A Guide to Knife Laws in the UK

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

 Understanding UK knife laws is essential when navigating the complex legislation that distinguishes between owning, carrying and using knives in different contexts. This comprehensive guide clarifies what's legal, what requires good reason and what's prohibited outright. You'll discover the specific requirements for everyday carry, learn which knives you can own but not carry publicly and understand how recent delivery law changes affect online purchases.  

Why UK Knife Laws Matter

Every day, we receive questions about UK knife law. The reason is simple: it's confusing. It's not straightforward. But it is the law, and people want to comply with it.

The confusion stems from three distinct categories: knives that you cannot own at all, knives that you can own but cannot carry publicly without a good reason, and knives that you can carry anywhere. Understanding these distinctions prevents legal problems and ensures you enjoy your knives responsibly.

Since our founding in 1996, we've helped thousands of customers navigate UK knife legislation. As an employee-owned business, we're committed to providing accurate information rather than just making sales. This guide reflects nearly three decades of experience interpreting and explaining UK knife law.

Certain knife types are illegal to own in the United Kingdom under any circumstances. Possession of these knives is a criminal offence.

The Consequences: If a knife appears on this banned list, you shouldn't own it. Possession is illegal. No "good reason" exemption makes owning these knives legal.

Most knives are legal to own in the UK. You can keep them at home, use them on private property or take them to the countryside. However, carrying these knives in a public place without a good reason is illegal.

This Category Includes:

• Locking folding knives (knives with blades that lock when unfolded)
• Fixed-blade knives of any length
• Folding knives with blades over 7.6cm (3 inches)
• Multi-tools with locking blades over 7.6cm

Good reason is left to the police officer's discretion. However, the government provides examples of acceptable reasons for carrying these knives:

• Taking knives you use at work to and from work
• Taking knives to a gallery or museum to be exhibited
• Using knives for theatre, film, television or historical re-enactment
• Religious purposes (such as the kirpan some Sikhs carry)
• Taking a knife to be sharpened
• Transporting recently purchased knives home from a shop

Important Context: You can own a locking knife or a fixed blade knife and use it at home or in the countryside. You should be able to use your fixed blade for camping, bushcraft or outdoor activities with no issues at all. The restriction applies to carrying these knives in public places without good reason.  

Even with good reason, using a knife in a threatening way breaks the law regardless of blade length or locking mechanism.

Specific Locations: Certain places like government buildings, schools, airports and some public venues have separate rules prohibiting any knife carrying. Always check if the place you're going to has specific restrictions.

A UK legal everyday carry knife (often called ‘UK Friendly Carry’) must meet two specific requirements:

Both Requirements Must Be Met:

1. Non-Locking Mechanism The blade must not lock when opened. Slip joint mechanisms are most common. The blade folds freely without any locking mechanism holding it in place. Lock knives (knives with blades that lock when unfolded) do not qualify as folding knives under UK law.

2. Blade Length Under 7.6cm (3 Inches) More specifically, the cutting edge must be under 7.6cm. We always advise staying on the cautious side. If your blade measures exactly 7.6cm or looks borderline, choose something clearly under the limit.

Common Examples:

• Swiss Army Knives (most models)
• Slip joint folding knives
• Traditional pen knives
• Many everyday carry folders are specifically designed for UK compliance

Where We Mark UK Legal Knives:

On our website, we mark every UK-friendly knife we stock. Most websites don't. When you want a knife you can carry legally, don't just look at size. Also, check whether it locks or not. Both factors determine legality.

Size Doesn't Equal Legality: The Boker Plus Tech-Tool 1 and Spyderco Bug are both UK-friendly knives. Both look completely different. Both fall into the legal framework. However, if you look at the Kershaw Shuffle II Blackwash, it's not a UK-friendly carry because it has a locking blade, even though it's physically small.

Common Sense Applies: Just because you can carry a UK legal knife anywhere doesn't mean you should. Use common sense.

Don't take your knife into places where you wouldn't want other people to have it. Even UK legal knives may not be welcome in certain venues, sporting events or licensed premises.

Since 6th April 2022, UK law has changed how knives can be delivered. The 2019 Offensive Weapons Act made it an offence to deliver a knife to anyone under 18 at a residential address.

What This Means for You:

Age Verification at Delivery: Every knife order requires age verification when delivered. The delivery driver checks your age when handing over the parcel. You must be 18 or over to receive the delivery.

Age Verification Fee Orders containing knives go through age-verified shipping channels. This attracts a £2 premium on top of normal delivery charges. You receive a fully tracked delivery to your door, handed to an adult at your chosen address.

Parcel Marking: Your parcel is marked with a sticker showing it contains a bladed item. It's the law. The carrier must be aware of the contents.

Why the Law Changed: The purpose is to ensure knives can only be bought and delivered to adults. This prevents online sales to young people under 18 years old.

Our Approach: We've adapted to these changes with assistance from our delivery partners. When you buy from us, everything is done properly according to current legislation. We won't sell a knife to anyone aged under 18 and actively verify age both at sale and delivery.

Royal Mail Changes:  In 2024, Royal Mail introduced its own ‘Prohibited Bladed Items’ category beyond legal requirements. Their broad definitions using phrases like ‘and any similar items’ created uncertainty. We no longer use Royal Mail for knife transport. We maintain strong relationships with carriers who provide clear rules and reliable delivery.

This distinction causes the most confusion. Let me clarify with examples.

The Key Question: People often ask, "Is my knife legal?" That's the wrong question. The right questions are: "Can I own this knife?" and "Where can I carry this knife?"  

Myth 1: "All knives are illegal to carry in the UK" False. You can carry non-locking folding knives under 7.6cm anywhere. You can carry other knives for good reason.

Myth 2: "Owning a locking knife is illegal" False. Owning locking knives is completely legal. Carrying them in public without a good reason is what's illegal.

Myth 3: "If my knife is small, it's legal to carry" False. Size isn't the only factor. A tiny locking knife doesn't qualify for everyday carry. A larger non-locking knife might qualify if the blade is under 7.6cm.

Myth 4: "I can carry any knife if I have a good reason" False. Banned knives like flick knives and butterfly knives are illegal to own. Good reason doesn't apply to them.

Myth 5: "Multi-tools are always legal to carry" False. Most multi-tools have locking blades or blades over 7.6cm. They're legal to own but not to carry publicly without good reason. The Leatherman Bond is specifically designed as a UK legal multi-tool with a non-locking 6.6cm blade.

Myth 6: "Knife laws only apply in cities" False. UK knife laws apply throughout the United Kingdom. Context matters (countryside camping vs city centre), but the basic legal framework remains the same.

When selecting a knife for everyday carry in the UK, understanding the legal requirements is just the starting point.

Look for Clear Marking: We clearly mark every UK-friendly knife on our website. Look for UK legal options rather than guessing based on appearance.

Consider Slip Joint Mechanisms: Slip joints are the staple mechanism in UK legal EDC. Brands like Spyderco, Boker, Victorinox and CRKT offer excellent UK legal models using slip joint designs.

Check Specifications: Verify both blade length and locking mechanism. Don't assume. Check the specifications. A knife might look small, but it has a locking mechanism. Another might appear large but feature a non-locking blade under 7.6cm.

Understand Your Needs: UK legal knives aren't limited to basic folders. You can find sophisticated designs, premium materials and excellent functionality within legal parameters. The CRKT Pilar Heinnie Haynes UK Edition, CEO Heinnie Haynes Edition and Squid Compact Heinnie Haynes Edition demonstrate how great design works within UK legal requirements.

Our Approach: We've worked with manufacturers like CRKT to create UK legal versions of popular designs. These aren't compromised versions. They're properly engineered adaptations that maintain design integrity and functionality. Our signature red G10 scales indicate a knife meeting UK legal requirements.

Staying Informed About UK Knife Laws

Laws can and do change. Staying current ensures continued compliance.

Official Resources: The UK Government website provides official guidance: www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives

Our Commitment: Our product specialists stay up-to-date with current regulations, ensuring our selection remains compliant. We update this guide as legislation changes. We clearly mark UK legal carry options throughout our range.

When in Doubt: If you're uncertain whether a knife meets legal requirements, contact us. Our team has nearly three decades of experience interpreting UK knife law. We provide straightforward answers based on current legislation and our interpretation of the law.

Context Matters: Even with legal knives, context matters. Outdoor activities, work requirements and specific venues all affect what's appropriate to carry. Use common sense alongside legal knowledge.

Responsible Knife Ownership in the UK

Understanding the law is part of responsible knife ownership. The other part is using knives appropriately.

Our Philosophy: At Heinnie Haynes, responsible, law-abiding knife ownership matters. Our signature red handle knives symbolise this commitment. The blade doesn't lock and is under 7.6cm. Carry your Heinnie red knife with pride, knowing it meets legal requirements.

We want you to get the best use from your knives. That means understanding what you can own, where you can carry it and how to use it responsibly. Since 1996, we've built our reputation on honest advice and quality gear. That hasn't changed.

Whether you're exploring our range of UK legal EDC knives, UK-friendly folding knives or everyday carry essentials, we provide expert guidance backed by genuine product knowledge. Our employee-owned business maintains the founder's conviction that honest advice matters more than maximising sales.

When you're ready to choose knives that meet UK legal requirements and deliver exceptional quality, our team provides straightforward guidance. Get in touch and discover why thousands of customers trust us to help them navigate UK knife law and find the perfect knives for their needs.