There are several reasons why a hunting knife would be necessary. When you go hunting, you will need to skin the animals you catch and if you have a small knife that slips into your pocket, it makes the job easier.
The knife also cuts rope, branches and other things that may hinder your movement or vision. You will also need to cut open game bags and sometimes you will need to use the knife as a weapon to protect yourself from predators.
You can carry a hunting knife on your belt or in your pocket.
Knife sheaths are designed to clip onto the front of a pocket, and are commonly made from a tough nylon or leather. It is also very common for knife sheaths to feature a belt clip for ease of use.
However, the adjustable belt clip design is beginning to fall out of favor, and is being replaced with the more traditional, fixed-angle clip design. So, if you are looking for a new sheath, try checking out the fixed-angle clip models.
UK hunting knife laws
Currently, you are only allowed to use a knife in Britain during one two minute period each day. This means that you can only use a knife for most everyday tasks as well as certain jobs such as harvesting.
However, you can still carry a knife for hunting purposes. The knife allowed for hunting is a bowie knife with a blade at least three inches long.
It must have a sharp edge, and must not be capable of being concealed easily. It must have a handle which is long enough to prevent the knife from being concealed and must not be made from any metal which is capable of being used for any purpose other than a knife.
Knife allowed to carry in UK
- Butterfly knives
Butterfly knives are among the most iconic knives in the world. They have a simple and unique design, sturdy blade and feel very natural in one’s hands.
Some butterfly knives have a clip so you can easily attach them to your belt or pocket.
- Ballistic knives
Ballistic knives are a type of knife that can, on some occasions, be used for self defense. These knives weigh less than three ounces and are designed for self defense and do not have a cutting edge.
They are used by law enforcement in the United Kingdom and can be purchased at most sporting goods stores.
- Flick knives
A flick knife is any knife with a blade that opens automatically when the knife is opened. Flick knives are illegal in most places but are legal in the United Kingdom and some other countries.
- Ordinary pocket knife
There are two laws on pocketknives in the UK. The first one is that the UK government can control all imported pocketknives, so that if you buy a knife from abroad, you cannot carry it in the UK.
The second one is that if you are carrying a pocketknife which is imported, you can carry it in public, but you can’t be in possession of more than one pocketknife at a time.
- Fixed-blade bushcraft knife
Back in the olden days, if you wanted to go camping and survive in the wild, you would have to rely on the best of the best; with hunting knives, a hatchet, a machete and an axe. But times are changing, and now there are more options than ever.
Fixed blade bushcraft knives are now allowed in the UK, and the ones chosen to be allowed are of a high standard. So, if you’re looking for a fixed blade bushcraft knife, you can now find the best in the UK.
- Fixed-blade knife
Yes, fixed-blade knives are currently legal in the UK and Ireland, and some sort of fixed-blade knife is allowed in any country that doesn’t ban them outright.
But just because a knife has a blade that’s rigid, it doesn’t mean it’s legal. If you’re not sure whether your chosen fixed-blade knife is allowed, you should check with the local authorities.
- Folding blade knife
The United Kingdom is a country that is renowned for its tough knife laws.
The laws in the UK tend to be particularly strict, and knife laws are one of the main driving forces behind the popularity of the folding knife. In the UK, folding blades are generally considered to be legal, and are widely available for sale.
- Bread knife
UK law states that a bread knife must be a minimum of 30cm long and must be “balanced and weighted” when open, as well as having a small, sharp tip that can be used to cut food.
- Swiss army assisted-opening knife
You can carry an assisted-opening knife that can be opened with a flick of the wrist (just like a Swiss army knife).
Other banned knives in UK – dangerous knives
The following are the most common types of prohibited weapons that have been confiscated by police officer across United Kingdom. The list is not exhaustive, but includes those which have caused serious injury or death to a person.
It does not include other items such as fireworks, firearms, explosives, corrosives, poisons, etc., nor does it cover any weapon used for sporting purposes.
- Automatic knives
Some knives are so dangerous that they are illegal to carry in the UK. These include switchblade, gravity knives and automatic knives.
Automatic knives have a blade deploys automatically and can cause serious injury or death if not used properly.
This means that automatic knives can be confiscated at the airport, or if you have one, you can be charged with a criminal offence and receive a jail sentence, or if you buy one you can be arrested and charged by law enforcement officer.
- Gravity knives
As of April 2, 2017, the UK will no longer allow the sale or import of gravity knives (also known as gyroscopic knives, knife balancers, or blade balancers).
In a nutshell, gravity knives are a type of folding knife—often referred to as balisongs—in which the blade is held in place by gravity and an elastic cord or band.
- Switchblade knives
In the UK, switchblades are banned from being carried in public. This is because they are classed as daggers and, if discovered being carried by a member of the public, could have a very negative impact on the person carrying it.
The law states that a blade cannot be longer than 7.5 inches (19.05cm), and any blade over 4 inches long must be locked away and carries a maximum 10 year sentence for possession.
- Cane knives
Cane knives are an interesting bunch, although many people assume they have a bright green coating and are thus safe to use.
In fact, cane knives are a single-edged knife where the blade is capped on both ends, more like a dagger than a normal folding knife. They are also not allowed to carry in the UK.
- Dirk knife
Dirk knifes are not allowed to carry in the UK, and that is a good thing. There are lots of reasons for this, and many of them have to do with safety.
Dirk knives are really good at stabbing people, so they should never be in the hands of people who can’t take care of themselves. Knives can also be dangerous around children, and in the right circumstances they could pose a threat to passers-by.
- Lipstick knives
There is no doubt that elegant knives look fantastic. Contemporary fashion designers are always having a go at the latest trendiest knife in the market.
However, as gorgeous as these knives may look, they are still illegal to carry because they have a protruding blade. So, if you are in London, you are definitely in trouble.
UK knife law explained for the outdoors
From the UK’s earliest history, the hunting knife has been an essential part of the British lifestyle. Today, it is as important as ever to know the law in relation to the use of knives and other bladed implements.
As is the case in many other countries around the world, it is illegal to carry a knife with a blade longer than 6 inches in the UK. This is known as the 6 inch law and it has been in force since the 1930s.
In addition to this, it is also illegal to carry a knife to or from a public place such as a train or a bus. This is known as the on-train or off-vehicle law.
In short, there are some pretty strict laws regarding what types of knives we can carry when out and about in the great city of London.
