Selling, Buying and Carrying Knives

The maximum penalty for an adult carrying a knife is 4 years in prison and an unlimited fine. You will get a prison sentence if you are convicted of carrying a knife more than once.

Basic laws on knives 

It is illegal to: 

  • sell a knife to anyone under 18, unless it has a folding blade 3 inches long (7.62 cm) or less 

  • carry a knife in public without good reason, unless it has a folding blade with a cutting edge 3 inches long or less 

  • carry, buy or sell any type of banned knife 

  • use any knife in a threatening way (even a legal knife) 

Lock knives 

Lock knives are not classed as folding knives and are illegal to carry in public without good reason. Lock knives:

  • have blades that can be locked and refolded only by pressing a button 

  • can include multi-tool knives - tools that also contain other devices such as a screwdriver or can opener 

Banned knives and weapons 

It is illegal to bring into the UK, sell, hire, lend or give anyone the following:

  • butterfly knives (also known as ‘balisongs’) - a blade hidden inside a handle that splits in the middle 

  • disguised knives - a blade or sharp point hidden inside what looks like everyday objects such as a buckle, phone, brush or lipstick 

  • flick knives (also known as ‘switchblades’ or ‘automatic knives’) - a blade hidden inside a handle which shoots out when a button is pressed 

  • gravity knives 

  • stealth knives - a knife or spike not made from metal (except when used at home, for food or a toy) 

  • zombie knives - a knife with a cutting edge, a serrated edge and images or words suggesting it is used for violence 

  • swords, including samurai swords - a curved blade over 50cm (with some exceptions, such as antiques and swords made to traditional methods before 1954) 

  • sword-sticks - a hollow walking stick or cane containing a blade 

  • push daggers 

  • blowpipes (‘blow gun’) 

  • telescopic truncheons - extend automatically by pressing button or spring in the handle 

  • batons - straight, side-handled or friction-lock truncheons 

  • hollow kubotans - a cylinder-shaped keychain holding spikes 

  • shurikens (also known as ‘shaken’, ‘death stars’ or ‘throwing stars’) 

  • kusari-gama - a sickle attached to a rope, cord or wire 

  • kyoketsu-shoge - a hook-knife attached to a rope, cord or wire 

  • kusari (or ‘manrikigusari’) - a weight attached to a rope, cord, wire 

  • hand or foot-claws 

  • knuckledusters 

Contact your local police to check if a knife or weapon is illegal. 

Good reasons for carrying a knife or weapon

Examples of good reasons to carry a knife or weapon in public can include:

  • taking knives you use at work to and from work  

  • taking it to a gallery or museum to be exhibited 

  • if it will be used for theatre, film, television, historical reenactment or religious purposes, for example the kirpan some Sikhs carry 

  • if it will be used in a demonstration or to teach someone how to use it  

A court will decide if you have got a good reason to carry a knife or a weapon if you are charged with carrying it illegally. 

Additional information on selling, buying and carrying knives can be found on GOV.UK's website.