Spyderco Forums

Impressive collection Simon, thanks for sharing! What :spyder: 's are currently in your EDC rotation? What! no Natives in your collection! :eek:

**** fine collection there Simon if you ask me.

skcusloa: Locking knives are not banned or illegal in the UK.
British Blades provides some excellent information regarding knife law's in the UK and many related issue's which arise from people's ignorance and misconception's of what is basically a cutting tool.

saracen wrote:**** fine collection there Simon if you ask me.

skcusloa: Locking knives are not banned or illegal in the UK.
British Blades provides some excellent information regarding knife law's in the UK and many related issue's which arise from people's ignorance and misconception's of what is basically a cutting tool.

:confused: :confused: :confused:

Then why did Spyderco put out the UKPK?

I know when I traveled there I was told not to carry because it could lend you jail time. I know I saw pictures of posters in the UK about not carrying a knife because of arrest.

Maybe I don't understand fully. :confused:

Simon,
that there DK should be here in DK!! You guys got the UKPK, now hand it over with all speed!!!
Vox.

If.. and it's a big If, you can satisfy the law that you have a viable and good reason for carrying a fixed blade or a 'locking knife' in a 'public place' then you (in that instance) may do so.

The UKPK was (correct me if I'm wrong please somebody) concieved and produced as a result of an offer by Sal to the member's of BB to create a knife of Spyderco quality and performance that would satisfy all aspect's of UK law without the need for one to explain oneself to an officer of the law if it arose that one was carrying such a tool.

In other words, you can carry a UKPK in your pocket safely in the knowledge that should it be seen anywhere you may not face an exhaustive explanation as to why you have a knife in your pocket.. hopefully avoiding a visit to the local station in the process

If only life was so simple.. It should be plainly obvious to some people that if you wave a SAK around in public let alone a UKPK that you are going to find yourself on the wrong side of the law. By the same token, be sensible with what is after all a tool for a particular use by not bringing uneccassary attention to yourself and you should not have a problem.

The current political climate however, and some individual's belief's on what the law actually is and thier interpration of it make carrying a SAK inadvisable in some circumstances.

Hope that help's, maybe some BB member's or Sal could chime in and correct me or clarify the issue better as individual's have different knowledge and expierience's.

Nice collection Simon, I bet its gonna grow

Hello All

British law is very restrictive yet open to sensible interpretation by the Police officers who enforce it. :)

Basically, you are not allowed to carry a knife or any other item for self-defence!

A sub 3” slip joint folder, UKPK (no locking mechanism) is allowed in a public place without the need for a reasonable excuse. For anything larger, with a lock, or a fixed blade the person carrying it needs a reason to carry it (which will satisfy the authorities should you be questioned about it, this is where a police officers common sense can come into play, or not!) For example because of a religious requirement, or as a part of national dress or for work purposes.

Some years ago it was decided in a court case that a knife with a locking mechanism was effectively a fixed blade…..I know…..strange but true! So these knives, no matter what the blade length fall into the category of “needing a reason to carry!” If I was stopped dressed in my Superflage shooting gear with my rifle over my shoulder carrying my Endura that I use for gutting rabbits I don’t think I’d have a problem. If I had the same knife with me in the City whilst I was having a beer or two, I would expect to be in trouble if caught.

It is worth a look over at British Blades forum to see some of the threads on this subject.

Cheers, Ken

This post by Danzo from British Blades does a great job of explaining the law relating to offensive weapons.

Offensive Weapons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi folks

I've been meaning to post this up for months but keep forgetting!



We are all familiar, perhaps overfamiliar, with the law relating to the carrying of knives. The interest in the Spyderco UK Penknife has sparked a lot of thought about 'legal carry' so I thought it best to clarify the position.

A non locking folder under three inches is not banned by law, but that does not mean that you can politely tell a Police officer to mind his own business if you are found with a sub 3" slipjoint on you.

The relevent law is contained in the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 and provides in Section (1) that:

"Any person who without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, the proof whereof shall lie on him, has with him in any public place any offensive weapon shall be guilty of an offence."

Now, contrary to widespread belief, the law does not contain a list of offensive weapons. In the UK literally anything can be found to be a weapon, if it is carried as a weapon. Have a look at Section (4) of the Act:

"In this section 'offensive weapon' means any article made or adapted for use for causing injury, or intended by the person having it with him for such use by him or some other person."

The Law Reports contain hundreds of cases where everything from fruit to shoes to newspapers has been found to have been used, or intended for use as a weapon.

Which brings us back to knives. The sometimes overlooked Prevention of Crime Act 1953 means that, although a sub 3" slipjoint is technically legal under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, you can be arrested and charged if the arresting officer believes you carried the knife as a weapon. This would then have to be decided in court.

Be careful out there.

Danzo

Hi folks

Not been here for a while; too busy moderating http://www.britishblades.com and convincing them all to buy Manixes and Poliwogs!

I am the Danzo of the article my old mate Ken refers to above and I thought I would just briefly summarise it. I am what Americans would call a Law Professor, not a practicing lawyer.

If you need any knife, fixed or folder, for work you may carry one.

If you need a knife for national costume or religious reasons then you may carry one. This is a generic rule but was specifically included to protect Scots in the first example and Sikhs in the second

If you have ANY OTHER GOOD REASON you may carry a knife of any sort. So if you were going camping or hiking or fishing or hunting amongst many other things you are OK.

If you don't fall into one of these categories you may only carry a sub 3" slipjoint. A good rule to live by in the UK is that if you have to think about your good reason you probably don't have one.



Hope that helps.

Oh, and nice Zowada Simon.....

:D

Danzo

Danzo

Cheers mate I appreciate your help. :)

By the way Simon...... :o ......great collection old son! :) Got a bit side tracked there!

Cheers, Ken

[quote="jaislandboy"]Impressive collection Simon, thanks for sharing! What :spyder: 's are currently in your EDC rotation? What! no Natives in your collection! :eek: ]

Brian

Looks like a SS Native PE in the third colmn 7th down. :)

Cheers, Ken

Very nice Simon - very nice indeed!

Mind you, I didn't have you down as the kind of guy to carry a pink knife............................... :p

Phil

Thanks for the clarification. Those laws seem like they would create more criminals than prevent them.

Guys,

Thanks for all the kind comments! I've never been a "collector" before, but I justify it that everyone has been clipped in the pocket at one time or another! :o Yep, once you get the bug, you get the Bug!

Ken, good to hear from you and well written sir! Danzo on this side of the Atlantic? You should visit more often! And Phil, the pink Jester goes with the sling backs! :eek:

Chad, you think the Spydie collection was sneaky..........you should see the gun cabinet!

Still, there are a lot of holes to fill in the collection, it's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it!

God bless,

Simon.

UK KEN wrote:Brian

Looks like a SS Native PE in the third colmn 7th down. :)

Cheers, Ken

Oops, my mistake! :o