gerber suspension multitool - legal to carry?

theoretically illegal as its a locking knife

IMO in practice highly unlikely anything would happen. At worst you get it taken off you.

Its messy.
Basically you need a legitimate reason to be carrying a locking/fixed blade knife (or knife over 3inches) but whether it is legitimate can only really be proved in court.
So comes down to if you think you can give a good explanation to any copper who stops you.
I wouldnt generally carry one when cycling (possibly if out multi day bikepacking) but I do carry a lock knife when kayaking and would feel comfortable justifying it.

I've used a leatherman at certain times for work and when out on the bike, but wouldn't carry it at any other time, as you will need a valid reason and they're pretty hot on knife possession.

Have to say i have actually stopped taking it for biking, the main reason was for the pliers and cutting, but like most multitools, it's pretty useless when up against something like shifter cable or the likes, i not just have a set of actual decent pliers with cutter.

It’s mad all this. I’ve got a leather man wave in my car as it’s really useful. It’s with a load of other stuff that’s equally useful. I value the safety of a locking blade. I’ve got a camper van and that’s got a kitchen drawer full of really sharp knives such as a chefs knife and a big serrated bread knife. Sometimes I use that for day trips or for basing a ride from as it has a bike rack and leaves the car free for my wife.

I was getting my hair cut yesterday and the barbers clipper switch was playing up so he sent his apprentice to wilkos to buy a little glasses type mini screwdriver set so he could repair the switch whilst the barber was cutting my hair. The sales assistant wasn’t allowed to sell him the tiny screwdriver set as he was under 25!

I get that knife crime needs fixing but I don’t think the law as it stands is particularly helpful if you’re living in the countryside and used to being a bit “self sufficient”, having a leather man or a Swiss army knife, handy little lock knife etc and it doesn’t seem to be stopping much knife crime in the towns and cities either.

It’s sort of crazy that the legislation seems so draconian but you can even buy big non legal Bowie type knives in go outdoors and other camping shops. It all seems a little all over the place and incoherent.

Ha! I have a decent sized fishing knife in the backpack I use to commute with. Only used it yesterday.
... but i'm in Oz, so presumably if I was stopped by a copper they'd say "That's not a knife."

But seriously, my mate runs outdoor education courses at the local uni and bought both his kids a Leatherman for their sixth birthdays.

There's a strong public interest deterrent factor in prosecution and I can't think of a valid reason for why you'd need a gadget with a locking blade for cycling. I won't be taking the risk 🙂

I won’t be taking the risk

I often carry one on my person when not biking and often chuck one in my bike bag. I counted up earlier sat in my vehicle on the night shift and I had 8 of them to hand.

I like my multitools and work on the basis that

1) It's extremely unlikely that I'm going to get stopped and searched

2) I'm hardly going to prison, even if an over zealous copper does find one and deem it a crime

I'll often have these kicking about somewhere to hand too - third from the left is a legal UK carry (under 3" and not locking). The one to it's right is illegal because it locks. Doesn't really make much sense, does it?

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51422389292_75d23dab07_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51422389292_75d23dab07_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://www.flickr.com/gp/85252658@N05/ES79N8 ]IMG_20210904_114308-01[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr

I’m hardly going to prison, even if an over zealous copper does find one and deem it a crime

Who knows? But it'll show up on a DBS check if you ever rely on those, and that could see you out of a job

Carried a leatherman in to the Home Office and had all kit scanned. The thing they got really exited about was the watercolour paint box that looked like a segmented case of explosives (possibly). Not one jot cared about the multi tool as I had it in with all the other bike bits. Interestingly the Brompton was not allowed as it could not be scanned.

I’m pretty sure kids aren’t killing each other on the streets with £100 mulltitools…

even if an over zealous copper does find one and deem it a crime

If you "often have to hand" a knife that you yourself say is illegal to carry, and you decide to carry it around just in case, it's not the copper deeming it a crime, is it.

My Gerber is now no longer in my cycling pack. It got used very infrequently when it was in there, and never for the blade. It would be hard to argue it was really necessary. But if it was a tool I could easily remove the blade part from I'd pop it back in the bag. Is "might possibly be useful occasionally" a valid reason to carry? Because surely everyone could say that in most circumstances?

Not worth the risk. Just get him a swiss army knife. I have had some stop and searches, one on my bike in the Peak District of all places.

This has been done on kayaking forums. My understanding is that there is mitigation based on where you carry it. If it is in the bottom of a bag, in a tool kit, it can’t be grabbed and used in anger in an escalating confrontation. You wouldn’t wear it in view on the belt loop.

In the camper van your knives are in a kitchen drawer, if you had them in the car door pocket then that’s different.

We visited the London Eye, some years ago, and there was a bag search in place.
The chap asked me if there was anything sharp in the bag, and I thought he was just being careful not to cut himself.
I answered no, and he opened the front pocket, to find my Swiss army knife hanging on the clip.
"What's this, then?"
"Well, it's only sharp when you open the blades out..."
"I'll have to take it, but you claim it back, when you get off, with this cloakroom ticket - off you go..."
"You'd better look in the other pocket, then"
"'kinell, that Gerber multi-tool has a much more lethal, serrated blade"
"Thanks for being stringent, with your security..."

Presumably you use the knife blade as a pad spreader when changing brake pads.

That’s what I did at the weekend.

From the perspective of having one of my soldiers currently in crown court for travelling back from two weeks in the field with a multitool in his military kit bag that British transport police took a dislike to, I'd play it safe.

"You know you need a good reason to carry a bladed weapon"
"I'm a soldier and it's on the kit list for the exercise I'm travelling home from"
"That's not a legitimate reason"
"Oh, are you sure I really think it is"
"No. Do you have a good reason?"
"Well, you just told me no; I think I have one but if you say I don't then I don't"
"Right come with us, put your hands together".

For various reasons I use my pocket knife quite a bit and often have it in my pocket. After thinking about the legalities and the impact on my job something showing up on a dbs check would have I stopped carrying an opinel and got a ukpk. Spyderco uk legal penknives are really good and feel pretty safe to use because of how you hold them.

Continuity - out of interest why were the police searching his bag on the train? Surely not a random he’s a soldier, let’s search his bag and see what we can find…

I have a locking Gerber multi tool in my bike bag. Has a number of uses when out on a big ride.

Wouldn't be overly bothered about being stopped, as it's a legitimate use.

Oddly enough went into a concert at Wembley 20+ years ago where they were searching bags etc. I'd come straight from work on site and forgot I had my Gerber on my belt. No one noticed or said anything.

That story about the soldier is bloody ridiculous! What a stupid waste of everyone's time and money.

edit - I found a little folding knife when out riding one day. Popped it into my pack and forgot about it. Airport security found it though. 🙄

I spent a night in a cell at 18 when a copper spotted I had a multi tool on my keychain and found a non-locking blade on it. I can’t remember the size but I guess it was just over 3”

Admittedly at the time I was asking to get stopped with the green mohawk and leather jacket with 40kg of metal studs in it, if you are a 50yo IT professional you’ll probably get away with it

Somehow, possibly some lucky admin mess-up, it didn’t end up on my record but I won’t be rolling those dice again

It really depends where you are/what you’re doing.
A locking blade is a lot safer if you’re on a multi day camping trip and need it.
Walking/cycling through town on a Saturday afternoon is an entirely different scenario.
I have a swiss army locking knife, my rule of thumb is I don’t go near a town centre with it, and i never carry it in a pocket, always in a backpack/pannier etc.
but ultimately, it would be down to a court to decide whether my ‘reason’ was actually justification.
Never been stopped my whole life, and I’ve lived most of it in the west of Scotland.

It really depends where you are/what you’re doing

And what you look like mostly.

I've got one of those Gerber Suspension multitools in my fishing kit, very useful for undoing tangles ... which happens a lot alas.

I wouldn't carry is as a EDC though due to the locking blade. I've got a Gerber Dime on my keys though, which is a smaller version of the Suspension with a non locking short blade (1.5 inch). Mostly gets used for cutting the bruised bit out of apples.

From the perspective of having one of my soldiers currently in crown court for travelling back from two weeks in the field with a multitool in his military kit bag that British transport police took a dislike to, I’d play it safe.

Army have always thought they have an exemption, a good percentage of the likes of REME, RE, etc carry an issued leatherman on their belt, especially certain trades, there will be more to the story if the legal team at Andover haven't been able to provide the required assurance to the CPS, and the fact it's gone to Crown Court instead of Magistrate!

@yak

And what you look like

yes, it shouldn’t really be that way though.

That story about the soldier is bloody ridiculous! What a stupid waste of everyone’s time and money.

Yes, you should definitely believe the quarter of a story you've been presented with here, and not suspect that (if true at all) the individual had been involved in some kind of ASB.

This has been done on kayaking forums. My understanding is that there is mitigation based on where you carry it. If it is in the bottom of a bag, in a tool kit, it can’t be grabbed and used in anger in an escalating confrontation. You wouldn’t wear it in view on the belt loop.

In the camper van your knives are in a kitchen drawer, if you had them in the car door pocket then that’s different.

Absolutely this. Riding a mountain bike, as part of a toolkit is very different to on your belt loop on a pair of jeans riding round town.

Same as keeping a crowbar under your drivers seat in the car is very different to having one in a tool box in the boot with other tools. Though that does make me a little nervous about the trail clearing scythe and machete in an ikea bag in the rear footwell at the moment.

Doesn't mean you won't meet an officer who's got a cob on or who takes a dislike to you but, whilst it would be a load of hassle it's surely not going to go anywhere if you're not stupid about it.

It's interesting the comment about pushing the brake pads back out, as that's how my gerber ended up with only half the knife left, the jaws of the pliers were too soft as well, have to say i find multitools mostly useless in the grand scheme of things.

I've carried one for years and years* in my commuting bag, along with lazer measure, headtorch, electrical screwdriver, assorted rolls of tape, quite often assorted spanners/nutf****ers

Never had an issue, but I'd be relying on the mitigation of "necessary for work" - it is - I'm a lampy travelling to multiple sites by bike, so light multipurpose tools are necessary.

If I wanted to do damage to someone, I'd be more likely to try and beat them to death with the Mountainmorph pump I also carry, rather than trying to poke holes in them with the silly little Gerber blade, once I'd finally got it open.

*until I left it in the roof of a Milton Keynes hotel ballroom a month or so back...

My pickup has a crowbar under the passenger seat as well as a sledgehammer, spade and some other horrible looking log tongs and a pickeroon. They’re under there because I don’t want them on display on the back seat, they don’t fit in the toolbox and I haven’t got a canopy on the truck. There’s a horrible looking pruning saw in there as well as a very sharp marking axe. Sometimes there are a couple, of chainsaws if I’m off out logging but often I’ll use my truck with the residual tools still in it as clearing the whole lot out and remembering to put everything back in is as,I got to forget someth8g. It’s no different than a builder having a load of tools in his van I guess. He might take out the power tools but hand tools prob stay put .

have to say i find multitools mostly useless in the grand scheme of things.

General ones rather than bikey ones? I tend to agree and carry a small pair of pliers instead.

Can't remember ever needing a knife on a bike ride. Though I have used the razor from my tubeless repair kit to cut small items.

Suppose I could use that to shiv someone if things cut up rough out on the trails.

The soldier post - not sure that’s the whole story.

I have had some stop and searches, one on my bike in the Peak District of all places.

What were the circumstances....

Never been searched and the last time I was stopped by a police man was maybe 35 years ago - no lights on my bike in the 80s. Just said Sorry Sir and he let me cycle off....

My camelback has a Letherman Wave in the tool kit - been in there for 15 years or more....

What were the circumstances….

A pub had been robbed. I was nearby.
Tbh that one was ok. A formality.

Far worse was a London tube one where the officer singled me out as the only non-white and was extremely aggressive. In my face, spit from his shouting on me. Then he found a water bottle, a metal sigg one and accused me of carrying petrol. This went on for some time with him shouting in my face, wanting me to confess to petrol, bombs, whatever. Eventually he backed down when his mate stepped in.

For clarification, it sits in my camelbak which only ever comes out for longer rides (like afan and stuff), as part of a repair kit, not 'to hand' so to speak or clipped to a belt.

I've actually found it quite useful, I have used it as a pad spreader, getting thorns out of tyres, trying (badly) to repair shifters, fixing wheels enough to get home when spokes have gone, whittling the odd bit of wood, and opening my lunch (tesco sandwiches can be tough to get it to!)

All probably could be achieved equally easily with other tools I suppose.

If these things are illegal they should really have a warning about it to stop people buying them and carrying them round without actually realising. Until the other day I had no idea so a small blade on a multi tool was in the same camp as a massive zombie knife

@burko73
@argee

Slight edge of handle poking out of one zip (overloaded bag), random NIMBY on train saw it and reported it. No capacity at magistrates so crown quicker. Reservist officer not regular so andover not involved. That's about all I can go further into. I've come out of it with a really clear lesson not to risk carrying a blade anywhere public even with a good excuse (I used to loads, was a chef before this job) because you are arguing from a presumption of guilt and it's just not worth the hassle.

The other thing is that I rarely find I need a knife that often. A pair of medical scissors or pliers are often a lot more useful, and I was always cutting myself.

@chakaping

You seem to have a needy and odious axe to grind. Would you mind just doing it somewhere else?

If these things are illegal they should really have a warning about it to stop people buying them and carrying them round without actually realising.

You'd better be careful when you start on the house extension 🙂

Every person shall be liable to a penalty not more than [F1level 2 on the standard scale], who, within the limits of the metropolitan police district, shall in any thoroughfare or public place, commit any of the following offences; (that is to say,)
54(8). Every person who shall roll or carry any cask, tub, hoop, or wheel, or any ladder, plank, pole, showboard, or placard, upon any footway, except for the purpose of loading or unloading any cart or carriage, or of crossing the footway:
Metropolitan Police Act 1839

Slight edge of handle poking out of one zip (overloaded bag), random NIMBY on train saw it and reported it.

Completely brought upon themselves then, should know better. An overloaded bag and the one thing that you don’t want on view on public transport happens to be poking out. Understandable that other passengers weren’t comfortable.

That story about the soldier is bloody ridiculous! What a stupid waste of everyone’s time and money.

To be fair, even without the added context above, the army has to have a safety information film on what to do when you accidentally travel home with grenades in your bag (top tip, apparently don't put them out with the recycling, Veolia don't appreciate it).

To missquote the Hollywood blockbuster Broken Arrow "I don't know what's scarier, taking home grenades, or that it happens so often ther's actually a H&S film for it."

So not entirely surprising the police might take a dim view of any weapons?

If you “often have to hand” a knife that you yourself say is illegal to carry, and you decide to carry it around just in case, it’s not the copper deeming it a crime, is it.

Probably helps that they are in my work 'van'. Obviously I'm selective about where I'd carry any particular item. Wouldn't take a multitool to the footy for example, or just walk the streets with a big knife on me. For situations where a multitool isn't suitable, I'll have a little Swiss Army

It also will depend on where in your work van the knife is, and where your van is at the time.

In the back under other tools etc? Good. In the door pocket? Not so Good
Driving to or from work? Good. Driving the work van to the shops/tip/etc? Not so good.

The law is pretty clear, and whilst some officers will give you a friendly warning, others won't.

We've been through this at work. My team regularly carry fixed 7cm field knives into school, often 3+ of them.

We've moved to a 'must be in toolbox' protocol. This, along with boxes of firelighting and cooking resources, gives good context and not just forgotten in the bottom of a rucksack as you walk into a school...

I routinely carry a penknife in my first aid, and when canoeing I've two fixed knives on me, one on display under my armpit. I'm not sure I would catch the tube across London, but I've shuttled on rural buses with my canoe buoyancy aid on.

I carry one of these on my local mtb rides

I use it most rides for pruning branches that are overgrowing trials or clearing bits of deadfall. It stays in the Camelbak until needed.

I do wonder what would happen if i was stopped, but i think cutting wood is a pretty legitimate reason for carrying a saw.

I used to carry a leatherman wave (locking blades) in my bike pack routinely, i don't bother now, just keep it in the van and have tiny legal gerber dime in my pack, mainly for the tiny pliers to deal with split pins on brakes and gripping tubeless valves.

I also carry a folding saw into the woods for trail clearing, obviously this is fine.

Locking blade makes it illegal no matter the length. An adult might get away with it if they were white and sensible enough to look like it was for work but I wouldn’t let a kid carry one just in case they get stopped.

They’re pretty hot in carrying knives of any type. Even one without a locking blade. You need a pretty valid reason to carry any knife these days.

Having dealt with quite a few stabbings at work I’m quite happy about this even though I grew up playing with knives as a kid.

I’ll be honest, I often carry a Leatherman in my work bag as I can claim I need it for my job. And I have a (most definitely illegal) Opinel locking knife that I’ve had for years in the bag I use when out with the kids so I can cut their apples/fruit, whittle sticks in the woods, etc.

But I am a 43 year old white guy with 2 small twins living in a nice part of town so there’s pretty much no chance of getting searched out in public (malicious or not racism exists everywhere and it’s always in the favour of white guys).

Travelling out out to Spain on the Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry in the campervan man on security asked if we has anything in the van that could be used has a weapon, I'm still wondering what would have happened I had owned up to the various kitchen knives,hammer etc that everyone in campervan has

It does happen:

"A man was found with a Stanley knife by police on the first day of his new job.
Aaron Cunningham, 20, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place.
Caernarfon Magistrates today gave him a 12-week jail term, suspended for 12 months."

"The court heard that the defendant had been on a two-day works trial with a roofing company.
But he had a row with his girlfriend on the phone and his employer later ended the trial and dropped him off at a bus stop after work to get home. He went to the pub and drank "five or six double gins", the court heard.

... police later had a report of a drunken man...Officers found it was the defendant and he was intoxicated. His speech was slurred and he was "almost incoherent".

Police asked him for his mobile phone so they could help him get home. He took out the knife from his coat while he was searching or the phone. It had a locking mechanism and he was arrested."

"He claimed it was a work tool he hadn't left behind ... Eilian Williams, defending, said the knife had originally been in Cunningham's possession legitimately. But the magistrates chairman Julie Eddows said he had had a knife in a public place and been heavily intoxicated.

However, she said the bench accepted he had been working on the day of the offence and is genuinely remorseful."

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/drunk-man-spared-jailed-after-22775824

It does happen:

Just make a total farce of the law - if that report is correct, it was in no one's interest to prosecute him.

Just make a total farce of the law – if that report is correct, it was in no one’s interest to prosecute him.

Depends how you argue it I suppose, but justice is supposed to be blind, it shouldn't matter who he is, if it's a law it's a law. I've got a Stanley knife in my toolkit, but that doesn't make it ok to take it to the pub even though I'm white and rapidly approaching middle aged in Berkshire, not not-white, teenager in Tottenham.

but i think cutting wood is a pretty legitimate reason for carrying a saw.

Maybe. Although I think you could run into issues about whether you have the right to be doing the cutting in the first place.
Also whether it should be carried just in case or should it be carried on specific maintenance trips.

Main problem with it is even if you are let off in the end if it does go to court it will be costly in time, legal advice and stress levels.

To be fair, even without the added context above, the army has to have a safety information film on what to do when you accidentally travel home with grenades in your bag (top tip, apparently don’t put them out with the recycling, Veolia don’t appreciate it).

To missquote the Hollywood blockbuster Broken Arrow “I don’t know what’s scarier, taking home grenades, or that it happens so often ther’s actually a H&S film for it.”

So not entirely surprising the police might take a dim view of any weapons?

At the end of any exercise, training or trial all participants have to clearly state they have no OME or the likes in their possession when leaving the range, so there is no 'accidentally' having a grenade 😁, but to have their issued leatherman would be normal.

It is weird the knife laws in this country, as the above comment about the branch cutter, all due to knee jerk reactions to things that happened, carrying anything like a leatherman nowadays puts you at the risk of any clampdown search, it has kind of got away with the whole intent of carrying a knife, which is usually a lot clearer, nobody on here i would think would have something like this and carry it with the intent of being a weapon, but that does get lost the minute the police find it and the CPS work out whether to proceed, as it's an easy way of getting people charged and numbers up.

At the end of any exercise, training or trial all participants have to clearly state they have no OME or the likes in their possession when leaving the range, so there is no ‘accidentally’ having a grenade 😁

And yet ....... googling for grenades found at recycling centers brings up a lot of hits even after you filter out the world war relics and novelty lighters.

I only know this because I work with the sound recordist who does these films for the MOD and we were talking the other day about what we'd been upto since our last job.

The legal angle on carrying knives by 'Blackbelt Barrister' on Youtube (he's a real barrister apparently):

" I can’t think of a valid reason for why you’d need a gadget with a locking blade for cycling"

My gadget with a locking blade: -

My old Alien multi-tool has a 2 inch locking blade.

Which doesnt make it a valid reason from a UK legal perspective. It just means whoever designed it thought it was best to have a locking blade. Personally from an avoiding injury viewpoint I prefer a locking knife. Although some nonlocking designs can be pretty good having a lock minimises the chances of it folding on the fingers. However I wouldnt expect that to work in court.

Seems crazy that I'd carry something like this around when I was in my early/mid teens.

That was 35 years ago though and we'd go in the woods and build bivvies

I’ve got a Stanley knife in my toolkit, but that doesn’t make it ok to take it to the pub

my stanley knife normally goes in the door pocket of my van but there's been plenty of times i've accidently left it in my pocket and gone for a few pints after work.

Any links to legal versions with a mix of other useful tools like the Gerber or Leatherman ? I carry one of each, in the car and in my big all day MTB pack, but think I may replace them both.

iainc

You could downsize and save some weight with something like the Leatherman Style PS which is small and has no blade. It has a set of pliers which are well made, and I find together with a Topeak Hexus in the pack is great for all day rides. Has come in useful many times and I think the small size of the pliers can be a real advantage for bike related stuff.

https://packhacker.com/travel-gear/leatherman/style-ps-multi-tool/

Any links to legal versions with a mix of other useful tools like the Gerber or Leatherman ? I carry one of each, in the car and in my big all day MTB pack, but think I may replace them both.

There's a bladeless LM Rebar, but it still has a locking saw, so don't know if it's technically legal

Knifeless Rebar

I’ve actually found it quite useful, I have used it as a pad spreader...

My gadget with a locking blade

You have to ask yourself whether you need a locking blade to spread pads, or need a multi-tool with a locking blade. If you can answer that question to the satisfaction of a Court then you'll be fine. It's not us that you need to convince 🙂

Any way of replacing the knife part on a Gerber suspension multitool to make it legal? Not one of the things I have ever used on it anyway.

I've one of those Gerber's with a locking blade in my bike toolkit too.

It'll be in there when I ride on Thursday too, and the next time.

Locking blades are useful.

Have ordered that little leatherman, I don’t need the knife bit really

TBH I think you'd leave yourself pretty open to challenge if it's in your MTBing pack, which particular parts of your bike do you think you would you be fixing with the locking blade?

The nuance of any arguments that the pliers or screw driver are the relevant tools for the activity you are engaged in might be lost on the 'wrong' officer. Rigid interpretation of the rules suggests there's no reasonable excuse for carrying a locking blade on a bike ride... (IMO of course).

For the sake of keeping things legal I would just look for a cheap multitool without a 3"+/locking blade, or better yet only take a proper bike multitool(s) rather than a general purpose leatherman or whatever because that makes more sense anyway.

Anyway last time we the "EDC" Knife discussion came up, wasn't the popular conclusion, Yes it's fine to carry a 3"+/locking blade if you meet the key criteria of being:

1: White
2: Middle-aged
3: Utterly certain the police would view you as being above the law (see '1' & '2')...

Everytime we have this sort of discussion I think of my mother who 3 times has had 5" opinal lock knives taken off her at security in airports. We finally persuaded her to stop carrying one. I am astonished she was never prosecuted. She now carries a Swiss army knife adn puts it in the hold luggage not her handbag. She was in her late 70s the last time

( she is a scientist / biologist so carried a knife to collect samples and being a sensible woman a lock knife is best)

Thought I'd just have a look at my Leatherman Bond. I didn't think there were any full sized bladed Leatherman that were UK legal. The blade is just under 3" and doesn't lock.

A quick search seems to suggest it is legal

It's not my favourite Leatherman, but it's an option

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52113435183_c50a0cd747_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52113435183_c50a0cd747_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://www.flickr.com/gp/85252658@N05/wgF099 ]IMG_20220531_231540[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52113435288_267ddd58e4_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52113435288_267ddd58e4_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://www.flickr.com/gp/85252658@N05/06p7CN ]IMG_20220531_231643[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr

Something like this solves lots of problems without a blade:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gerber-MP600-Bladeless-Multi-Tool/dp/B00KYO627M

I'm glad this thread came up before I packed for the UK, I normally carry a 20 year old small swiss army knife* and a locking knife when i'm travelling. Will leave the locking one at home now!

@Yak - an old uni football mate of mine in this video, irony being that he does talks to the MET on racism, crime prevention, etc.

*has been unnoticed through multiple airports and confiscated then returned at two.

…all due to knee jerk reactions to things that happened, carrying anything like a leatherman nowadays puts you at the risk of any clampdown search, it has kind of got away with the whole intent of carrying a knife, which is usually a lot clearer, nobody on here i would think would have something like this and carry it with the intent of being a weapon, but that does get lost the minute the police find it and the CPS work out whether to proceed, as it’s an easy way of getting people charged and numbers up.

Without wishing to be argumentative or combative in any way, I wouldn’t be so dismissive of knife legislation as to call it a “Knee Jerk Reaction”. It was undoubtedly made as a “reaction” to the level of knife crime, stabbings and fatalities we’ve seen over many years. Arguably, the current legislation doesn’t go far enough:

According to the Ben Kinsella Trust ( https://benkinsella.org.uk/knife-crime-statistics/) there were 235 Police-recorded murders involving a knife or sharp instrument in England and Wales in the 12 months to March 2021.

Try telling bereaved parents that these laws are a knee jerk to “things that happened”.

With regard to intent, intent is certainly not lost on the Police or CPS - your intent is irrelevant. The offence of carrying an offensive weapon in a public place imposes a strict liability burden on defendants to prove they have a reasonable excuse for carrying it. See clause 139(5)(a) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

It’s nothing to do with chasing figures; the criminal justice system is bursting at the seams - there is literally no shortage of work. It’s about keeping the streets, pubs, parks, schools, fairgrounds etc. safer.

Without wishing to be argumentative or combative in any way, I wouldn’t be so dismissive of knife legislation as to call it a “Knee Jerk Reaction”. It was undoubtedly made as a “reaction” to the level of knife crime, stabbings and fatalities we’ve seen over many years. Arguably, the current legislation doesn’t go far enough:

I do agree, no argument from me, my knee jerk reaction comment was against the reason for carrying, rather than the actual carrying, i think i mention that, especially with the carrying a knife for defensive or offensive reasonings, against carrying a tool that may have a knife as part of it.

It really was just in the multitool discussion though, so having a valid reason, with a multitool that is not easily at hand versus an actual knife that is tucked in your belt or the likes.

As a former soldier who would always be carrying a leather man after exercise, if I was the chaps CO I’d be booting him out for poor personal admin anyway…..

Be interesting to know how that case goes. We all carried them about with us, hardly ever used mine but the blade did get used occasionally. I honestly wouldn’t have thought twice about it. Mine wasn’t issued, I was infantry, but we all still had one.

The fact that on STW we are having a discussion about whether carrying various kinds of knives around is worth the risk of getting stopped/searched/prosecuted, indicates to me that we are going in the right direction.

I've always had penknives, locking knives, multitools and even some fixed blade knives for camping/outdoors stuff. I keep a leatherman (which contains a locking blade) in the boot of the car, as part of a tool kit in the spare wheel well - and I keep a locking knife in my camping kit. My camelback has an old leatherman in it that has a non-locking blade like that "bond" one above. Otherwise I'm extremely careful about leaving the house with a penknife.

I have one of these, which I keep on my desk (at home) and occasionally leave the house with it - if I expect I may need it, usually for picnics etc:

It's non-locking with only a short blade. I really can't see any genuine reason that somebody (a non-tradesperson) would need anything more than this on a "just-in-case" basis.

A slight aside - but those lionsteel "Barlows" are excellent knives. You can customise it on the website with all sorts of blade and scale options, and the build quality is excellent

Where'd my picture go? try again....

What I’ve learnt from this is that next time I have a bad day at work and go to the pub after and get shitfaced I’ll make sure I haven’t got a knife in the car before I drive home.

If it helps, I carry a victorinox version of the same type of tool. 2 locking blades on it.
I recently got stopped in London Victoria train station for an "anti terror" check (god knows what vibe I was giving off)
Had my rucksack with that in it, explained I was commuting to work by bike. They checked it over, gave it back, gave me a receipt incase I wanted to complain about them (I didn't) and I carried on with my day.
Not saying all situations will be like that, but if you ride with it, it's a legitimate tool. If it was in your pocket with no bike or reason, then it could be seen as something else.
I'd say don't worry about it.

The original EDC thread is closed and I can't find the latest one (why is the search function a big bag of poo?), so this thread will do.

Just ordered a SOG SEAL XR to add to my knives - S35VN steel, it's a beast. 4" locking blade though, so will definitely only be taken out in the woods and on site in the field at work

I just bought one of these because sliced my fruit tastes the best and I'm out and about often. Will be kept in my bag though, rather than on me.