Spyderco Forums

Hi guys,

I'm looking for an answer to these questions:

1. Can I bring my Delica Wave on my business trip to the United Kingdom? (I know that I can't carry it around with me; I don't intend to; I just want to keep it in the hotel room in case I need it)

2. If I cannot bring my Delica, should I get a Terzuola, and can I bring it in? (It has a blade exactly 3" and has a slipjoint)

3. If I do bring a knife that is legal to bring in, do I still have to declare it to customs at Heathrow Airport when I land?

I'm just worried about being hassled at the customs at Heathrow.

I have searched the internet, which gave me a relatively good idea of what is OK and not OK - it is OK to have a Delica Wave as long as you don't carry it; carrying a knife is generally not OK unless the blade is less than 3" and there's no lock; for lockback knives etc. you must have a reason to carry it (e.g. you're hiking etc.)

What I can't seem to find is whether a tourist can - technically - import a knife like the Delica or the Terzuola, by having it in his check-in luggage when he arrives at Heathrow.

I asked the local British High Commission. They were no help. They advised me that for my own safety and security (!), I am advised against doing so. It doesn't take a lawyer to see that the reply was not a firm confirmation about the legality or illegality of the act, just bureaucratic-speak to make sure they don't into trouble for advising a traveller one way or another.

Your help will be most appreciated! :)

You can put any knife in your check-in luggage.
You do not have to declare to the customs that you have a knife in your suitcase.
You are correct it is illegal to carry a knife in the UK with a blade over three inches and having any sort of a lock.
A Terzuola is a good suggestion it will cover you for any problems with any official questions.

Ukpk, urban or terzoula, personally I prefer the G10 on my ukpk as Carbon Fiber is too slick for my tastes

Thank you for the first no-BS answers I have on this subject! :)

My recommendation is to get a g10 UKPK, you might end up liking it so much that you'll use it as much as the Delica. It's a very fine knife and happens to be legal in many places.

How about a Kiwi slip-it? I have the stag one that is being sold now. There are fancier ones available if you look for them. It's not my favorite knife but I do like it. It's different tha anything else I have. Wharncliff blade, small, non-locking, choils are nice for a small knife. It's probably legal anywhere, except ON the airplane.

Just a thought.

Yes, I do have a Kiwi, but it is just a little bit too small for tasks like cutting fruits. :) I don't really like it because the grip is just a little too small.

I bought an frn ukpk for just this reason. Really like it though.

The real question is this...

Does the "law" apply to citizens and visitors to the country? For example I recently went to Japan was was pretty much told that the laws on knife carry apply to nationals only. What I mean in this case is a tourist would receive a more RESTRICTIVE interpretation of the law than a citizen. What is legal for a citizen may not be so legal for a visitor.

Now Japan and the UK are really two different worlds and cultures, I know.

What you carry in your bag and keep in your room is really (within reason) a non-issue. As for personal carry in a foreign country, I apply this rule...

"Know the law, and act dumb."

Know what is legal and follow the law, however if questioned act dumb. Nothing will make your stay there more difficult than trying to lecture a police officer on their law, as a foreign national...

That is my exact worry. It's doubly ironical that my business in London has partly to do with the Met Police. Don't really want to embarrass my agency by getting into trouble with the people we're being hosted by! :)

Not trying to sound jaded but you are looking for no BS legal council on an internet forum.

Yes a ukpk type knife is legal which includes the Bob T. Frankly tho there is always a chance you could lose the knife, especially as a tourist who doesnt know the laws an has the unfortunate disposition of being a tourist.

My best no BS advice: Buy a cheap slipjoint. A ukpk lightweight or kiwi slippy for $19-35. If a cop (or anyone) wants to take it even after showing it wont lock HAND IT OVER. Dont go cowboy on rights when by their stance you're a guest.

What do you need a Delica for anyways? I would rather try to sneak a half-blind rabid pitbull than a locking knife in a country it is illegal. There are a ton of stabbings over seas so they probably wont give you much grace.


"He also made the blade under three inches keeping it legal in most jurisdictions and countries (England and Germany to name a couple) for carry anywhere."

http://m.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=416

bring anything but a bali or a switchblade anything is fine as long as you dont carry it or dont put it in you hand luggage

I just returned from Europe for the the SICAC Paris knife show. I was in and out of the UK Twice, I passed through security several times. The biggest inconvenience was having to pay 18 pounds to have one bag put into secured storage for the international train ride from London to Paris. I don't know why they didn't pick-up on the 12 knives in my other bag. I would occassionally carry my balance un clipped, if I had need of the knife and could show cause. In the evenings I didn't carry at all. If you play by the rules there is no problem. I generally have more inspections from customs on the way home.

London is about the highest stress city in Europe. Plan more time for getting around, let the locals carry the stress. I've really enjoyed my time in the UK, it is a great place to visit with many wonderful people...Take Care...Ed

Yes, you should be able to bring a Delica to the UK in your check-in luggage. No need to declare it with customs since it's not a forbidden item or whatever. You're already aware of the fact that you can't carry it in public though. So why bring it?

I cases like this - as a tourist in foreign country that is - I would always try to err on the safe side. Which means bringing a SLIPIT. It might be different for locals. Personally in my own country I do choose the path of civil disobedience from time to time and carry a Delica or a Dragonfly. Just because I want to. And because I've carefully weighed the pro's and con's. But I really wouldn't do this as a tourist in a foreign country.

I second Mr_Moe's suggestion about a G-10 UKPK. Get one while you still can. I really like my orange G-10 UKPK. Easy to open, easy to close and a practical size for lunch break as well as for all kinds of other every day tasks. The G-10 has been discontinued so I snagged one while I still could because I honestly don't like the colors and the grind on the FRN UKPKs. But on the other hand an FRN UKPK goes for only 40 bucks which isn't an awful lot of money. It would make a good back-up knife for travel destinations like UK or Germany and it wouldn't hurt too badly should find yourself in a situation where you have to give up the knife.

My no-BS advice ...

As has been said, a Delica is legal to own so no need to treat it any differently to carrying your shaving kit - it is just illegal to carry in a public place without a good reason ... the police or a Court would decide whether your reason was good enough but "because I might need it" or "for self defense" would probably get you a trip to the cells

Tourists would probably get the same or slightly more forgiving treatment from the police ... but don't test that theory.

A UKPK FRN/lightweight would be my choice of EDC in the UK but be aware that some city areas can deny you access if you are carrying a knife. Railway stations (metro included), nightclubs, sports-stadia or virtually any private land can decide that knives are not allowed and can instruct their security guards to use metal detector arches etc. I haven't ever had a problem on the underground or anywhere in London but the less your knife looks like an inoffensive Swiss Army Knife, the more trouble it might cause.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, I don't know the law too well, but isn't a Delica even illegal to use in your hotel room if someone breaks into it?

Now you are onto a totally different subject. In the UK you are allowed to use reasonable force to protect yourself or your family. Trouble is getting a clear definitıon of the word reasonable. To use a knife you would at least need to be in a position to say that you believed your life to be in imminent danger and the other person had a deadly weapon.

Only recently an old shopkeeper, I believe about 70, was being robbed by 3 young men (20's) one of whom he killed with a knife. Although the police found a gun at the scene of the crime the old guy was still arrested. He was subsequently released several days later when the legal aurhorities decided that it was a case of justifiable self defence.

One point that seems to have been missed in the general comments about taking a knife into UK is that if the knife can be opened by gravıty (i.e. by flicking your wrist and remember some customs officers who might try this are quite strong) then the knife is totally illegal. Sometimes when guys in UK are having knives sent in they get the sender to tighten the pivot screw to minimise this risk

isn't a Delica even illegal to use in your hotel room

As long as you dissolve the body and flush it down you should be okay.

I would just get either the cheapest UKPK or else a cheap Swiss Army Knife to take over there. A SAK is always handy to have on the road anyway, with the can/bottle opener, screwdrivers and tweezers etc.

As we've gotten away from answering the original question and are suggesting particular models I'm wondering why the Urban isn't mentioned. I find mine (leaf) almost interchangeable with my G-10 UKPKs and, if you want a model that's perceived as somewhat smaller (less aggressive), why not the Urban?