UK Knife Law
This page is intended to give you as much information about UK Knife Law and how we process and deliver your order.
Everything we sell on our website is legal to own in the UK.
Online sales and UK delivery of Knives
We use agechecked.com who are an authorised UK age verification service. They will do background checks and supply us with a pass or a not known. If your order is a pass we will ship it out and email you a tracking number. If it's a not known we will email you within 2 minutes of placing the order asking for proof of age.
We have 3 ways for you to send us your age verificaiton details.
1) We have a dedicated age verificaiton image upload page here https://www.cyclaireshop.co.uk/custom/AV2026/IDupload
2) You can send them via WhatsApp here https://wa.me/441904890233
3) You can email them to us by hitting reply to any email you have from us
You order will be shipped with the courier service you choose at checkout - the parcel will be labelled with an "Over 18 parcel contains a bladed item" sticker as required by law to let the courier service know it contains a bladed item. The courier will always require proof of age of the buyer when delivering the item, even if you look over 18. Bladed items can not be delivered to a locker.
We will never ship a restricted bladed item to anybody that has not completed the age verificaiton, if you are under 18 don't try to order from our website, you will not get your order.
UK Knives sales are very strict and all online sellers should be following this legislation, if they are not, ask yourself why not - Keep knives out of kids hands.
What Knives Are UK Legal to Carry Without a Specific Reason?
A Non Locking Folding Pocket Knife with a blade cutting edge no longer than 3" (7.62cm)
MultiTools with a non locking blade less then 3" are also UK Legal
All UK Legal Carry knives on our website are marked for your convenience, just look for the green "UK Friendly Carry" label on the product page, they can also be found here
https://www.cyclaireshop.co.uk/pocket-knives-uk-everyday-carry
Examples:
✓ Traditional slipjoint pocket knives
✓ Swiss Army style knives (non-locking versions)
✗ Lock knives
✗ Fixed-blade knives
✗ Assisted-opening knives
✗ Any knife with a blade longer than 3 inches
A lock knife is legally treated as a fixed-blade knife even if it folds.
Knives Legal to Own but Not Normally Legal to Carry
The following are generally legal to own at home but require a valid reason to carry in public:
Fixed-Blade Knives
Examples :
Bushcraft knives, Hunting knives, Kitchen knives, Lock Knives
Folding knives with locking mechanisms
One-handed lock knives
Large Utility Knives
Trade knives
Craft knives
Agricultural knives
Possible lawful reasons include:
Work, Camping, Bushcraft, Fishing, Farming, Religious purposes, Historical re-enactment
Transportation to and from legitimate activities
The burden is generally on the carrier to show a good reason if challenged by police.
Knives and Weapons Banned in the UK
The following weapons are prohibited and cannot be possessed, sold, imported, or carried.
Flick knives (switchblades)
Automatic-opening knives
Gravity knives
Butterfly knives (balisongs)
Zombie knives
Zombie-style machetes
Disguised knives
Swordsticks
Push daggers
Belt buckle knives
Stealth knives
Certain disguised weapons
Ninja swords.
Carrying a Knife for Work
A knife may be carried when genuinely required for work.
Chef transporting kitchen knives
Electrician carrying trade knives
Farmer carrying agricultural tools
Fisherman carrying fishing knives
The knife should be:
Appropriate for the task
Securely stored
Carried directly to and from work
Carrying a work knife while socialising afterwards may weaken a legal defence.
Camping, Bushcraft and Outdoor Activities
Bushcraft and camping knives are generally lawful when:
Travelling directly to or from the activity
Being used during the activity
Stored safely during transport
A large survival knife carried in a town centre without a clear reason may result in arrest.
Religious and Cultural Exemptions
Certain knives may be carried for legitimate religious or cultural purposes.
Sikh kirpans
Scottish sgian-dubh
However:
The exemption is not unlimited.
Misuse can still result in prosecution.
Courts ultimately decide whether a lawful excuse exists.
Age Restrictions
You must be 18 or over to purchase a knife in the UK.
Retailers are required to perform age verification checks for knife sales and deliveries.
Self-Defence and Carrying Knives
Carrying a knife specifically for self-defence is not a lawful reason.
"I carry it for protection."
"I carry it just in case."
can lead to prosecution.
A knife carried for self-defence may be treated as an offensive weapon.