GERBER CRUCIAL FAST UK STREET LEGAL ???

[rayraychil]

The one seems to have passed me by but I just viewed a video of a guy showing this MT off and it just looks to me like a modern take on the old switchblade/flick knives etc which are now all apparently illegal to carry or own here in the UK.
Yet I actually like the idea with today's modern materials and the variety of MTs around why not try a different approach like this spring loaded blade idea it sure makes for an efficent blade opener on a MT
How long have these been around and is there any where on the UK mainland where u could buy one even if it was under the counter to do it ??

I have a Crucial which I was thinking of trading but if I could get the smarter older brother for it then I have the start of a Gerber MT fetish read as collection of course !

[nuphoria]

As far as I am aware, anything which can be considered as assisted opening is illegal... which sucks

[badwolf]

As far as I am aware, anything which can be considered as assisted opening is illegal... which sucks

Yes, UK wise, NON legal, same goes for the SOG Power Assist, you should be okay using either of them at work but any where else, probably end up saying yes Judge and get a nice fine, at worst be all snug and cosy in a rather small cell
Not done an in depth Google search but this UK company say they have one http://www.langtoninfo.co.uk/showitem.aspx?isbn=0013658120754 I expect their available elsewhere in the UK, you can easily get hold of the SOG Power Lock here in the UK

ps. Hello Ray

[Syph007]

I was always curious what the penalty is for carrying a banned knife in the UK.  I mean what if you forgot a lock blade in your pocket you were using around the house, and went out in public and for some reason were stopped or searched?  You get a fine? Is it seen as a very serious offence?  In canada if you were caught with a handgun in public that would be pretty serious, but surely it cant be take as serious for a knife? Has anyone heard of anything bad, or do police use good judgement usually if you aren't up some some criminal intent?

[Gareth]

The Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act (1959) defines a flick knife as this;

"any knife which has a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the handle of the knife, sometimes known as a “flick knife” or “flick gun”"

Section in bold is my emphasis.  Now, those who say an assisted opener is legal argue that because you are pushing on the blade to open it up, not something on the handle of the knife, it's not covered by the above definition of a flick knife.

Personally I'd not fancy my chances of arguing the legal semantics to a Police Officer on a street corner, and I'd not like to try in court either.   But it is the reason some stores feel OK to stock them and for people to own them.

[rayraychil]

I am with you there Garth it would be to tricky trying to convince 99% of UK cops of the differences and knowing my luck I would have been stopped by that 1% of Cops who think any knife if a weapon regardless of type, size or age of person carrying or for what reason.
Here is a basic guide for our visiting MTO bros from over the pond should they venture into the UK at some stage.

Basic rules on knives

If you’re planning to buy or carry a knife, it’s important to know the rules. Anyone found breaking these laws can face up to four years in prison.

These include:
it is illegal for any shop to sell a knife of any kind (including cutlery and kitchen knives) to anyone under the age of 18
it is a crime to carry a knife in public without good reason – for example, if you work as a chef
the maximum penalty for an adult carrying a knife is four years in prison and a fine of £5000
it is illegal to carry, buy or sell any type of knife banned by the government (the list of banned knives is below)
knives with folding blades, like Swiss Army knives, are not illegal as long as the blade is three inches long (7.62 cm) or less
if any 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
any sharp instrument – even a screwdriver – can be viewed by the police as an illegal offensive weapon if you do not have a good reason for carrying it.

These are just the basics the laws get more complex the further you dig so if your not sure either check with one of you UK buddies on this site or leave it in your hotel or at home is prob the safest option as any cop in the UK has the right to stop an search anyone on the street for whatever reason they like it could be you fit a similar description to a known criminal or you are wearing similar clothing to a suspect there looking for or they think you are acting oddly for a regular person.

Ray

[Gareth]

I was always curious what the penalty is for carrying a banned knife in the UK.  I mean what if you forgot a lock blade in your pocket you were using around the house, and went out in public and for some reason were stopped or searched?  You get a fine? Is it seen as a very serious offence?  In canada if you were caught with a handgun in public that would be pretty serious, but surely it cant be take as serious for a knife? Has anyone heard of anything bad, or do police use good judgement usually if you aren't up some some criminal intent?

We have to be very clear on what we're talking about here.  Flick knives and gravity knifes are very specifically BANNED, simply owning one is a criminal offence, no excuses (unless you have owned it since before the law was brought in in 1959).

Lock and fixed blades are a totally different thing.  There are indeed restrictions to carrying them, but owning them isn't an issue.  What happens to you if caught with one without good reason is going to be very circumstantial IMO.  In the situation you describe, and having no prior offences, you might just get a slap on the wrist and told not to do it again.  However you could just as easily get a fine or custodial sentience if they wanted to throw the book at you.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER! - I'm not a lawyer and I take absolutely NO responsibility for any legal issues you might find yourself in.  "But Gareth on MT.org said..." is not a reasonable excuse for carrying a knife.

[Syph007]

I was always curious what the penalty is for carrying a banned knife in the UK.  I mean what if you forgot a lock blade in your pocket you were using around the house, and went out in public and for some reason were stopped or searched?  You get a fine? Is it seen as a very serious offence?  In canada if you were caught with a handgun in public that would be pretty serious, but surely it cant be take as serious for a knife? Has anyone heard of anything bad, or do police use good judgement usually if you aren't up some some criminal intent?

We have to be very clear on what we're talking about here.  Flick knives and gravity knifes are very specifically BANNED, simply owning one is a criminal offence, no excuses (unless you have owned it since before the law was brought in in 1959).

Lock and fixed blades are a totally different thing.  There are indeed restrictions to carrying them, but owning them isn't an issue.  What happens to you if caught with one without good reason is going to be very circumstantial IMO.  In the situation you describe, and having no prior offences, you might just get a slap on the wrist and told not to do it again.  However you could just as easily get a fine or custodial sentience if they wanted to throw the book at you.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER! - I'm not a lawyer and I take absolutely NO responsibility for any legal issues you might find yourself in.  "But Gareth on MT.org said..." is not a reasonable excuse for carrying a knife.

Ok I understand.  Poor choice of word on my part, banned.  Here they are called prohibited weapons.  Stuff that you can't own at all.  Switchblades, ninja stars etc.  We dont actually (that I know of) have ANY laws about legal public carry at all. Just stuff you cant own period. 

[Gareth]

No worries, it's a confusing area of UK law and there's no reason you should know it.   I always think it's important for people in the UK to think very carefully about the difference between an 'excuse' and a 'good reason'.  if you have to think up and invent an 'excuse' as to why you have a locking/over 3"/fixed blade etc on you, then it's probably not good enough, if you really do have a 'good reason' then you're likely to be OK.  Again this is just my opinion and my above disclaimer still applies.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I was always curious what the penalty is for carrying a banned knife in the UK.  I mean what if you forgot a lock blade in your pocket you were using around the house, and went out in public and for some reason were stopped or searched?  You get a fine? Is it seen as a very serious offence?  In canada if you were caught with a handgun in public that would be pretty serious, but surely it cant be take as serious for a knife? Has anyone heard of anything bad, or do police use good judgement usually if you aren't up some some criminal intent?

We have to be very clear on what we're talking about here.  Flick knives and gravity knifes are very specifically BANNED, simply owning one is a criminal offence, no excuses (unless you have owned it since before the law was brought in in 1959).

Lock and fixed blades are a totally different thing.  There are indeed restrictions to carrying them, but owning them isn't an issue.  What happens to you if caught with one without good reason is going to be very circumstantial IMO.  In the situation you describe, and having no prior offences, you might just get a slap on the wrist and told not to do it again.  However you could just as easily get a fine or custodial sentience if they wanted to throw the book at you.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER! - I'm not a lawyer and I take absolutely NO responsibility for any legal issues you might find yourself in.  "But Gareth on MT.org said..." is not a reasonable excuse for carrying a knife.

Ok I understand.  Poor choice of word on my part, banned.  Here they are called prohibited weapons.  Stuff that you can't own at all.  Switchblades, ninja stars etc.  We dont actually (that I know of) have ANY laws about legal public carry at all. Just stuff you cant own period.

Not entirely true.  You cannot legally carry anything that is deliberately concealed.  A knife with a pocket clip that rides low in your pocket is fine because that's the way it's supposed to be carried, but a machete attached inside a trenchcoat will probably get you in trouble.

Def