Medium Swiss army knife with locking blade
Discussion
I've carried a medium size swiss army knife for the last few years with a non-locking blade to comply with CJA 1988. My other half wants to get me a new one for xmas (this in case anyone is interested: https://www.victorinox.com/uk/en/Products/Swiss-Ar... but we've just spotted it's got a locking blade so I can't just "have it on me" like my current one, which basically defies the point of having it.
Does anyone know if it's possible to remove the locking mechanism on it so as to make it legal to carry all the time?
Does anyone know if it's possible to remove the locking mechanism on it so as to make it legal to carry all the time?
Locking seems to make it illegal - that is unless you have a good reason......
https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q337.htm
Given the relative size of the blade & all the other tools, it does seem a stretch that it would be considered an offensive weapon though.
https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q337.htm
Given the relative size of the blade & all the other tools, it does seem a stretch that it would be considered an offensive weapon though.
Related to: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I've carried a SAK for a few years now as it's come in useful (mainly for opening wine and changing batteries in my kids toys
). My other half wants to get me a new one for xmas, but we just noticed that the one I like has a locking blade (unlike my current one), although it would still be less than 3". This is it for anyone interested: https://www.victorinox.com/uk/en/Products/Swiss-Ar... . It's the only one I can find which has pliers and a universal wrench which is why I like it!
Obviously, on paper carrying this on me generally would fall foul CJA 1988 as strictly speaking there is no good reason to have it as the fact it has many other uses is not sufficient from what I understand. But I'm just trying to ascertain if it's a definite "do not do or you're an idiot" a bit like drink driving, or whether police officers can have/do use sensible discretion in the same vein as having a missing/wrong size numberplate.
If it make any difference I live in the sticks where there are no gangs etc. Guess a slight complication might be that I tend to work in London a few days a week, but again, I'd just be a "powerfully built" office worker on a commute/going about my working day rather than someone looking for trouble in ropey areas of town.
I've carried a SAK for a few years now as it's come in useful (mainly for opening wine and changing batteries in my kids toys
). My other half wants to get me a new one for xmas, but we just noticed that the one I like has a locking blade (unlike my current one), although it would still be less than 3". This is it for anyone interested: https://www.victorinox.com/uk/en/Products/Swiss-Ar... . It's the only one I can find which has pliers and a universal wrench which is why I like it!Obviously, on paper carrying this on me generally would fall foul CJA 1988 as strictly speaking there is no good reason to have it as the fact it has many other uses is not sufficient from what I understand. But I'm just trying to ascertain if it's a definite "do not do or you're an idiot" a bit like drink driving, or whether police officers can have/do use sensible discretion in the same vein as having a missing/wrong size numberplate.
If it make any difference I live in the sticks where there are no gangs etc. Guess a slight complication might be that I tend to work in London a few days a week, but again, I'd just be a "powerfully built" office worker on a commute/going about my working day rather than someone looking for trouble in ropey areas of town.
I just carry my SAK on me every day for convenience227bhp said:
If you're the type of person who's going to get searched for a knife then don't carry one, if you're a normal human being who isn't then don't worry about it.
I work with my hands, always have and have always carried a SA knife, never had an issue yet and don't think I ever will.
Does the blade lock or are you a tradesman or similar so can have a legitimate reason to have it on you for work?I work with my hands, always have and have always carried a SA knife, never had an issue yet and don't think I ever will.
Ayahuasca said:
Does anyone know the logic behind making locking blades illegal?
When I go sailing I carry one of these:
Definitely locks!
It’s fine on your boat, as you would have a good reason.When I go sailing I carry one of these:
Definitely locks!
Would cause you a world of problems if you were caught in town with it.
I’m representing a chap tomorrow who was arrested with a retractable craft knife in his pocket. If he gets a suspended sentence it will be a good result for him.
The courts are instructed to deal very robustly with knife offences.
When I started out as a solicitor, carrying a knife might earn you a fine. These days it’s prison. Suspended sentence if you’re lucky.
Minimum sentence of 6 months for a second conviction of possession of a blade or weapon.
Edited by Pat H on Monday 9th December 12:20
vaud said:
Then why would you carry it to work? In case of horses with stones in their hooves stranded on Whitechapel?
It lives in my trouser pocket 24/7. So it's not that I'd be actively taking it to work (although occasionally it comes out fo random things), just that the vast majority of the time it would end up on my person on a daily basis by default.227bhp said:
If you're the type of person who's going to get searched for a knife then don't carry one, if you're a normal human being who isn't then don't worry about it.
I work with my hands, always have and have always carried a SA knife, never had an issue yet and don't think I ever will.
I do too but I know if discovered, I could well be in trouble.I work with my hands, always have and have always carried a SA knife, never had an issue yet and don't think I ever will.
Google it - plenty of people have been prosecuted, including a retired Officer who had it in his car !
My mate's son was stopped - as he matched the description of a thief, he had his Bear Grylls scout knife on him, along with the fruit he intended to eat with it - 3 court dates and only avoided a custodial sentence because they dropped it before he went into court - common sense died some years ago !
Pat H said:
Would cause you a world of problems if you were caught in town with it.
I’m representing a chap tomorrow who was arrested with a retractable craft knife in his pocket. If he gets a suspended sentence it will be a good result for him.
Bloody hell, was it just "on him" randomly (e.g. he forgot he had it) or did he have it for a reason the police didn't like/believe/think appropriate?I’m representing a chap tomorrow who was arrested with a retractable craft knife in his pocket. If he gets a suspended sentence it will be a good result for him.
Times must be be tough in PBDOMC World, or maybe the price of 'roids and weights have gone up, if you can only afford one pair of trousers.
Walking around London with a knife like that sounds to me a bit Walt-Ray Mears/Grizzly Adams . Do you have a rugged and manly beard and an aspect of calm competence?
Walking around London with a knife like that sounds to me a bit Walt-Ray Mears/Grizzly Adams . Do you have a rugged and manly beard and an aspect of calm competence?
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 8th December 20:00
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