UK Knife Law: The Definitive Guide

In the UK, the legal knife length for carrying in public without a specific reason is generally a non locking folding knife with a blade length of 3 inches (7.62 cm) or less.

Machetes are legal to buy and own in the UK so long as the purchaser is over 18 and age verification is carried out before the item is dispatched and at the door. Whether or not you can carry one on you depends on the reason you are carrying it. There are very limited uses for machetes, they are mainly used for agriculture, forestry and garden work. We also sell them as part of expedition kit and even to vineyards!

Whittling knives, often used for wood carving or crafts, can be legal to carry if they adhere to the 3-inch blade length limit and lack a locking mechanism. You must still have a good reason to carry a fixed blade whittling knife. It is always a good idea to only carry any knife of any length with any folding mechanism if you really need to.

Carrying a pocket knife in the UK is lawful if the blade adheres to the legal size limit and doesn't possess features categorising it as an offensive weapon.

Legal knives typically include non-locking folding knives with a blade length of 3 inches or less, pocket knives, multitools like Swiss Army knives (within size limits), and knives carried for specific purposes like work or hobbies. That being said, most knives are legal to carry with valid reason. If you work on a farm and carry a machete while going about your business, this is unlikely to fall foul of the law. If you then put the machete in your car and go into town in the evening, this would usually be deemed illegal.

The legal blade length in the UK, usually 3 inches or less for knives carried in public without a valid reason, is a crucial factor. Blades exceeding this length or possessing locking mechanisms might be considered illegal for everyday carry without a legitimate purpose.

Carrying fixed blade knives in public without a valid reason is usually illegal in the UK. Strict regulations govern the size and purpose of carrying such knives, and they are generally considered more potentially dangerous than folding knives. If you are on a bushcraft course or in the woods practicing bushcraft, this is unlikely to cause an issue.

Certain professions or activities may have exemptions from the general knife laws. Individuals in professions requiring knives as part of their job (e.g., chefs, tradespeople, farmers) may carry larger knives if justifying their necessity for work-related tasks. There are also exemptions for religious reasons.

The new law bans knives over 8" with two of the following three criteria: 1) A fine edge 2) A serrated edge 3) Two or more holes in the bladed portion of the knife. This law is set to come into force on the 24th of September 2024.

Intent significantly influences the legality of carrying a knife. Carrying any knife with the intent to use it as a weapon or for self-defense purposes is likely to be deemed illegal.