[Sniper Ash6]

Just to start off as most of you know im 17.

I have been looking at unis with my mum for the past month or so. While in birmingham on Wednesday my glasses popped open (the little screw on the side of the lens came loose.

Being 2+ hours away from home and with no one having anything that i could do the little screw back up with i had to improvise a screwdriver from mum's bookmark and my nail.

It got us wondering about multi-tools etc. As many of you know my dad died just over 3 and a half years ago but he had a leatherman micra and a leatherman super tool

The micra is a little keychain tool but it has a little knife and scissors on it.
The super tool had many more tools and is a lot bigger

If i were to the micra on my keys, if i was searched by police etc would i be done for it being an offensive weapon such as i would if carrying a knife?
I know the super tool is over the top for it and probably too big and heavy to carry all the time

I have attached pictures below with a ruler for size and the link to the leatherman site so you can see the "features"
http://www.leatherman.com/multi-tool...ols/micra.aspx

Please note: This is not me asking what i can and cant get away with (eg trying to bend the law), it is not intended as an offensive weapon but as a tool eg screwdriver.

Thanks

[TheTrancelator]

Somehow i doubt they will let a 17 y/o lad walk away with a "pocket" knife... Still.. these days nothing is suprising

[JagoPlasma]

the blade is over 3" long so IIRC it is illegal unless it is a tool of your trade or part of your religious apparel

EDIT: Infact qick google and top of the list
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CrimeJus...tion/DG_078569

[antacid]

You would be better to carry this around with you for mending your spectacles, not get done for this.

KEYRING SCREWDRIVER kit SPECTACLES GLASSES tool REPAIR on eBay (end time 21-Oct-09 13:34:32 BST)

[WibXL]

So long as it's folding and the blade is under three inches as yours is you should be ok but Uni's etc may have a strictly no knives policy. You might be better off with a small screwdriver keyring like this though.

Not sure if that one or the site is any good as I haven't used them before.

[unique]

Originally Posted by JagoPlasma

the blade is over 3" long so IIRC it is illegal unless it is a tool of your trade or part of your religious apparel

EDIT: Infact qick google and top of the list
Knives and the law : Directgov - Crime, justice and the law

he blade in the photo is 3.5 centimetres, not inches. it's tiny, unless the size includes the handle too, but it says "knives where the blade folds into the handle, like a Swiss Army Knife, aren't illegal as long as the blade is shorter than three inches (7.62 cms)" so it looks like it's okay

if your glasses are a problem, you are best taking it to an opticians to get fixed, rather than have to carry a knive around. they might not even charge you if it's a simple quick fix as many can be

[DVD-Man]

Leatherman do a tool with no knife but it's more expensive.

Liam

[dazza1011]

wait till christmas and i will send you a set of glasses screwdrivers i get loads out of the crackers

[Sniper Ash6]

Originally Posted by unique

he blade in the photo is 3.5 centimetres, not inches. it's tiny, unless the size includes the handle too, but it says "knives where the blade folds into the handle, like a Swiss Army Knife, aren't illegal as long as the blade is shorter than three inches (7.62 cms)" so it looks like it's okay

if your glasses are a problem, you are best taking it to an opticians to get fixed, rather than have to carry a knive around. they might not even charge you if it's a simple quick fix as many can be

Its not carrying a knife around for my glasses, it was just a case in point

When i got home on Weds to town i went to boots opticians and they put a new screw in which took a min or two

The blade isnt actually over 3" long so i think its ok but unsure

[Geege]

I'm sure using it as a tool (as it was intended anyway) to fix your glasses is a reasonable excuse , to having with you, the blade or sharply pointed article in a public place.

Like others have said, as long as it is not a locking knife - folding knifes are ok, only as long as the blade does not exceed 7.62cm (3 inches).

[JagoPlasma]

Originally Posted by unique

he blade in the photo is 3.5 centimetres, not inches.

oops thought it was inches, didnt see the bottom of the ruler

[shodan]

Don't overlook the Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act which makes the offence of carrying a pointed or bladed article in a public place. Its a work around to prevent people from carrying things like screw drivers and ice picks for poking other people with.
Basically its all down to the officers discretion. You could say to the officer that your tiny screwdriver is for your glasses and its fine. But if you aren't wearing your glasses then maybe that might change the officers perspective on it....

[Sniper Ash6]

I always wear my glasses so that isnt a problem

It would be handy to have a screwdriver with me for doing people computers and things as well, my glasses breaking was just an example that made me consider it

The blade doesnt lock as such but if anyone has used a leatherman they will know that it become rigid when the handle is closed so that it can be used properly with force being applied etc

I think part of it is im not gonna be waving it around when im in public for it to be considered offensive

[nheather]

I help out with my local scouts group so have looked into knife requirements a little.

Essentially the law just requires you to apply common sense.

You are not allowed to carry sprung loaded or flick blades at all.

Manually folding blades under 3" long are not a problem.

Fixed blades are also okay as long as you can justify having them in the location you are in. So if by trade you are a butcher then carrying large knifes and cleavers in relation to work but not in inappropriate places (like in a pub, or nightclub or cinema etc.).

Coming back to your Leatherman - again no problem carrying it around with you in most situations but use sense - don't take it to a football match for example.

Cheers,

Nigel

[humanfish]

My brother always used to carry around a Swiss Army knife, i guess these days he would be arrested Is it considered highly irresponsible to give a 10/12yr old or anyone under 18 a pen knife these days? Seems a bit stupid to me. If i got arrested for carrying a Leatherman of the size you are showing i'd have to stifle a laugh at the copper.

[Mr Incredible]

Just don't try getting it through airport security. I nearly had a swiss army knife confiscated but I decided to go back to check in and check in my luggage with the knife in it rather than lose a precious gift.

[hopeless]

hypothetical question,

if i found a knife (or anything else illegal) on the street and decided to hand it in at my local cop shop, but on my way there i was stopped and searched by the police, would i get nicked for it?

im not 100% sure on this - could i argue i was just doing my civic duty?

[KUBBY]

@Hopeless,

No doubt you would be thoroughly checked out,but as long as you wern't brandishing it about,in the case of a knife,and you hadn't already walked passed a police station/officer,on your way,then common sense would (should) apply and you wouldn't get detained.

However,stranger things have happened.Its a well known excuse used by the genuinely Criminal that they were going to "hand it in".Each occasion should be taken on its merits.If your an obviously regular sort of lad,don't give the officers any lip and don't start huffing and puffing at the fact that they're checking you,then your reasoning would be accepted.

K.

[unique]

when i was a kid walking home from primary school i found a knife whilst walking back from school. as i got further along the street i found the police outside the post office who had just been robbed (or tried to be, i can't remember) and i found the knife used in the robbery. i just picked it up as a kid and was going to keep it, as young kids back then didn't carry knives and go around threatening people

[Jay]

I wouldn't worry about it, unless you're normally stopped and searched on a regular basis.

If you are, then I'd avoid carrying anything that might be classed as dodgy.

Believe me most officers have heard the excuses when someones tooled up, be it needing it for fishing, being a builder etc, although the glasses one is a new one.

Maybe I'll tell them that when they stop and search me and ask why I have a machete in my pocket

[Sniper Ash6]

Originally Posted by Mr Incredible

Just don't try getting it through airport security. I nearly had a swiss army knife confiscated but I decided to go back to check in and check in my luggage with the knife in it rather than lose a precious gift.

Dad oncegot a knife through airport security by accident and it wasnt until well after the flight and we had landed that he realised

I believe he did once have another leatherman taken off of him by airport security as he would always have them on his keyrings etc as found them brilliantly useful. The super tool big one has a mini saw in it and i remember him using it to collect firewood in ireland (the we got to stamp on the sticks to cut em down to size which really hurt my foot as i was young at the time and wellies have thin soles)

@ Jay: Its fine having that machete for your glasses. But the butcher's knife for your contact lenses, howd you figure that out?

[Sniper Ash6]

Originally Posted by nheather

I help out with my local scouts group so have looked into knife requirements a little.

Essentially the law just requires you to apply common sense.

You are not allowed to carry sprung loaded or flick blades at all.

Manually folding blades under 3" long are not a problem.

Fixed blades are also okay as long as you can justify having them in the location you are in. So if by trade you are a butcher then carrying large knifes and cleavers in relation to work but not in inappropriate places (like in a pub, or nightclub or cinema etc.).

Coming back to your Leatherman - again no problem carrying it around with you in most situations but use sense - don't take it to a football match for example.

Cheers,

Nigel

Thanks, so if i have got it right. Then due to the blade beng under 3" it is not illegal to carry

But it will become illegal if i run around the street chasing people with it out shouting "Im gonna stab ya"

From the link in post #3 (Jago's post)

Knives where the blade folds into the handle, like a Swiss Army Knife, aren't illegal as long as the blade is shorter than three inches (7.62 cms)
...
If a knife is used in a threatening way (even a legal knife, such as a Swiss Army knife), it is regarded as an 'offensive weapon' by the law.

[nheather]

Yep that's right.

Not illegal, but the police can use discretion and if they think it inappropriate for the situation they might take it off you and ask you to collect it from the cop shop - no criminal record or anything.

If you were brandishing it in an inappropriate place then the police discretion would allow them to consider it an offensive weapon and traet you as such.

Yep, as one poster commented - don't take it through airport security on your pesron or as hand luggage. Okay in hold luggage though.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Sniper Ash6]

Originally Posted by nheather

Yep that's right.

Not illegal, but the police can use discretion and if they think it inappropriate for the situation they might take it off you and ask you to collect it from the cop shop - no criminal record or anything.

If you were brandishing it in an inappropriate place then the police discretion would allow them to consider it an offensive weapon and traet you as such.

Yep, as one poster commented - don't take it through airport security on your pesron or as hand luggage. Okay in hold luggage though.

Cheers,

Nigel

Thanks

Dont have any holiday plans nor do i normally take my keys with me so no need to worry about airport security

[Sniper Ash6]

Originally Posted by WibXL

So long as it's folding and the blade is under three inches as yours is you should be ok but Uni's etc may have a strictly no knives policy. You might be better off with a small screwdriver keyring like this though.

Not sure if that one or the site is any good as I haven't used them before.

Id expect most places just prefer to enforce the law on knives rather than have their own regulations

[nheather]

I once got stopped at Munich airport and it was a little scary because a armed security guard was called over to stand by me.

The X-Ray had picked up a folding knife in my coat that I had put on the conveyor.

I was asked whether I was carry a knife and I said no.

The airport guy and the security guard then started getting a bit edgey and asked me to empty my coat pocket.

And the object of all the fuss - my car key which is one of those where the metal key bit folds into the main body.

The irony was that it was a VW car key - you would have thought they had seen one of those before in Munich.

No apology just gruffly told to move on.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Sniper Ash6]

Wow

Well we used to go to ireland quite a lot over easter. We got very friendly with the owners of a farm that also had 3 (now 4) self catered places on their working farm. We got so friendly that we wuld help out in the lambing (which is a brilliant experience)
So we were heading out one easter and knew it was going to be cold so had wellies and old heavy coats packed.
One of the holdalls had the heavy jackets in and due to the luggage being over weight dad took his wax jacket out to carry. He had a garden knife where the blade folded 180 degrees into the plastic handle. He never realised that was in the pocket of his wax jacket and only realised when looking for it later that day/the next day in ireland. But that got through all security etc.

The knife was great to have in your pocket for cutting rope that held the sheep pens together and stuff. I sometimes got to use it. Dad also used his leatherman super tool in some situations but i will never forget some of the things i saw in ireland at the farm and we still sometimes go back there just the three of us (my sister, mum and I (sometimes with my sister's fiancee)) such as the lambing, horses (they breed race horses and we went to the races with them), seeing a foal born and everything.

I think i will give the leatherman micra a clean (its a bit dirty from use) and possibly attach it to my keys

[nheather]

I once walked around over a period of 6 months with a live shotgun cartridge in the pocket of my wax jacket - been around work, shopping, everywhere.

Previously a friend had invited me to a 30-bird clay pigeon shoot. I borrowed his shotgun and he gave me 30 cartridges which I put in my pocket.

On one of the traps I was shooting into the sun and I barely saw the first bird and never saw the second - so only fired once.

At the end I had one cartridge spare but forgot all about it.

Was never stopped in all that time but I was very shocked when I realised just how long I had been carrying around.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Sniper Ash6]

Its crazy when you realise things that you do by accident that you could get in some serious trouble for

[paul cliff]

the guys over at British Blades are great and should be able to answer any questions The Law FAQ - British Blades :: Custom Knife Making