Is It Legal to Have a Knife Collection

Hand-opening or « one-handed » knives, including spring-loaded knives, which do not fall into the categories listed in the definition of prohibited weapons, may be legally possessed and used,[16] However, the importation of many of these items has been prohibited by the CBSA. [17] The Bill of Rights of 1689 guaranteed that only Parliament, not the King, could restrict the right of the people to bear arms. Since 1959, Parliament has passed a number of increasingly restrictive laws and laws on the possession and use of knives and blade tools. Data collected by the ambulance service in 2009 suggest a slow increase in knife crime in the UK, although the overall rate has remained low. [59] Official figures from the Ministry of Interior show 43,516 recorded knife offences[60] in the 12 months to March 2019, twice as many as five years earlier. A 2019 survey of 2,000 parents found that 72% were concerned that their child might be the victim of a knife breaking,[60] and one in 13 said they knew a teenager who had been victimized. The knife must be suitable for the task – a hunting knife only for hunting, and a scout cannot carry a butcher knife – and you must convincingly prove to the police that you are indeed on the way to an accepted hobby (there is no point in saying that you are going to a picnic if you are not carrying food, drink and a blanket for it). The knife should be transported directly to and from the workplace or activity – preferably in a toolbox in a locked car/trunk for craftsmen or (from direct access) in a bag/luggage for leisure activities. [21] [23] Under the Crime Prevention Act, « exempt » knives worn for « good cause or lawful authority » may still be considered illegal if authorities conclude that the knife is being carried as an « assault weapon. » In recent years, the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 has been reinterpreted by police and prosecutors, who have persuaded courts to minimize exemptions from prosecution on the grounds that the defendant has « lawful authority or reasonable excuse » to apply the law to various cases. This new approach now includes the prosecution of citizens who have admitted to carrying a knife solely in self-defense (in the eyes of the law, this is currently considered an admission that the defendant intends to use the knife as an « assault weapon, » albeit defensively and in otherwise justified circumstances).

[75] While the onus is on the officer to prove offensive intent, prosecutors and courts have always considered the appearance and marketing of a particular knife brand when assessing whether an otherwise legal knife was carried as an offensive weapon. In addition, the 1997 Knives Act now prohibits the sale of combat knives and restricts the marketing of knives as offensive weapons. A knife marketed as « tactical », « military », « special operations », etc. could therefore result in additional liability. It is illegal to carry a knife to use it as a weapon in attack or defense. The only general limitation is the intended use, not the characteristics of the knife itself (in particular, contrary to popular belief, there is no limitation on the length of the blade). In practice, however, there will be considerable room for interpretation for police and judges – and much will depend on whether a use other than a weapon can be invoked – for which the characteristics of the knife in question will be highly relevant (bad: leaf knife, automated, long blade, neck knife, tactical). Therefore, carrying a knife, which is mainly used as a weapon, is illegal. In addition, it is not allowed to bring knives into certain places, such as courtrooms, football matches, etc.

Carrying knives is usually very unusual in cities, but not in the countryside. Until 1957, it was illegal to possess, sell or transfer a blade or knife with a blade larger than two inches.32 Some knives are not illegal, but become illegal depending on how they are used or possessed. The possession of a dagger, dirk, stiletto, machete, dangerous knife or razor by a person with the intention of using it illegally against another person is not allowed. A gravimeter is a knife whose blade is released from the handle or sheath by gravity or by the application of centrifugal force, and then the blade is locked by a button, spring, lever or other device. Lawmakers acknowledged that the new definition could criminalize the « innocent » wearing of legal instruments such as steak knives, scissors and metal knitting needles. But he concluded that « there is no need to carry such hidden objects in public. » 28 It should be noted that local municipalities may enact their own by-laws governing knives. Each state also has laws governing the legality of carrying firearms, whether secret or open, and these laws explicitly or implicitly cover different types of knives. Some states go above and beyond and criminalize the mere possession of certain types of knives.

Other states prohibit the possession and/or concealed carrying of knives with a blade type sufficient to turn them into « dangerous weapons »[91][92] or « lethal weapons ». Knives that are either optimized for lethality against humans or designed for death or serious bodily injury and are readily capable of causing them. [91] [93] These are often knives with specific blade styles with a historical connection to violence or murder, including pushers such as the Dirk, the Dagger and Stiletto, the Bowie knife, and double-edged knives with cross-sectional rifles designed for knife fighting such as the dagger. [91] [94] Some states criminalize carrying or possessing a dangerous or deadly weapon with intent to unlawfully harm others. [91] Penal Code 21310 prohibits the carrying of a Dirk or concealed dagger, including knives concealed by clothing (e.g., tucked into a belt). In California, carrying dirt or a hidden dagger is a « wavering » offense. A flickering offense is an offense that the prosecutor can charge either as a misdemeanor or as a felony. Legal knives: In Denmark, folding knives (pocket knives) and fixed blade knives are legal if the blade does not exceed 12 cm (4.7 inches). Blades of this length can only be legally possessed if the owner has a legitimate reason to possess the knife (knives for cooking at home, knives as tools, knife specially designed for hunting, butcher knife, etc.) or a special collection permit. Under Norwegian law, you can spend up to 6 months in jail if you intentionally bring a knife or similar sharp tool that is particularly likely to injure a public place or help others do so.

The law does not apply to knives or other tools carried or used for work, outdoor activities or similar legitimate purposes. Note that this includes bringing knives into the car. It is also illegal to buy, possess or store blade knives, butterfly knives and stiletto heels. [44] Although most restrictions on firearms were eventually lifted, many knife laws remained in place in the South. Customs seizure of knives from U.S. importers or manufacturers. [85] [86] In one case, the seizure of a shipment of knives and tool knives from the Columbia River resulted in an estimated loss of $1 million to the company before the shipment was cleared. [87] [88] [89] California`s knife laws can be confusing and sometimes inconsistent.