I just checked out the U.K. knife law, and it is similar to California law. Which means it is best not to carry if you want to stay on the safe side of not having your knife confiscated. (I had a balisong confiscated from me about two hours after I won it as a prize in a tournament back in the early 80's, and the sheriff's dept. never did give it back to me. )

Well, there's only one thing for you British to do now. Enroll in a school where they train iron palm. Just don't let anybody know it, because you'll get in big trouble if they find out about it after you scuff anybody up.

Wow. This has certainly exploded.

quote:

Originally posted by danjama:
Where do you live? And why do you always carry one?

Rural New England.

I carry it as mostly a utility item. I've used it for everything from cutting food to hacking myself out of a tangle of mountain laurel on the side of a steep ravine (don't ask.)

I also carry it in the event that I wind up with some sort of unsavory critter on my arm, which has happened more than a few times. In these situations, you generally want some sort of equalizer.

quote:

Originally posted by Aimail101:
You know even being found with that on you will get you 5 years in jail. Then if you ever do use it in self defence in public, your pretty much guaranteed 10 years in jail unless it's a swiss army knife and you have a "reasonable excuse" to be carrying it.

That is entirely incorrect. Knife laws vary from state to state. The knife that I own is legal for me to carry: It is folding, manual open, has a single edge, and is .10" below the legal length limit.

I'm not walking around with a khukri on my hip. I'm walking around with a good pocket knife where it belongs--in my pocket.

quote:

Why? Are you daft enough to get yourself into a position where you can't bolt and have to use it? Then could you actually use it without being overpowered by the dude going for you? It isn't that hard to disarm a guy with a knife, that's why guys who know what they are doing whip then out and turn you into a pin cushion in milliseconds. If you meet that kind of guy, are you really going to be able to draw that knife and use it before he does? I HIGHLY doubt that.

Better to wear a stab proof vest and carry a medium sized maglite if you are so worried about getting knifed. I'd also suggest you go and do some very scary activities such as base jumping and cliff diving so you can gain control of fear. You don't strike me as the type of fellow with the balls to go and sucker punch a guy 1 foot taller and a 100 pounds heavier than you. So I can assure you, you will lock down the instant someone pulls a knife on you and you won't have a chance in hell of using it.

Me, I prefer relying on my wits.

You've made a lot of assumptions. It's a tool, first and foremost. I use it almost every day. It's pretty clear that you live in a city and have probably never been closer to nature than the local park--knives are not uncommon accessories for people with outdoor hobbies, and believe it or not they aren't carrying them out of "fear."

In the unlikely event that I WAS attacked while carrying, my inclination is to escape, not start a knife fight. However, in a life or death situation, I wouldn't hesitate to use it as a weapon, but not before exhausting every other course of action. I don't think that is an unreasonable stance to take on the matter, either. I'm not an idiot. I've never so much as brandished it because I avoid situations like that.


The point that I was attempting to make is that, despite frequently carrying a knife, neither I nor anybody else has needed government intervention for safety.

Actually anything can be considered an offensive weapon in the UK,if the police decide thats what they want to call it.
I don't carry a knife,never felt the need.As some have said though,if you have a good reason for carrying one,then that is usually accepted.

Non-stabbing knife? Someone never heard of a cleaver then

Why stop at knives?
They should make pubs serve pints in plastic glasses. We all know how dangerous glass glasses are.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8217775.stm

I hope there are'nt any billiard tables in pubs, you may soon be using nerf cues.

And I thought this kind of silly stuff mostly went on in the USA.

quote:

I also carry it in the event that I wind up with some sort of unsavory critter on my arm, which has happened more than a few times. In these situations, you generally want some sort of equalizer.

You mean unsavory critters such as this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcxKIJTb3Hg

Sorry GoToAway, couldnt resist.

I live in rural eastern Oregon and more people here carry pocket knives than dont.

Oddly enough we had a murder a couple months back and the weapon used was...you guessed it, a pocket knife.