Why are you accepting authoritarian rule, a free and responsible man should be able to carry whatever wants without having to explain himself to central government.
I was talking to the police online and they have said this.. OFFICIAL As per below advice - It is an offence to carry any sharp or bladed instrument in a public place, with the exception of a folding pocket knife, which has a blade that is 7.62 cm (3 inches) or less. Even if you are going fishing or camping, you cannot carry a knife that is bigger than 3inches or is a folding pocket knife. Kind Regards, Police Scotland Guess I can't use my fixed blade camping knife which has a fire starter built into its sheath.. I seem to live in the wrong country for my interests, I like guns.. mostly banned/need licence's and memberships.. I like pointy things.. also banned, need good reason but the police have now just told me that this doesn't apply going by that email.. when it comes to knives its hard to know whats even legal and what isn't, I have never wanted to hurt anyone with these tools, and I can live with guns being mostly banned, But ffs I can't even take a decent knife for a camping trip.. Arresting people for carrying a knife which they had no intent to use on a person is just labelling innocent people criminals, damaging freedom, and lives, Meanwhile if they wanted to hurt someone they could do it with a rock or piece of wood, or there fists? should we ban hands?.. I best not give them ideas...
They are now talking to me like I am a criminal for asking them in what scenarios it would be seen as good reason to carry a knife, and if fishing etc would count.. wonderful. Never been arrested or carried a weapon in public, or any other offence, quite a boring person really but talked to like a criminal for wanting to know what is legal for me to do, So i can avoid breaking laws. How unreasonable.
It's disgusting what's going on with knife laws. I felt so proud when I received my 1st knife as a child. It was a sign of trust and responsibility that you were thought of as mature enough. Only a very small pocket knife with other tool functions lol That would be illegal now since there was a lock.
The 1988 law that categorically criminalised "having a knife in a public space" UNLESS it was a "folding pocketknife if the cutting edge of its blade exceeds 3 inches" didn't mention locking mechanisms at all. The law was clear, if it's a folding knife with a short blade (3 inch or less) then it's exempt. Then the courts just decided "nah, if it's got a locking mechanism then this folding knife isn't a folding knife". The courts in England do this shit all the time, they just make shit up to send innocent people to prison. Their argument is "well, a folding knife FUNCTIONS as a non-folding knife if it can lock" but that is just inventing a new law to criminalise the innocent. Parliament knew people carried folding knives with LOCKING blades so didn't criminalise that. The courts didn't care. And Parliament didn't do a think to remove this ambiguity.
I did a building job for a police officer once when I was about 20. He took a liking to me because I was a polite young lad. When I'd finished he gave me a huge locking knife as a thank you gift. Those were the days haha.
im a joiner by trade and the laws have gone mad I was at work going on my dinner as I shot my tool belt into the back of the van so I could go and get my dinner a police officer prevented me from entering my vehicle me been most in shock because it was a armed officer had asked me to empty my pockets whilst his colleague kept her hands ready to quickly draw her side arm as I emptied my pockets on to the bonnet of there car I pulled out the usual wallet pencils drill bits n bits n pieces but because I wear cargo trouser style work trouser I went into my leg pockets and I pulled out a Leatherman multi tool and also a Irwin xp folding locking Stanley knife they proceeded to tell me that my locking Stanley knife was legal but my multi tool was not only because of the liner lock on the knife blades and that they would be seizing it and I would have to appear in court once they had put it in a zip lock bag my site manger came out and said to the officer that they where on private land as they had pulled up onto a drive on a building site I have been told if I want to get my Leatherman back Leatherman (wave) so not the cheapest I would have to go to court of which I would be liable for all court costs they didn't even bother to ask why I had it they'd clearly just watched me putting tools in van police are just a waste of space in my opinion never there when you need them but always there when you don't need them and always look to prove a point when a crowd around good vids keep up the good work
Yup they can effectively seize anything they want with impunity and its on you to pay a fortune to get it back. We need to start cutting back police powers. Some sort of insurance to protect fisherman,workman,bushcrafters etcetera against this is in order. I also recommend getting a cheap body cam for this sort of stuff.
You're lucky. My leatherman cost me a three year suspended sentence after I lost my case. Apparently, two reasonable causes means I was lying... go figure
@@JOHNRFC72 No the copper needed a new leatherman, so he stole yours, I bet any money he didn't hand it in. Of course if you had complained it would suddenly have turned up. I had a friend who was growing 3 illegal plants, he was raided by 2 coppers,( since when do just 2 coppers carry out a drugs raid) they took his plants which were just ready to crop and gave him a choice, forget what had happened and choose his friends more carefully, or go to court and be charged with growing cannabis. Of course he had no choice did he, and the coppers got 3 1/2 ounces of prime weed. Is it surprising nobody trusts the law anymore when so many of them are as bent as a three pound coin..
common cense is all that is needed ... knives are not dangerous, its the idiots that use them .. I have yet to see someone buy a £400 knife made professionally and use it in a street crime ...
You should know by now, tyrant governments don't care about logic or reason. They care about power and control over the population that [allegedly] votes them into power, *IN THE GUISE OF* "public safety." When will people wake up to this fact? Time will tell...
Imagine living in a country where the burden of proof is on you to convince a police officer that you are not a knife murderer for simply carrying one of the most basic tools of day to day life.
@@nowayhoses8079....so what were you doing in a car that wasn't yours? There is far more to the story than the patchy details you've supplied. Tried to prosecute also suggests they passed this onto the CPS who what, proceeded with the case and in court you won? Or did they not charge you at all?
I've managed to cut myself far more often on slipjoint knives than anything that locks or is fixed, due to the fact that I am unable to use the right tool for the job due to the fear of being prosecuted for carrying the right tool for the job. Harming myself is apparently justified by the law in the UK
Yep I nearly had my finger off a year ago because I replace my 2” lock knife with a 3” slipjoint, trying to cuts some foamex preparing for an optical show at an exhibition centre, I always carry a little knife and a multi tool to stop me having to drag my tool bag around with me for little jobs
@@mrbones3163 reminds me of that one australian congresswoman that said all weapons were creations of sadism and evil while considering knives solely as weapons. did politicians never have to cook a meal for themselves?
Some of the laws in UK make me laugh. The knife law being one of them. I have a Gerber gdc zip blade. The blade it' only 0.68" but has a frame lock so I guess that will make it illegal. How is that more dangerous that a 3" non locking Swiss army one? The maximum penalty for an adult carrying a knife without good reason is 4 years in prison and a fine of £5,000. I've seen cocaine drug smugglers being sentenced to half of that. The way they tried to solve the issue is just a joke. There's no surprise criminality rate is raising every year
The sentence can actually be upto 12 years without having a valid reason but no doubt they'd have shoved anything and everything they possibly could to make it up to the 12 years and only the courts decide if its valid or not but to police whether it's valid or not to them it'll never be a valid reason so they'll take it and book you in which then will go to court and as for the fine it can be unlimited which means it can be way more than £5,000 which maximum fine used to only be £5,000 but they removed that cap in 2015 and minimum sentence is 6 months
Knives are not dangerous, you can leave the biggest sharpest knife lying around and it'll never hurt anyone....until a person interacts with it, the person and their intent is what makes a knife, or anything else, dangerous
Living in New Mexico is lovely . I can carry a 44 magnum pistol and a huge knife with a 13 inch blade concealed or unconcealed without a permit . Interesting that it is illegal to carry knuckle dusters / brass knucks , but one can carry a handgun which can put a hole through someone large enough to shove a stove pipe through . My sincere condolences to my old friends back in Kent . Thanks for your video .
@HappyandAtheist The murder rate here is caused by the same lawless scum of society that has caused you to lose your right to a knife. They mostly only kill each other and will continue to do so with no regard for a new law. The big difference between us is (if attacked), The citizens here can legally show them "WHY YOU DON'T BRING A KNIFE TO A GUN FIGHT"
This country as become a joke! I cant get a knife sent to my home from online store but I can go to my kitchen and grab a 12 inch meat knife! This is more amount disarming the populous..
Nearly all knife crime is carried out with a kitchen knife .if you have a good reason going hunting, bushcraft ,gardening or you job then no fixed blade or lock knife is illegal. Anything can be a weapon intent is the determining factor if someone rams their smartphone in your face it's a weapon .this will not affect knife crime one little bit .
I've had knives since I was 4. Yep. 4. My parents taught me to respect them. I cut myself lots. I learnt to respect them further. They have always been, and will always be a tool too me. They are also something that I have built a collection of over the many years passed since being 4 years old. I totally agree with you, it is not the knife that it the problem. It is the person on the end of it. That is the issue. That is what needs to be addressed. And the lessons need to start at home from the parents. I wonder where the statistics are that show the type of knife used in these situations. Is it the £100+ bushcraft knife. Or is it the easily obtained kitchen knife on the way out the door....... It's ridiculous.
@@adamsteger8650 True, but in the case of a gun it can do considerably more damage to more people, which is why America has such a huge number of victims of gun crime. Guns are too readily available because their politicians don't have the power to restrict their sale and use. One gun can kill 50 people, try that with a knife and you will get two at most.
@@iamrocketray Depends. In a time before mass shooters there were serial killers. A gun can kill 50 in one night. A knife can kill 50 over a period of a few years. 50 dead people is still 50 dead. I don't believe guns are the main issue. The mentality of the people willing to murder should be the main focus. If you stick 10 normal, sane people in an armory full of loaded guns, no one will pick up one and murder someone. There is a mental sickness common among killers and if we can isolate that problem, we would all be safer.
@@adamsteger8650 I agree with you that people who kill are suffering a mental illness, but give them a knife and the odds are that they will only kill a few before being caught(DNA etc). Give them a semi-automatic or automatic gun and they can easily kill 50 plus in one go, same goes for a hand grenade but they are not legal are they? People with guns kill more people quicker than people with knives. thats why i think restrictions should apply to guns, BUT not outright bans like we have in the UK, where we are not allowed to defend ourselves or our families without breaking the law, thats crazy!
@@iamrocketray I do agree with you that everyone should have an inalienable right to protect themselves and their families. I also admit for that purpose a simple shotgun or revolver would suffice. The problem is that lawmakers don't know when to stop. Your country, for example, had a mass shooting in the 90s and then banned everything (including guns the shooter didn't use) except for a few select guns. If I'm correct, extensive checks and red tape is required for a single shot shotgun or rifle in the U.K, with no allowance to any type of handguns. Something similar happened to Australia during the same time period, I think. I've read stories about robbers breaking into homes in the UK, the homeowner grabbing a kitchen knife and defending themselves, then murder or attempted murder charges are brought upon the homeowner. Most Americans don't want this senerio. I apologize for being graphic, but I wouldn't want to have to hide and wait for police while my wife or daughter is being raped. Or if I took action I'm arrested for the murder of the rapist. You bring up a point about the hand grenade, however. They are illegal, yet people figure out how to make explosives. The Oklahoma City bombing, for example. In fact, the worst school massacre in American history took place in the 1920's. No guns were involved, only dynamite. Over 40 children and teachers dead. One man and some dynamite--not hard to replicate today. In fact, a man that knows the simple formula for black powder and has oil drums and a box truck could do much worse. Guns aren't the issue in my opinion, deranged people are.
I feel sad for our British cousins. Carrying a leatherman or pocket knife is something I do daily simply cause they come in handy. Opening bags of chips, cutting zip ties, opening blister packs, etc. Yet, even here in USA some people flinch when you have a knife even after they ask if you have a knife cause as Original Outdoors pointed out they are not used to using them.
I tend to carry a knife of some kind for daily tasks (live on a farm and work in the woods/mountains) but I just have to have that extra level of awareness about what I am carrying and where.
Oh so knives have a brain of their own and stab people. Grow up. The real problem is people. A knife is a inanimate object, a surgeon uses a knife to save peoples lives. Shall we ban surgeons to use knives, as knives have a brain of their own. They could end up killing patients.
Every time I hear about knife (guns, pepper sprays, stuff like that) laws in the UK (or eg. France, for that matter) it leaves me with my mouth wide open. I'm really glad I live in the Czech Republic - we can carry esencially anything anywhere, concealed or not (I'm talking only about knives, as guns need to be concealed). You can't get to a court building or a correctional facility with a knife (or gun), and shops can ask you to leave if you lug a big-ass knife around (not usual), but generally almost everything is legal and nobody cares about it. Guy with a two-handed sword in a subway car? Or guy with two machettes and an axe entering a restaurant (my friend went for lunch straight from his worksite)? No problem. I really hope you UK guys straighten your politicians somehow!!! Not that ours don't need some ass whooping. :-D
There's an unholy alliance between Parliament and the Courts. Parliament passes a "common sense" law that is REALLY vague and open to interpretation and the police and courts butcher the law with the most asinine interpretations that clearly ignore what the law says to create a new law that is simply what a lawyer supposes the law is supposed to be. For example, the law that was passed by Parliament specifically allowed carrying of folding knives with no mention of whether they locked or not. BUT... when the prosecution got a hold of the law they argued "oh well, if the blade can lock then this folding knife isn't a folding knife". It's bonkers. Parliament knew that people carried folding knifes that may or may not lock so exempted them. But the courts ignored this logic and just insisted "no, if the blade locks then I can treat it as a non-folding knife" and with all their pomp and presumption of guilt they pile on defendants they could get a jury to convict anyone.
"The problems with knife crime aren't the knives but the reason people carry them" - I could never have articulated it better than that. Great video and I completely agree. 👍
I have worked with someone who used a knife to commit a crime so I can understand the worry over knives. It even got into the paper...as a knife crime - they did not mention it was a bread knife though. Taken from his kitchen. If they can’t get knifes for crime they will make shiv’s which will still be classed a a knife because, and I think this bit is often overlooked, they don’t care about being law abiding, no matter how much the law abiding person is punished because of their actions. They cannot be guilt tripped into not carrying.
Difference being is knife crime isn't from these type they are from literal kitchen knives and the fact anything and everything can be used as a weapon even your most basic things such as a pen or pencil even a ruler can be and they can't exactly ban knives completely since you need them in daily life for cutting food up and if they banned them all they'd have to get rid of everything else too
The strange thing is that there seems to be an anti-weapon movement in all or at least most western countries, i.e. Canada, EU and USA. I don't understand why they are restricting laws all at the same time.
@Amadeus Eisenberg Over our dead bodies... The U.S. has a culture rooted in revolution and resistance to tyranny. A bit of a rebellious streak too I suppose. They go for the guns first, them the knives are phase two.
criminals dont care about gun or knife laws they will still use them. Magna Carta and the Declaration of Right. Common Law defends property rights and rights to self defence. Many of our greatest constitutional documents are Common Law documents. These are not Acts of Parliament. Their principles cannot be repealed by Parliament, and when our Monarch swore to uphold the "laws and customs" of the people of the United Kingdom at her Coronation, those "laws and customs" include Common Law. this is from the magna carter The right to bear arms gives every person the right to self defence using reasonable force, including deadly force if appropriate. Using tragic events as an excuse to remove that right has historically been the work of governments with good reason to fear their people - governments intent on some kind of future totalitarian control of their populations.
we should have never been in the eu it was against the british constition and an act of treason by govenrment and the queen to sell our Sovereignty in 1972. the magna carter was an agreement between the king and the people to stop government from taking over the country and the people and can not be changed without the people and the queen agreeing and as the queen has commited treason all rights of the country are the peoples not government or the queens as she gave up her right in 1972. The European Communities Act 1972 - is a statute. It is unlawful because it is contrary to our constitution which guarantees our right to self-governance. Just because the political establishment refuses to acknowledge and obey our constitution and the rule of law - does not make them invalid. If they ignore our constitution and the rule-of-law then we have a right (and a duty) to ignore their statutes… all of their statutes… including the ones giving them the authority to tax us. Common law trumps statutes. Some in the legal profession have been heard to take a contrary view… but common sense tells us that common law is and must be superior. If a government passed legislation making itself permanent i.e. declaring itself a dictatorship (as Hitler did) - the people could act on their common law right to withdraw their consent to being governed - putting government back in its box - common law thus trumping a statute. (Common sense). Governments do not make, nor can they change laws. They make and change legislation. - Governments are not above the law (they clearly think they are) - but they can and do make themselves exempt from (i.e. they are above) the provisions of statutes. It is probable that because they know they are above statutes (which they are - they make them) that they have come to assume they are also above the law This demonstrates how important it is to know the difference.
Magna Carta - a Common Law document - came into being in 1215; a contract between the knights, barons, clergy, townspeople and the King. Magna Carta affirmed the right of the People to such things as trial by jury, and protection from excessive fines. In 1297 the Model Parliament confirmed Magna Carta in statute law. Much of this statute has since been repealed. Yet while Parliament can repeal or amend any Act of Parliament (statute), Parliament was not a party to the original Common Law contract, and cannot, therefore, amend or repeal it lawfully, and thus its original provisions remain intact.
it is our duty to step in and require the Monarch to uphold their contract with the people. Sovereignty lies with the people and the Monarch is bound by that oath to hold an out-of-control government to account.
So I go to a shop in order to buy a larger locking or fixed blade knife, and make my way home with it on my person. I am stopped by the police, what happens?
Yeah, this happened to someone Weaponsanddstuffs93 knows. Heck, you can't even use a knife to defend yourself in your own home, like how Richard Osborne Brooks did in Hither Green. Brooks was fending off against two burglars while one of them was armed with a screwdriver. Unfortunately, for Brooks and his wife, they must leave their home after that incident.
@Rob Cartesian fucking A right on same in south Italy UK is useless but wtf was guy doing in ya house at night in first place in UK he gets hurt you gets in prison its FUBAR 🙁🐺🐾💢💩
How is the blade length legally defined? The length of the blade profile or the linear dimension from the start of the blade to the tip? And can the blade be longer than 3” if there is a portion that is not sharpened?
IANAL - but I would suggest you use the longest interpretation of what 'length' could be, whether that's the cutting edge or the entirety of the blade.
I really like this video that you put up it is well Thought Out. I'm 30 years old and I've grown up in London. I was introduced to knives as tools as well as its accompanying friends such as machetes access an old military swords. My exposure to these tools was through my involvement with the Scouts of and my grandfather who grew up in the jungles of South America as well as my my father who grew up in the jungles of South London and his occupation was Carpenter. Thank you for the insight rural life and survival may be affected by these laws and tools
....are the words of corrupt murderous wannabe cops. Sorry pal, but THAT line has nothing to do with being an intelligent knife owner or a good AMERICAN police officer(where it originated) and is waaaay off topic as well.
I'm having trouble locating more information on a topic related to this video. We are American, and are about to roll onto the market a CNC machined integral knife that my husband makes. The locking blade is about 4 inches long. However, there is discussion at the company where my husband works about him getting transferred to Scotland. My question is: can we still MAKE the knives we are presently making, but not sell them to anyone in the UK? In other words, sell them to international customers? It's hard to find information on this.
You can own longer knives and ones with locking blades (i have one in the video there), you just cannot EDC them without a good reason. The exception to this would be one of the so-called 'banned' types such as a balisong, flick knife, gravity knife and so on.
Is a spring assist knife considered? It’s obvious an OTF Is out of the question but what if a button opens it up it does not “shoot” out of the handle??
Spring-assisted knives are probably going to be seen as a 'flick knife' even if they don't shoot out. You've probably seen this link: www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives
Wow, well said that man! In all honesty UK knife law makes my blood boil. People use anything these days to damage other people, domestic farm animals and pets. Knives, scissors, screw drivers, pointed sticks etc. Those people are not the ordinary person wishing to carry a knife for everyday mundane uses. I'm 65 and spent all of my life, bar the last 12 years, living in the far South West of Cornwall. Aged 11 I had a sheath knife that I used to cut and trim small branches to makes camps etc, clean fish and a myriad other daily things. I have always carried a knife of some sort. I have a small lock knife with a blade of one and seven eighths of an inch that is now, as you know, illegal to carry in public, I also have a Nieto lock knife with a sub three inch blade, now also illegal to carry, A Leatherman Multitool, illegal but I do have an EDC folding knife and a legal non locking Coleman Multitool.. As I said it makes my blood boil. You're absolutely right it's why these kids, mostly, carry knives that we need to sort out so the rest of us can get on with our lives. Great presentation and I have subscribed to your channel and look forward to seeing more of your videos, Thanks.
One thing I am never clear on is what counts as 'carrying in public'. I am planning a long hike and would like to carry something useful like a multitool or locking blade just in case. I am content that while I am walking in the country I have a good reason. However, part of my route will go through towns. If I put my knife down the bottom of my rucksack does this mean I am no longer 'carrying it in public'?
The answer you will get depends on who you ask. My advice to clients is that your knife is just a tool, and if you're carrying it as such then put it in your rucksack with the rest of your tools/equipment. Mine are most often in one of the rucksack 'lid' pockets, usually with my headtorch and other useful things. It's not on display and easy to find in the dark when I am rooting around for it at camp. The exception to this of course is if you need it for immediate safety, i.e. on the front of my PFD when canoeing or on my harness when climbing.
Yes. As with a lot of this it does seem to depend on who you ask. Possibly the only safe option to make sure my hike doesn't come to an early end is to stick to the 3 inch long folding blade.
Christopher Smith The problem is that the laws are very vague, and only really end up affecting the law abiding. Carrying any knife in public is a lottery - there is no guarantee that they will accept your 'good cause'. Use your judgement as much as possible, but accept that there is always going to be some luck involved. Many years ago, a friend of mine read the law which said that it is legal to carry a knife with a blade 3" or less and capable of folding, and reasoned that this meant that locking knives were legal because they are capable of folding. He carried a locking knife for many years with no problems until he joined a knife forum and discovered that the law is a essentially a 'gotcha', and that he had in fact been carrying an illegal 'fixed blade' knife. The reason for this is some vague case law in which the judge basically adjusted the law to mean something different and set a legal precedent. My friend was not aware of this precedent and could easily have ended up in prison, despite having researched the law. I hope that they clarify this aspect of the law by updating it to 'capable of folding during use'.
Sadly the media reports don't say why the police stopped him in the first place or what his attitude was like when he was pulled over. What would you do if you were a police officer and stopped a van with a machette tucked behind the sun visor? It seems a bit odd to keep all the bladed tools within arms reach of the driver's seat doesn't it? Why aren't they in the back of the van with the rest of his tools?
Thank you so much for this video. Although I am of recent English and Welsh descent, having been born in the US, I honestly had no idea that the knife laws were quite so strict in the UK, and this information will be very important, should I decide to plan a hiking trip in the UK. Even our strictest jurisdictions in the US don't begin to approach the level of restrictions in the UK. NYC allows up to a 4 inch blade, but makes no mention of fixed or folding or locking; however, NYC does require any knives carried be concealed, so as not to cause alarm. I carry a 3.875" liner lock knife that was made that length specifically to be in compliance with NYC law,. I no longer live in NYC or travel there regularly, but it will always remain my hometown.
The changes to the wording regarding automatic knives are possibly going to encompass one handed opening knives (like your mountain rescue knife) it remains to be seen exactly what the wording will be.
Fantastic and really important video. Thanks. We are all outdoorsy and use knives as tools but did just get my daughter a Helle reproduction of a viking knife, and this is really useful.
Hello do you still teach bushcraft and survival as I want to live in a forest in UK in the near future and what's the cost I should be able to cover it when I'm ready
Criminal Justice Act 1988 says cutting edge, but the kind of documentation that people will be referring too just says 'length': For example: www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/offensive-weapons-knife-crime-practical-guidance
I've a Victorinox that I have had for best part of 30 years. Its illegal to carry now since it 'locks' though I still use it when camping on private land or during scouting/educational purposes. The locking mechanism makes it much safer to use as the damn thing doesn't close on you when trying to whittle wood.
i carry a RAT7 daily in when im working. haven't been stopped or searched but it'll be fun when or if i do. i work in the building trade and carry multiple (potentially) dangerous weapons E.g hammer, screwdrivers,saw,blowtorch so i hope id have a decent defence in court if it came to it.
@@originaloutdoors so follow up question. I've been planning a backpacking trip (actual camping/hiking backpacking) in the UK and want to bring this little fixed blade would I have any trouble bringing it in and out of the UK with my checked bag? Same question for a locking folder around 3 in, might as well know before hand and plan around it.
As per the video - you would need to have a 'good reason' for carrying it in any given place. So if it's part of your camping/hiking kit then you'll probably be fine, but if you've got it in your pocket when wandering around a museum or in a bar or something then you probably haven't good a 'good reason' for carrying it in that place.
@@originaloutdoors Any opinion on how U.K. law sees the Mora knives for camping and hiking if it's kept in a hiking kit (but we're traveling through an urban city for part of this trip?) I get not carrying it in a pocket. Just want to carry a fixed blade for bushcrafting but to keep it with me in my kit as I might do a lot of walking/hiking through the U.K.
Excellent video. Very well presented and well reasoned. I frequently carry a Leatherman multi tool for work. While the blade is under 3", it does lock. The trouble is, I never know when I might need it. It is a convenient tool designed to be available when needed, rather than carrying a full tool kit. While the current Law may not agree, I believe it is a good reason to carry a tool kit regardless of if I am at work, as things often need adjusting or fixing, and this is the most compact way to do so. It is frequently useful in my personal life as well as work. I think the locking aspect of the law should be adjusted, as the fact that it locks is a safety measure. I can see why the legislators have put it in as a limitation, but I think the reasoning is faulty and should be removed. The fact it locks doesn't really stop someone from slashing or stabbing with it. The bit that should (and is) be illegal is the intent to use that tool as a weapon. Brandishing it or using it to threaten or attack someone is and should always be illegal, in the same way do so with a screwdriver is. I think I am right in thinking it is also illegal to carry a screwdriver for the purpose of self defence, as the intent is to use it as a weapon. Almost anything can be considered a weapon if used in this manner, and it is illegal to carry a weapon in public.
Im only 17 go camping, fishing mountain biking, walking always outside. I'm always scared of keeping my knife in my bag with my other tools , anyone help . Should I stop worrying and carry on ?
Yep, quite right. In my hands a knife is always a tool and never a weapon. I've been trained and trained others in edged weapon defence and faced them in real life. I never want to experience that again if possible and I would never dream of putting someone else through it. Maybe we need some sort of nationally recognised training and certification for us responsible knife users?
Thank you for sharing your insights Agreed with your mindset. FYI most people who carry knives in villages, town's nd cities are young males less than 20. I did at that age, out of fear Now aged 40, I know it was misplaced Intentions kill, not weapons. Stay safe everyone 🙏
You articulated your point perfectly, intent is what truly matters. You have the right to call out the insanity of laws and ban-happiness Growing up in an impoverished area with violence, one thing I noticed was a lot of people trying to act tough, they would pull knives for petty reasons to intimidate or to settle an argument, very little to do with protection as I noticed that most of the girls and other more vulnerable people didn't carry them. It's not to protect their person, it's to protect their pride
So my Leatherman Surge is completely illegal to EDC; not that I have mind. My multitool lives in my car boot with the rest of my work kit. Now I'm looking at my Gerber that lives on my keyring 🤔
In Canada you can conceal carry locked knifes 4” or less and carry any length blade as long as it’s open carry. So theoretically you can walk around with a sword on your hip as long as it’s fully visible.
I carry my Mora in a rucksack till I get to my location I have been stopped once as there was an incident nearby they asked the usual questions I answered told them were I was going and I had my Mora in the rucksackthe officer wanted to see I opened the bag removed a few items and allowed him to look he was fine with me and said thanks off you go if I had been carrying it on my belt or in my pocket I would be in jail now
Technically a Mora is a fixed blade, most are over 3 inches. Does this mean it's "legal" to carry if it's secured in a backpack and you're going camping? What if you have to make a few pit stops along the way to your destination or you're traveling on foot and may not make it there for a couple days? I wonder how that would change the dynamic of you're simply "traveling" with a mora, intending to use it for bushcraft, but not right away and it's still in your possession. Because obviously you have to posses it to use it.
Well said, you can't litigate for idiots. I've used and carried knives all my life and just like you I view them as tools. Unfortunately there are a lot of people who carry them as weapons and let's face it, they are not for self "defence," knives are terrible for defence, they are for "Offence," when carried as a weapon. Passing deeply restrictive laws like this sadly just glosses over the true problem, which is as you said, not the tool but the motivation of the user and until people in positions of power and responsibility are prepared to deal with that (Especially gang culture), then whatever laws are passed, we'll always have the same problems.
I really enjoyed your video which was entirely sane and rational and very eloquently presented I am not unhappy with the UK's current knife legislation in an outdoors context. However, I don't know where you got the idea that every law abiding gun owner handed their guns in. Specific types of firearm that were banned or in cases where the requirements became more onerous, yes, but not ever gun and not by a long way. Again, our gun laws are (in my opinion) very reasonable for hunting/pest control use - there are a few things I really think ought to be moved to Section 5 (prohibited) - specifically semiauto shotguns with detachable magazines, but those have no place in the countryside.
i have a question. lets say that you have a non-locking,4 inch knife ,but only 3 inches of the 4 inch blade is sharpened, would a knife like this be illegal in the u.k? or does it,in fact conform to the laws of the u.k?
Thanks for a well balanced review of the current knife laws and the squewed views of people who live different lives in different places and have little concept of the day to day affairs of people who live and work in the outdoors. Having said that, there are some really twisted people out there who's very existence challenges any hope of a time when more obvious reasons for possession of a knife can be seen for what is, a tool specifically designed for a particular task, rather than a weapon with the power to turn ordinary people into violent criminals. Personally, I would, by choice, never use a folding knife that didn't lock in the open position for any serious cutting activity. The locked blade is a safe blade, and having had a pen knife fold onto my fingers as a young man doing a job at home on my car, the addition of a safety device being disallowed strikes me as being perverse. No sensible person would legislate against a safety catch on a gun, so why outlaw a safety device on a 3inch bladed tool? I've no idea how many cases have made it to court regarding possession of a 3" bladed pocket knife with a safety device, but I only hope that the court's are able to decern the difference between the intentions of a handyman with a multi tool in his coat pocket going about his day, and a person with no particular cooking skills carrying a 12inch cooks knife down his trousers in a crowded town centre. Thanks for the vlog, I really enjoyed it and appreciate you putting it out there.
Great video. The problem with the knife law changes is that they wont make a bit of difference to criminal users but will put a lot of people in hot water who grew up with knives as tools and know their utility. Lost a locking knife at customs last friday at the ferry port going to france for a weeks camping. Funny they didnt have a problem with my small forest axe. Im in the wrong but verry upset at loosing my ten year EDC i would never consider a knife as a weapon and would never hurt anyone. Adding insult to injury the guy at customs said the knife would have been quite legal in france! - such is life.
Very good informative video. like other videos though the other offence hasn't been spoken about which is Having a pointed or bladed article in a public place. If you were somewhere with public access with that small victorinox you would still get arrested for carrying it if you did not have a good reason for having it on you
Piers are public places but fishermen are using knives there all day and night. Just make sure your not walking around with only a knife. A pack with cord,tarp,saw,cook kit and so on will all be evidence in your favour.
i had a conversation with a local gun shop owner and a police man recently. i purchased a 3 1/2" folding locking gerber skeleton knife and a 26" machette. ( as an electrician the lock knife is a must so it doesnt close on you whilst in use.) the machette was for some brashing whilst running cables down a very over grown driveway to install some outside lights. however. there was a conversation about me leaving the shop with a machette in a carrier bag. (this made it a concealed weapon.) therefore i had to walk nearly a mile with a 3' long machette in my hand in a packed town center. this was obviously a machette ( it said so on the sheth for a start) but the lock knife which went straight into my pocket with so much as a meh from the police man. How confusing are UK knife laws...??? i must admit i got some rather funny looks whilst walking through a VERY busy town center to the carpark with a razor sharp (offensive weapon) not that it was or has been used in such a mannor. i have FAR worse items in my tool box ( again as an electrician ) a jab saw ( plasterboard saw ) 8" long and heavily serrated on both sides of the blade and far more offensive than and 3 1/2" lock knife.... im just rambeling now. but. its such a gray area...
thanks so much very very good video I love my victorinox Swiss army knife huntsman and all Swiss army knife's and multi tools thanks for this good video
Very informative, I’m an American in Texas, I could legally walk down the street with a sword, and wouldn’t need a reason to do so, as I’m typing this I have a switchblade in my pocket I carry it everyday and it’s perfectly legal
One of the interesting effects as a scout leader is that of a group meets on school premises then technically you need to have written permission from the headteacher of the school to bring and use knives on the premises
The Victorinox Rescue knife, their first knife with fluorescent green scales has a liner lock blade, a man was arrested for having one in his car's glove box. Why did the 'reasonable excuse ' defence fail?
Thanks for presentation, very informative. The point you made regarding the changes in firearms law had no affect on the illegally held handguns in this country. Only the law abiding amongst us suffered. The new knife law will be exactly the same. Only the law abiding will suffer. But, what we understand to be the law, is not always so. British law is unusual in that the government passes the basic legislation and then the law is TESTED in the courts. This is where the true understanding of the law will be realised. Only then will know the real affect on the lawful user.
“WITHOUT GOOD REASON”. That’s the operative phrase. If you have a good reason to have it with you it’s legal. I’ve carried a knife with a 5” fixed blade on my way through town and into the woods to practice a bit of bushcraft, carving, trap making. If a cop stops me and has reason to ask if I’m carrying anything I shouldn’t have my answer would be “No, but I do have a knife in my pack for use up in the woods”. It’s all about “good reason”. If a pissy little 3” knife isn’t enough for the job then a bigger knife is needed hence good reason.
I thoroughly enjoyed this video mate. Stumbled across it whilst looking for EDC orientated UK laws. Good and valid points, put across in a professional manner. Stay safe.
does this mean i have no problem where ever i go with my opinel no6 with the lock popped as it is non locking with the blade less then 3"??? this is by far my most used TOOL every single day i use it. its in my pocket no matter what.....thanks in advance ....glen at west yorkshire catapults :)
I come from a time when all boys carried a pocket knife a piece of string and a cotton strip that would make a sling or bandage. With the changes in law I handed in all my Sheffield Carbon steel knives after having them for more than forty years and bought a few stainless ones that will not rust locked them in a metal box and that is where they stay they only come out about once a year because some have wooden handles that require oil to prevent them drying and cracking.
Great video. Good to hear someone with a sensible and balanced opinion. It’s sad when issues of violence are painted over by restricting the lives of law abiding, socially responsible citizens. The mainstream media needs to hear more from people like yourself to redress the imbalance of scare stories.
I’m not sure that my opinions matter as I’m an American, but I am impressed by the logic and fair mindedness of your arguments. Knives are not guns, they are tools in general use, in contrast to firearms which are (properly) of more limited use. I think the changes in UK law also not only likely to be ineffective, but also likely to exacerbate the problem of knife violence. Why “exacerbate”? Because ignoring genuine causes and solutions to a serious problem while wasting time and resources on non-solutions lets the problem continue to grow and makes effective action more difficult (“we’ve already addressed that problem with the restrictions”, etc.)
To be honest, very educational straight to the point, only just found your channel, but you have gained a new sub even if I am a few years late, cracking video, honest and out there
You bang on with your opinion mate personally I've never been attacked with a bushcraft,hunting or even a combat knife its always been a kitchen knife or a Stanley cuz there cheap and disposable
I think all friction folders are dangerous I had a SAK blade close on me just while stropping it for wood carving so I’ve just gone to all lock knifes or fixed blade carvers from now on
I doubt in the outdoor setting you will get much more grief carrying a puukko style woodcraft knife, ax and saw than we would normally. But I know off and carry sometimes a overbuilt 'survival/military' knife and it seems to me that users could leave our/themselves open through not fault of their own to a officer interpretation of what is a 'zombie' knife which is illegal to own.
As a contrast to this: here in the State of Oregon in the US, there is no such thing as an illegal knife. I can own and carry any type and size knife I like. The only caveat is that most types of knives can't be carried in a concealed manner. Basically anything that isn't a "pocket knife" has to be carried so that it's clearly visible (although oddly enough a Judge once ruled that a switchblade is a pocket knife). I have a Ti-lite VI that I carry clipped in my pocket and as long as the clip hold it so that the end of the knife is clearly visible it's 100% legal. Of course, if I put a coat on and it's long enough to cover my pocket then I would be in trouble.
The law as on the gov website... Interesting to note about locking knives that it clearly states lock knives are 'blades that can be locked and refolded only by pressing a button'. That actually seems very specific about the locking mechanism... 'only by pressing a button' and not as vague as I thought. It does not say in the text anything like 'any knife that can lock in any way'. Therefore since the law is the text, surely we can conclude that an Opinel of under 3" is not illegal as an every day carry..? It’s illegal to: sell a knife to anyone under 18, unless it has a folding blade 3 inches long (7.62 cm) or less carry a knife in public without good reason, unless it has a folding blade with a cutting edge 3 inches long or less carry, buy or sell any type of banned knife use any knife in a threatening way (even a legal knife) Scotland In Scotland, 16 to 18 year olds are allowed to buy cutlery and kitchen knives. Lock knives Lock knives are not classed as folding knives and are illegal to carry in public without good reason. Lock knives: have blades that can be locked and refolded only by pressing a button can include multi-tool knives - tools that also contain other devices such as a screwdriver or can opener
I have heard that the UK now had a knife registration a few years back. The UK confiscated the guns a long time ago, now they've taken the next step and going after knives. I live in the US and not only am I a gun owner, but also have a variety of knives. I have carried a Buck 110 for 40 plus years, It's my multi-tool. A Buck 110 is a locking blade over 4 inches, so I guess that would be illegal in the UK? I use my Buck knife as a pry bar, as a screwdriver, as a hammer, and anything else I can think of (like skinning deer, it's original purpose). I have never even considered using it as a weapon. I would feel naked without it on my belt.
Great video, and I wholeheartedly agree with your view. I live in inner city Manchester, and there was a stabbing recently where I live. If it wasn't knives it would be a shiv, a bat, acid/lye, anything. Until the gangs, fear in school children, drug culture and social problems are changed it will remain a problem. The new knife laws certainly haven't helped things thus far. It's a shame that responsible gun and knife owners are tarred with the same brush.
I got stopped by the police in the countryside with a Khukri, I showed them my camping gear I also had with me. No problems. Depends which copper you get more than anything else.
that's the issue isn't it? It often comes down to the police officer who stops you, and whether they have to produce a ticket by the end of their shift or not!
I work as a groundsman and five days a week walk around with a leatherman in a pouch on my belt. One of my work colleagues is an ex chief inspector with the London Met - he always carry’s one in his coat pocket. There’s no danger to any member of the public because I carry this tool on my belt.
You have just confused the issue even more. Is it a "blade of more than 3 inches", or a "sharp edge of more than 3 inches", because the sharp edge does not always run the full length of the actual blade. On a folding pocket knife, there is normally a 1/4 - 1/2 inch section of the blade nearest the handle, that is not sharp.
It matches the variance in terminology used in the 'advice' pages on the .GOV site. www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives#:~:text=Basic%20laws%20on%20knives,3%20inches%20long%20or%20less
I carry a leather an juice cs4 it’s slip joint multi tool with a 21/2 inch blade , I like it because it’s uk legal with the addled functionality of a multi tool
You can get buy with those 5 knives. They only ban switchblades or anything with a fast-opening blade in it, which is no big deal for me, a hunter,collector and bushcrafter. If I carry a knife in civilisation its in the box from the shop bought it from. Same thing with any other weapon.
What about those combat knifes? You know the military ones can you only carry them once after you buy them and never take them out again? There are some in a gift shop I’ve seen and I was just wandering also do you need a license to buy a combat knife in the uk or just show your ID and keep a receipt so the police would know you just bought one and then keep it away from the public and just for show in your home
A little more info on the accompanying blog post:
originaloutdoors.co.uk/bushcraft-general/2018-uk-knife-law-changes/
Why are you accepting authoritarian rule, a free and responsible man should be able to carry whatever wants without having to explain himself to central government.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/222776
I just received an email asking if I ship my fixed blade knives to UK. I am thinking the answer is going to be "no".
I was talking to the police online and they have said this..
OFFICIAL
As per below advice - It is an offence to carry any sharp or bladed instrument in a public place, with the exception of a folding pocket knife, which has a blade that is 7.62 cm (3 inches) or less. Even if you are going fishing or camping, you cannot carry a knife that is bigger than 3inches or is a folding pocket knife.
Kind Regards,
Police Scotland
Guess I can't use my fixed blade camping knife which has a fire starter built into its sheath..
I seem to live in the wrong country for my interests, I like guns.. mostly banned/need licence's and memberships.. I like pointy things.. also banned, need good reason but the police have now just told me that this doesn't apply going by that email.. when it comes to knives its hard to know whats even legal and what isn't, I have never wanted to hurt anyone with these tools, and I can live with guns being mostly banned, But ffs I can't even take a decent knife for a camping trip.. Arresting people for carrying a knife which they had no intent to use on a person is just labelling innocent people criminals, damaging freedom, and lives, Meanwhile if they wanted to hurt someone they could do it with a rock or piece of wood, or there fists? should we ban hands?.. I best not give them ideas...
They are now talking to me like I am a criminal for asking them in what scenarios it would be seen as good reason to carry a knife, and if fishing etc would count.. wonderful.
Never been arrested or carried a weapon in public, or any other offence, quite a boring person really but talked to like a criminal for wanting to know what is legal for me to do, So i can avoid breaking laws. How unreasonable.
It's disgusting what's going on with knife laws.
I felt so proud when I received my 1st knife as a child. It was a sign of trust and responsibility that you were thought of as mature enough. Only a very small pocket knife with other tool functions lol
That would be illegal now since there was a lock.
The 1988 law that categorically criminalised "having a knife in a public space" UNLESS it was a "folding pocketknife if the cutting edge of its blade exceeds 3 inches" didn't mention locking mechanisms at all. The law was clear, if it's a folding knife with a short blade (3 inch or less) then it's exempt. Then the courts just decided "nah, if it's got a locking mechanism then this folding knife isn't a folding knife". The courts in England do this shit all the time, they just make shit up to send innocent people to prison.
Their argument is "well, a folding knife FUNCTIONS as a non-folding knife if it can lock" but that is just inventing a new law to criminalise the innocent.
Parliament knew people carried folding knives with LOCKING blades so didn't criminalise that.
The courts didn't care.
And Parliament didn't do a think to remove this ambiguity.
I did a building job for a police officer once when I was about 20. He took a liking to me because I was a polite young lad. When I'd finished he gave me a huge locking knife as a thank you gift. Those were the days haha.
Now he'd be arrested for Possession with intent to supply a deadly weapon.
im a joiner by trade and the laws have gone mad I was at work going on my dinner as I shot my tool belt into the back of the van so I could go and get my dinner a police officer prevented me from entering my vehicle me been most in shock because it was a armed officer had asked me to empty my pockets whilst his colleague kept her hands ready to quickly draw her side arm as I emptied my pockets on to the bonnet of there car I pulled out the usual wallet pencils drill bits n bits n pieces but because I wear cargo trouser style work trouser I went into my leg pockets and I pulled out a Leatherman multi tool and also a Irwin xp folding locking Stanley knife they proceeded to tell me that my locking Stanley knife was legal but my multi tool was not only because of the liner lock on the knife blades and that they would be seizing it and I would have to appear in court once they had put it in a zip lock bag my site manger came out and said to the officer that they where on private land as they had pulled up onto a drive on a building site I have been told if I want to get my Leatherman back Leatherman (wave) so not the cheapest I would have to go to court of which I would be liable for all court costs they didn't even bother to ask why I had it they'd clearly just watched me putting tools in van police are just a waste of space in my opinion never there when you need them but always there when you don't need them and always look to prove a point when a crowd around good vids keep up the good work
Yup they can effectively seize anything they want with impunity and its on you to pay a fortune to get it back. We need to start cutting back police powers.
Some sort of insurance to protect fisherman,workman,bushcrafters etcetera against this is in order.
I also recommend getting a cheap body cam for this sort of stuff.
You're lucky. My leatherman cost me a three year suspended sentence after I lost my case. Apparently, two reasonable causes means I was lying... go figure
Does Paul Hitchman have a part in this?. You were targeted.
UK law has gone very much awry, nowadays you can be convicted of a crime without ever being heard by a jury.
@@JOHNRFC72 No the copper needed a new leatherman, so he stole yours, I bet any money he didn't hand it in. Of course if you had complained it would suddenly have turned up. I had a friend who was growing 3 illegal plants, he was raided by 2 coppers,( since when do just 2 coppers carry out a drugs raid) they took his plants which were just ready to crop and gave him a choice, forget what had happened and choose his friends more carefully, or go to court and be charged with growing cannabis. Of course he had no choice did he, and the coppers got 3 1/2 ounces of prime weed. Is it surprising nobody trusts the law anymore when so many of them are as bent as a three pound coin..
common cense is all that is needed ... knives are not dangerous, its the idiots that use them .. I have yet to see someone buy a £400 knife made professionally and use it in a street crime ...
le me waste my ray mears woodlore on this wanker
@@theorangebear5809 lmao
You should know by now, tyrant governments don't care about logic or reason. They care about power and control over the population that [allegedly] votes them into power, *IN THE GUISE OF* "public safety."
When will people wake up to this fact? Time will tell...
@@theorangebear5809 🤣
Imagine living in a country where the burden of proof is on you to convince a police officer that you are not a knife murderer for simply carrying one of the most basic tools of day to day life.
Extremely unlikely to be searched in the first place. Especially if your white😕
No imagination required, tried to prosecute me for Gerber multi-tool found in glovebox in car wasn't even mine.
Don't need to.
@@jonathanm877 Yeah, only time I'm searched is getting into big nightclubs or music concerts which I obviously wouldn't take a knife to anyway
@@nowayhoses8079....so what were you doing in a car that wasn't yours? There is far more to the story than the patchy details you've supplied.
Tried to prosecute also suggests they passed this onto the CPS who what, proceeded with the case and in court you won? Or did they not charge you at all?
I've managed to cut myself far more often on slipjoint knives than anything that locks or is fixed, due to the fact that I am unable to use the right tool for the job due to the fear of being prosecuted for carrying the right tool for the job.
Harming myself is apparently justified by the law in the UK
Exactly. Non-locking knives are far more dangerous. The UK knife laws are an absolute joke.
On the other hand, allowing a small slipjoint is more reasonable than the law in some other countries. Still, it's bullshit.
Yep I nearly had my finger off a year ago because I replace my 2” lock knife with a 3” slipjoint, trying to cuts some foamex preparing for an optical show at an exhibition centre, I always carry a little knife and a multi tool to stop me having to drag my tool bag around with me for little jobs
@@mrbones3163 reminds me of that one australian congresswoman that said all weapons were creations of sadism and evil while considering knives solely as weapons.
did politicians never have to cook a meal for themselves?
Try using it properly then,I've never ever ever cut myself with a slip joint knife
Because I'm not a moron.
Some of the laws in UK make me laugh. The knife law being one of them. I have a Gerber gdc zip blade. The blade it' only 0.68" but has a frame lock so I guess that will make it illegal. How is that more dangerous that a 3" non locking Swiss army one? The maximum penalty for an adult carrying a knife without good reason is 4 years in prison and a fine of £5,000. I've seen cocaine drug smugglers being sentenced to half of that. The way they tried to solve the issue is just a joke. There's no surprise criminality rate is raising every year
The sentence can actually be upto 12 years without having a valid reason but no doubt they'd have shoved anything and everything they possibly could to make it up to the 12 years and only the courts decide if its valid or not but to police whether it's valid or not to them it'll never be a valid reason so they'll take it and book you in which then will go to court and as for the fine it can be unlimited which means it can be way more than £5,000 which maximum fine used to only be £5,000 but they removed that cap in 2015 and minimum sentence is 6 months
Knives are not dangerous, you can leave the biggest sharpest knife lying around and it'll never hurt anyone....until a person interacts with it, the person and their intent is what makes a knife, or anything else, dangerous
reminds me of the anti gun stuff from america, i use this as a response.......spoons make people fat, pencils misspell words and guns kill people
@@SoSimonSays I was about to say that, I hope we never get that far gone
Same with guns ,but because governments legislate for hi intensity small amount of idiot population that deserve a Darwin award we all have to suffer
@@fabriglas yip,always the way
Living in New Mexico is lovely . I can carry a 44 magnum pistol and a huge knife with a 13 inch blade concealed or unconcealed without a permit . Interesting that it is illegal to carry knuckle dusters / brass knucks , but one can carry a handgun which can put a hole through someone large enough to shove a stove pipe through .
My sincere condolences to my old friends back in Kent . Thanks for your video .
@HappyandAtheist
The murder rate here is caused by the same lawless scum of society that has caused you to lose your right to a knife.
They mostly only kill each other and will continue to do so with no regard for a new law.
The big difference between us is (if attacked), The citizens here can legally show them "WHY YOU DON'T BRING A KNIFE TO A GUN FIGHT"
This country as become a joke! I cant get a knife sent to my home from online store but I can go to my kitchen and grab a 12 inch meat knife! This is more amount disarming the populous..
Ask the people that suffered during the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution.
@@Cleric775 holodomor
Short of ripping off your actual arms I dont think you guys could be more disarmed.
And not having to admit that importing half the 3rd world was not a great success, when are they banning acid btw?
Gangs, mobs are the cause. Did they turn theirs in. No because criminals don't follow the law.
Nearly all knife crime is carried out with a kitchen knife .if you have a good reason going hunting, bushcraft ,gardening or you job then no fixed blade or lock knife is illegal. Anything can be a weapon intent is the determining factor if someone rams their smartphone in your face it's a weapon .this will not affect knife crime one little bit .
Yes, with the screwdriver coming a really close second. Doesn't bear thinking about does it?
clangerbasher
Ask the burglars in Hither Green.
Yep.
Wow, the uk gave up most of their guns without a fight and now we are to believe that they will fight for their knife rights.
I've had knives since I was 4. Yep. 4. My parents taught me to respect them. I cut myself lots. I learnt to respect them further. They have always been, and will always be a tool too me. They are also something that I have built a collection of over the many years passed since being 4 years old. I totally agree with you, it is not the knife that it the problem. It is the person on the end of it. That is the issue. That is what needs to be addressed. And the lessons need to start at home from the parents. I wonder where the statistics are that show the type of knife used in these situations. Is it the £100+ bushcraft knife. Or is it the easily obtained kitchen knife on the way out the door....... It's ridiculous.
Your argument applies perfectly to firearms too. It's the user, not the tool.
@@adamsteger8650 True, but in the case of a gun it can do considerably more damage to more people, which is why America has such a huge number of victims of gun crime. Guns are too readily available because their politicians don't have the power to restrict their sale and use. One gun can kill 50 people, try that with a knife and you will get two at most.
@@iamrocketray Depends. In a time before mass shooters there were serial killers. A gun can kill 50 in one night. A knife can kill 50 over a period of a few years. 50 dead people is still 50 dead. I don't believe guns are the main issue. The mentality of the people willing to murder should be the main focus. If you stick 10 normal, sane people in an armory full of loaded guns, no one will pick up one and murder someone. There is a mental sickness common among killers and if we can isolate that problem, we would all be safer.
@@adamsteger8650 I agree with you that people who kill are suffering a mental illness, but give them a knife and the odds are that they will only kill a few before being caught(DNA etc). Give them a semi-automatic or automatic gun and they can easily kill 50 plus in one go, same goes for a hand grenade but they are not legal are they? People with guns kill more people quicker than people with knives. thats why i think restrictions should apply to guns, BUT not outright bans like we have in the UK, where we are not allowed to defend ourselves or our families without breaking the law, thats crazy!
@@iamrocketray I do agree with you that everyone should have an inalienable right to protect themselves and their families. I also admit for that purpose a simple shotgun or revolver would suffice. The problem is that lawmakers don't know when to stop. Your country, for example, had a mass shooting in the 90s and then banned everything (including guns the shooter didn't use) except for a few select guns. If I'm correct, extensive checks and red tape is required for a single shot shotgun or rifle in the U.K, with no allowance to any type of handguns. Something similar happened to Australia during the same time period, I think. I've read stories about robbers breaking into homes in the UK, the homeowner grabbing a kitchen knife and defending themselves, then murder or attempted murder charges are brought upon the homeowner. Most Americans don't want this senerio. I apologize for being graphic, but I wouldn't want to have to hide and wait for police while my wife or daughter is being raped. Or if I took action I'm arrested for the murder of the rapist. You bring up a point about the hand grenade, however. They are illegal, yet people figure out how to make explosives. The Oklahoma City bombing, for example. In fact, the worst school massacre in American history took place in the 1920's. No guns were involved, only dynamite. Over 40 children and teachers dead. One man and some dynamite--not hard to replicate today. In fact, a man that knows the simple formula for black powder and has oil drums and a box truck could do much worse. Guns aren't the issue in my opinion, deranged people are.
I feel sad for our British cousins. Carrying a leatherman or pocket knife is something I do daily simply cause they come in handy. Opening bags of chips, cutting zip ties, opening blister packs, etc. Yet, even here in USA some people flinch when you have a knife even after they ask if you have a knife cause as Original Outdoors pointed out they are not used to using them.
I tend to carry a knife of some kind for daily tasks (live on a farm and work in the woods/mountains) but I just have to have that extra level of awareness about what I am carrying and where.
Seriously. How the heck do people get on without carry a multi-tool. They are so damn useful for any little job that comes along.
did he really say that or are you tolling? Because that seems so American haha....much love from Texas
ClearSmashDrop even my sons who are all in the military are not allowed to carry a leatherman . the world has gone crazy .
You can do all that in the UK but you need a legal blade.
You look all set for a day out in London
it's not THAT bad here............ on a Sunday morning before 10 am.
+Sir Scofferoff u sure? u seen all the machetes, zombie knifes, flick knifes they be carrying
Oh so knives have a brain of their own and stab people. Grow up. The real problem is people. A knife is a inanimate object, a surgeon uses a knife to save peoples lives. Shall we ban surgeons to use knives, as knives have a brain of their own. They could end up killing patients.
@@cb7340 That is true, but that's just because they want them to look cool. They could just as easily use a kitchen knife.
@@reecewhittaker7 Only 1 wound? welcome to the club rookie.
Every time I hear about knife (guns, pepper sprays, stuff like that) laws in the UK (or eg. France, for that matter) it leaves me with my mouth wide open.
I'm really glad I live in the Czech Republic - we can carry esencially anything anywhere, concealed or not (I'm talking only about knives, as guns need to be concealed). You can't get to a court building or a correctional facility with a knife (or gun), and shops can ask you to leave if you lug a big-ass knife around (not usual), but generally almost everything is legal and nobody cares about it.
Guy with a two-handed sword in a subway car? Or guy with two machettes and an axe entering a restaurant (my friend went for lunch straight from his worksite)? No problem.
I really hope you UK guys straighten your politicians somehow!!! Not that ours don't need some ass whooping. :-D
Michal Urban we can't straighten the politicians out because we aren't armed ... funny how it works
Hmmm... how's the cost of living in the Czech Republic?
Not allowed to carry any type of self defence weapon over here and the spray you get over here in the UK its not pepper spray its a criminal dye spray
There's an unholy alliance between Parliament and the Courts.
Parliament passes a "common sense" law that is REALLY vague and open to interpretation and the police and courts butcher the law with the most asinine interpretations that clearly ignore what the law says to create a new law that is simply what a lawyer supposes the law is supposed to be.
For example, the law that was passed by Parliament specifically allowed carrying of folding knives with no mention of whether they locked or not. BUT... when the prosecution got a hold of the law they argued "oh well, if the blade can lock then this folding knife isn't a folding knife". It's bonkers. Parliament knew that people carried folding knifes that may or may not lock so exempted them. But the courts ignored this logic and just insisted "no, if the blade locks then I can treat it as a non-folding knife" and with all their pomp and presumption of guilt they pile on defendants they could get a jury to convict anyone.
Not sure if you know this, but we have a massive problem with young people stabbing eachother. So these laws are a good idea.
"The problems with knife crime aren't the knives but the reason people carry them" - I could never have articulated it better than that. Great video and I completely agree. 👍
I have worked with someone who used a knife to commit a crime so I can understand the worry over knives. It even got into the paper...as a knife crime - they did not mention it was a bread knife though. Taken from his kitchen. If they can’t get knifes for crime they will make shiv’s which will still be classed a a knife because, and I think this bit is often overlooked, they don’t care about being law abiding, no matter how much the law abiding person is punished because of their actions. They cannot be guilt tripped into not carrying.
Difference being is knife crime isn't from these type they are from literal kitchen knives and the fact anything and everything can be used as a weapon even your most basic things such as a pen or pencil even a ruler can be and they can't exactly ban knives completely since you need them in daily life for cutting food up and if they banned them all they'd have to get rid of everything else too
The strange thing is that there seems to be an anti-weapon movement in all or at least most western countries, i.e. Canada, EU and USA. I don't understand why they are restricting laws all at the same time.
Because your citizenry puts up with it and doesn't threaten not to re-elect these people. Y'all don't put up a fuss when you should.
Communism its communism!
It's all about control. Not safety or reducing crime. It's about increasing the power and control of the government.
@Amadeus Eisenberg Over our dead bodies...
The U.S. has a culture rooted in revolution and resistance to tyranny. A bit of a rebellious streak too I suppose. They go for the guns first, them the knives are phase two.
criminals dont care about gun or knife laws they will still use them. Magna Carta and the Declaration of Right. Common Law defends property rights and rights to self defence.
Many of our greatest constitutional documents are Common Law documents. These are not Acts of Parliament. Their principles cannot be repealed by Parliament, and when our Monarch swore to uphold the "laws and customs" of the people of the United Kingdom at her Coronation, those "laws and customs" include Common Law. this is from the magna carter The right to bear arms gives every person the right to self defence using reasonable force, including deadly force if appropriate. Using tragic events as an excuse to remove that right has historically been the work of governments with good reason to fear their people - governments intent on some kind of future totalitarian control of their populations.
we should have never been in the eu it was against the british constition and an act of treason by govenrment and the queen to sell our Sovereignty in 1972. the magna carter was an agreement between the king and the people to stop government from taking over the country and the people and can not be changed without the people and the queen agreeing and as the queen has commited treason all rights of the country are the peoples not government or the queens as she gave up her right in 1972. The European Communities Act 1972 - is a statute. It is unlawful because it is contrary to our constitution which guarantees our right to self-governance. Just because the political establishment refuses to acknowledge and obey our constitution and the rule of law - does not make them invalid. If they ignore our constitution and the rule-of-law then we have a right (and a duty) to ignore their statutes… all of their statutes… including the ones giving them the authority to tax us. Common law trumps statutes. Some in the legal profession have been heard to take a contrary view… but common sense tells us that common law is and must be superior. If a government passed legislation making itself permanent i.e. declaring itself a dictatorship (as Hitler did) - the people could act on their common law right to withdraw their consent to being governed - putting government back in its box - common law thus trumping a statute. (Common sense). Governments do not make, nor can they change laws. They make and change legislation.
- Governments are not above the law (they clearly think they are) - but they can and do make themselves exempt from (i.e. they are above) the provisions of statutes. It is probable that because they know they are above statutes (which they are - they make them) that they have come to assume they are also above the law This demonstrates how important it is to know the difference.
Magna Carta - a Common Law document - came into being in 1215; a contract between the knights, barons, clergy, townspeople and the King. Magna Carta affirmed the right of the People to such things as trial by jury, and protection from excessive fines.
In 1297 the Model Parliament confirmed Magna Carta in statute law. Much of this statute has since been repealed. Yet while Parliament can repeal or amend any Act of Parliament (statute), Parliament was not a party to the original Common Law contract, and cannot, therefore, amend or repeal it lawfully, and thus its original provisions remain intact.
it is our duty to step in and require the Monarch to uphold their contract with the people. Sovereignty lies with the people and the Monarch is bound by that oath to hold an out-of-control government to account.
Its about time the courts understood our laws
I'm starting to think the crown is derelict in their duties to its people.
Thanks for this! I recently got a normal swiss army knife to use and just wanted a clarification for the laws on carrying it.
So I go to a shop in order to buy a larger locking or fixed blade knife, and make my way home with it on my person. I am stopped by the police, what happens?
^^^^^ This.
Yeah, this happened to someone Weaponsanddstuffs93 knows.
Heck, you can't even use a knife to defend yourself in your own home, like how Richard Osborne Brooks did in Hither Green. Brooks was fending off against two burglars while one of them was armed with a screwdriver. Unfortunately, for Brooks and his wife, they must leave their home after that incident.
Rob Carter lucky you
You're watching too many movies.
@Rob Cartesian fucking A right on same in south Italy UK is useless but wtf was guy doing in ya house at night in first place in UK he gets hurt you gets in prison its FUBAR 🙁🐺🐾💢💩
How is the blade length legally defined? The length of the blade profile or the linear dimension from the start of the blade to the tip? And can the blade be longer than 3” if there is a portion that is not sharpened?
IANAL - but I would suggest you use the longest interpretation of what 'length' could be, whether that's the cutting edge or the entirety of the blade.
I really like this video that you put up it is well Thought Out. I'm 30 years old and I've grown up in London. I was introduced to knives as tools as well as its accompanying friends such as machetes access an old military swords. My exposure to these tools was through my involvement with the Scouts of and my grandfather who grew up in the jungles of South America as well as my my father who grew up in the jungles of South London and his occupation was Carpenter.
Thank you for the insight rural life and survival may be affected by these laws and tools
Thanks for taking the time to comment like that and share your experiences.
Better to be judged by twelve than carried by Six.
You've evidently never been tried by twelve.
@@ComprehensiveContext Better than being in a ditch.
....are the words of corrupt murderous wannabe cops.
Sorry pal, but THAT line has nothing to do with being an intelligent knife owner or a good AMERICAN police officer(where it originated) and is waaaay off topic as well.
@@ComprehensiveContext I have and I agree with him
I'm having trouble locating more information on a topic related to this video. We are American, and are about to roll onto the market a CNC machined integral knife that my husband makes. The locking blade is about 4 inches long. However, there is discussion at the company where my husband works about him getting transferred to Scotland. My question is: can we still MAKE the knives we are presently making, but not sell them to anyone in the UK? In other words, sell them to international customers? It's hard to find information on this.
You can own longer knives and ones with locking blades (i have one in the video there), you just cannot EDC them without a good reason. The exception to this would be one of the so-called 'banned' types such as a balisong, flick knife, gravity knife and so on.
Is a spring assist knife considered?
It’s obvious an OTF Is out of the question but what if a button opens it up it does not “shoot” out of the handle??
Original Outdoors ^
Spring-assisted knives are probably going to be seen as a 'flick knife' even if they don't shoot out.
You've probably seen this link:
www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives
Yoiu can certainly sell them to UK customers as well.
Wow, well said that man! In all honesty UK knife law makes my blood boil. People use anything these days to damage other people, domestic farm animals and pets. Knives, scissors, screw drivers, pointed sticks etc. Those people are not the ordinary person wishing to carry a knife for everyday mundane uses. I'm 65 and spent all of my life, bar the last 12 years, living in the far South West of Cornwall. Aged 11 I had a sheath knife that I used to cut and trim small branches to makes camps etc, clean fish and a myriad other daily things. I have always carried a knife of some sort. I have a small lock knife with a blade of one and seven eighths of an inch that is now, as you know, illegal to carry in public, I also have a Nieto lock knife with a sub three inch blade, now also illegal to carry, A Leatherman Multitool, illegal but I do have an EDC folding knife and a legal non locking Coleman Multitool.. As I said it makes my blood boil. You're absolutely right it's why these kids, mostly, carry knives that we need to sort out so the rest of us can get on with our lives. Great presentation and I have subscribed to your channel and look forward to seeing more of your videos, Thanks.
Thanks for the kind words, and for subscribing - I'll try and include more Kernewek content for you :-)
One thing I am never clear on is what counts as 'carrying in public'. I am planning a long hike and would like to carry something useful like a multitool or locking blade just in case. I am content that while I am walking in the country I have a good reason. However, part of my route will go through towns. If I put my knife down the bottom of my rucksack does this mean I am no longer 'carrying it in public'?
The answer you will get depends on who you ask. My advice to clients is that your knife is just a tool, and if you're carrying it as such then put it in your rucksack with the rest of your tools/equipment. Mine are most often in one of the rucksack 'lid' pockets, usually with my headtorch and other useful things. It's not on display and easy to find in the dark when I am rooting around for it at camp. The exception to this of course is if you need it for immediate safety, i.e. on the front of my PFD when canoeing or on my harness when climbing.
Yes. As with a lot of this it does seem to depend on who you ask. Possibly the only safe option to make sure my hike doesn't come to an early end is to stick to the 3 inch long folding blade.
See this...
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3165489/Gardener-arrested-and-taken-to-court-for-carrying-work-scythe-in-van.html
Christopher Smith
The problem is that the laws are very vague, and only really end up affecting the law abiding.
Carrying any knife in public is a lottery - there is no guarantee that they will accept your 'good cause'.
Use your judgement as much as possible, but accept that there is always going to be some luck involved.
Many years ago, a friend of mine read the law which said that it is legal to carry a knife with a blade 3" or less and capable of folding, and reasoned that this meant that locking knives were legal because they are capable of folding.
He carried a locking knife for many years with no problems until he joined a knife forum and discovered that the law is a essentially a 'gotcha', and that he had in fact been carrying an illegal 'fixed blade' knife.
The reason for this is some vague case law in which the judge basically adjusted the law to mean something different and set a legal precedent.
My friend was not aware of this precedent and could easily have ended up in prison, despite having researched the law.
I hope that they clarify this aspect of the law by updating it to 'capable of folding during use'.
Sadly the media reports don't say why the police stopped him in the first place or what his attitude was like when he was pulled over. What would you do if you were a police officer and stopped a van with a machette tucked behind the sun visor? It seems a bit odd to keep all the bladed tools within arms reach of the driver's seat doesn't it? Why aren't they in the back of the van with the rest of his tools?
Thank you so much for this video. Although I am of recent English and Welsh descent, having been born in the US, I honestly had no idea that the knife laws were quite so strict in the UK, and this information will be very important, should I decide to plan a hiking trip in the UK. Even our strictest jurisdictions in the US don't begin to approach the level of restrictions in the UK. NYC allows up to a 4 inch blade, but makes no mention of fixed or folding or locking; however, NYC does require any knives carried be concealed, so as not to cause alarm. I carry a 3.875" liner lock knife that was made that length specifically to be in compliance with NYC law,. I no longer live in NYC or travel there regularly, but it will always remain my hometown.
The UK government as usual always have a knee jerk reaction. Good video
The changes to the wording regarding automatic knives are possibly going to encompass one handed opening knives (like your mountain rescue knife) it remains to be seen exactly what the wording will be.
What mountain did you rescue ?
I tried googling what if you carried in a locked box but get nothing,is it a gray area or still illegal because your carrying in you rucksack/berger
It all comes down to why you have that item, in that place, at that time. It's subjective and depends entirely on the situation.
Is the spyderco still uk legal to carry without good reason?
Fantastic and really important video. Thanks. We are all outdoorsy and use knives as tools but did just get my daughter a Helle reproduction of a viking knife, and this is really useful.
Hello do you still teach bushcraft and survival as I want to live in a forest in UK in the near future and what's the cost I should be able to cover it when I'm ready
...so to help clarify, is it 3" of total blade OR 3" of cutting edge for an EDC knife?
Criminal Justice Act 1988 says cutting edge, but the kind of documentation that people will be referring too just says 'length':
For example: www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/offensive-weapons-knife-crime-practical-guidance
i have one simple question
balisong knife, is it legal to own for in-home use like opening packages?
im after a camping axe but im worried if they are legal?
Legal to own - using them in certain situations might not be!
I've a Victorinox that I have had for best part of 30 years. Its illegal to carry now since it 'locks' though I still use it when camping on private land or during scouting/educational purposes. The locking mechanism makes it much safer to use as the damn thing doesn't close on you when trying to whittle wood.
i carry a RAT7 daily in when im working. haven't been stopped or searched but it'll be fun when or if i do. i work in the building trade and carry multiple (potentially) dangerous weapons E.g hammer, screwdrivers,saw,blowtorch so i hope id have a decent defence in court if it came to it.
What about a fixed blade under 3 inches? I always carry a crkt minimalist and dislike folders.
Fixed blade is still a fixed blade, regardless of how long it is...
@@originaloutdoors so follow up question. I've been planning a backpacking trip (actual camping/hiking backpacking) in the UK and want to bring this little fixed blade would I have any trouble bringing it in and out of the UK with my checked bag? Same question for a locking folder around 3 in, might as well know before hand and plan around it.
As per the video - you would need to have a 'good reason' for carrying it in any given place.
So if it's part of your camping/hiking kit then you'll probably be fine, but if you've got it in your pocket when wandering around a museum or in a bar or something then you probably haven't good a 'good reason' for carrying it in that place.
@@originaloutdoors Any opinion on how U.K. law sees the Mora knives for camping and hiking if it's kept in a hiking kit (but we're traveling through an urban city for part of this trip?)
I get not carrying it in a pocket. Just want to carry a fixed blade for bushcrafting but to keep it with me in my kit as I might do a lot of walking/hiking through the U.K.
Excellent video. Very well presented and well reasoned. I frequently carry a Leatherman multi tool for work. While the blade is under 3", it does lock. The trouble is, I never know when I might need it. It is a convenient tool designed to be available when needed, rather than carrying a full tool kit. While the current Law may not agree, I believe it is a good reason to carry a tool kit regardless of if I am at work, as things often need adjusting or fixing, and this is the most compact way to do so. It is frequently useful in my personal life as well as work. I think the locking aspect of the law should be adjusted, as the fact that it locks is a safety measure. I can see why the legislators have put it in as a limitation, but I think the reasoning is faulty and should be removed. The fact it locks doesn't really stop someone from slashing or stabbing with it.
The bit that should (and is) be illegal is the intent to use that tool as a weapon. Brandishing it or using it to threaten or attack someone is and should always be illegal, in the same way do so with a screwdriver is. I think I am right in thinking it is also illegal to carry a screwdriver for the purpose of self defence, as the intent is to use it as a weapon. Almost anything can be considered a weapon if used in this manner, and it is illegal to carry a weapon in public.
Im only 17 go camping, fishing mountain biking, walking always outside. I'm always scared of keeping my knife in my bag with my other tools , anyone help . Should I stop worrying and carry on ?
Yep, quite right. In my hands a knife is always a tool and never a weapon. I've been trained and trained others in edged weapon defence and faced them in real life. I never want to experience that again if possible and I would never dream of putting someone else through it. Maybe we need some sort of nationally recognised training and certification for us responsible knife users?
Thank you for sharing your insights
Agreed with your mindset.
FYI most people who carry knives in villages, town's nd cities are young males less than 20.
I did at that age, out of fear
Now aged 40, I know it was misplaced
Intentions kill, not weapons. Stay safe everyone 🙏
Just curious whether the crime rate is higher or lower since this knife law went into effect?
That table is a pretty good summary of my carry when I go to Sainsbury's.
can carry sanremu 710? not spring assisted , with lock is legal? fixed blade how long allowed?
You articulated your point perfectly, intent is what truly matters. You have the right to call out the insanity of laws and ban-happiness
Growing up in an impoverished area with violence, one thing I noticed was a lot of people trying to act tough, they would pull knives for petty reasons to intimidate or to settle an argument, very little to do with protection as I noticed that most of the girls and other more vulnerable people didn't carry them. It's not to protect their person, it's to protect their pride
So my Leatherman Surge is completely illegal to EDC; not that I have mind. My multitool lives in my car boot with the rest of my work kit. Now I'm looking at my Gerber that lives on my keyring 🤔
In Canada you can conceal carry locked knifes 4” or less and carry any length blade as long as it’s open carry. So theoretically you can walk around with a sword on your hip as long as it’s fully visible.
I carry my Mora in a rucksack till I get to my location I have been stopped once as there was an incident nearby they asked the usual questions I answered told them were I was going and I had my Mora in the rucksackthe officer wanted to see I opened the bag removed a few items and allowed him to look he was fine with me and said thanks off you go if I had been carrying it on my belt or in my pocket I would be in jail now
Technically a Mora is a fixed blade, most are over 3 inches. Does this mean it's "legal" to carry if it's secured in a backpack and you're going camping? What if you have to make a few pit stops along the way to your destination or you're traveling on foot and may not make it there for a couple days? I wonder how that would change the dynamic of you're simply "traveling" with a mora, intending to use it for bushcraft, but not right away and it's still in your possession. Because obviously you have to posses it to use it.
Well said, you can't litigate for idiots. I've used and carried knives all my life and just like you I view them as tools. Unfortunately there are a lot of people who carry them as weapons and let's face it, they are not for self "defence," knives are terrible for defence, they are for "Offence," when carried as a weapon. Passing deeply restrictive laws like this sadly just glosses over the true problem, which is as you said, not the tool but the motivation of the user and until people in positions of power and responsibility are prepared to deal with that (Especially gang culture), then whatever laws are passed, we'll always have the same problems.
Can you buy a trowing knifes to keep them at property just for trowing them in the board at home?
So can I go camping and do bushcraft or do I have save up to buy land to do bushcraft?
I really enjoyed your video which was entirely sane and rational and very eloquently presented I am not unhappy with the UK's current knife legislation in an outdoors context. However, I don't know where you got the idea that every law abiding gun owner handed their guns in. Specific types of firearm that were banned or in cases where the requirements became more onerous, yes, but not ever gun and not by a long way. Again, our gun laws are (in my opinion) very reasonable for hunting/pest control use - there are a few things I really think ought to be moved to Section 5 (prohibited) - specifically semiauto shotguns with detachable magazines, but those have no place in the countryside.
Was that in reply to me (Richard from the video), or to the commenters in general?
i have a question.
lets say that you have a non-locking,4 inch knife ,but only 3 inches of the 4 inch blade is sharpened, would a knife like this be illegal in the u.k? or does it,in fact conform to the laws of the u.k?
Thanks for a well balanced review of the current knife laws and the squewed views of people who live different lives in different places and have little concept of the day to day affairs of people who live and work in the outdoors. Having said that, there are some really twisted people out there who's very existence challenges any hope of a time when more obvious reasons for possession of a knife can be seen for what is, a tool specifically designed for a particular task, rather than a weapon with the power to turn ordinary people into violent criminals. Personally, I would, by choice, never use a folding knife that didn't lock in the open position for any serious cutting activity. The locked blade is a safe blade, and having had a pen knife fold onto my fingers as a young man doing a job at home on my car, the addition of a safety device being disallowed strikes me as being perverse. No sensible person would legislate against a safety catch on a gun, so why outlaw a safety device on a 3inch bladed tool? I've no idea how many cases have made it to court regarding possession of a 3" bladed pocket knife with a safety device, but I only hope that the court's are able to decern the difference between the intentions of a handyman with a multi tool in his coat pocket going about his day, and a person with no particular cooking skills carrying a 12inch cooks knife down his trousers in a crowded town centre. Thanks for the vlog, I really enjoyed it and appreciate you putting it out there.
Great video. The problem with the knife law changes is that they wont make a bit of difference to criminal users but will put a lot of people in hot water who grew up with knives as tools and know their utility. Lost a locking knife at customs last friday at the ferry port going to france for a weeks camping. Funny they didnt have a problem with my small forest axe. Im in the wrong but verry upset at loosing my ten year EDC i would never consider a knife as a weapon and would never hurt anyone. Adding insult to injury the guy at customs said the knife would have been quite legal in france! - such is life.
What is considered good reason?
Have they regulated spoons and forks yet? Cricket bats?
I can only agree and support your position, as a sculptor and human being I do believe that it is people that are criminals not the tool!
Very good informative video.
like other videos though the other offence hasn't been spoken about which is Having a pointed or bladed article in a public place. If you were somewhere with public access with that small victorinox you would still get arrested for carrying it if you did not have a good reason for having it on you
Piers are public places but fishermen are using knives there all day and night.
Just make sure your not walking around with only a knife.
A pack with cord,tarp,saw,cook kit and so on will all be evidence in your favour.
i had a conversation with a local gun shop owner and a police man recently.
i purchased a 3 1/2" folding locking gerber skeleton knife and a 26" machette. ( as an electrician the lock knife is a must so it doesnt close on you whilst in use.) the machette was for some brashing whilst running cables down a very over grown driveway to install some outside lights.
however. there was a conversation about me leaving the shop with a machette in a carrier bag. (this made it a concealed weapon.) therefore i had to walk nearly a mile with a 3' long machette in my hand in a packed town center. this was obviously a machette ( it said so on the sheth for a start)
but the lock knife which went straight into my pocket with so much as a meh from the police man.
How confusing are UK knife laws...???
i must admit i got some rather funny looks whilst walking through a VERY busy town center to the carpark with a razor sharp (offensive weapon) not that it was or has been used in such a mannor.
i have FAR worse items in my tool box ( again as an electrician ) a jab saw ( plasterboard saw ) 8" long and heavily serrated on both sides of the blade and far more offensive than and 3 1/2" lock knife....
im just rambeling now. but. its such a gray area...
thanks so much very very good video I love my victorinox Swiss army knife huntsman and all Swiss army knife's and multi tools thanks for this good video
Thank you for the video as always with law changes its always the people who do no wrong get the hardest time.
When did the online restriction come into force?
Just wondering here, is there an age limit on who can CARRY these everyday? Do you need good reason? Thanks
Very informative, I’m an American in Texas, I could legally walk down the street with a sword, and wouldn’t need a reason to do so, as I’m typing this I have a switchblade in my pocket I carry it everyday and it’s perfectly legal
I remember a friend in London sent me a photo of an Amnesty Box with a sign that said "No one needs a large knife" . . . lol
One of the interesting effects as a scout leader is that of a group meets on school premises then technically you need to have written permission from the headteacher of the school to bring and use knives on the premises
The Victorinox Rescue knife, their first knife with fluorescent green scales has a liner lock blade, a man was arrested for having one in his car's glove box. Why did the 'reasonable excuse ' defence fail?
Thanks for presentation, very informative. The point you made regarding the changes in firearms law had no affect on the illegally held handguns in this country. Only the law abiding amongst us suffered. The new knife law will be exactly the same. Only the law abiding will suffer. But, what we understand to be the law, is not always so. British law is unusual in that the government passes the basic legislation and then the law is TESTED in the courts. This is where the true understanding of the law will be realised. Only then will know the real affect on the lawful user.
Yup after the ban shootings went up.
“WITHOUT GOOD REASON”.
That’s the operative phrase. If you have a good reason to have it with you it’s legal. I’ve carried a knife with a 5” fixed blade on my way through town and into the woods to practice a bit of bushcraft, carving, trap making. If a cop stops me and has reason to ask if I’m carrying anything I shouldn’t have my answer would be “No, but I do have a knife in my pack for use up in the woods”.
It’s all about “good reason”. If a pissy little 3” knife isn’t enough for the job then a bigger knife is needed hence good reason.
I thoroughly enjoyed this video mate. Stumbled across it whilst looking for EDC orientated UK laws. Good and valid points, put across in a professional manner. Stay safe.
does this mean i have no problem where ever i go with my opinel no6 with the lock popped as it is non locking with the blade less then 3"??? this is by far my most used TOOL every single day i use it. its in my pocket no matter what.....thanks in advance ....glen at west yorkshire catapults :)
What are the regulations on carrying screw drivers?
I come from a time when all boys carried a pocket knife a piece of string and a cotton strip that would make a sling or bandage. With the changes in law I handed in all my Sheffield Carbon steel knives after having them for more than forty years and bought a few stainless ones that will not rust locked them in a metal box and that is where they stay they only come out about once a year because some have wooden handles that require oil to prevent them drying and cracking.
Great video. Good to hear someone with a sensible and balanced opinion. It’s sad when issues of violence are painted over by restricting the lives of law abiding, socially responsible citizens. The mainstream media needs to hear more from people like yourself to redress the imbalance of scare stories.
I’m not sure that my opinions matter as I’m an American, but I am impressed by the logic and fair mindedness of your arguments. Knives are not guns, they are tools in general use, in contrast to firearms which are (properly) of more limited use. I think the changes in UK law also not only likely to be ineffective, but also likely to exacerbate the problem of knife violence. Why “exacerbate”? Because ignoring genuine causes and solutions to a serious problem while wasting time and resources on non-solutions lets the problem continue to grow and makes effective action more difficult (“we’ve already addressed that problem with the restrictions”, etc.)
really thoughtful and articulate video, thank you!
Great video Richard. Nicely done.
To be honest, very educational straight to the point, only just found your channel, but you have gained a new sub even if I am a few years late, cracking video, honest and out there
agreed.
And I though you could carry longer fixed blades as long as it’s in a pack or bag and you can’t get easy or quick access to it.
You bang on with your opinion mate personally I've never been attacked with a bushcraft,hunting or even a combat knife its always been a kitchen knife or a Stanley cuz there cheap and disposable
Really appreciate this video. I have to travel to Liverpool and I am dreading changing my EDC. -N
I think all friction folders are dangerous I had a SAK blade close on me just while stropping it for wood carving so I’ve just gone to all lock knifes or fixed blade carvers from now on
I doubt in the outdoor setting you will get much more grief carrying a puukko style woodcraft knife, ax and saw than we would normally. But I know off and carry sometimes a overbuilt 'survival/military' knife and it seems to me that users could leave our/themselves open through not fault of their own to a officer interpretation of what is a 'zombie' knife which is illegal to own.
As a contrast to this: here in the State of Oregon in the US, there is no such thing as an illegal knife. I can own and carry any type and size knife I like. The only caveat is that most types of knives can't be carried in a concealed manner. Basically anything that isn't a "pocket knife" has to be carried so that it's clearly visible (although oddly enough a Judge once ruled that a switchblade is a pocket knife). I have a Ti-lite VI that I carry clipped in my pocket and as long as the clip hold it so that the end of the knife is clearly visible it's 100% legal. Of course, if I put a coat on and it's long enough to cover my pocket then I would be in trouble.
What if it's in a backpack, and you're just out in public. Say walking through a park? Can you legally carry a larger knife in a kit/backpack?
The law as on the gov website... Interesting to note about locking knives that it clearly states lock knives are 'blades that can be locked and refolded only by pressing a button'. That actually seems very specific about the locking mechanism... 'only by pressing a button' and not as vague as I thought. It does not say in the text anything like 'any knife that can lock in any way'. Therefore since the law is the text, surely we can conclude that an Opinel of under 3" is not illegal as an every day carry..?
It’s illegal to:
sell a knife to anyone under 18, unless it has a folding blade 3 inches long (7.62 cm) or less
carry a knife in public without good reason, unless it has a folding blade with a cutting edge 3 inches long or less
carry, buy or sell any type of banned knife
use any knife in a threatening way (even a legal knife)
Scotland
In Scotland, 16 to 18 year olds are allowed to buy cutlery and kitchen knives.
Lock knives
Lock knives are not classed as folding knives and are illegal to carry in public without good reason. Lock knives:
have blades that can be locked and refolded only by pressing a button
can include multi-tool knives - tools that also contain other devices such as a screwdriver or can opener
Good shout. It's almost like it's been written to specifically exclude Opinels from the lock knife category.
I have heard that the UK now had a knife registration a few years back. The UK confiscated the guns a long time ago, now they've taken the next step and going after knives.
I live in the US and not only am I a gun owner, but also have a variety of knives. I have carried a Buck 110 for 40 plus years, It's my multi-tool. A Buck 110 is a locking blade over 4 inches, so I guess that would be illegal in the UK? I use my Buck knife as a pry bar, as a screwdriver, as a hammer, and anything else I can think of (like skinning deer, it's original purpose). I have never even considered using it as a weapon. I would feel naked without it on my belt.
Great video, and I wholeheartedly agree with your view. I live in inner city Manchester, and there was a stabbing recently where I live. If it wasn't knives it would be a shiv, a bat, acid/lye, anything. Until the gangs, fear in school children, drug culture and social problems are changed it will remain a problem. The new knife laws certainly haven't helped things thus far. It's a shame that responsible gun and knife owners are tarred with the same brush.
I got stopped by the police in the countryside with a Khukri, I showed them my camping gear I also had with me. No problems.
Depends which copper you get more than anything else.
that's the issue isn't it? It often comes down to the police officer who stops you, and whether they have to produce a ticket by the end of their shift or not!
I work as a groundsman and five days a week walk around with a leatherman in a pouch on my belt. One of my work colleagues is an ex chief inspector with the London Met - he always carry’s one in his coat pocket. There’s no danger to any member of the public because I carry this tool on my belt.
its a shame that laws made for people in London and big cities affect the day to day lives of farmers and people with hands on jobs negatively
You have just confused the issue even more.
Is it a "blade of more than 3 inches", or a "sharp edge of more than 3 inches", because the sharp edge does not always run the full length of the actual blade.
On a folding pocket knife, there is normally a 1/4 - 1/2 inch section of the blade nearest the handle, that is not sharp.
It matches the variance in terminology used in the 'advice' pages on the .GOV site. www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives#:~:text=Basic%20laws%20on%20knives,3%20inches%20long%20or%20less
I carry a leather an juice cs4 it’s slip joint multi tool with a 21/2 inch blade , I like it because it’s uk legal with the addled functionality of a multi tool
You can get buy with those 5 knives. They only ban switchblades or anything with a fast-opening blade in it, which is no big deal for me, a hunter,collector and bushcrafter. If I carry a knife in civilisation its in the box from the shop bought it from. Same thing with any other weapon.
What about those combat knifes? You know the military ones can you only carry them once after you buy them and never take them out again? There are some in a gift shop I’ve seen and I was just wandering also do you need a license to buy a combat knife in the uk or just show your ID and keep a receipt so the police would know you just bought one and then keep it away from the public and just for show in your home