Banning of Machete and similar tools

[12gauge82]

17 hours ago, arjimlad said:

thanks - maybe - although on closer reading, because it does not have a sharp point, but a rounded end, it may not be illegal. 

I would email gerber and ask their opinion as to if it will fall under the the definition of a zombie knife/machete and become banned. They are likely to have done their research since they sell them in the uk. 

You could also contact the police before the legislation comes in. 

I believe it has all been left very ambiguous on purpose, as it will cause many people to hand in any knives they don't use and deter law abiding sales. 

[old man]

3 hours ago, 12gauge82 said:

I would email gerber and ask their opinion as to if it will fall under the the definition of a zombie knife/machete and become banned. They are likely to have done their research since they sell them in the uk. 

You could also contact the police before the legislation comes in. 

I believe it has all been left very ambiguous on purpose, as it will cause many people to hand in any knives they don't use and deter law abiding sales. 

Ambiguity is a politicos best friend?

[steve_b_wales]

From BASC today:

The government has announced that it is set to expand The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988, by the addition of “zombie-style knives and machetes” to the list of prohibited weapons. 

The changes to the Order will come into force on 24 September 2024. The amendment is targeted at removing from circulation zombie-style knives and machetes with specific characteristics.

A zombie-style knife or machete is defined as a bladed article with the following elements:

1. A plain cutting edge;
2. A sharp pointed end; and
3. A blade of over eight inches in length (measured from the tip to the top of the handle in a straight line).

In addition to this basic specification, it must also have one or more of the following features:

• A serrated cutting edge (other than one no longer than two inches next to the handle).
• More than one hole (of any shape) in the blade.
• Spikes.
• More than two sharp points in the blade.

(A sharp point is defined as having an angle between the edges which create the point of less than 90 degrees. In the case of a curved edge the angle will be measured by reference to the tangent of the curve).

Not prohibited under the amendment

Prohibited under the amendment

Who is the amendment aimed at?

The amendment to the Offensive Weapons Order is not designed to catch conventional machetes which are widely used in shooting and conservation activities. These include making hides and blinds, for cutting brush and any other land management activities that call for a heavy blade to cut vegetation. 

Most conventional machetes will not satisfy the definition above because they do not have sharply pointed ends to their blades.

The new legislation is firmly targeted at a new generation of machetes with sharply pointed blades carrying spikes and pierced by numerous holes such as the Snake Eye Tactical and the USMC Desert Ops Sawback models. It will also outlaw so-called Rambo knives with blades longer than eight inches.

Weapons listed in the Offensive Weapons Order are subject to an absolute prohibition of possession – even in private houses. 

However, the Order contains a general defence for antique examples which are defined as being over one hundred years old from the date of any alleged offence. This would cover First World War German bayonets, many of which had saw-toothed backs.

[Dave-G]

I think most machetes have longer than 8" blades?

And how vague is the 'TOP' of the handle?

Edited August 21 by Dave-G

[steve_b_wales]

11 minutes ago, Dave-G said:

I think most machetes have longer than 8" blades?

And how vague is the 'TOP' of the handle?

My machete, which is used for cutting brambles etc while out decoying, is exactly the same as the one in the first photograph. If the worst came to the worst, I'll cut the blade down.

[mossy835]

iv got a gerber one off uk shoot ware house years ago so i take it that must go,its the one with the cutting edge on top.or  i can grind them down.

[Down South]

I read it as having a blade over 8” but no other features is ok, or am I wrong.

[bruno22rf]

IMHO ,banning anything is simply the cheapest option, it pleases the masses who believe that something is actually being done but in fact nothing whatsoever is achieved as the Police and the justice system fail miserably to enforce any old, let alone new, Law. The cost of actually arresting someone, taking them to court then housing/feeding them is prohibitive these days.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

18 minutes ago, Down South said:

I read it as having a blade over 8” but no other features is ok, or am I wrong.

Ask a policeman.................................

[Down South]

49 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Ask a policeman.................................

I’ll walk down to the local station with my old Brazilian machete and see what they say. Probably be along the lines of,“ you’re nicked son”. 😗

[Penelope]

18 hours ago, Down South said:

I read it as having a blade over 8” but no other features is ok, or am I wrong.

That my take on it. All ok if it has only the following.

1. A plain cutting edge;
2. A sharp pointed end; and
3. A blade of over eight inches in length (measured from the tip to the top of the handle in a straight line).

[roadkill]

I assume then from reading the above,  that mine is fine, yes it's over 8 inches but has no spikes or holes in the actual blade.. what about that small serrated edge? 

[old man]

Just trying to imagine the confusion and arrests made due to lack of understanding?

[B686]

1 hour ago, roadkill said:

I assume then from reading the above,  that mine is fine, yes it's over 8 inches but has no spikes or holes in the actual blade.. what about that small serrated edge? 

I would have said if that knife was in the wrong hands the damage would have already been done before the serrated bit come into contact with the body. Even legal knives are still deadly in the wrong hands. This banning lark won’t make any difference to the situation.

[Windswept]

2 hours ago, roadkill said:

I assume then from reading the above,  that mine is fine, yes it's over 8 inches but has no spikes or holes in the actual blade.. what about that small serrated edge? 

Take a look at the examples provided by the government here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66a27e4f0808eaf43b50d783/Annex_-_Example_of_weapons_that_qualify_for_the_Surrender_and_Compensation_scheme_.pdf

Page 7 covers this and it looks like what is known as Jimping, i.e. a grip. The ban doesn't class that as serrations so I wouldnt class that as a zombie knife.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

3 hours ago, roadkill said:

I assume then from reading the above,  that mine is fine, yes it's over 8 inches but has no spikes or holes in the actual blade.. what about that small serrated edge? 

That is JIMPING and is allowed.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd05kz9xxlko

[jasper682]

Please folks don't forget to claim your £10 compensation for handing in your already illegal to carry zombie knives. 🤣🤣😇

[Zoli 12 guage]

9 minutes ago, jasper682 said:

Please folks don't forget to claim your £10 compensation for handing in your already illegal to carry zombie knives. 🤣🤣😇

all the inner city ethnic gang members will queueing out of the doors at the cop shops (if they can find one that's still open) to hand in and cash in 👍

[Mice!]

It was just on the radio saying how machetes can be handed in, they'll get a big pile of blades and say look at the efforts we've made, total waste of time.

I've just looked in the kitchen knife draw, my bread knife is 8.4 inches and could do some serious damage,  even though its not designed to be swung.

On 23/08/2024 at 14:49, roadkill said:

I assume then from reading the above,  that mine is fine, yes it's over 8 inches but has no spikes or holes in the actual blade.. what about that small serrated edge? 

If you measured it properly I'd say that was under 8 inches, but the point could be an issue,  6 or 8, if some criminal sticks someone with it its going to make no difference. 

[JKD]

If the advice was put this way, with two words swapped around, it would read,,,,

"Zombie style machetes and knives." Would that mean all knives have to be handed in ? No, of course not 🙄

[Dougy]

Looking on the bright side, after this ban all knife crime will be gone. 

But we'll all be wearing hats to prevent pig doo doo from landing on our heads. 

Now they've raised more concerns regarding how these knives will be transported from A to B to the police Station.. People might use public transport  OMG 😲  

So gangster kiddy going to hand his "Tool" in and get a bus ride to the cop shop

[JKD]

1 minute ago, Dougy said:

Looking on the bright side, after this ban all knife crime will be gone. 

But we'll all be wearing hats to prevent pig doo doo from landing on our heads. 

Now they've raised more concerns regarding how these knives will be transported from A to B to the police Station.. People might use public transport  OMG 😲  

So gangster kiddy going to hand his "Tool" in and get a bus ride to the cop shop

Or drive their stolen car/motorcycle/cycle to drop off said offending items ? 🤷‍♂️🤭

[Mice!]

35 minutes ago, JKD said:

Or drive their stolen car/motorcycle/cycle to drop off said offending items ? 🤷‍♂️🤭

E scooter, its how the gangsters role 🤣

But it's a good cop out, in the unlikely event someone is stopped and has a knife etc,, I'm on my way to hand it in officer 😳😳

And the 12pm news did at least say some kinds of Machetes and Zombie knives

[mossy835]

looks like i will have to hand in my gerber, i bought of shootware house years ago,