If a knife or weapon is listed in the following table, it’s illegal to:
possess it
bring it into the UK
sell or hire it out
lend or give it to someone
There are some legal exemptions. For example, knives and weapons which are over 100 years old are exempt, except for flick knives. If you want advice on exemptions, contact your local police or get legal advice.
Knife or weapon typeDescription BatonA straight, side-handled or friction-lock truncheon. Belt buckle knifeA buckle which incorporates or conceals a knife. Blowpipe or blow gunA hollow tube out of which hard pellets or darts are shot by the use of breath. Butterfly knife or ‘balisong’A blade enclosed by its handle. Designed to split down the middle to reveal the blade without using a spring or other mechanical means. Cyclone or spiral knifeA blade with a handle, a sharp point at the end and one or more cutting edges that each form a helix. Disguised knifeA blade or sharp point hidden inside something that looks like a commonly carried everyday object. For example, a comb, brush, pen, cigarette lighter, key, lipstick or phone. Flick knife, gravity knife, ‘switchblade’ or ‘automatic knife’A knife where the blade opens automatically or is released from the handle, either by gravity or by pressing a button or something else on the knife. FootclawA bar of metal or other hard material worn strapped to the foot, from which a number of sharp spikes come out. HandclawA band of metal or other hard material worn on the hand, from which a number of sharp spikes come out. Hollow kubotanA cylinder-shaped container containing a number of sharp spikes. KnuckledusterA band of metal or other hard material that’s worn on one or more fingers and is designed to cause injury. This also includes any weapon that incorporates a knuckleduster. Kusari or ‘manrikigusari’A hard weight or hand grip fastened to each end of a piece of rope, cord, chain or wire. Kusari gamaA sickle fastened to one end of a piece of rope, cord, chain or wire. Kyoketsu shogeA hook-knife fastened to one end of a piece of rope, cord, chain or wire. Push daggerA knife where the handle fits within a clenched fist and the blade comes out from between two fingers. Shuriken, ‘shaken’, ‘death star’ or ‘throwing star’A hard non-flexible plate with three or more sharp radiating points, designed to be thrown. Stealth knifeA knife or spike made of a material that cannot be picked up by metal detectors and which is not made for use at home, for food or as a toy. SwordA curved blade of 50 centimetres or over, based on the straight-line distance from the top of the handle to the tip of the blade. SwordstickA hollow walking stick or cane containing a blade which may be used as a sword. Telescopic truncheonA truncheon that extends automatically by pressing a button, a spring or other device that’s in or attached to the handle. Zombie knifeA knife with a cutting edge, a serrated edge and images or words suggesting it is used for violence.
You should contact your local police to check if a knife or weapon is illegal.