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So having a chat with my work colleague whilst making a sandwich and as the work kitchen knives were too blunt to slice a tomato I whipped out my Opinel from my pocket. He said what do you do with that when you leave work......erm I put it back in my pocket....to which he was aghast and reckoned I was crazy to carry it around with me. Now as he's also a fairly outdoorsy type and wild camps, bothys etc so no stranger to knives as tools, I did actually take a bit of notice of what he said.
I've always maintained that a 50 year old family man with not even a parking ticket to his name would be fine if stopped and searched with a small outdoor style knife on him and not really given it much of a thought but he reckons times have changed to such a degree that I'd be prosecuted (obvs Opinels lock unlike swiss army knives)
I would leave it at home if going anywhere obviously unsuitable like a gig, cinema, theatre or a concert etc but have often taken it to the pub as I've forgotten its in my pocket or in my rucksac or I'm going there on the way home etc. I do live in South East and not a big city so almost always in a rural or semi rural environment .
Is he right? should I basically stop carrying it or would I be better just swapping it for a swiss army knife - which wouldn't be as good!
I've asked this before, but how many times do you actually need to use a knife? I've reached 65 years of age without needing to carry one every day. I have a SAK in my camping kit and one in my campervan. I have various sharp implements in my garage and kitchen Other than that, I've yet to experience a "if only I had a knife with me" moment.
Had to Google what it looks like. I suppose you need to know what you would tell a copper if you were searched and they asked you why you are carrying it?
I have no idea on the technicalities of which types of knifes are inherently illegal though.
I'm the same as you mid 50's, regular dude...I would not carry a knife 'on my person' at any time. I have one sat on my desk at work, and often put it in my rucksack if I go away for a bit, but it's part of a multi-tool. Look at it this way, if the cops stop you (spurious reason or no) is having a knife on you going to make that better or worse for you d'you think?
Always have my Benchmade mini-Bug out knife in my bag when I leave the house, can't see the issue with myself carrying it. The screwdriver I have in there at the moment could do far more damage.
Yep, the rules still apply to you as a 50 year old family man - the lock part is specifically an issue.
Selling, buying and carrying knives and weapons - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Look at it this way, if the cops stop you (spurious reason or no) is having a knife on you going to make that better or worse for you d’you think?
Very much this.
You can carry a knife if you have a lawful reason to have one. I haven’t got a lawful reason to carry one, so i don’t.
SAK in my pocket from when I leave for work until I return. I use it lot during the day. If it wasn't for the useful screwdrivers and pliers I'd happily swap it for a shielded blade box cutter as opening a lot of boxes can be a large part of my working day.
I have no need for a knife at any other time so don't carry one. Just avoids any misunderstandings.
if the cops stop you (spurious reason or no) is having a knife on you going to make that better or worse for you d’you think?
At the very least it would give the cop an easy chance to up their conviction rate!
Just get a Swiss army knife to carry and buy a kitchen knife to keep in your desk.
If it locks, its illegal, no matter how nice you or it may be.
He's right. Stop carrying it.
Begbie’s changed his tune ^
I accidentally took my Opinel to the airport style security at the US embassy in London! Having very carefully made sure I hadn't packed any liquids, or other forbidden items, it went something like this:
>What's in your bag ma'am?
- Er? I don't know? An energy bar? Some paperwork?
>In the bottom ma'am? There's nothing else in there?
- Er...A battery pack for my phone?
>There's not a knife?
- I hope not! I mean, there could be, I do own knives...
>Could you check ma'am?
[Puts hand in bag thinking of all the various knives it could be and really really hopes it's not the Opinel. It is the Opinel]. Extra security guards arrive. One inspects the knife.
>What do you use it for ma'am?
- Picnics with the kids! I must have forgotten it was in there! [Sweats]
>It's not a locking knife, so that's fine, just take it to the lockers across the road and come back after.
I did not point out that it does have a lock on it! Eep. But seeing a black teenager having all his belongings unpacked onto the pavement elsewhere in London did make me feel I'd been very lucky/unfairly treated.
You can get an Opinel with a rounded at the front blade, and the law concerning knives specifies specifically a pointed blade.
I've one conviction for being in possession of an offensive weapon, which was a long time ago(in my 20's) but was for a huge lockback. 5" blade affair and i didnt have it for camping. Resulted in a £300 fine
But as you say, 50yr old, no trouble with the police, shouldn't really be an issue unless you're pissed and waving it about in the street. On that note you will probably find having a pointed locking blade knife without a reasonable excuse will have them taking it off you, you may get arrested, though its not going to be a serious charge being in simple possession. Even if they were to have you in court to explain, i think you could talk the case easy, pocket knife etc etc.
Theres also things like where its stored, so it is different whether its easily and readily available in your pocket, or in a holder in a pocket deep in a man bag.
i dont know anyone who carries a knife. i've never carried one. and have no need to carry one.
I would also think that in this day and age of knife crime becoming a series problem, whether you are a 'road man yoot', or a middle-age man, the law probably wouldn't be keen on it.
Is he right? should I basically stop carrying it or would I be better just swapping it for a swiss army knife – which wouldn’t be as good!
If the knife locks or is fixed then you it falls under the needs a reason to carry. Which carrying out of habit is unlikely to count as.
So if stopped with it if you look suitably respectable you might get away with it but you risk ending up in court where even if you do finally get let off it will be an expensive and stressful process.
If you do feel the need to carry a knife then its best to get a UK legal folder (which I think is under 3inches and nonlocking) as thereare several which are designed to be unlikely to accidentally fold shut during normal usage.
Outside of that then it may come under justifiable reason to carry a lock/fixed blade eg I carry a locking safety knife when kayaking.
We used to as a brickies carry an array of deadly tools in a bag through the town centre. Thought nothing of it. Given I was covered in brick dust and muck we probably didn't look like muggers.
If it locks, its illegal, no matter how nice you or it may be.
That's not true though. The law says you are not allowed to carry a knife without good reason unless the knife you are carrying:
- has a cutting edge no longer than 3 inches
- is not a lock knive (they do not have a button, spring or catch that you have to use to fold the knife)
So lock knives are not illegal but are not covered by the "you're allowed to carry these without a reason" exemption. There is a list of illegal knives/weapons on gov.uk - see Gov.uk website
I don't carry my 25 year old Leatherman unless it's for a specific activity (camping, allotment etc) and when I do its in its leather pooch at the bottom of some bag or other. Having worked with teenagers in the youth justice system I've heard plenty of stories that indicate that its not just their age range who carry for unsavoury purposes.
If you are on bad day and get "loud" with someone who has just jumped your parking space any passing police could legitimately search you and take a view about your intent.
Re: that government website detailing what weapons are banned. I wonder if you could blag walking around with a set of "hand claws" by arguing they are for gardening.
Someone gave me as a present once one of those small multi-tool things that's the same size as a credit card, part of it folded out into a small knife, a bit larger than a box cutter blade.
It was actually quite useful so I kept it in my wallet.
Then we went on holiday to Amsterdam and I forgot it was there... idiot... The way there, no problem, Manchester Airport security didn't catch it!
On the way back though at Schiphol they saw it and asked me to wait at the side... a couple of cops showed up on their Segways and gave me a very stern talking-to. In the end they confiscated it and let me off with a warning, managing to imply that if it ever happened again they'd throw the book at me.
You can get an Opinel with a rounded at the front blade, and the law concerning knives specifies specifically a pointed blade.
That's not true - there is case law which makes it very clear a butter knife is an offensive weapon ( https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2005/1132.html). It's length and locking that matter. The gov website says "have a cutting edge no longer than 3 inches AND are not lock knives (they do not have a button, spring or catch that you have to use to fold the knife)". There is case law that specifies that the it's not the cutting edge they look at it's the total blade length. Additionally the changes in the in law in 2019 make 'flipper' knives (where you press a tab on the back of the knife to open the blade) very much a grey zone, which has yet to be tested in court (and I wouldn't fancy being the test case).
https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives
https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/offensive-weapons-knife-crime-practical-guidance
Personally I don't carry one every day, but I do have a UK legal one at home which most of the time is just used for opening packaging. I've occasionally left it in my pocket when i've gone out and about, which is why I made sure it's UK legal.
This is the knife i usually carry. Joseph Rodgers Rosewood Lambsfoot
The 2 blade affair. Quality bit of kit.Main blade is 2 1/2" Knife is probably over a 100 years old.
i dont know anyone who carries a knife. i’ve never carried one. and have no need to carry one.
It's odd how much times change.
As kids in a rural area most of us had bowie knives (talking 11,12,13 ish). Knives were for building dens and man-traps in the woods and playing chicken by throwing them between each others legs!
I suspect OP, you are right, unlikely to be stopped and is you were then unlikely to be harshly treated (it's not right, but it's realistic). However I've stopped carrying my alien multi-tool in my rucksack as it has a locking blade, Swapping it instead for multi-tool without a blade. I do still have a gerber in the car and a sak on my key ring and don't worry other than to try and remember to remove the sak from tnt keyring before going to the football... although I have forgotten and it's not been asked about.
The 'EDC' crowd have just a touch of 2nd amendment yankee meets prepper about them. I guess it depends what you do every day. If I was a forester that might be a thing. But so Derek from accounts can make sure he's tooled up just in case there is cheese to be cut or a particularly troublesome blister pack to open, not so much.
I have a leatherman with a locking knife. It nearly always accompanies me when I do outdoors stuff, especially overnight or far from home/help but my morning routine as I go out the house does not go "Wallet, phone, keys, work ID, KNIFE!"
Life has sadly moved on - I fondly remember my first pen knife and running around with it as a primary age kid. I've got my dad's old 'scout knife' too somewhere - that was a proper evil looking 6 inch bastard in a shealth, but the scout emblem is burned into the leather so all totally fine and innocent! Up here a local town is reeling from two 15 year old young lads stabbing to death a bus driver. I don't expect their knife had the scout badge on it. 🙁
Re: that government website detailing what weapons are banned. I wonder if you could blag walking around with a set of “hand claws” by arguing they are for gardening.
As they're illegal to own, let alone carry I'd say no 🙂
I have on occasion worn my "fishing" coat whilst not fishing ( its very waterproof , so might put it on if its pissing down) , and later on, when I have reached into my pocket I have realised I have an 8" filleting knife or a large pair of scissors in there.
Even though I have absolutely no reason too, I always feel a bit on edge until I get back to house / car etc to offload them.
How often do you need to knife when travelling to the office that it needs to be in your pocket?
Oh I regularly feel the need to knife, although mostly in the office, not whilst travelling to it.
It's why it's best I don't carry one 😁
Thing is; these days every cop is going to form an opinion of how to deal with you if you turn out a knife if they ask you to empty your pockets, becasue likely as not they've had to deal with the aftermath of kids now carrying around knifes. Regardless of your story that starts with "I can explain..."
Just no. There's no need to have it.
If it has a fixed blade I wouldn't be carrying it at any age. Pretty sure the penalties can be quite severe. It doesn't make any sense to put yourself at risk when there are some very good and perfectly legal folding knives (though they could still raise eyebrows depending on the context in which you're carrying them).
oh well, I'll bite. I've had a knife in my pocket since I was 11 or 12 maybe. (currently 51) still do. definitely has a locking blade and it gets used multiple times every day. BUT... I live in France somewhere pretty rurl, where I'm pretty sure most of the houses in the village have at least one firearm in them!
Every time I go back "home" to the UK I do a clear out of everything I think might get me in trouble. so far the only issue has ben the youngest daughters rose pink opinel and the airport scanner, (having not been detected on the way over). it was wrapped up in her unused waterproof... cue confiscated boarding cards, passports arrival of armed police etc. sweaty moment. result was they confiscated it and that's all.
So back to the OP, i'd find something legal to carry, just for the peace of mind. (Unless you're secretly a "prepper" and MUST have a knife, in which case move to France? the USA?)
it seems a much more emotive subject in the UK than here. Although as we have people shooting AK47s at each other in Marseille, maybe it's just a question of relevance?
I really don't see the need for carrying a knife. Maybe in cave man times it was handy, but not in the modern world
Kind of like why its sensible not to carry a gun at all times. It might be the right tool for the job on the very odd occasion, but no reason to have it on you all the time
I’ve always maintained that a 50 year old family man with not even a parking ticket to his name would be fine if stopped and searched with a small outdoor style knife on him
The problem with that is that you are indirectly suggesting that you should be profiled as fine, and others profiled as risky. I know you didn't mean harm by this but young people, especially young black men, really struggle with the unfairness of profiling. If you don't think they should be singled out, you shouldn't also expect to be treated differently to them.
If it's not something that you need to use regularly, why would you?
Agree about the EDC lot. It's definitely got a lot of crossover with gun rights, sovereign citizens and pseudomilitary LARPers.
Just no. There’s no need to have it.
I could pop down to the harbour in town (kirkcudbright, Galloway) and if the boats are in find 40+ fishermen all with knives, or the 50 odd folk heading to work in the fish factory a few hundred yards away, they all will be carrying razor sharp knives whether they be queenie, scallop or fileting knives, strange how you are so very sure of yourself in proclaiming there’s no need.
I have two knives no need to show them on here. I never take them into town which is itself still very rural. I might have one with me when I pass through a town to go canoeing
Similar to Hannah - I was given a lovely curved ceremonial dagger by a friend from Kyrgyzstan. Which was great. Until I was flying out of Heathrow with it in my (only) carry on bag. Less than a year after 9/11...
Cue more than a few gun-toting guards giving me search and grief in front of the whole security queue and it being placed in the hold for collection at Glasgow...
Agree about the EDC lot. It’s definitely got a lot of crossover with gun rights, sovereign citizens and pseudomilitary LARPers.
Bit harsh. 😂
I own several Opinels. They generally live in the toolbox in the garage. I may have taken one on a bikepacking trip once as it's also a bottle opener.
I've never once felt the need to have any of them on me when I'm in the office or popping round to Aldi, but then again I don't spend my days fantasising that I'm John Rambo.
If you are on bad day and get “loud” with someone who has just jumped your parking space any passing police could legitimately search you and take a view about your intent.
I'd seriously be rethinking my life choices if i got in that situation!
i dont know anyone who carries a knife. i’ve never carried one. and have no need to carry one.
I've carried one since i was about 13, so over 35 years. Either a small swiss army or opinel, or a larger (but still only small) fixed blade.
I think i even have one in the glovebox of the car at the moment. Probably a Mora multipurpose thing.
They get used "regularly", couple of times a month i'll have need for a knife.
UK Cops carry locking knives, usually leathermans.
Ok, Not an everyday occurrence, but then these things never are. Ye olde scout motto comes into play "Be Prepared"
Car you are in has an accident and is starting to burn, and you cant get your seat belt off, or you witness an accident with the same scenario.
Choice, get knife from pocket cut yourself/them free. or burn to death.
For my 2 nephews 16th birthdays i got them both a Swiss mini champ. Keyring sized, but always a sharp blade for whatever emergency use. My sister/mother both carry the Swiss card I got them years ago. Sister particularly says she loves the very handy small blade it comes with.
I can't imagine someone not having a small blade readily available for any emergency. Some on here appear to be totally useless.
I have a retracting Stanley knife like this;
That I use pretty much every day at work. Consequently it lives in my trouser pocket during the day and I have occasionally forgotten to leave it at work. I'm not keen on getting caught with it by Dibble, it's just not worth the bother.
Oh, and I have a team of 24 at work who regularly carry bushcraft knives into schools.
We would never carry one in a pocket or on a belt. Why? There's very little justification for doing so, every reason why a police officer could get awkward. Same for Gerber style multi tool things - great in a bag cycling, rather iffy in a pocket.
We do carry them in a bag or toolbox of knives / peelers / lighters. In another box or bag. They are there for a purpose, and that purpose is clear.
I carry a knife and occasionally a small hatchet when canoeing - but again it's hidden in my buoyancy aid and clearly a rope knife, not some huge Crocodile Dundee style blade.
@Poopscoop I once carried one of these (in the early noughties)
onto a flight from Prestwich after a weekend winter climbing. One of the team had a 2" bladed knife removed on the same flight, mine was at the bottom of my day pack and missed by security. I discovered it when un-packing at home the following day.
I could pop down to the harbour in town (kirkcudbright, Galloway) and if the boats are in find 40+ fishermen all with knives, or the 50 odd folk heading to work in the fish factory a few hundred yards away, they all will be carrying razor sharp knives whether they be queenie, scallop or fileting knives, strange how you are so very sure of yourself in proclaiming there’s no need.
Silly argument. They all need a knife for their work. Which is entirely different to carrying a locking knife in your pocket everywhere in case you might need to slice a tomato in the office.
Car you are in has an accident and is starting to burn, and you cant get your seat belt off,
I have an escape hammer in the car for that very scenario. Admittedly not much good if I'm attempting to lose my eyebrows saving somebody else.
I carry a SAK, it lives in my bag (or as tits like to call it, a "man bag").
The problem with carrying something like an Opinel is that you're relying on the police applying common sense. You would hope that if stopped they would discern between a middle-aged bloke carrying a pocket knife for feeding apples to horses and whittling boy scouts or something, and a behooded yoot going equipped. But it's just that, hope, are you willing to hang your hat on the premise that you never get stopped by a copper who just found out that morning that his wife had been horizontal jogging with his best mate?
Just get a legal carry. It's a no-brainer really.
Sandwich
Full Member
@Poopscoop I once carried one of these (in the early noughties)
Christ, it's a little worrying that it was missed, eh? How long ago was that?
I carry 2 constantly. Small SAK on my house keyring. (This comes with me on any flights as well.) Small SAK in my trouser pocket. Does not lock and blade is short enough I don't need a reason to carry it!
I also have lots of other knives I would not carry (unless I had a reason) as they lock or have a fixed blade.
"How often do you need to knife when travelling to the office that it needs to be in your pocket?"
Well I'm surprised about this. I'm always using a knife - If its not cutting up food its fixing stuff or bodging stuff. I often cycle to work offroad and stop halfway for a brew etc so I will use it for cheese, cake, opening packets etc. I've used it to help fix my bike on occasions. The other day I used it to cut a strap shorter on my wifes new rucksack as it was whipping her in the neck in the wind. I like to walk in the woods and sit down to whittle something every now and then. I kayak and do various watersports that require bits of string to be cut, surfboard leashes etc and its always more handy to have a general one in a jeans pocket then to think where did I put my specific knife for this specific task. I've always carried some kind of knife since I was a boy, its just a really useful tool to have on you. I prefer a lock knife like the Opinel as they are sharp, safe (to use), and cheap so not to worry if it gets lost - not that I've lost more than one.
Once again it appears the onus is on the innocent to prove themselves so rather than on the law enforcement to make good quality value judgements - how did we ever get by in past decades I wonder. Still I don't want to be a martyr and really don't want a fine or worse so I'll stop carrying it.
I used to wander around the woods with a sheath knife when I was younger!
So a small SAK it will be.
I've carried a small kitchen knife with me most days for a few years now.
I've a failed tooth implant front and centre and until it was removed late last year, have not been able to bite into an apple without fear of losing the tooth. So I started carrying a knife with a plastic guard over the blade in my lunch bag every day. I never carry the knife in my pocket or in carry on luggage (although I did once accidentally get a Leatherman through Heathrow security. They were more concerned about the cable ties I had)
The only time I've been caught unawares was popping into the Guildhall museum with the kids when one needed a wee and my bag was scanned. Security seemed quite happy to look after my apple knife while I took the juniors to the loo .
I've no reason to fear I'll be stopped by the police for anything and wouldn't be concerned if they spot checked me for anything, but I am aware of the fact that I carry a knife almost everywhere.
The law is simple here..
You can carry a knife in public if it has a folding blade that is 3 inches (7.62cm) or less in length. However if any knife is used to threaten or intimidate it is considered an offensive weapon.
Please note, lock knives are not classed as folding knives and are illegal to carry in public.
If you get stopped and searched and end up going to court it's down to you as an individual to give a reasonable excuse for carrying the knife.
strange how you are so very sure of yourself in proclaiming there’s no need.
I work with people who use scalpels so sharp, they could cut bits off you without you noticing, those people would also be stupid to carry those things around with them in town a Saturday night, like your fishermen. If you need a knife for work, leave it there.
Once again it appears the onus is on the innocent to prove themselves so rather than on the law enforcement to make good quality value judgements
I'm fairness these days they are also social workers, marriage councillors and God knows what else. My son became a cop last year and I think it's fair to say that "good quality value judgements" are easy in principle but not so easy in practice. The one time he assumes the middle aged guy with the knife is of no concern, that guy was heading back to his exes house to stab her.
I carry a 3" opinel daily, and a 7" saw, but I have good reason to, and I'm not going clubbing or to the footie.
I'm a 60 year old Chap though and am unlikely to get stopped...
Getting a bit silly now.
Nobody is suggesting people should be carrying retractable stanley knives,lockbacks, 8" razor sharp filling or 14" butchers steak knives, just a simple pocket knife for any task that might present itself. If you dont, then fine. Stand back when anyone asks 'can you cut this'
Maybe film them with your phone.
Call those knives?
Thats a ****in toy mate.
Once again it appears the onus is on the innocent to prove themselves so rather than on the law enforcement to make good quality value judgements – how did we ever get by in past decades I wonder.
Becasue young kids didn't routinely carry 'zombie knives' that are longer than your forearm, around with them for the express intent of cut bits of each other with them, back in the 80's, or if you did. the local cop would know your name most likely. Like having a few ales and driving home, or telling a 'bird' that her tits look nice in her top, things have changed, y'know?
Slightly off piste.
Balisong's, butterfly knives are pretty illegal in most places i guess because they are pretty unpleasent things used exclusivly for stabbing people.
So where does the UK stand on what appears to effectively be a Butterfly Chisel?
https://www.stanleytools.co.uk/product/fmht0-16145/stanley-fatmax-25-mm-pocket-chisel
Wait. So carrying a SAK is legal?!?
My eldest was a Met officer, and told not to bother carrying mine. (I’ve carried a SAK with me since I was about 12. I’m 51. I’ve used it to cut tomatoes, spread peanut butter, cut cheese for sandwiches, whittle, cut dead branches for use as walking sticks for the kids… You name it.) Now I feel naked when I leave the house, as I no longer carry it.
I’ve never had an Opinel, but I didn’t realise that a non-locking blade was legal.
It’s odd how much times change.
As kids in a rural area most of us had bowie knives (talking 11,12,13 ish). Knives were for building dens and man-traps in the woods and playing chicken by throwing them between each others legs!
It's been a while since I played a game of knifey!
I cannot even remember when I last saw a policeman, other than at an airport. The chance of being actually stopped is slim to none, and to be searched?
Not quite a knife but a true story: On a crowded tube train a few years back I felt something banging repeatedly into my back (no s****ing please) like a piece of wooden pipe (again, I said no s****ing...). On turning around to ask the person behind me if they would mind stopping hitting me I was faced with a slightly shorter person in sort of Ninja-ish gear (sort of dark clothing, mask etc.) with his back to me. Very poker faced. I noted that he was carrying on his back a katana/shortsword in a bamboo sword sheath in a small backpack so it was sticking out of the top.
Naturally I considered my options and decided that being british and saying"excuse me my good man, would you awfully mind not banging into me with your katana/short sword because its very rude" might not quite get the result I wanted. I've seen that scene in the Nightclub in Kill Bill part 1 and I guess, from others reactions, so had everyone else around me: It was the London Underground so obviously nobody else said anything and studously avoided all eye contact. Actually thinking back I dont think that there was anyone saying anything at all...Anyway, I got out at the next stop, which, as luck would have it actually was my stop. In spite of it being rush hour there were no staff around so I might have exited the station a tad faster than normal while comtemplating that the whole "See it, Say it, Sorted" idea has some practical limitations.
PS I also have a phobia about Knives and Sharp Objects in general so I view my reaction to the above as being completely rational.
Oh, and back on topic:I just checked my Topeak Alien Mk1 with its little folding blade thingy and its about 1in long but does lock in place along with the bottle opener, flathead screwdriver, spanners and spoke keys, is that illegal to carry in my camelback?
I'm not convinced 'I'm over 50 and have carried it my whole life' would really stand up in court in a country that's trying to address issues with knife crime.
My best mate have me a lovely Leatherman as a best man gift. The only time I have it on me when out the house is when I'm on a big ride on the hills, nestled at the bottom of my pack next to the other bike tools and spares I carry with me.
IMHO if you deliberately carry a knife with you as a matter of course thinking it's no issue, you are likely to be either incredibly naive, incredibly arrogant, or a stabby gang type.
Stand back when anyone asks ‘can you cut this’
Unfortunately I left all my Alpha at the maternity ward, so I've never had to stand back while a Real Man did something with a knife.
Oh, and back on topic:I just checked my Topeak Alien Mk1 with its little folding blade thingy and its about 1in long but does lock in place along with the bottle opener, flathead screwdriver, spanners and spoke keys, is that illegal to carry in my camelback?
I've got one of these (in addition to my leatherman mentioned previously). It lives in my tiny saddlebag alongside emergency tube etc. My reading (happy to be proved wrong) is that the "with good reason"'caveat covers me fine when I'm in a position when having a multi tool on a bike would be wise......like riding a bike. But not when in civvies at the pub.
Though to be fair, if you ever managed to do someone harm with a stubby wide alien with all the other tools flapping about Id be very impressed!
Well, I carry a knife pretty much everyday, under 3" and non locking so within the current law. It's got a blunt point so no use for stabbing as it would most likely fold in and slice my fingers if tried.
It lives in my r/h trooser pocket and is used daily for opening boxes, packages, cutting rope/cord, slicing fruit, cheese etc, however wouldn't take it to an event with loads of people around.
As to why, well because I can and choose to and have done for most of my 55 years.
This makes me sad. Like others here, I grew up when getting your first pen knife as a kid was a right of passage. It showed you were worthy of some trust and if you were found to be ****ing about with it, it would be taken off you. It was used for whittling, making dens, building camp fires in the wood. We all had them, no one thought it was unusual, no one ever stabbed anyone.
I still use a knife almost every day, last week it was used to free a sheep which had become heavily entangled in brambles when out on a walk, yesterday to open a bag of chicken feed and this morning to sharpen a carpenters pencil when pottering with some wood work in the garage. It often gets used in place of more appropriate tools which aren't always to hand so it's a screwdriver, tin opener, pencil sharpener, wire stripper, splinter remover as well as a knife. For most normal people, it is (or was) a completely unremarkable, innocent, useful thing to own and use.
I no longer have one on me when I go out, other than hopping over the fence for a walk in the countryside which surrounds my gaff, because it's just not worth it.
UK knife law is ridiculous. It only affects the law abiding, it dumbs down and infantilises us, it slowly and surely erodes a small aspect of personal freedom and it does nothing - absolutely nothing to stop knife crime. It's enacted by cynical politicians to appease the pearl clutchers and red tops knowing fine well that the scrotes it's aimed at will completely ignore it. Tackling the deprivation, inequality, poverty and other social issues which cause violent crime is far harder, so better to enact another meaningless piece of legislation to be seen to be doing something. The extra controls on lock knives are particular stupid, as a locking knife blade is a safety feature designed to prevent injury.
I'm 60 in a few weeks and have seen this happen gradually over my lifetime. Maybe if you're a lot younger it all seems normal and you don't realise some of the freedom, innocence and trust which has been lost for no benefit, and how legislators and politicians increasingly treat us all as children. I'm mostly fairly progressive in my attitudes and not one normally to bleat about the Nanny State, but this is one area when I think it absolutely is the case.
Car you are in has an accident and is starting to burn, and you cant get your seat belt off, or you witness an accident with the same scenario.
Are you Batman?
I once had a wee credit card multi tool thing all but forgotten about in my wallet - one of these: https://www.swiss-store.co.uk/victorinox-swisscard-lite-pocket-tool
On a work trip back from Germany, the xray staff at Frankfurt were having a right good look at something in my belongings that I'd put through on the tray. They summoned me over, and as soon as I saw what they were looking at, I knew what it was. Or so I thought. They weren't interested in the knife or scissors in it, they were looking at the tiny screwdriver thing, as on the xray, it looked like a 10p sized shuriken.
Bearing in mind, I'd already travelled out with the same thing in my wallet via Glasgow, Schiphol and Frankfurt.
I don't think anyone is saying don't carry a knife at home/in the garden, keep your Leatherman in a gun safe etc. nobody needs to mistily eyed opine the loss of childhood. My 10 year old will at some point likely be having a small knife to use at home for many of the things suggested above (den building, doing things with sticks, making bows and arrows etc) but at the same time, his Xbox privileges were recently revoked after discovering that he was carrying a pencil sharpener blade around in his school bag out of magpie fascination (and then not telling the truth to us about it.) So that 'some point' is now further away than it was 2 weeks ago.
Becasue young kids didn’t routinely carry ‘zombie knives’ that are longer than your forearm, around with them for the express intent of cut bits of each other with them, back in the 80’s
I am not sure that holds up with the teddie boys etc. Whilst a bit before my time the creation of the offensive weapons laws in the 50s show a previous response to knife crime.
I remember visiting some cousins in inner manchester and one of them carrying a knife for "self defence" or possibly to try and impress the country yokel. Since it was a cheese knife it failed to do so.
The laws have got simpler and more focussed probably due to the looser ones not solving a pretty unsolvable problem.
The ban on locking knifes is an odd one. Its not obvious parliament were trying to ban them since the law just states that folding knifes under 3inches were legal but the courts decided that didnt include folding lock knives.
There is always a degree of public outrage/media stoking in these laws. Hence why in the US you have bowie knives specifically banned in some areas and others were you cant carry a butterfly knife but can carry a sword or a concealed pistol.
Wait. So carrying a SAK is legal?!?
Yes.
I’ve never had an Opinel, but I didn’t realise that a non-locking blade was legal.
The legislation prohibits fixed blade knives with a blade over three inches. Locking knives are illegal en passant because it was established in a test case that the locks effectively convert them into a fixed blade.
Sub 3" non-locking blades are perfectly legal carry. Anything else requires justification.
Carrying a chef's knife in the boot of your car from a restaurant kitchen to a professional knife sharpener is fine, having it in your inside pocket on your way to the Ferret And Trombone not so much.
I like many have fallen foul of the airport security, mine was the TSA in San Diego, had a CRKT M16 in my daysack returning from a detachment, thankfully they were understanding once my boss vouched for me and allowed me to put it in my hand luggage, I did get a bollocking and extras on return to Blighty though for being a nugget.
That and a leatherman (with a very dull blade) have been the only tools I ever carried, the CRKT got put in an amnesty bin when I found it after leaving and sorting through my kit. Never felt the need to replace it with anything to be fair, could probably do with a SAK or replacing the Leatherman that is somewhere in one of the many gorilla boxes in the garage along with some musty other kit no doubt.
The Leatherman was far more practical, the CRKT mostly opened morale parcels and rations packs. 😂
he was carrying a pencil sharpener blade around in his school bag out of magpie fascination
Huh?
Going shanked in case you need to slice an apple? Who on earth needs to slice apples at work? Or tomatoes. Don't say chefs. I find biting does the job. Equally I don't stop to brew up en route as it'd a). get me funny looks on the train and b). I can manage an hour without a brew. Just. (And for the very very occasional off road commute the usual multitool works sans knife, and I can replace someone's chain link if shit gets real.) And if you have a brew on work's time they're paying you.
It was used for whittling, making dens, building camp fires in the wood. We all had them,
boys love knives. As is evident from this thread.