Carrying a knife in the UK
Carrying a knife in the UK
A relative will be visiting the UK in April. At home, he habitually carries an Endura for self defence. Would it be legal for him to carry a knife in the UK? If so, are there restrictions eg. are locking folders permitted, is there a maximum blade length, would the rules be the same for residents and visitors?
CGP
Firstly, you are not allowed to carry a knife in the UK for defence purposes at all. If you were checked and said that a knife was for that purpose, no matter how small, you would be in trouble!
That being said, you can carry a 3" slip joint without any problems (not for defence). When it comes to anything with a locking capability or a larger blade, you have to have a reason to carry it. For example if you need it for your work or if it is worn as part of your religion.
You might be better off visiting British Blades and looking at the legal section. Use this link. Danzo will be able to sort you out!
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/index.php
Regards Ken
Do not condemn the judgement of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong.
Edited by - BargainBlades on 3/10/2004 10:17:08 AM
Firstly, you are not allowed to carry a knife in the UK for defence purposes at all. If you were checked and said that a knife was for that purpose, no matter how small, you would be in trouble!
That being said, you can carry a 3" slip joint without any problems (not for defence). When it comes to anything with a locking capability or a larger blade, you have to have a reason to carry it. For example if you need it for your work or if it is worn as part of your religion.
You might be better off visiting British Blades and looking at the legal section. Use this link. Danzo will be able to sort you out!
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/index.php
Regards Ken
Do not condemn the judgement of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong.
Edited by - BargainBlades on 3/10/2004 10:17:08 AM
From what I've heard, the only legal carry in the UK is a sub 3" <B>slip</B>joint.
So only a Spyderco Pride at the moment, or if he's lucky, he can maybe buy himself the brand-new Spyderco UK Penknife while he's there! (if they're availabel then...)
Ted
Edit: this post may look stupid but I had not seen bargainblades post since we posted at the same time...
<A HREF="http://www.ted.tweakdsl.nl/spyderco/spyderco.html" TARGET=_blank><b><FONT SIZE=1>CLICK HERE FOR A LIST WITH ALL SPYDERCO MODELS </b> </FONT></A>
Edited by - Ted on 3/10/2004 10:18:08 AM
So only a Spyderco Pride at the moment, or if he's lucky, he can maybe buy himself the brand-new Spyderco UK Penknife while he's there! (if they're availabel then...)
Ted
Edit: this post may look stupid but I had not seen bargainblades post since we posted at the same time...
<A HREF="http://www.ted.tweakdsl.nl/spyderco/spyderco.html" TARGET=_blank><b><FONT SIZE=1>CLICK HERE FOR A LIST WITH ALL SPYDERCO MODELS </b> </FONT></A>
Edited by - Ted on 3/10/2004 10:18:08 AM
What BargainBlades said. Also you are not allowed to carry anything in the uk if it is intended for self defence, just in case they were thinking of bringing something like a kubotan, stinger etc.
I thought the Canadian knife laws seemed quite reasonable (mind you, with what we're used to <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> ).From what I hear the Aussie knife laws make us brits look positively liberal.
"Better gear than good sense a traveller cannot carry."
Edited by - chux on 3/10/2004 11:00:13 AM
I thought the Canadian knife laws seemed quite reasonable (mind you, with what we're used to <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> ).From what I hear the Aussie knife laws make us brits look positively liberal.
"Better gear than good sense a traveller cannot carry."
Edited by - chux on 3/10/2004 11:00:13 AM
BargainBlades has got it dead right. However, from a practical (rather than purely legal) point of view, just about EVERYONE carries a lock knife. You have to consider how likely you are to come into contact with the law, can you justify why you are carrying it (NOT!!! for self defence), and how agressive the knife looks. Even if it is technically legal, a knife that just looks like a weapon will not go down well, but an inoffensive looking little knife (although technically illegal to carry if the blade locks) will be unlikely to cause any problems. Just be sensible.
Whatever knife you carry (however legal) be careful who sees you with a knife. There are a lot of sheeple and it is not uncommon to come across people who think that no-one is allowed to carry any knife. The smallest one I have managed to get grief for carrying so far is a Navigator. Presumably my Pride would get the same reaction.
"Better gear than good sense a traveller cannot carry."
Edited by - chux on 3/10/2004 11:39:54 AM
"Better gear than good sense a traveller cannot carry."
Edited by - chux on 3/10/2004 11:39:54 AM
Chux: No gravity knives, no automatic knives, and, most ludicrously, no karambits (due to their "brass-knuckle like" retention rings. I **** you not, I've got a karambit being held at the border right now because of said pathetic reason).
And even more stupidly, apparently it's now illegal to carry blades that can lock or be opened one-handed.
And even more stupidly, apparently it's now illegal to carry blades that can lock or be opened one-handed.
Don't want to hijack this thread, but I have a question for our friends in the UK...
Is it true that you ARE allowed to defend *property* but not your life? (not necessarily with a knife).
I seem to recall reading about this a long while back... specifically dealing with a pub owner who dispatched one or two bad guys while they were trying to make off with some of his property. I think he used a shotgun for which he was licensed (hunting, farm pest control, or some such). He was acquitted of charges because he was protecting his livelihood and not his life.
Didn't make sense to me but... I don't quite understand the deal where you can't defend yourself against bodily harm either.
Is that just based on the premise that only your police are qualified to protect you.
Well, didn't want to start anything, am just curious. I've visited your lovely country a couple of times and (ignorantly) carried a large liner lock knife with me at all times.
Is it true that you ARE allowed to defend *property* but not your life? (not necessarily with a knife).
I seem to recall reading about this a long while back... specifically dealing with a pub owner who dispatched one or two bad guys while they were trying to make off with some of his property. I think he used a shotgun for which he was licensed (hunting, farm pest control, or some such). He was acquitted of charges because he was protecting his livelihood and not his life.
Didn't make sense to me but... I don't quite understand the deal where you can't defend yourself against bodily harm either.
Is that just based on the premise that only your police are qualified to protect you.
Well, didn't want to start anything, am just curious. I've visited your lovely country a couple of times and (ignorantly) carried a large liner lock knife with me at all times.
jbake
Without entering the legal mine field too much, I'll try to explain.
You can under any circumstances only use "sufficient force" to protect yourself, when all other options have failed! Even this becomes a gray area when any weapons are involved.
Not long ago a local man returned home from a night out to find a man breaking into his house through his kitchen window. He grappled with him and during the fight the house owner picked up a kitchen knife. The intruder tried to escape through the window and the owner of the house stuck the knife into his leg.
The intruder was later arrested at the local hospital. He brought a prosecution against the home owner for the assault! The DPP are pursuing the case because in their opinion, the fight was over and there was no longer a threat at the moment the knife was used!
There are hundreds of examples of British law seemingly favouring the criminal.
Another recent case saw an intruder being badly bitten by a home owners dog. The dog had apparently seen the man enter the house and appeared friendly! The intruder filled a pillowcase up with loot and made to leave the house. It was then that the dog refused to let him go and got stuck in.
The dog owner was prosecuted for owning a dangerous dog!
The law and some factions of our society seem to have gone crazy! The criminal is being very well looked after where as the victims are expected to get on with their lives without complaint.
As the drug culture grows in the UK, so does drug related violent crime. At some point I feel that our outdated laws are going to have to be revised to take changes in society into account.
As a last thought, there are over 8,000,000 base ball bats owned by people in the UK and only around 15,000 balls! Some people are still prepared to defend themselves!
Sorry to rant!
Ken
Do not condemn the judgement of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong.
Edited by - BargainBlades on 3/11/2004 2:53:42 AM
Without entering the legal mine field too much, I'll try to explain.
You can under any circumstances only use "sufficient force" to protect yourself, when all other options have failed! Even this becomes a gray area when any weapons are involved.
Not long ago a local man returned home from a night out to find a man breaking into his house through his kitchen window. He grappled with him and during the fight the house owner picked up a kitchen knife. The intruder tried to escape through the window and the owner of the house stuck the knife into his leg.
The intruder was later arrested at the local hospital. He brought a prosecution against the home owner for the assault! The DPP are pursuing the case because in their opinion, the fight was over and there was no longer a threat at the moment the knife was used!
There are hundreds of examples of British law seemingly favouring the criminal.
Another recent case saw an intruder being badly bitten by a home owners dog. The dog had apparently seen the man enter the house and appeared friendly! The intruder filled a pillowcase up with loot and made to leave the house. It was then that the dog refused to let him go and got stuck in.
The dog owner was prosecuted for owning a dangerous dog!
The law and some factions of our society seem to have gone crazy! The criminal is being very well looked after where as the victims are expected to get on with their lives without complaint.
As the drug culture grows in the UK, so does drug related violent crime. At some point I feel that our outdated laws are going to have to be revised to take changes in society into account.
As a last thought, there are over 8,000,000 base ball bats owned by people in the UK and only around 15,000 balls! Some people are still prepared to defend themselves!
Sorry to rant!
Ken
Do not condemn the judgement of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong.
Edited by - BargainBlades on 3/11/2004 2:53:42 AM
Jbake - in the UK self defence applies to yourself, other people, and your property. As said above, any force used has to be reasonable. This can include using a weapon (although you can't CARRY a weapon for self defence - it would have to be something that came to hand while being attacked), and in extreme cases can include taking a life - this would obviously have to be proportionate to the threat being faced. Self defence does not include retribution after the threat is over, or use of disproportionate force, this is where most of the high profile cases of home owners being prosecuted for assaulting burglars have gone wrong. The UK law on self defence is quite straightforard, unfortunately it is sometimes misinterpreted by the press and courts.
Don't you just love living in a society that favors the perpetrator's rights over that of the victim? I know I do. </Blatant ****ing sarcasm>
I think it's Jay Mohr who said "I'm not a gun fanatic, I'm a 'I will put large ****ing holes in you if you try to take my stuff' fanatic." Can't say I really disagree with him. And no, I'm not antisocial, I just have very little respect for those who would return the favor.
I think it's Jay Mohr who said "I'm not a gun fanatic, I'm a 'I will put large ****ing holes in you if you try to take my stuff' fanatic." Can't say I really disagree with him. And no, I'm not antisocial, I just have very little respect for those who would return the favor.
I don't believe it, less than 12 hours after my previous post someone complained about my Pride. Apparently it looks a bit lethal. Four people sat around a table (1 cutler, 2 collectors and 1 'other'), my friend pulled out my Pride, opened it and the above sentiments were expressed by the 'other'. Fortunately everyone looked at her with a despairing gaze and said nothing. Then the cutler explained about UK knife law and how it was, in fact, legal.
"Better gear than good sense a traveller cannot carry."
Too many edits: I will make this make sense!
Edited by - chux on 3/11/2004 7:57:46 AM
"Better gear than good sense a traveller cannot carry."
Too many edits: I will make this make sense!
Edited by - chux on 3/11/2004 7:57:46 AM
-
danzomekahiro
- Member
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: Nottingham United Kingdom
Hi folks, I heard Ken mention me!
You are free to carry a sub 3" slipjoint. If you carry a locknife it is considered a fixed blade. This is not illegal, but you must be able to show that you are carrying it for a work, religious reasons/national costume or most importantly that you have a 'good reason'.
This can be anything at all other than self defence. As a tourist or visitor you could argue that you need it for all the little cutting jobs which at home you would have other knives and tools to hand.
Bear in mind as well that there is virtually no chances of you being stopped and searched by a police officer unless you involve yourself in some other illegal activity.
Hope that helps
Danzo
You are free to carry a sub 3" slipjoint. If you carry a locknife it is considered a fixed blade. This is not illegal, but you must be able to show that you are carrying it for a work, religious reasons/national costume or most importantly that you have a 'good reason'.
This can be anything at all other than self defence. As a tourist or visitor you could argue that you need it for all the little cutting jobs which at home you would have other knives and tools to hand.
Bear in mind as well that there is virtually no chances of you being stopped and searched by a police officer unless you involve yourself in some other illegal activity.
Hope that helps
Danzo