Understanding UK Knife Law: A Comprehensive Guide for Campers and Hikers
· Updated
Last updated: 19 July 2026. This guide reflects the zombie-style knife ban of September 2024 and the ninja sword ban of August 2025.
Under Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, carrying a knife in a public place without good reason or lawful authority is a criminal offence in the UK. For campers, hikers and bushcraft enthusiasts, the law still allows knives that are essential to the activity, provided you can justify the blade you carry.
This guide explains which knives are legal by default, which are legal only with a good reason, which are banned outright, and how the 2024 and 2025 law changes affect what you can take outdoors.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Knife legislation changes, so check the current rules on gov.uk before you travel.
The Legal Framework
Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 makes it an offence to possess a bladed or pointed article in a public place without good reason or lawful authority. The burden of proof sits with you: if stopped, you must justify why you are carrying the knife.
Two further laws matter for campers. The Prevention of Crime Act 1953 covers offensive weapons, and the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order lists knives that are banned regardless of reason.
A public place includes footpaths, car parks, campsites open to others, and your vehicle. Leaving a knife in your car still counts as possession in a public place.
What Knife Can I Carry Without a Reason?
A non-locking folding knife with a blade under 3 inches (7.62 cm) is legal to carry in the UK without any specific reason. This is the only category exempt by default under Section 139. Popular multi-tools such as the Victorinox Swiss Army knife fall inside this exemption.
Two conditions both have to be met. The blade must fold, and it must not lock. A locking blade is not exempt even when it is shorter than 3 inches, because the locking mechanism removes the automatic defence. If your knife locks open, you need a good reason to carry it.
The Good Reason Rule for Campers
Camping, hiking, bushcraft and food preparation are recognised good reasons to carry a knife under Section 139. A good reason connects the specific knife to a genuine, current need. Camping good reasons include:
- Preparing and cooking food at camp
- Bushcraft tasks such as carving, feathering wood or preparing kindling
- General utility, such as cutting cord, opening supplies or first aid
- Transporting a knife you have just bought, in its packaging with a receipt
The knife should be proportionate to the task. A small fixed-blade or a locking folder is defensible for camp cooking and bushcraft. A 6 inch tactical blade is not, because the task does not require it. Keep the knife stored in your pack, out of reach and out of sight, and only in hand when you are using it.
Food Preparation While Camping
A standard kitchen or camp knife is a good reason when you have the means to camp and cook. If you carry a tent and stove, you can demonstrate the knife is for food preparation. Store it securely in your kit rather than on your person. If you plan to forage or you have no tent, be ready to explain your plans clearly.
Bushcraft and Larger Tools
Bushcraft can justify a fixed-blade knife, and shelter building can justify a small camping axe or folding saw. Larger tools carry more legal risk, so store them inaccessibly during transport, use them only outside urban areas, and be prepared to explain their purpose. Be polite and willing to surrender a tool if a police officer asks.
Historical Re-enactment and Demonstrations
Licensed historical re-enactment and licensed demonstrations of use are specific good reasons under the Act. This exemption does not cover live-action role-play, where foam replicas are used instead of live blades.
Knife Types and Their Camping Legality
The table below sets out how common knives are treated for camping and hiking in the UK.
| Knife or tool | Camping legality | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Non-locking folding knife under 3 inches | Legal by default | No reason required |
| Locking knife (any blade length) | Legal with good reason | Must justify the need |
| Fixed-blade or bushcraft knife | Legal with good reason | Stored, out of reach, rural use |
| Kitchen or camp knife for cooking | Legal with good reason | Secured, used only for the task |
| Camping axe or folding saw | Legal with good reason | Inaccessible in transit, proportionate |
| Multi-tool with a locking blade | Legal with good reason | Justify as camping equipment |
| Machete | Rarely justifiable | Leave it at home |
| Combat or tactical knife | Never justifiable | Treated as an offensive weapon |
| Zombie-style knife (8 inch plus, serrated or spiked) | Banned outright | Illegal to possess since 24 September 2024 |
| Ninja sword | Banned outright | Illegal to possess since 1 August 2025 |
| Flick, gravity, disguised or stealth knives | Banned outright | Prohibited weapons |
Lock Knives Explained
A lock knife is a folding knife whose blade locks into the open position and does not fold back freely. Lock knives are not covered by the 3 inch exemption, so they always require a good reason to carry, even with a short blade. Camping and bushcraft are valid good reasons for a lock knife, provided the knife suits the task and is stored properly.
What You Must Not Carry
Some knives are banned outright and cannot be carried for any reason, including camping. Banned and prohibited items include:
- Zombie-style knives and machetes, banned since 24 September 2024
- Ninja swords, banned since 1 August 2025 under Ronan's Law
- Flick knives and gravity knives, which open automatically or by gravity
- Disguised knives and stealth knives, where the blade is hidden or non-metal
- Combat and tactical knives, treated as offensive weapons with no camping justification
There is no lawful reason to carry an offensive weapon for self-defence in the UK. A combat knife, machete or sword has no place in a camping kit and will not be defensible if you are stopped.
Carrying Knives in a Vehicle
A knife left in your vehicle counts as possession in a public place under Section 139. The good reason defence only applies while you are travelling to or from an activity where the knife is needed. Remove all knives, camping axes and larger tools from your car once the trip is over. Do not leave a blade in the glovebox or on the back seat between trips.
Recent Changes to UK Knife Law
UK knife law tightened significantly in 2024 and 2025, and both changes affect what counts as a prohibited weapon.
From 24 September 2024, zombie-style knives and machetes became illegal to possess, sell, make or import. A zombie-style blade is defined as over 8 inches long with features such as a serrated edge, spikes or more than two sharp points. From 1 August 2025, ninja swords were banned in England and Wales under Ronan's Law, named after Ronan Kanda.
Penalties also increased: the maximum sentence for possessing a banned item rose from 6 months to 2 years, and carrying a knife in public without good reason can bring up to 4 years in prison and an unlimited fine.
None of these changes restrict the everyday camping knives covered above. They target large, offensive-weapon blades that were never justifiable for outdoor use.
Penalties and Age Limits
Carrying a knife in public without good reason carries a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison and an unlimited fine. Possession of a banned knife carries up to 2 years. You must be 18 or over to buy any knife in the UK, and retailers must verify age on delivery. Selling a knife to someone under 18 carries up to 2 years in prison.
Legal Exemptions Beyond Camping
Section 139 recognises good reasons and lawful authority beyond outdoor use. These include knives carried for work, such as a chef or electrician transporting tools, knives that form part of religious dress, such as a Sikh kirpan, and knives worn as part of national costume, such as a Scottish sgian-dubh. Each still depends on genuine, demonstrable purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to carry a knife while camping in the UK?
Yes. Camping is a recognised good reason to carry a knife under Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, provided the knife suits the task and is stored securely.
Can you carry a camping knife in the UK?
Yes, if you can justify it. A non-locking folder under 3 inches needs no reason. Larger or locking camping knives are legal when you have a genuine camping purpose.
What size knife can I take camping?
A non-locking folding knife with a blade under 3 inches (7.62 cm) is legal without a reason. Larger or locking knives are allowed for camping when justified by the task.
Are survival knives legal in the UK?
Yes, with a good reason. A fixed-blade survival or bushcraft knife is legal to carry for camping or bushcraft, stored in your pack and proportionate to the task, but not for everyday carry.
Is it legal to carry a kirpan in the UK?
Yes. A kirpan carried as part of Sikh religious dress is a recognised good reason under Section 139, so it is lawful to carry.
What is the new knife law in the UK?
Zombie-style knives and machetes were banned on 24 September 2024, and ninja swords were banned on 1 August 2025 under Ronan's Law. Maximum penalties for possession also increased to 2 years.
What happens if you are caught wild camping with a knife?
A knife carried for genuine wild camping is defensible as a good reason. Keep it stored and proportionate to the task. Wild camping without the landowner's permission is a separate civil matter in most of England and Wales.
Summary
UK knife law is strict but it allows knives that are essential to camping and hiking. A non-locking folding knife under 3 inches is legal by default. Larger and locking knives are legal with a good reason such as cooking, bushcraft or utility, and you must be able to justify them. Combat knives, machetes, zombie-style knives and ninja swords are banned outright.
Carry only the knife the task requires, store it securely, and be ready to explain its purpose.
