Where is it not legal to carry a folding knife ?

[Rake Aboot]

I feel pretty confident that the police use their judgment sensibly on these things. A farmer with a hoof knife rattling around in the back of his landrover or indeed an off-duty carpet-fitter whose stanley knife is still in his toolbox in the back of his van are a very different story from a scallywag with a rambo knife tucked into the door pocket of his Fiesta.

And that is where that view falls flat on its arse.

 

[potshotpat]

Worked at a Slaughterhouse about ten years ago. One of the workers stabbed himself in the arm or hand, they phoned for an Ambulance explained to the operator what had happened. The Police arrived first and cordoned the street off at both ends and wouldn't let the Ambulance through until the situation was brought under control.

 

[Silvius]

While I know there are some very real horror stories out there, I think that in general provided you are not a young lad, dressed a bit urban like and exhibiting a considerable bit of attitude our rather under resourced constabulary will probably be not too worried what you have in your pockets. Besides, in general, why would anyone who was not a hoarder carry stuff about that one didn't have a sensible reason to be carrying? I know that common sense is not always applied, especially by the big state but in general most of the time life is not so silly. So on the very rare occasions when I go to London, even though I never was urban or attitude filled, I still make sure I take my little 2 inch lock knife out of my pocket.

 

[Greymaster]

I'm really surprised hearing the stories about the farmers, are they really true? As an arborist / tree surgeon I carry a knife almost every day, its a safety requirement when climbing in case you need to cut gear in an emergency. I use mine often for taking samples, cuttings and rudimentary decay detection. I'm always lost without it, it comes in handy for so many other things too. I'd definitely stand my ground if someone tried to charge me with carrying it illegally.

They must be out of their tree!

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

GOD HELP YOU KES IN THE WONKY ISLE!!

 

[kes]

Its too confusing - I try and avoid Morrisons as a result !

 

[25 Sharps]

I have a 2" folding Swiss army knife on my key ring which I use for cutting the stems off broccoli as they charge by weight and who eats the stems ?
I suppose I could be reported by an irritated supermarket assistant ? It says a lot that we are even discussing this.
Its clear to me that you are culturally disposed or trained to use a knife for self protection and have to be amoral to even consider using it- I certainly would no more stab a person than shoot them with my firearms - then again, i have never needed to be violent - couple of times before 16 but thats it..

Me

 

[tikka_madras]

From person experience (and confiscation)

The ferry from Dublin to Wales (where mine was confiscated)
The Eurostar train from London to the Continent (where my son's identical knife, missed by the ferry fairies, was confiscated)

As a teenager I got the ferry from France to England with about a foot of a giant machete sticking out of my rucksack. Nobody batted an eyelid. Sometimes the past was better times.

 

[kenbro]

My mate who is a farmer went into the court to pay a fixed penalty speeding fine. He emptied his pockets before going through the metal detector and in his belonging was his small penknife for cutting bailing twine.
He got a night in the cells and took to court in the morning. Luckily enough he only got a caution.

Is that something peculiar to Scotland, that you need to attend court to pay a fixed penalty fine?
Also, he obviously had no intent to cause harm as he emptied his pockets before entering!
Ken.

 

[kenbro]

Is that something peculiar to Scotland, that you need to attend court to pay a fixed penalty fine?
Also, he obviously had no intent to cause harm as he emptied his pockets before entering!
Ken.

I think all knives/Leatherman type tools with locking blades are not legal to carry, including those with a blade less than 3 inches.
Ken.

 

[Effnjeff]

I leave a Mora knife, along with bone saw, rubber gloves and all sorts of hunting paraphernalia in my shooting truck and have done so for years. So am I breaking any law?

 

[CarlW]

I leave a Mora knife, along with bone saw, rubber gloves and all sorts of hunting paraphernalia in my shooting truck and have done so for years. So am I breaking any law?

Probably depends whether or not you announce it on an internet forum...

 

[Scotty1980]

My swiss army knife accompanies me everywhere. I'd never leave home without it. School, shopping, doctor's whatever.

 

[VSS]

I leave a Mora knife, along with bone saw, rubber gloves and all sorts of hunting paraphernalia in my shooting truck and have done so for years. So am I breaking any law?

Depends whether your car is in a public place.

 

[Effnjeff]

Depends whether your car is in a public place.

Well I do drive my car on the roads which must be public places, so It would seem from what I have read here that I must be breaking the law. This seems absolutely absurd.
Incidentally, I assume the bone saw must be legally regarded as a knife also?

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Your car is not a public place
It being in a public place does not make it so

I have argued that point directly with two police officers who despite suspecting me of speeding pulled me over without any evidence proceeded to search every inch of my car looking for some alternative reason to prosecute and discovered a 6" divers knife.

Despite the fact the boot was full of tools including 12" screwdrivers, hammers, a pair of 18" pipe wrenches etc etc
He set to arguing I was carrying a knife in a public place.
The public have no access to my car
Nor do the police have issue with a firearm being left concealed in a car if key components have been removed (bolt/forend etc)

Can't have it both ways

 

[CarlW]

Your car is not a public place
It being in a public place does not make it so

I have argued that point directly with two police officers who despite suspecting me of speeding pulled me over without any evidence proceeded to search every inch of my car looking for some alternative reason to prosecute and discovered a 6" divers knife.

Despite the fact the boot was full of tools including 12" screwdrivers, hammers, a pair of 18" pipe wrenches etc etc
He set to arguing I was carrying a knife in a public place.
The public have no access to my car
Nor do the police have issue with a firearm being left concealed in a car if key components have been removed (bolt/forend etc)

Can't have it both ways

Unfortunately, for these purposes, a car does count as a public place if it is itself situated in a public place.

If you have good reason for the knife, then it is fine; if not, then you could get in trouble by having it in the car. I would imagine most coppers are sensible in their application of these rules: they have enough to do without writing up hoards of farmers for their pocket knives.

 

[kenbro]

My swiss army knife accompanies me everywhere. I'd never leave home without it. School, shopping, doctor's whatever.

This?
Ken.

 

[Effnjeff]

I too would hope that most coppers are sensible in the application of the rules, but I'm not going to risk that and from now on take my hunting kit out of my truck and only put it back when actually going hunting.

 

[Rake Aboot]

I'm amazed this has went 5 pages. It's clear cut (no pun) what you can and cannot carry.

If your penknife falls within the law you can carry it anywhere at any time. If you wave it at someone it is still an offensive weapon, but if you are searched and it is found, you are not committing an offence.