My OP was more to do with why LOCKING BLADES are illegal, and why other pointy stuff isn't.
How I see it, surely an object only becomes an offensive weapon when it's user decide to use it in that fashion. I absolutely agree that you shouldn't have a knife on you unless you've got a good reason for it (as I did as a sailing instructor/using it on shoots), my point was that a folding knife really isn't any less dangerous than a locking one.
I think it stems from how the law views the differences between a pocket knife and locking knife, the pocket knife being readily folded closed and put away. The blade more likely hidden. From reading some of blurb on the scottish law, it hints at that sort of idea, which has probably derived from old accepted norms of what people may carry.
I personally think the law as it stands is actually pretty good in its current form as an effective power to deal with knives and offensive weapons which are readily accessible whilst being carried in public.
Yes, there are some cases where people need to travel / carry knives ( probably mainly used for work ) with them ... my advice in those cases is to make sure they are not readily accessable when carried ( i.e. at the very bottom of a bag and a case of some sort ). That way, they are an item which is not all that ready to hand and far less of an issue than something tucked in a back pocket. That doesn't mean to say if stopped, the Police would be fine and dandy about it. Its about the reasonable excuse aspect when all the circumstances are taken into account.
Carpet fitter next to his van carrying a locking knife in his pocket during the day
or
Carpet fitter out in the pub with the same jeans and knife in pocket at night time.
MTB guy out on trails with spade in bag and knife in pocket for trailbuilding
or
MTB walking out of shop in town centre with spade in bag and knife in pocket buying bike bits
same person, same knives, different circumstances.
