife, would probably not be blamed for anything. But a person wanted for another crime (perhaps drug use, etc.) would most likely be forced to explain a good reason to carry a British knife. Especially something like a Spyderco UKPK (one-handed open, single-use, etc.). Two extremes, but I think that expresses my point of view.
They all miss the point of British laws, you don`t have to carry weapons (knives) – because the likelihood of being attacked by someone is low here. The police here will rightly hold you responsible if you wear one to do more than peel an orange. That is why even the majority of our police officers still do not carry more than a “stick”, I know we still have murders, etc. – nothing like elsewhere, where there are less strict rules for firearms for “defense”, common sense and respect are the best weapon. Remember: ignorance of the law is not a defense – it`s up to you to learn and understand what your legal responsibilities are. Sorry, that was a predictive spelling mistake. The long knife must be a bolt knife Also remember that using a knife (legal or illegal) in a threatening manner is also illegal. So using your (legal) Swiss Army knife in a threatening way is still illegal. It is illegal to bring into the UK, sell, rent, lend or give to anyone any of the following: One look at the evening news and you will see that knife crime has continued unabated and the only people who have been harassed by these laws are the country people, Outdoor sports enthusiasts and probably anyone who wants to grab steak knives on the barbecue! As a former police officer myself (retired – woo, hoo!), even I am confused by the legislation. Sometimes it can be a matter of opinion of the judge or magistrate and you are at their mercy.
This worries me because I am not an outdoor instructor and bushcraft instructor and a conviction for carrying an assault weapon would make me unemployable in my field. The place where I work is good because it is a private land that worries me when I go wild camping because everything is open to interpretation. I tend to play it safe and take a small puuko most of the time, known as Grandpa`s knife. It only has a 2.5″ blade and looks almost ornamental. I only pick up my larger Bushcraft knife (4.5-inch blade) when I know I`m going to be woodworking. In any case, everything I take with me is buried at the bottom of my bag/bike bag and only goes to my belt when I actually use it in the woods – so even the most zealous new cop has no real reason to look at me negatively. That`s pretty much common sense! UK knife law allows you to carry non-lockable pocket knives with a blade length of up to 3 inches (7.62 cm) for no good reason. UK Knives Act – A Guide to Nature The use of knives and other cutting tools in “The Great Outdoors” is sometimes a controversial topic in the UK. While for some activities there is a close link between the activity or the environment itself and the transport of a blade item as an essential tool, anyone wishing to use a knife, axe or other cutting tool in the UK should spend some time studying the laws of transporting and using knives in England, in Wales and Scotland. In the blog, we discuss some of the basics of UK knife law: What kind of knives is it legal to possess in the UK? Can I carry a knife in a public place? What is a reasonable excuse for carrying a knife in England, Scotland and Wales? The letter of the law When I provide outdoor training for Original Outdoors, I often lead a short session to understand the basics of knife law in the UK. These sessions often start with me holding two objects in my hand – one a Victorinox pocket knife, the other a Gerber multitool.
I ask, “What`s the difference?” The pocket knife has a foldable, non-lockable blade with a cutting edge of less than 7.62 cm (3 inches). The multitool has a shorter blade – but has a locking mechanism that holds the blade in place when opened. This small but legally very important difference is essential to understand what you can wear, where and how. The Criminal Law of 1988 states very clearly (in section 139) that “any person who transports an article to which this section applies in a public place is guilty of an offence”. Further down is the following text: “This section applies to all articles with a blade or sharp edge, except a folding pocket knife” and “applies to a folding pocket knife if the cutting edge of its blade exceeds 3 inches”. So anything with a cutting edge longer than three inches (7.62 cm) is completely illegal in public, right? In fact. No. There are other versions of the above for Northern Ireland, and I urge every reader to check what is legal for their part of the UK. However, none of this makes it clearer for the bushcrafter, hiker, paddler or any other outdoor enthusiast! A court will decide if you have a good reason to carry a knife or a firearm if you are charged with illegal carrying.