You are going on a 3 day trip and have to stay UK legal so what do you carry?
Also what can you not do that you would normally do?
Also what can you not do that you would normally do?
You are going on a 3 day trip and have to stay UK legal so what do you carry?
- Thread starter Minotaur
- Start date
depends where you are going in the UK and what you will be doing.
Remember a fixed blade is perfectly legal in the UK, you just need a reasonable excuse for its carriage and use.
Remember a fixed blade is perfectly legal in the UK, you just need a reasonable excuse for its carriage and use.
But (as I understand it) a reasonable excuse is not just in case you need to cut a sausage or cheese etc.
If I were to travel to UK I would not take any knife other than what would be considered to be an eating utensil. Like this set:
With this I would be able to eat food bought from a food store or market.
But how about shaving? I use a safety razor with razor blades. I hope that would be legal.
If I were to travel to UK I would not take any knife other than what would be considered to be an eating utensil. Like this set:
With this I would be able to eat food bought from a food store or market.
But how about shaving? I use a safety razor with razor blades. I hope that would be legal.
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I shall have my folding, locking, 10cm blade Opinel #12 in an accessories bag, in my rucksack (and in my car when I’m not pitched.)
It will be accompanied by a lot of camping gear.
1. I do not expect to be stopped.
2. Should I be so then I expect that a polite and reasonable discussion will have me on my way still equipped with my knife..
3. In the highly improbable event that my knife is confiscated then I’ll buy another one perfectly legally.
It will be accompanied by a lot of camping gear.
1. I do not expect to be stopped.
2. Should I be so then I expect that a polite and reasonable discussion will have me on my way still equipped with my knife..
3. In the highly improbable event that my knife is confiscated then I’ll buy another one perfectly legally.
Camping and camp chores are a reasonable excuse especially if accompanied with your other camping gear.
Pattree you will be fine with your Opinel
For most trips I carry my usual SAK, Leatherman, small fixed blade and saw combo, excepting city stays when I obviously ditch the small fixed blade and take a much larger tactical fixed blade.
But would I come I would come as a tourist, not camping. Living in hostels, bed and breakfast and such. Spending time in cities and rural villages.
I do struggle with these types of threads sometimes. You can carry any knife you want, except those expressly described as offensive weapons, as long as you can prove a genuine need for it. I always have some sort of knife in my pocket, even in London, and just make sure that what I am carrying suits the occasion.
In this context I would pack a SAK, a 4" fixed blade and a saw. The fixed blade and saw would be in my rucksack with other camping bits and the SAK would be in my pocket
Sent from underground
In this context I would pack a SAK, a 4" fixed blade and a saw. The fixed blade and saw would be in my rucksack with other camping bits and the SAK would be in my pocket
Sent from underground
As you don't say where you are going and what you will be doing, it is difficult to give an answer.
A long weekend at a rave would get you a completely different answer to 3 days wild camping and hiking across Rannoch moor for example.
A long weekend at a rave would get you a completely different answer to 3 days wild camping and hiking across Rannoch moor for example.
Sorry I tapped out a bit after reading some of the replies.
The question was not about legal carry and more about what jobs can you not do with a UK legal knife that you would want to?
Location not really a thing except you are going to bushcraft.
The question was not about legal carry and more about what jobs can you not do with a UK legal knife that you would want to?
Location not really a thing except you are going to bushcraft.
I think the issue with your question (and the law as a whole in the UK) is that if there is a justifiable job that needs doing.... A big old fixed blade bushcraft knife would be "legal" carry.
So if you are in the woods and wanting to practice bushcraft, you'd have a justified reason for carrying a fixed blade, axe and saw.
If you then took all of that on your belt and walked into a supermarket.... You'd have problems!
In reality, very little without the landowner's permission. Even dead wood on the floor might have been left there for habitat generation (invertebrates etc.). Wood is a crop and/or a fuel source so not free without special rights.
So, you can't cut green wood, you can't gather dead wood, you can't light a fire. You can forage as long as you don't uproot, it hasn't been 'planted', and you're not gathering it for commercial use.
Aside from using a knife, you shouldn't trespass, but all the landowner can do is ask you to leave by the nearest public path (note, that may not be the way you want to go); the landowner/manager is allowed to use reasonable force if you refuse. If the landowner/manager is a gamekeeper they have additional rights in law. If you do trespass with a knife there is a chance you could be done for 'armed trespass' which is a criminal offence.
If you've asked permission, you can do whatever you've agreed with the landowner
Sometimes I leave the house with nothing but these in my pocket...
then I reach the end of the drive, panic and run back inside for all my other stuff...
I carry a combo of this almost everywhere, use it all the time. It's got me out of quite a few jams! Add a Silky n I'm sorted for 99% of my bushcrafty tool needs. I'm a bike mechanic, tinkerer and a bit of a Womble so I'm always fixing/dismantling something.
Were you looking for inspiration or just bored?
then I reach the end of the drive, panic and run back inside for all my other stuff...
I carry a combo of this almost everywhere, use it all the time. It's got me out of quite a few jams! Add a Silky n I'm sorted for 99% of my bushcrafty tool needs. I'm a bike mechanic, tinkerer and a bit of a Womble so I'm always fixing/dismantling something.
Were you looking for inspiration or just bored?
Always be careful when talking to the police in situations like this - they are trained to get you to incriminate yourself.
The laws for Stop and Search are that they need to suspect 1. a person matching your description of 2. carrying a particular object.
a reasonable belief to suspect that you may be carrying something illegal or something that can be used to to commit an offence and you are likely to do so.
So challenge them, & if they can't give you this information, refuse consent to the search.
So for example:
> "We suspect a tall man with a beard in the area of stabbing someone; you are a tall man with a beard with a bag where a knife could be concealed'
lawful search
> "we were just hanging about & we haven''t got a collar yet today and you Look Like The Type so we're going to search through all your stuff, and if we find something illegal we'll nab you for it - we'll also check your wallet to find your name - oooh i see you have a knife here, and something to smoke, and..."
unlawful search
You should always refuse a caution - a caution sounds like you got away easy, but it goes on your permanent record and they have to do zero work, they're counting on you being afraid of court that they don't have to do the work of proving you guilty.
If the police say - 'we suspect you of carrying a bladed weapon because you look like a bushcraft guy, and bushcraft guys tend to carry knives' - that's borderline IMO, so make them take you to court and prove that they have 'a reasonable individual suspicion' based on your appearance that you have or are about to commit a crime. Make them convince a judge that a bloke wearing trousers with more than the usual number of pockets is legal grounds for suspicion. If they know their case is on shakey grounds, they'll drop it.
A lot of the time, they are relying on you incriminating yourself or being intimidated. Know your rights, and make them do their job properly & within the law.
I think unless you're a lawyer then playing these sorts of games with the police sounds nice as part of an argument in the shower, but ultimately they're more experienced in these conversations than we are.
Just carry within the law. Folding sub 3" slipjoint for day to day, or a fixed blade if you have a reasonable excuse to do so. Then even if the police ask, you can be truthful about it whilst not worrying about going to prison.
I’m not sure on your experience in this area but you may want to refresh your knowledge.
You do not need to consent to a search - police can use reasonable force if necessary.
You can only receive a caution after interview, for which you have the right to legal advice.
You can only get sent to court following charge, which is authorised by the CPS not police.
90% of police now use body cams so ask them politely if it’s recording if you feel you are being fit up.
Sorry if this feels that I am being pedantic but I feel as bushcraft enthusiasts we need to be responsible and promote lawful use of knives rather than being difficult.
Too many negatives and we will see a law change coming
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