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?
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 convenience
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.
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.
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.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.
BaldOldMan said:
V8RX7 said:
I do too but I know if discovered, I could well be in trouble.
Google it - plenty of people have been prosecuted, including a retired Officer who had it in his car !
Yikes - I'm sure I have one in my glovebox that locks - better have a look in the morning !Google it - plenty of people have been prosecuted, including a retired Officer who had it in his car !
Every day's a school day etc Breadvan72 said:
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 to me. Do you have a manly beard?
I had an interesting moustache in November....Walking around London with a knife like that sounds to me a bit Walt-Ray Mears/Grizzly Adams to me. Do you have a manly beard?
You're making more of it than it is. My keys, wallet, phone and SAK all live together on a shelf in my bedroom - when I get dressed, they all go into my pockets for convenience without me even thinking. Otherwise sods law says I'll need one of them during the day and not have it. In fact my other half literally 2 mins ago popped over to ask for the SAK to go and open some amazon parcels or some such.
If I have to think about whether I can take any of them out with me - the SAK in this case - then it defies the point of having it as it'll likely just sit on the shelf and not be available to me when I need it
vaud said:
Mario149 said:
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.
I'd suggest that as 99.9% of the population survive without taking a locking knife on their daily commute that you have two knives:1) your commuting knife that does not lock and lives in your one pair of trousers
2) your personal locking Swiss army knife for special occasions in your non work trousers for jobs around the house
Either way I would not want to try to explain away a locking knife... it just looks odd.. kind of «every helpful adult venture scout kind of helpful». Not sure how the locking bit would help with your random things.
The one I like with the couple of extra tools on it happens to lock. My current one doesn't. I don't need it to lock.
Breadvan72 said:
I have somehow survived the savage urban jungle that is London since the mid 1980s without ever wishing that I had a knife on me to do random things with. Clearly I have led a sheltered life.
I also have this weird habit of emptying all the keys and coins and assorted tat that are in my pockets out onto a table at home, and then picking up only the things that I actually want to take with me the next day. Pretty bizarre conduct, I grant you.
Bloody hell you must be a riot at parties. It's a multi tool that has a knife on it, not a knife that I carry around rambo style. Whether that blade locks or not, while very relevant to law clearly, is irrelevant in a practical sense to the vast majority of the population who may want (or not) to own one for everyday purposesI also have this weird habit of emptying all the keys and coins and assorted tat that are in my pockets out onto a table at home, and then picking up only the things that I actually want to take with me the next day. Pretty bizarre conduct, I grant you.
Anyway, I take your points. You have your routine, I have mine.
flashbang said:
The law is quite clear but I'll simplify it...
The foldable blade (non lockable) can be carried around all day long without good reason as long as the blade is less than 3 inches.
The lockable blade is illegal to carry in public unless you have a jolly good reason for doing so. (And still has to be less than 3 inches long).
Makes sense.The foldable blade (non lockable) can be carried around all day long without good reason as long as the blade is less than 3 inches.
The lockable blade is illegal to carry in public unless you have a jolly good reason for doing so. (And still has to be less than 3 inches long).
Mr. Jimmy said:
I have an older model of this same knife, mine doesn't lock in any way. Are you quite sure that this one does?.
It's listed as locking on the website: https://www.victorinox.com/uk/en/Products/Swiss-Ar...Maybe they didn't used to be
Was rather hoping there might be a UK-friendly version available but seems not. Hence my other thread about disabling the locking mechanismPica-Pica said:
I particularly like the pliers and universal wrench combo, hence why I fancy the S557 which is a newer general design it seems. The regular SAKs that we all know don't have that combo. I have this one now: https://www.victorinox.com/uk/en/Products/Swiss-Ar...
...and it gets used daily, I'm on my third set of scales for it
If I could simply add the pliers/wrench to my existing one somehow I would as it has sentimental value as well since it was a gift.techguyone said:
Being of the walty type persuasion, I've carried knives on me since the 70's.
I've recently left my quite legal SAK at home permanently now because to be honest, times have changed and it's just not worth it now.
Even on the off-chance trouble brews and it stays in my pocket, if plod get to the emptying your pockets stage and you've been involved in physical contact, you're now looking at potentially carrying a bladed article charge or extra time being processed, and you know? it's all just s
t you don't need.
I keep my knives at home now and don't worry about, yes the states won so to speak, but life's too short for all the bullst to make a point.
I see where you're coming from. I've recently left my quite legal SAK at home permanently now because to be honest, times have changed and it's just not worth it now.
Even on the off-chance trouble brews and it stays in my pocket, if plod get to the emptying your pockets stage and you've been involved in physical contact, you're now looking at potentially carrying a bladed article charge or extra time being processed, and you know? it's all just s
t you don't need.I keep my knives at home now and don't worry about, yes the states won so to speak, but life's too short for all the bulls
t to make a point.Biggest issue I find is accidentally taking mine to airports (not in my checked in bags). I've prob done it half a dozen times now over the last 5 years or so, and it's currently running 50/50 as to whether they let me take it through security and onto the plane, or whether I have to post it back to myself at home. I think it cost £20 for my other half to buy for me, but I've prob spent 3x that on postage sending it back to myself
Sentimental value and all that!HRL said:
Pat H said:
It’s fine on your boat, as you would have a lawful excuse or good reason.
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.
I asked a BTP officer on the Central line if it was alright to carry my SA knife a couple of years ago. He laughed at me and said something like as long as I didn’t do something stupid with it, yes. 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.
There are people on the Tube everyday that carry multi tools and I bet they aren’t all the blade-less types.
Think a SA knife is a bit different from a Stanley knife or kitchen knife. Isn’t it discretionary to a degree as far as the law is concerned?
MiseryStreak said:
That Gerber 600 looks good. Decent price as well. Very tempting....Mario149 said:
MiseryStreak said:
That Gerber 600 looks good. Decent price as well. Very tempting....Gerbers from memory you just open the blade and hold the handles together to use it, no button push required to unlock the blade and fold away....
That said, carrying a Gerber in your pocket must weigh a ton so not massively practical in this context
The Mad Monk said:
What are the legal requirements in the UK?
Blade no longer than three inches - 75 mm?
No locking blades?
If you just want to carry it around with you on the off chance you'll need it yes. Othwerwise you have to have a good reason e.g. work, leisure activity requiring a knife you're at that moment doing/about to do/just finished doingBlade no longer than three inches - 75 mm?
No locking blades?
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