UK Knife Laws: What To Know

The UK has strict laws, guidelines and restrictions when purchasing knives to help protect society.

Knives can be used for multiple purposes and most modern ones either have a fixed or folding blade. Hunters may carry a hunting knife, hikers and campers may carry a pocket knife and there are knives we use every day such as kitchen knives, table knives. Alternatively, there are knives used as weapons.

Did you know that, if caught, you could be put away for four years for carrying a knife, even if you don't use it? You can also get a criminal record for carrying a knife.

The UK has strict laws, guidelines and restrictions when purchasing knives to help protect society. It's best to be knowledgeable and bring yourself up to speed with the laws of holding them if you're looking to purchase one.

The UK has strict laws, guidelines and restrictions when purchasing knives to help protect society.

Current Basic UK Laws

- It is illegal to carry a banned knife (see below for types of banned knives)

- It is illegal to carry a knife in public without good reason, unless it is a manual folding blade less than 3 inches long

- It is illegal to sell a knife to anyone under the age of 18, unless it is a manual folding blade less than 3 inches long

- It is illegal to use any knife in a threatening manner

Banned Knives in the UK

Butterfly knife, Disguised knife, Flick/gravity knife, Stealth knife, Zombie knife, Sword, Swordstick, Push dagger, Blowpipe, Telescope truncheon, Baton, Hollow kubotan, Shuriken, Kusari gama, Kyoketsu shoge, Kusari, Handclaw, Knuckle duster, Cyclone or spiral duster, Belt buckle knife

Acceptable Reasons To Carry a Knife

There are limited acceptable reasons to be in possession of a knife. For genuine reasons to carry a knife, it will be enclosed in a toolbox, tackle box or joined with equipment such as professional climbing rope. 

- Taking knives you use at your place of work to and from your place of work

- Taking it to a gallery or museum to be be exhibited

- If it will be used for theatre, film, TV, historical re-enactment or religious purposes

- If it will be used in a demonstration or to teach someone how to use it

The UK has strict laws, guidelines and restrictions when purchasing knives to help protect society.

Exceptions: So what type of knife can I carry?

You should not carry a knife with a locked blade and no longer than 3 inches. You can carry a folding blade, without a locking mechanism of no longer than 3 inches (7.62cm). Even though it is not illegal to carry this as a knife, you could still be accused of carrying a weapon.

If you carry a knife longer than 3 inches, it must only be carried for work purposes i.e. work, or needed to perform an activity.

Here are a few examples where it is common for knives to be carried in public:

  • A knife in the tacklebox of an angler who is either fishing where there is public access
  • A multi-tool with a locking blade in the toolkit of a mountain biker or climber at a trail centre
  • A small lock folding knife being held by a canoeist or kayaker for the purpose of cutting through rope 
The UK has strict laws, guidelines and restrictions when purchasing knives to help protect society.

Shop Pocket Knives

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True Utility simply means ‘Really Useful’. Our collection of pocket tools are all about making sure you’re ready for whatever, while still being able to live light. Boxcutter securely holds one standard utility blade within its slimline frame. The integrated sprung blade lock button holds the blade safely in place when in use; the blade can be easily replaced when needed. Doubles as a bottle opener and a flat head screwdriver
True Utility simply means ‘Really Useful’. Our collection of pocket tools are all about making sure you’re ready for whatever, while still being able to live light. Boxcutter securely holds one standard utility blade within its slimline frame. The integrated sprung blade lock button holds the blade safely in place when in use; the blade can be easily replaced when needed. Doubles as a bottle opener and a flat head screwdriver
Boxcutter
£12.99
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True Utility simply means ‘Really Useful’. Our collection of pocket tools are all about making sure you’re ready for whatever, while still being able to live light.  Smartknife+ has 5 wrenches and 3 wire strippers, a pry bar function – ideal for removing unwanted nails, rulers, and a pocket clip and bottle opener
True Utility simply means ‘Really Useful’. Our collection of pocket tools are all about making sure you’re ready for whatever, while still being able to live light. Smartknife+ has 5 wrenches and 3 wire strippers, a pry bar function – ideal for removing unwanted nails, rulers, and a pocket clip and bottle opener
Smartknife+
£16.99
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Minimalist
£14.99
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True Utility simply means ‘Really Useful’. Our collection of pocket tools are all about making sure you’re ready for whatever, while still being able to live light. Smartknife is the knife that thinks it's a multi tool! With its quick release clip that doubles as a bottle opener. The large flat screwdriver aids one-handed opening of the blade. With an array of useful wrenches, and its built in box cutter, this tool is sure to be your most useful companion.
True Utility simply means ‘Really Useful’. Our collection of pocket tools are all about making sure you’re ready for whatever, while still being able to live light. Smartknife is the knife that thinks it's a multi tool! With its quick release clip that doubles as a bottle opener. The large flat screwdriver aids one-handed opening of the blade. With an array of useful wrenches, and its built in box cutter, this tool is sure to be your most useful companion.
Smartknife
£12.99
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Skeletonknife
£9.99
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True Utility simply means ‘Really Useful’. Our collection of pocket tools are all about making sure you’re ready for whatever, while still being able to live light. The Jacknife is a very tough pocket knife that doesn’t compromise on anything.  With its mahogany wooden handle insert and its fine sandblasted 420 grade stainless steel folding blade; this knife has a quality like no other.
True Utility simply means ‘Really Useful’. Our collection of pocket tools are all about making sure you’re ready for whatever, while still being able to live light. The Jacknife is a very tough pocket knife that doesn’t compromise on anything. With its mahogany wooden handle insert and its fine sandblasted 420 grade stainless steel folding blade; this knife has a quality like no other.
Jacknife
£11.99
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True Utility simply means ‘Really Useful’. Our collection of pocket tools are all about making sure you’re ready for whatever, while still being able to live light. Crafty is a personal utility knife that clips to anything. Featuring a folding blade guard that becomes a handle, and a quick release carabiner clip that also works as a finger hole.  Crafty features a circular quick release carabiner clip, with a black Titanium coated stainless steel gate.
True Utility simply means ‘Really Useful’. Our collection of pocket tools are all about making sure you’re ready for whatever, while still being able to live light. Crafty is a personal utility knife that clips to anything. Featuring a folding blade guard that becomes a handle, and a quick release carabiner clip that also works as a finger hole. Crafty features a circular quick release carabiner clip, with a black Titanium coated stainless steel gate.
Crafty
£12.99
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True Utility simply means ‘Really Useful’. Our collection of pocket tools are all about making sure you’re ready for whatever, while still being able to live light.  The functions of the Scarab multi tool includes: Pliers / Wire Cutters / Knife / Flat Screwdriver / Phillips Screwdriver / Nail File / Finger Nail Cleaner
True Utility Scarab 7 in one multi tool. The functions of this tool includes: Pliers / Wire Cutters / Knife / Flat Screwdriver / Phillips Screwdriver / Nail File / Finger Nail Cleaner
Scarab
£9.99
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True Utility simply means ‘Really Useful’. Our collection of pocket tools are all about making sure you’re ready for whatever, while still being able to live light. The Bare knife features a quick release locking blade pin, this acts as a secure blade guard when the knife is not in use.
True Utility simply means ‘Really Useful’. Our collection of pocket tools are all about making sure you’re ready for whatever, while still being able to live light. The Bare knife features a quick release locking blade pin, this acts as a secure blade guard when the knife is not in use.
Bare
£8.99