Is it legal to carry a Leatherman tool in a car?
Discussion
Just a quick query really, I really fancy one of the new Leatherman Rebar Black multi tools, but would carrying it in a car mean I fell foul of the law?
It's not a lock knife, and the blade is under 8cm long.
It's not a lock knife, and the blade is under 8cm long.
goldblum said:
You will need a specific licence to carry that in a car.It's rumoured a recent escapee from court in Dewkesbury was aided in his flight from justice not by that
specific Leatherman tool but by its big brother,the Leatherman massive tool.About 50 quid for a licence I think.
Exactly what form of licence?specific Leatherman tool but by its big brother,the Leatherman massive tool.About 50 quid for a licence I think.
matchmaker said:
goldblum said:
You will need a specific licence to carry that in a car.It's rumoured a recent escapee from court in Dewkesbury was aided in his flight from justice not by that
specific Leatherman tool but by its big brother,the Leatherman massive tool.About 50 quid for a licence I think.
Exactly what form of licence?specific Leatherman tool but by its big brother,the Leatherman massive tool.About 50 quid for a licence I think.
goldblum said:
matchmaker said:
goldblum said:
You will need a specific licence to carry that in a car.It's rumoured a recent escapee from court in Dewkesbury was aided in his flight from justice not by that
specific Leatherman tool but by its big brother,the Leatherman massive tool.About 50 quid for a licence I think.
Exactly what form of licence?specific Leatherman tool but by its big brother,the Leatherman massive tool.About 50 quid for a licence I think.
Strapped to my belt as I write this, I have a Leatherman Wave which has locking blades, files as well as a saw. Good bloody job as the amount of mishaps I had with an earlier Leatherman because the blade, screwdriver or bottle opener etc would collapse and injure your hand when in use.
I have been stopped by the police whilst going through security to film the Pope and found to have one of these on my person only for it to be looked at and handed back.
Still not sure if it's illegal or not but it's bloody useful especially when you make new friends that are desperate for a bottle opener.
I have been stopped by the police whilst going through security to film the Pope and found to have one of these on my person only for it to be looked at and handed back.
Still not sure if it's illegal or not but it's bloody useful especially when you make new friends that are desperate for a bottle opener.
If you have a reasonable excuse then it's legal i.e a carpenter carrying a lock knife that he uses for work.
From a practical point of view you're unlikely to get dealt with for having a multi-tool for 'just in case,' purposes. You're unlikely to be searched, even less likely to be arrested and (you guessed it) even less likely to be prosecuted. It is a possibility however. Particularly if it's, "just in case I get trouble, like," as carrying anything for self defence makes it an offensive weapon.
From a practical point of view you're unlikely to get dealt with for having a multi-tool for 'just in case,' purposes. You're unlikely to be searched, even less likely to be arrested and (you guessed it) even less likely to be prosecuted. It is a possibility however. Particularly if it's, "just in case I get trouble, like," as carrying anything for self defence makes it an offensive weapon.
It looks like it's locking to me. If it has a mechanism for preventing the blade folding back when open it is deemed to be a locking knife. The law (S139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988) states you would need to have good reason to have one in your possession, even in a car. Good reason is not specifically defined in law, but examples would be required for work, or use for a hobby or for religious reasons.
It is down to you to show that the reason for you having it with you in a public place is a good one.
It is down to you to show that the reason for you having it with you in a public place is a good one.
Cat said:
Puddenchucker said:
I think you'll find the blades do lock on those. The blades definitely lock on the leatherman Tool I've got.
No idea if they lock or not, just going from the OP's comment stating it wasn't a lock knife. Cat
I guess I'd probably best nip into my local cop shop and see if one of the resident BiB can give a defacto answer (not that I'm doubting the answers here of course!). I'd probably struggle with a valid reason for carrying one as I'm a rep, not a fisherman/hunter. It's down to more of a want than a need for me personally.
Oh well!
ETA - looking at the users guide, the knife blade folds out from the closed position, surely this makes it a folding knife rather than a lock knife and thus not classed as an offensive weapon?
ETFA - further up in the text it has a picture of a lock, which denotes "All Locking Blades", the Rebar also features this same icon which means it is a lock knife... bugger
Edited by Mr Happy on Sunday 18th March 20:19
Soren2 said:
It looks like it's locking to me. If it has a mechanism for preventing the blade folding back when open it is deemed to be a locking knife. The law (S139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988) states you would need to have good reason to have one in your possession, even in a car. Good reason is not specifically defined in law, but examples would be required for work, or use for a hobby or for religious reasons.
It is down to you to show that the reason for you having it with you in a public place is a good one.
What the hell kind of knife isn't locking then. A normal blade is a lock knife that has just forgot to put a hinge in the middle surely.It is down to you to show that the reason for you having it with you in a public place is a good one.
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