What are knife laws in Britain like?

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**Wyrmalla**

Graphite wrote:
Or just join the Scouts.

Actually I don't think the Scouts use knives anymore. As much as I can remember the only time I saw I knife when I went was when the leader or whatever he was called had to cut a rope. ...They've gotten quite PC/health and safety conscious of late. Exactly not what kids want of course. =P

Here though knives are one of the things that really rile up police officers. Maybe its because we've got the stabbing capital of Europe, or just them not being too comfortable with people walking about with easily concealed weapons.

**Alfndrate**

Wyrmalla wrote:
Graphite wrote:
Or just join the Scouts.

Actually I don't think the Scouts use knives anymore. As much as I can remember the only time I saw I knife when I went was when the leader or whatever he was called had to cut a rope. ...They've gotten quite PC/health and safety conscious of late. Exactly not what kids want of course. =P

Here though knives are one of the things that really rile up police officers. Maybe its because we've got the stabbing capital of Europe, or just them not being too comfortable with people walking about with easily concealed weapons.

You're fething with me right?

In the BSA we're allowed a knife with a blade that is no bigger than your palm. Also you had to earn your "Totin' Chip" to carry, handle, use, store, sleep with a knife, axe, or saw.

**leroy233**

Generally we don't carry weapons, we just enjoy a good punch up over here. That's why the police just carry a baton and pepper spray.

Unless you have a good reason to carry a knife then police would always be on your case.

So when mr policeman ask's why your have that 6 inch knife and your reply "i intend to stab someone with it" he will say ok carry on. Surely that is a 'good reason' to carry a knife. I'm only joking of course.

**Corpsesarefun**

Wyrmalla wrote:
Graphite wrote:
Or just join the Scouts.

Actually I don't think the Scouts use knives anymore. As much as I can remember the only time I saw I knife when I went was when the leader or whatever he was called had to cut a rope. ...They've gotten quite PC/health and safety conscious of late. Exactly not what kids want of course. =P

Here though knives are one of the things that really rile up police officers. Maybe its because we've got the stabbing capital of Europe, or just them not being too comfortable with people walking about with easily concealed weapons.

I used knives quite a bit when I was in the scouts (around 2003-2006).

**Wyrmalla**

Perhaps I went to a conservative group, but I never recall ever having used, or even being taught how to use a knife on any of our outdoor activities. ...Which is a bit at odds with the guidebook thingy having a page or two on them... This was about a decade ago mind, but I've the feeling that things have gone a little downhill in the organisation at large since then.

Hmn, or maybe they just thought I was the weird kid and thought better of even showing me a knife... =)

**Frazzled**

leroy233 wrote:
Generally we don't carry weapons, we just enjoy a good punch up over here. That's why the police just carry a baton and pepper spray..

Thats great if you're a healthy 20 year old male. What do the wimminz and old peoples do?

**Compel**

Salad_Fingers wrote:
I remember when i used to work in the print industry i often had a pallet knife on my belt, one day i forgot i was wearing it and popped to the local shop to get a spot of lunch.

However behind me when paying was an officer of her majesties constabulary who took a great interest in the 4" fixed blade i had on me, however after a two minute conversation he just ended up moaning at me for being stupid and that i should make sure i don't take it off site (factory) in the future.

I guess i fell under have 'good' but slightly stupid reason for having it on me.

I do however have a friend who was charged only to later have a magistrate throw the case out, he was stopped by the police and had a leatherman multitool on hi, those have fixed blades of around 3", thus does not fall under the pocket knife guidelines.

Thankfully though the police would no accept ignorance as an excuse the magistrate did given he was a rather law abiding chap.

Like a lot of laws i guess it comes down to how the police in individual cases decide to enforce it.

I've got to say, I kinda like these stories. In my personal opinion, it's pretty much how stuff should work. I'm sure the second story was quite an inconvenience for your mate but to be honest, I'd rather have an occasional inconvenience, if I'm later shown to have no wrongdoing than be stuck with some zero tolerance rubbish all the time.

**Wyrmalla**

Frazzled wrote:
leroy233 wrote:
Generally we don't carry weapons, we just enjoy a good punch up over here. That's why the police just carry a baton and pepper spray..

Thats great if you're a healthy 20 year old male. What do the wimminz and old peoples do?

0.o Go for the crotch?

**marv335**

The use of knives at a scout group is largely down to the leaders in question.
I can't find any prohibition in the POR on Scoutbase.

**Frazzled**

marv335 wrote:
The use of knives at a scout group is largely down to the leaders in question.
I can't find any prohibition in the POR on Scoutbase.

Knives are for wussies. ROcket propelled chainsaws, thats the new Scout Khaki.

As an aside Genghis Connie is going for her scuba certificate at GS camp next week. I'm jealous (again)

**JWhex**

I can understand why the police in England take a dim view on knives since they also dont have to worry as much about people with handguns. They probably see the results of knife fights and it aint pretty. While I was a sophmore in college one of my very best friends from grammar school was stabbed in the groin over some stupid dispute and he bled out and died.

**Kilkrazy**

Frazzled wrote:
leroy233 wrote:
Generally we don't carry weapons, we just enjoy a good punch up over here. That's why the police just carry a baton and pepper spray..

Thats great if you're a healthy 20 year old male. What do the wimminz and old peoples do?

Hand grenades.

**Frazzled**

JWhex wrote:

I can understand why the police in England take a dim view on knives since they also dont have to worry as much about people with handguns. They probably see the results of knife fights and it aint pretty. While I was a sophmore in college one of my very best friends from grammar school was stabbed in the groin over some stupid dispute and he bled out and died.

See if he had a Martini Henry shortbox caliber .450 with matching bayonet he would have been ready for just such a contingency.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Kilkrazy wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
leroy233 wrote:
Generally we don't carry weapons, we just enjoy a good punch up over here. That's why the police just carry a baton and pepper spray..

Thats great if you're a healthy 20 year old male. What do the wimminz and old peoples do?

Hand grenades.

Are they holy? Were they made in Antioch?

Actually in many jurisdictions there are kniife limitations in the US as well. I know in Texas knives - except for the express purpose of hunting or commercial purposes - were limited to 3.5inch blades.

**Jihadin**

I got popped for a M1 Bayonet on my side mollee by a cop. Blade rest behind the holster itself. Items were in the trunk of my car.

Cop " You know you wrong on your knife right? Length and all that."
Me "Okay....how so...its connected to my Battle Rattle?"
Cop "Correction. Its part of your battle rattle but not connected to your battle rattle"
Me "Oh Gawddang" and thinking this arsehat was going to give me a ticket.
Cop "Quick fix though"
Me " Aye I know"
Cop "What's your cell number"
Me "Eh"
Cop "I've a similar set up. In fact we have matching gear. I show you how I rigged mine. Here's a pic of it"

Simple fix, two small bungie strap down, four heavy duty zip ties, and a about one foot of 100MPH tape. He straight out ignored the thirty-six 30 round magazine I had in the trunk also...in magazine pooches and magazine belt

**Wyrmalla**

Murica...

**whembly**

Wyrmalla wrote:
Murica...

Yep!

**Kilkrazy**

They are pretty hard on knives in Japan now, so I always carry a sketch book and a box of pencils to justify my pen-knife when I am over there.

**Frazzled**

Kilkrazy wrote:
They are pretty hard on knives in Japan now, so I always carry a sketch book and a box of pencils to justify my pen-knife when I am over there.

I like to carry a Mosin Nagant to justify my bayonet. Also helps in getting a seat on the bus.

The only problem is whenever a BMW goes by I have the urge to invade Berlin.

**Dreadclaw69**

Frazzled wrote:
Thats great if you're a healthy 20 year old male. What do the wimminz and old peoples do?

For old people there's always this

**Frazzled**

Dreadclaw69 wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Thats great if you're a healthy 20 year old male. What do the wimminz and old peoples do?

For old people there's always this

I think those have been illegal since the turn of the century actually. They are cool though.

**Skinnereal**

The best bit about UK knife laws, a young couple moving into their new house is unable to even buy cutlery (knife-and-fork sets), if they're under 18.
Every shop that sells knives has to display signs at the till, and check the age of anyone they think might be under 21 (might be 25).

So, we might be more relaxed at selling booze, but knives count as the same thing, to shop staff.

**Kilkrazy**

That isn't a problem, though, since no-one can afford a house any more.

**Palindrome**

Kilkrazy wrote:
That isn't a problem, though, since no-one can afford a house any more.

Certainly no one under the age of 35 (unless its daddy's money of course).

**Super Ready**

And in which case - Daddy can get the knives and booze too, can't he? *flutters eyelashes*

**Zathras**

Grey Templar wrote:
A comic-con would presumably fall under theater or reenactment purposes.

But then I am not sure a Bat'leth would actually be a knife. Not sure what it is actually. A bladed staff perhaps?

Per Wikipedia, the Bat'leth (Klingon: betleH, pronunciation: [ˈbɛtʰlɛx]) is a curved ceremonial longsword with four points and handholds on the back.

The Mek'leth is the Klingon short sword (used by Worf vs. the Borg in First Contact) and the D'k tahg (standard dagger with the spring loaded guards) and Qutluch are daggers.

**Corpsesarefun**

Frazzled wrote:
Dreadclaw69 wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Thats great if you're a healthy 20 year old male. What do the wimminz and old peoples do?

For old people there's always this

I think those have been illegal since the turn of the century actually. They are cool though.

A chain of shops were selling them accidentally a few years ago.

**p_gray99**

SilverMK2 wrote:
We are really sharp on knife crime here. The police can really get to the point as they dont have to worry ao much about gun crime. Means they have a real edge compared to the US.

*claws eyes out at all the terrible puns*

**Tibbsy**

Frazzled wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:
They are pretty hard on knives in Japan now, so I always carry a sketch book and a box of pencils to justify my pen-knife when I am over there.

I like to carry a Mosin Nagant to justify my bayonet. Also helps in getting a seat on the bus.

The only problem is whenever a BMW goes by I have the urge to invade Berlin.

I quoted this purely because I wanted to exalt it twice, but Dakka wouldn't let me

I don't tend to carry a knife with me; I have several though. If I go camping I take a multitool/penknife with me on my belt. I might pack my fixed blade in the bag as well, because I hate folding knives, but I don't tend to carry it.

**Albatross**

Palindrome wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:
That isn't a problem, though, since no-one can afford a house any more.

Certainly no one under the age of 35 (unless its daddy's money of course).

I am under 35 and a home-owner. I didn't have a wealthy (or, indeed, present) father.

**Jihadin**

I was on my second house before 35. Wife was a CPT. and I was a Junior NCO...both collected BAH.....why in Gawds name did I let her buy me Mistibishi Mighty Max truck.......