UK EDC SAK

[technotinker]

Greetings all,

Stumbled across you all whilst researching to see if anybody in the UK had had legal problems with a particular knife, and found this little haven for blade tinkerers!

For those not in the UK; we have quite strict laws that prevent the casual carrying of anything other than a folding knife with a  blade less than three inches long.  People get upset over the definition of "folding" and "blade" - but seem reluctant to take the matter to court, and accept a caution (which is a type of criminal record) or "surrender" the knife and nothing more gets said.

Unfortunately, my "previous" means that I have to be squeeky clean about weaponry nowadays.  I make use of the tools on my Victorinox Work Champ nearly every day, unfortunately this model is not a legal EDC in the UK on length and locking specifications.  

I did a rough-and-ready modification a year or so ago to bring it into line with the regulations - the result is shown below.



Although the law refers to the cutting edge of the blade, I'm aware that, in practice, officers are erring on the side of caution and using the overall length of the blade as their guideline.  I might lop a bit more off to bring the length down a bit more.  Someday I must get round to filling the hole that removal of the lock button left with some coloured epoxy, but frankly - it works fine as is.  The "tanto" type end has actually been a great improvement - have done all sorts of little scraping jobs and cleaning up wood work with that rather than have to find a 1/2 inch chisel.

I'm sure that the skilled artisans that exhibit their work here could make a much neater job of it - but this works well for me.  It might do so for other "handypeople".
[Edited for clarity]

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Welcome aboard matey

I'm glad the mod's working out for you, as I'm tempted to do something similar with my Workchamp

[technotinker]

we have quite strict laws that prevent the casual carrying of anything other than a folding knife that has a blade longer than three inches.

Just realised that there was a comma missing there which changed the meaning of the sentence.  To be clear: folding AND less than three inches = good. Locking = bad. Longer than three inches = bad.

sorry about that!

[Gareth]

Welcome to the forum mate.  I know that I'd rather err on the safe side and bring that length down a touch.  You're not likely to convince a police constable of the finer points of knife law while standing in the street, so you might find yourself talking to the desk sergeant or even a judge.  I wouldn't want the hassle over a few mm myself.

PS I have the utmost respect for our police and think they do an excellent job by-and-large, we even have one or two who are members here.

BTW I'm not normally a great fan of tanto type points but that looks like a rather handy tip.

[Flashback]

PS I have the utmost respect for our police and think they do an excellent job by-and-large, we even have one or two who are members here.

Well said 

[DaveK]

PS I have the utmost respect for our police and think they do an excellent job by-and-large, we even have one or two who are members here.

Well said 

I'm not sure if he meant you mate 

[Neil]

[Gareth]

PS I have the utmost respect for our police and think they do an excellent job by-and-large, we even have one or two who are members here.

Well said  

I'm not sure if he meant you mate  

Well Jock1 seems like a nice bloke.

You know I love you too Nick.
 

[nuphoria]

It's a tough job and I'm glad that someone's doing it 

As for the blade, good idea to make it legal EDC and still useful, but there's lots of other SAKs you can carry anyway

[technotinker]

there's lots of other SAKs you can carry anyway

The point (!) about the Workchamp and the other "big" SAKs is that you get decent sized pliers and a couple of saws that can actually do stuff.  And I had it anyway -seemed a shame to have to relegate it to the toolbag or never take it out of the house.  Having read comments here and on the "blade" forum though I think I will be shortening the cutting blade a bit more - whilst the law clearly states "cutting edge" I don't want the hassle which would surely come my way ...

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

I'd consider filling the hole in the scale with a metal plate...a place to engrave your initials.