Adults who carry a knife face a maximum punishment of four years in prison and an infinite fine. If you are convicted of carrying a knife more than once, you will face a prison sentence.
Knife-related fundamental laws
Possessing a prohibited knife or weapon is a crime. Additionally, the following actions are illegal.
To import, sell, rent, lend, or gift a prohibited knife or weapon into the United Kingdom.
To carry any knife in public without a valid reason, unless it is a manual folding blade of less than three inches in length.
To sell a knife to anybody under the age of 18, unless the blade is a manual folding blade measuring less than three inches in length.
To use any knife in a menacing manner.
In Scotland, sixteen to eighteen-year-olds are permitted to purchase cutlery and kitchen knives.
Lock knives are not classified as folding knives and are therefore forbidden to carry in public unless there is a compelling cause to do so.
Knives that are securely locked
have blades that are locked and refolded with the push of a button;
include multi-tool knives - instruments that double as a screwdriver or can opener;
as well as prohibited knives and weapons.
Unless a lawful exemption exists, it is illegal to bring into the UK, possess, sell, hire, lend, or give someone a prohibited knife.
Types of Knives—Descriptions
Butterfly knives—Alternately referred to as 'balisongs'. A handle with a central split that reveals a blade.
Knives disguised as commonplace objects—A blade or sharp point concealed within an everyday object such as a buckle, phone, brush, or lipstick.
Also called as 'switchblades' or 'automatic knives', flick knives or gravity knives.
Folding knives—Knives that open automatically, either through gravity or by pressing a button or other part of the knife.
Stealth knives—Knives or spikes constructed of non-metal that are not intended for use at home, with food, or as a toy.
Knives with a cutting edge, a serrated edge, and imagery or words implying they are used for violence.
Swords—A curved blade greater than 50 centimetres in length, with few exceptions for antiques, swords forged using traditional processes, and swords manufactured prior to 1954.
Sword stick—A hollow walking stick or cane with a blade embedded in it.
A push dagger is a knife with a handle that fits inside a clenched fist and a blade that emerges between two fingers.
Blowpipes—Occasionally referred to as 'blow guns'. A hollow tube through which hard pellets or darts are shot by blowing.
Telescopic truncheons.
A knife that automatically extends or can be extended by activating a button or spring located in or attached to the handle.
Straight, side-handled, or friction-lock truncheons are referred to as batons.
A hollow kubotan is a container in the shape of a cylinder that contains a number of sharp spikes.
Shurikens - Shurikens are also referred to as'shaken', 'death stars', or 'throwing stars'. A rigid, non-flexible plate with three or more pointed ends designed to be hurled.
A sickle attached to a rope, cable, chain, or wire is called a kusari gama.
A hook-knife hooked to a rope, cable, chain, or wire is called a kyoketsu shoge.
'Manrikigusari' or 'kusari'—A weight or hand grip attached to a rope, cord, chain, or wire.
Hand claws—A metal or other hard material ring worn around the wrist from which sharp spikes protrude.
Foot claws—A bar of metal or another hard substance worn on the foot that protrudes a number of sharp spikes.
Knuckle dusters—A metal or other hard material band worn around the knuckles of one or more fingers.
Cyclone or spiral knives—A blade featuring one or more spiral-shaped cutting edges that terminate in a point.
Knife-carrying belt buckle—A buckle that includes or conceals a knife.
You should check with your local police department to determine whether a knife or weapon is unlawful.
Reasons to carry a knife or other weapon
Several compelling reasons to carry a knife or weapon in public include the following:
transporting job-related blades to and from work,
exhibiting it in a gallery or museum,
if it will be utilized in theatre, cinema, television, historical reenactment, or religious purposes, as some Sikhs do with their kirpan.
if it will be demonstrated or utilized to teach someone how to use it.
If you're charged with illegally carrying a knife or weapon, a court will determine whether you have a legitimate purpose to do so.