Medium Swiss army knife with locking blade
Discussion
In the eighties as a teenager myself and some friends used to help out on a farm, baling and such.
The ‘trend’ was to have a switchblade bought on a school french trip.
Still got mine somewhere.
Years later I realised my trusty Leatherman wave was illegal to carry and retired it to the workplace in favour of a legal version.
Point being I have carried a knife which contravenes current legislation most of my life, and despite the usual scuffles I’ve had it has never been stuck in any flesh other than mine.
I don’t think the current laws are of any real use, other than to criminalise law abiding campers.
Could we not just increase the punishment for stabby behaviour regardless of whether it’s a 4 foot katana or a hobby knife?
The ‘trend’ was to have a switchblade bought on a school french trip.
Still got mine somewhere.
Years later I realised my trusty Leatherman wave was illegal to carry and retired it to the workplace in favour of a legal version.
Point being I have carried a knife which contravenes current legislation most of my life, and despite the usual scuffles I’ve had it has never been stuck in any flesh other than mine.
I don’t think the current laws are of any real use, other than to criminalise law abiding campers.
Could we not just increase the punishment for stabby behaviour regardless of whether it’s a 4 foot katana or a hobby knife?
Personally I have seen pre and post knife controls and it has been a useful tool overall. When there was a higher fear of being stopped and searched few carried knives and even now there is evidence that they use stashes and mules so it has some impact.
Prevention is better than cure and having an effective tool to deal with people who carry a knife who might use it to cause harm is a good thing. I genuinely don't think the legislation was intended to cover lock knives. The courts interpreted it that way.
If I had my way, the right balance would be to leave it as it is but allow locking blades within the existing legislation.
However, I would change the legislation to not include the exemption to under 16s, just make it that they need a good reason for any knife and further clarify what good reasons are.
I would add a new more serious offence, as with firearms, that would disqualify, categories of people based on convictions, cautions etc from carrying knives. I would also make, previously being found with an illegal knife, easier to use as PART of the grounds to stop and search, in the future.
Prevention is better than cure and having an effective tool to deal with people who carry a knife who might use it to cause harm is a good thing. I genuinely don't think the legislation was intended to cover lock knives. The courts interpreted it that way.
If I had my way, the right balance would be to leave it as it is but allow locking blades within the existing legislation.
However, I would change the legislation to not include the exemption to under 16s, just make it that they need a good reason for any knife and further clarify what good reasons are.
I would add a new more serious offence, as with firearms, that would disqualify, categories of people based on convictions, cautions etc from carrying knives. I would also make, previously being found with an illegal knife, easier to use as PART of the grounds to stop and search, in the future.
Graveworm said:
I would add a new more serious offence, as with firearms, that would disqualify, categories of people based on convictions, cautions etc from carrying knives. I would also make, previously being found with an illegal knife, easier to use as PART of the grounds to stop and search, in the future.
Second conviction for possession of blade/offensive weapon already wins you a minimum 6 month sentence.We don't need more (or less) legislation.
We need some police officers to enforce the existing laws and some visible policing to act as a deterrence.
I regard the knife restrictions as just another example of normal people's ability to quietly get on with doing normal things apparently needing to be interfered with because of the actions of scumbags.
The bit that really concerns me is there seem to be many people who think it's acceptable, and take a stance of "knives are bad" "why do you need to carry one anyway" etc etc.
The bit that really concerns me is there seem to be many people who think it's acceptable, and take a stance of "knives are bad" "why do you need to carry one anyway" etc etc.
InitialDave said:
I regard the knife restrictions as just another example of normal people's ability to quietly get on with doing normal things apparently needing to be interfered with because of the actions of scumbags.
The bit that really concerns me is there seem to be many people who think it's acceptable, and take a stance of "knives are bad" "why do you need to carry one anyway" etc etc.
The problem being that most people live in Cities and have office jobs they are living different lives to those of us who live in the countryside or work with our hands.The bit that really concerns me is there seem to be many people who think it's acceptable, and take a stance of "knives are bad" "why do you need to carry one anyway" etc etc.
The French always say "There is Paris and then there is France" - two completely different mentalities.
I carry a locking 2 inch bladed knife on my keyring. I'm a chef and open a hell of lot of cardboard boxes. That's my justification. Not sure if I'd be in trouble. My knife roll (which I also carry around between jobs) has a number of knives in it including a 10 inch bladed razor sharp chefs knife. I know which is most dangerous, and it's not the one that's breaking the law!
Red 4 said:
Folding blade - 3 inches or less and you're fine.
Anything else you need good reason to have it with you in a public place.
The onus is on you, on the balance of probabilities, to prove it.
I was going to ask about the sgian-dubh:Anything else you need good reason to have it with you in a public place.
The onus is on you, on the balance of probabilities, to prove it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgian-dubh
The text on Wikipedia suggests they are legal, despite being a fixed, sheathed blade, when worn as part of ceremonial dress:
wikipedia said:
When worn as part of the national dress of Scotland, the sgian-dubh is legal in Scotland, England and Wales: in Scotland under the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 sec. 49, sub-sec. 5(c);[8] in England and Wales under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (sec. 139)[9] and the Offensive Weapons Act 1996 (sec. 4).[10]
I'm guessing, therefore, that one would be unlikely to be prosecuted as long as one was wearing the aforementioned ceremonial dress or transporting it?The webpage above suggests "A short blade of 3 to 3.5 inches (7.5 to 9 cm) is typical" so I imagine some interesting conversations could be had if one was carrying one at the longer end of that range, given previous comments about the 3" max length law.
Edited by RSTurboPaul on Sunday 15th December 16:57
RSTurboPaul said:
I'm guessing, therefore, that one would be unlikely to be prosecuted as long as one was wearing the aforementioned ceremonial dress or transporting it?
The webpage above suggests "A short blade of 3 to 3.5 inches (7.5 to 9 cm) is typical" so I imagine some interesting conversations could be had if one was carrying one at the longer end of that range, given previous comments about the 3" max length law.
There are specific exemptions in law for ceremonial and religious items such as this, so you would be ok.The webpage above suggests "A short blade of 3 to 3.5 inches (7.5 to 9 cm) is typical" so I imagine some interesting conversations could be had if one was carrying one at the longer end of that range, given previous comments about the 3" max length law.
Edited by RSTurboPaul on Sunday 15th December 16:57
The 3 inch rule is irrelevant as the blade is fixed.
ANY fixed bladed article of ANY size requires the excuse of good reason to be carried.
Similarly any locking bladed article.
The <3inch exclusion only applies to a folding knife which cannot be locked in place with a mechanism.
These can be carried without any reason required.
Certain knives are illegal to be carried, bought or sold regardless of size - e.g. Balisong
The_Nugget said:
RSTurboPaul said:
I'm guessing, therefore, that one would be unlikely to be prosecuted as long as one was wearing the aforementioned ceremonial dress or transporting it?
The webpage above suggests "A short blade of 3 to 3.5 inches (7.5 to 9 cm) is typical" so I imagine some interesting conversations could be had if one was carrying one at the longer end of that range, given previous comments about the 3" max length law.
There are specific exemptions in law for ceremonial and religious items such as this, so you would be ok.The webpage above suggests "A short blade of 3 to 3.5 inches (7.5 to 9 cm) is typical" so I imagine some interesting conversations could be had if one was carrying one at the longer end of that range, given previous comments about the 3" max length law.
Edited by RSTurboPaul on Sunday 15th December 16:57
The 3 inch rule is irrelevant as the blade is fixed.
ANY fixed bladed article of ANY size requires the excuse of good reason to be carried.
Similarly any locking bladed article.
The <3inch exclusion only applies to a folding knife which cannot be locked in place with a mechanism.
These can be carried without any reason required.
Certain knives are illegal to be carried, bought or sold regardless of size - e.g. Balisong
stitched said:
I don’t think the current laws are of any real use, other than to criminalise law abiding campers.
Could we not just increase the punishment for stabby behaviour regardless of whether it’s a 4 foot katana or a hobby knife?
ThisCould we not just increase the punishment for stabby behaviour regardless of whether it’s a 4 foot katana or a hobby knife?
Knife crime is carried out by a small percentage of the population who couldn't give a monkeys what the law says , it stops me having something that might be useful in the car but won't stop them having a machete in their baggy pants.
In 1975 I went on the bus 10 miles to another town , came home on the bus with an air rifle and a knife Rambo would've thought was too big , I was 14 and it was all legal
Dont really know why I bought the knife , the air gun was cheaper than I thought and I had some money left
wack said:
stitched said:
I don’t think the current laws are of any real use, other than to criminalise law abiding campers.
Could we not just increase the punishment for stabby behaviour regardless of whether it’s a 4 foot katana or a hobby knife?
ThisCould we not just increase the punishment for stabby behaviour regardless of whether it’s a 4 foot katana or a hobby knife?
Knife crime is carried out by a small percentage of the population who couldn't give a monkeys what the law says , it stops me having something that might be useful in the car but won't stop them having a machete in their baggy pants.
In 1975 I went on the bus 10 miles to another town , came home on the bus with an air rifle and a knife Rambo would've thought was too big , I was 14 and it was all legal
Dont really know why I bought the knife , the air gun was cheaper than I thought and I had some money left
And I speak as someone who has 3 or 4 sheath knives and a few lock knives.
I carry, sometimes, a 3 inch folding knife with a Turkish walnut handle.
Pat H said:
It is an offence to carry a bladed or sharply pointed object, apart from a folding pocket knife with a blade of less than 3” providing the blade does not lock.
Are you able to elaborate on that case you had the other week now? What were the circumstances around carrying the knife that seemingly got the bloke having the book thrown at him?There are instructions here for adapting most Leatherman tools without damage, using the existing parts of the knife and is reversible.
Might help a few people not to damage their tools
https://www.instructables.com/id/Leatherman-Charge...
Might help a few people not to damage their tools
https://www.instructables.com/id/Leatherman-Charge...
Dixy said:
Except when flying from Geneva, where you can buy them having passed through security.
Last March I had a Swisstool Spriit X in my hold luggage when I flew out to Geneva for a ski trip. On the return trip I realised, just as I approached Geneva security, that I had the swisstool in my hand luggage (being a small rucksack I skied with) and I thought I was going to have to leave an expensive item behind. However, the hand luggage went through the security scanners without any issue, which raised my level of concern in a different way....Smokehead said:
There are instructions here for adapting most Leatherman tools without damage, using the existing parts of the knife and is reversible.
Might help a few people not to damage their tools
https://www.instructables.com/id/Leatherman-Charge...
I did consider dismantling it, but then thought that I would never be re-fitting the blade as I live in the UK and I have a legal pocket knife with a better blade..... Might help a few people not to damage their tools
https://www.instructables.com/id/Leatherman-Charge...
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