The maximum penalty for an adult carrying a knife is 4 years in prison and an unlimited fine. You’ll get a prison sentence if you’re convicted of carrying a knife more than once.
Basic laws on knives
It’s illegal to possess a banned knife or weapon. It’s also illegal to:
Bring into the UK, sell, hire, lend or give someone a banned knife or weapon
Carry any knife in public without good reason, unless it has a manual folding blade less than 3 inches long
Sell a knife to anyone under the age of 18, unless it has a manual folding blade less than 3 inches long
Use any knife in a threatening way
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
Banned knives and weapons
It’s illegal to bring into the UK, possess, sell, hire, lend or give someone a banned knife, unless a legal exemption applies.
Knife type Description
Butterfly knives also known as ‘balisongs’. A handle that splits in the middle to reveal a blade.
Disguised knives. A blade or sharp point hidden inside something that looks like an everyday object such as a buckle, phone, brush or lipstick.
Flick knives or gravity knives. Also known as ‘switchblades’ or ‘automatic knives’. Folding knives where the blade opens automatically, by gravity or by pressing a button or something else on the knife.
Stealth knives. Non metal knives or spikes which are not made for use at home, for food or as a toy.
Zombie knives. A knife with a cutting edge, a serrated edge and images or words suggesting it is used for violence.
Swords. A curved blade over 50 centimetres, with some exceptions such as antiques, swords made to traditional methods, or swords made before 1954.
Swordstick. A hollow walking stick or cane containing a blade.
Push dagger. A knife where the handle fits within a clenched fist and the blade comes out from between two fingers.
Blowpipes. Sometimes known as ‘blow guns’. A hollow tube out of which hard pellets or darts are shot by the use of breath.
Telescopic truncheons. A knife that extends automatically, or by pressing a button or spring that is in or attached to the handle.
Batons. Straight, side-handled or friction-lock truncheons.
Hollow Kubotan. A cylinder-shaped container containing a number of sharp spikes
Shurikens. Also known as ‘shaken’, ‘death stars’ or ‘throwing stars’. A hard non-flexible plate with three or more sharp radiating points, designed to be thrown.
Kusari gama. A sickle attached to a rope, cord, chain or wire.
Kyoketsu shoge. A hook-knife attached to a rope, cord, chain or wire.
Kusari or ‘manrikigusari’ A weight or hand grip attached to a rope, cord, chain or wire.
Handclaws. A band of metal or other hard material worn on the hand, from which sharp spikes come out.
Footclaws. A bar of metal or other hard material worn on the foot, from which a number of sharp spikes come out.
Knuckle dusters. A band of metal or other hard material worn on one or more fingers.
Cyclone or spiral knives. A blade with one or more cutting edges that form a spiral and come to a point.
Belt buckle knife. A buckle which incorporates or conceals a knife.
You should contact your local police to check if a knife or weapon is illegal.
Examples of good reasons to carry a knife or weapon in public can include:
Taking knives you use at work to and from work
Taking it to a gallery or museum to be exhibited
If it’ll be used for theatre, film, television, historical reenactment or religious purposes, for example the kirpan some Sikhs carry
If it’ll be used in a demonstration or to teach someone how to use it
A court will decide if you’ve got a good reason to carry a knife or a weapon if you’re charged with carrying it illegally.
This list is not complete. Please contact your local police when in doubt.
Courtesy of Gov.uk Please click here for more information
As of 6th April 2022. There are changes to the delivery of age restricted items Please click here
New Laws (2024) for Zombie Knives & Fixed Blades
Each year brings a new wave of legislation, and this year, significant modifications have emerged concerning the categorization of 'Zombie Knives'. These changes have sparked considerable discussion and concern among the public, particularly regarding the implications for knife ownership and legality. As individuals seek clarity on these new regulations, there is a palpable anxiety that they may unknowingly possess items that could be deemed illegal under the revised laws.
Recent media coverage has intensified fears, with reports indicating that a comprehensive ban on all machetes may be on the horizon, alongside additional restrictions on various bladed weapons. This has led to widespread speculation and confusion among knife owners, who are eager to understand how these potential changes might affect their collections. However, it is important to note that the government is not enacting a total prohibition on all machetes; rather, it is focusing on a broader spectrum of bladed tools, which may include many items currently in personal possession.
While the exact language of the new legislation is still being finalized, there is an expectation that it will expand the definition of 'zombie knife', potentially capturing a wider range of knives that are otherwise considered benign. This could lead to unintended consequences for many knife enthusiasts and collectors. For those interested in the specifics of the proposed changes, the draft legislation is available for review, providing an opportunity to understand the potential impact of these new laws in detail.
The laws in effect at this time:
A "Zombie Knife" refers to a type of blade that incorporates both a sharp edge and a serrated edge, characterized by design elements or inscriptions that suggest a purpose related to violence. These design features can include imagery such as blood, skulls, zombies, or violent scenarios, while the inscriptions may contain terms like "killing," "combat," "self-defense," and other phrases that could be seen as promoting violent behavior.
The combination of these cutting features and provocative visual or textual elements distinguishes the Zombie Knife, making it a controversial item. Its design is often criticized for glorifying violence and may raise concerns regarding its impact on public safety and perceptions of weaponry.
Example image:
THE NEW DEFINITION
The New definition defines 'Zombie Knives' as – A Knife with: A plain cutting edge; A sharp pointed end; Blade over 8 inches.
Which ALSO has:
A serrated edge (except an up to two inch serrated edge next to the handle); or more than one hole in the blade or Spikes; or More than two sharp points on/in the blade;
The specific wording on images or depictions of violence on the blade or handle has been removed.
[1] - Blade measured in a straight line distance from the top of the handle to the tip of the blade.
[2] - Presumably meaning any extra sharp points on or around the blade.
[3] - Excluding:
A sharp point where the angle between the edges which create the point is an angle of at least 90 degrees. (Where there is a curved edge, the angle will be measured by reference to the tangent of the curve.)
A sharp point on the cutting edge of the blade near the handle.
Please click here for more information