Quoted:I'm heading your way in December with my wife and step-son. Since I was in high school (so 30 years) I've carried a small Swiss Army knife like this:
https://assets.victorinox.com/mam/celum/celum_assets/8796909404190_celum_45935_560Wx490H.jpg?1In fact, I'm pretty sure I brought it with me last time I was in England, but that was 25 years ago. I know how the knife laws are there, but are there any acceptable pocket knives one can carry? Or are they all forbidden?
Thanks.
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In the UK, you can EDC a knife that has a blade < 3", that folds, and that does not have a locking mechanism to hold it open. You can legally carry these pretty much anywhere except into a court, which is covered by a separate bit of legislation. Anywhere else (assuming they even check you for it) might require you to leave it outside/with security/whatever in order to gain entry, but they need to return it when you leave. They probably won't believe this, of course, because all people hear is "oooh, knives are eeeeevil!"
If you can come up with "good reason or lawful authority" (which doesn't include self defence) then you can carry a sword or battleaxe if you like. Good luck finding a "good reason" for that
The moment you pull a knife (or, indeed, anything) in anger, it becomes a weapon. So don't do that.
Not that anyone actually knows the law, as evidenced by a letter from my daughter's school recently, warning pupils that possession of a penknife on school grounds was against the law. Which it isn't.