Knife customers and retailers - feedback needed on Royal Mail carriage of knives policy

[Conor O'Gorman]

Whilst Royal Mail's proposed ban on the carriage of knives has been partially dropped, some potential issues remain for both retailers and customers.

As things stand, the revised Royal Mail policy, due to take effect on 7 May, is that it will continue to carry “any knife or knife blade, including cutlery knives, bread knives, knives that can be used for hobbies and trades (for instance, utility knives and snap-off cutters, gardening, camping, lock knives, bushcraft and farming tools with a blade or any other trade tool that could commonly be described as a knife), butcher knives (including meat cleavers), felling axes and razor blades”. 

Prohibited items will be “hunting/ combat/survival type knives, daggers, movie knives (such as Rambo or Crocodile Dundee style knives), replica fighting knives (such as Bowie knives), throwing knives, machetes, swords, fantasy knives, knives with images or words that suggest use for violence, stiletto knives, battle axes, open razors/ folding razors and any similar items“. 

Initial feedback from retailers on the restrictions are that the definitions are vague and leave them open to their deliveries being randomly stopped by postal staff with little training, resulting in unfair penalties. A key issue is what is meant by “hunting” knife. 

BASC has been in communication with Royal Mail CEO office since March, initially to challenge the ban and subsequently on the revised policy. We have asked Royal Mail to drop reference to ‘hunting’ on its prohibited list. The new policy takes effect from 7 May and your feedback on issues arising, whether as a retailer or customer, will help BASC make its case for further improvements in Royal Mail's policy.  

Just message me on here or email conor.ogorman@basc.org.uk 

Background:

https://www.shootinguk.co.uk/news/royal-mail-backtracks-on-plans-to-ban-blades-147754/ 

 

https://www.shootinguk.co.uk/news/knife-posting-policy-that-cuts-both-ways-147802/ 

 

[The Mighty Prawn]

So they would allow hobby knives, not hunting knives, so if hunting is your hobby someone’s brain is going to explode trying to choose whether or not it’s allowed

[quentyn]

Can someone explain the difference between a hunting knife and a bushcraft knife ? The policy as written is unenforceable as there is too much overlap and opinion as to which category a particular knife fits into. 

[enfieldspares]

And bayonets? What of bayonets? By the word "bayonet" being omitted from the list of prohibited items are these still then to be allowed to be sent in the post?

My concern is that a bayonet may be construed as a sword, combat knife or "survival" knife by over zealous ill informed postal staff.

As when infantry stopped being issued with short swords in the following decades the bayonet would evolve into a dual  purpose weapon. On the rifle to be used as a bayonet.

But off the rifle to be used in peacetime on the soldier's belt, on parade, as a form of short sword replacement.  Or off the rifle but now in wartime in his hand as a dual role combat and "survival" knife. 

Therefore a definition of a bayonet needs to be clear so that bayonets do not, mistakenly be banned as swords (the long Pattern 1907 bayonet) or as combat knives (the American M3 bayonet) or as "survival" knives (the German and other nations') saw backed bayonet.

Edited April 20 by enfieldspares

[jan8p]

Sounds like they've written a policy to publicise so they can appease the public because 'all knives bad', but in reality will still carry on as normal because......it's stupid.