I lost my trusty SAK farmer a couple of days ago, and since I was in London yesterday I decided to get a replacement.
I have a reasonable knowlege of what variants there are, and I asked for something with a saw, a saw is a must.
Anyway I decided to go for one of the larger knives (it is the rucksack but there are a number which are similar) and the guy behind the counter told me it was illegal. That is all he said at first that it was illegal. Now sometimes I am not the sharpest tool out of the box myself when it comes to context and meaning, and I said, "do you mean I can't take it out of the shop? can you post it to me then." He then said "You need a reason for it" and I replied "Taking it home with me would be a good reason" He said, "no you need a reason to use it", and I said "yes it is a replacement for one I lost on my allotment, I want a knife I can use on my allotment, that is why I want the saw and a locking blade is going to be an advantage" He agreed that was a good reason and said "you can't carry it on the street though" I replied that I knew that, I wasn't going to just stick it in my pocket after and walk around London with it, I wanted it in a box and with proof of purchase in case there was any trouble. I said that I had initially misunderstood him and thought he was not going to sell it to me, but it was what I wanted and would he find a box. In the end he couldn't find a box, but wrapped it up in bubble wrap, and I put it away in my bag.
I think the upshot of this, is that he was a responsible shopkeeper and was intent on warning me that the knife I was about to purchase was not street legal as it locked. I suspect there are a lot who don't care if you get caught out, they just want to sell the SAK, leatherman or whatever. It's positive really, he made sure I understood the implications of what I was purchasing, even though I did know already that it was not a knife I would be using for EDC.
The saw is amazing however, I was looking for something like the saw on my lost farmer only bigger, and this is it.
I have a reasonable knowlege of what variants there are, and I asked for something with a saw, a saw is a must.
Anyway I decided to go for one of the larger knives (it is the rucksack but there are a number which are similar) and the guy behind the counter told me it was illegal. That is all he said at first that it was illegal. Now sometimes I am not the sharpest tool out of the box myself when it comes to context and meaning, and I said, "do you mean I can't take it out of the shop? can you post it to me then." He then said "You need a reason for it" and I replied "Taking it home with me would be a good reason" He said, "no you need a reason to use it", and I said "yes it is a replacement for one I lost on my allotment, I want a knife I can use on my allotment, that is why I want the saw and a locking blade is going to be an advantage" He agreed that was a good reason and said "you can't carry it on the street though" I replied that I knew that, I wasn't going to just stick it in my pocket after and walk around London with it, I wanted it in a box and with proof of purchase in case there was any trouble. I said that I had initially misunderstood him and thought he was not going to sell it to me, but it was what I wanted and would he find a box. In the end he couldn't find a box, but wrapped it up in bubble wrap, and I put it away in my bag.
I think the upshot of this, is that he was a responsible shopkeeper and was intent on warning me that the knife I was about to purchase was not street legal as it locked. I suspect there are a lot who don't care if you get caught out, they just want to sell the SAK, leatherman or whatever. It's positive really, he made sure I understood the implications of what I was purchasing, even though I did know already that it was not a knife I would be using for EDC.
The saw is amazing however, I was looking for something like the saw on my lost farmer only bigger, and this is it.
