Carrying Knives in the UK/Europe

[anonymous-user]

Hi - So I am planning a long road trip (france, switzerland and italy) and want to take a lock knife with a 3" blade as part of the tool kit. I have used it many times to remove bail twine from wheels, cut hoses and other crude break fix repair jobs and it will likely come in handy in the event I need to repair anything on the motorbike.

I wont be running around with it in my pocket and it will be tucked away in the pannier within the tool roll.

Am I likely to get in trouble if some eager police officer searches my bike and finds it? Even though I have a good reason? Or should i go out and buy a stanley knife?

I leave tomorrow so trying to sort ASAP.

Thanks!

[richs2891]

Current UK knife is anything that folds and is less than 3" and non locking is legal to carry.
A stanley knife is not legal carry !

A swiss army knife would be a safe carry option in the UK if your obviously sensible with it.
Most of the multi tools are technically not legal to carry though you see many people carrying them on belt holders.
A lot is common sense and attitude and unfortunately age related ! An older person with the right attitude will et away with a lot more than a younger person with the wrong attitude.
With the right attitude and keeping it in a tool kit I cant see a problem with a multitool

I have no idea what the carry law's are in countries you plans to visit sorry

[anothernameitist]

^So I went to Screwfix last night and got a Stanley knife and carried it across the car park have I therefore committed a crime?

[R8VXF]

As long as the tool box (pannier in this case) is locked then I would have thought you would be okay as it is not "on your person". This rule applies in this country at least. My chef mate used to carry his knives in a toolbox when going to work for this reason and he had some very big and very sharp knives.

[anonymous-user]

anothernameitist said:

^So I went to Screwfix last night and got a Stanley knife and carried it across the car park have I therefore committed a crime?

This is what I mean the rules are so convoluted.

I understand why they are in place to stop people stabbing each other. But a locking knife that slightly exceeds the 3" rule tucked away in a tool roll in a locked pannier is not going to be used in the heat of the moment piece of road rage. I know most coppers would understand and let me get on my way, but I don't want to end up getting a dressing down by a copper having a bad day.

[R8VXF]

yammyfan said:

This is what I mean the rules are so convoluted.

I understand why they are in place to stop people stabbing each other. But a locking knife that slightly exceeds the 3" rule tucked away in a tool roll in a locked pannier is not going to be used in the heat of the moment piece of road rage. I know most coppers would understand and let me get on my way, but I don't want to end up getting a dressing down by a copper having a bad day.

I drove back from Switzerland with a 4 foot long sword on the back seat of my car. Didn't give it a moments thought tbh

[Stoofa]

I guess you'd have given it more thought had someone at customs shoved a gun in your face and asked you to exit the vehicle slowly.

[HantsRat]

anothernameitist said:

^So I went to Screwfix last night and got a Stanley knife and carried it across the car park have I therefore committed a crime?

This was a legitimate reason and yes it is legal. If you were in the pub or going to a concert or something with your stanley knife, this is when it becomes illegal.

[Hooli]

I've carried knives of similar sizes in toolrolls on bikes for years, never even thought about it as I've got a reason for it. Mind you I've never had a copper want to check luggage except once leaving the UK & tbh we were doing our best to look dodgy by hiding in the loos for ages etc (changing out of water stuff etc, but you can see their point).

[randlemarcus]

http://edcforums.com/threads/knife-laws-throughout...

Leatherman, in its little case, in a tool roll, you would have to be seriously unlucky to get nicked for. Increase your luck by being smily and respectful to the foreign gents with guns who have just nicked you for speeding.

[anonymous-user]

randlemarcus said:

http://edcforums.com/threads/knife-laws-throughout...

Leatherman, in its little case, in a tool roll, you would have to be seriously unlucky to get nicked for. Increase your luck by being smily and respectful to the foreign gents with guns who have just nicked you for speeding.

Sadly no chance of speeding i'm on my slug tourer bike!

[croyde]

Funny that my old non locking Leatherman knife was legal but really good at folding and cutting my fingers yet the newer safer locking one isn't.

I have one in a belt holder for work and I remember going on planes to jobs abroad with no problems at security with it right there in it's holster. Obviously not now though.

When the pope visited England a few years ago we were part of the TV crew sent to cover his huge outdoor service in Twickenham.

We all queued up to get through the airport style scanners dressed in our best (only) suits. I was first and the thing went off and I got pulled over by the armed police.

He saw the leatherman (locking) on my trouser belt and just said what is it about you cameramen and these things. He then looked at his companion and said they are all fine, let them through.

Thus I ended up standing next to the Pope with a 2.5 ins locking blade on my person and I was originally christened CofE

[stuart313]

Didn't an old duffer get prosecuted the other year for carrying a small knife in his motor home that he used to peel apples. The police took this approach when he turned out not to be the Ronnie Biggs they thought he might have been and had in fact just left the evening bingo.

[anonymous-user]

anothernameitist said:

^So I went to Screwfix last night and got a Stanley knife and carried it across the car park have I therefore committed a crime?

No, you had "good reason" to be carrying it.

Bladed article defences said:

The defendant is entitled to be acquitted if he shows on the balance of probabilities that:

he had "good reason or lawful authority" for having the bladed or pointed article; or
he had the article for use at work; or
he had the article for religious reasons; or
he had the article as part of a national costume; (Archbold 24-125).

The defendant does not discharge the burden of showing "good reason" just by providing an explanation that is not contradicted by the prosecution evidence: (Archbold 24-128). Where details of a defence are given in interview or in a defence statement, the CPS should consider whether evidence is available to rebut the defence and should liaise with police if additional enquiries or evidence are necessary. Any defence should be tested by robust cross examination.

[Foliage]

Firstly, get one of these - http://www.heinnie.com/lansky-world-legal-knife-18...

Secondly, Multitool might be a better option, but its difficult to get one without a locking knife, but a multitool taken on a road trip would be looked at differently than a tacticool lock knife or fixed blade.

Lastly, Or just risk it and take what ever you like and deal with it if you need to.

[croyde]

Foliage said:

Firstly, get one of these - http://www.heinnie.com/lansky-world-legal-knife-18...

Secondly, Multitool might be a better option, but its difficult to get one without a locking knife, but a multitool taken on a road trip would be looked at differently than a tacticool lock knife or fixed blade.

Lastly, Or just risk it and take what ever you like and deal with it if you need to.

I like that but it looks a damn sight more vicious than my Leatherman one.

[mph1977]

anothernameitist said:

^So I went to Screwfix last night and got a Stanley knife and carried it across the car park have I therefore committed a crime?

No of course you haven;t

the under 3 inches / none locking 'rule' is basically a blanket " you do not need a lawful excuse , other than' i want a penknife' to carry "

you can carry a Mick Dundee , lock knifes, stanley knives etc as long as you have a reasonable excuse - i.e. it;s part of your tools, you need it for work , you are going to use it for DIY / legal hunting / field craft etc ...

[Foliage]

croyde said:

Foliage said:

Firstly, get one of these - http://www.heinnie.com/lansky-world-legal-knife-18...

Secondly, Multitool might be a better option, but its difficult to get one without a locking knife, but a multitool taken on a road trip would be looked at differently than a tacticool lock knife or fixed blade.

Lastly, Or just risk it and take what ever you like and deal with it if you need to.

I like that but it looks a damn sight more vicious than my Leatherman one.

True. And knife law isn't just the only thing to be considered if you get yourself in a situation where a having a knife is an issue then it will be taken from you legal or not. That's why I think things like scissors/multitools with knife removed/'cutters' etc are a better option for just lobbing somewhere and forgetting about until you breakdown or need to open a blister pack or such.

[jdw100]

I always pack de shank is case de man-dem get feisty. Ya get me?

If 5-0 gives me st I just say allow it yeah.

Me an me crew laugh at your free inch blade ya pussy, get me innit bruv.

[gtidriver]

Lots of petrol stations on the roads through Europe sell knives,Remember a few weeks ago looking in a glass cabinet in a fuel stop in spain, they had folders flick knives and large hunting knives, i didn't buy any. In France you used to be able to buy cs gas, i bought some and tried it out by doing the old squirt and sniff test,that was me fked for the rest of the day...