Im Turning 13 Am I Allowed By Law To Purchase And Carry A Swiss Army Multitool Knife

What knife did you actually use/carry in the military? I’ve seen blog posts and videos with titles like “top 10 knives for soldiers”. These are $100+ knives from brands like Emerson, Spyderco and Benchmade. Do soldiers actually carry these knives?

I carried 3 knives on deployment:SOG Multitool:A Swiss-Army-style pocket tool that I used for everything from cleaning weapons to first aid, to helping a buddy repair an XBox 360. They make nicer versions now that aren’t so hard to manipulate. Fresh out of the package, the blades on this sucker are sharp as a glass surgical knife. $80.00.CRKT M16 Series:A handy pocket knife that was useful for all kinds of basic tasks. Sometimes, you need a good, basic pocket knife. Looks cool and high-speed too. $40–100.00 depending on the version.Cold Steel Recon Tanto:This was the fighting knife I carried when on-mission. Very, very rarely will you ever need a knife to kill someone with in combat, these days. But better to have one than to try and have to use a pocket knife or a rock. Knowing this, I chose a tanto-style blade, which has some uses as a tool as well as a weapon. I’ve used it as a chisel to break something apart, a pry bar to open resistant lids, locks and other things, drove it into a wall to use as an improvised ladder rung for climbing, and cut all shapes and sizes of things, from MRE packages to equipment webbing. I owned an earlier version of the blade released in the 90’s of a steel that was more vulnerable to rust, but sharpened more easily and had a keener edge, but dulled more easily at the same time. Only used as a fighting knife once, and that was merely for posturing. A high/berserk/crazy Afghan National Policeman was on a looting spree in the poorest village in Afghanistan. He was on his way out of this poor guy’s home with a copper pot. I ordered him to return the pot, and he kept moving, so I drove my knife into the doorframe a hair from the tip of his nose. He put back the pot and cussed at me in Pashtun and I returned the favor, calling him a “son of an owl.” (a really bad insult for some reason. THAT was his second surprise of the day). $60.00.All of these knives are reasonably affordable and are still with me to this day in useable condition.

What is the most useful knife to keep on you for everyday carry?

I currently work in an office and live in the suburbs. This has been my EDC knife for the last three years - the Spyderco Bug.This knife has handled everything I need to throw at it. Need to open a box? Cut a clothing tag? Slice a menacing-looking zip-tie? Extract a shrink-wrapped package? This little guy does everything that I need it to do. The best thing, though, is that it’s on my keychain and so is always with me. I don’t need to remember to clip an additional knife to my pocket, hip, backpack, or belt. This is absolutely the most practical EDC knife for me today. However, I haven’t always worked in an office.In the past, I’ve carried a variety of knives that suited my needs at the time.When I worked construction, I carried a Victorinox SwissTool, and I used it all the time. At the time, this was the best knife for me to carry every day. But this knife wouldn’t be practical for me now.Then, for a while, when I was in the military, I carried a massive Gerber 06 Auto. It looked badass, but I didn’t use it all that much, and certainly didn’t need a knife that big. After I got out, I continued to carry this knife openly for a while as a student, but then I switched to something more practical once I realized I was making people uncomfortable, and besides the knife was huge and an inconvenience to lug around.The best knife for you depends very much on what you plan on using it for. My life is pretty boring these days, so a small blade for handling minor cutting tasks is perfectly adequate. If I worked a heavier job, I’d probably need a heavier knife.One last point: Don’t carry a knife with the idea of using it to cut people. Pulling out a knife is almost guaranteed to escalate any dispute, there’s a good chance even pulling it on someone is a crime in your area, and you do NOT want to get into a physical fight with someone while holding a large knife unless you’ve very thoughtfully considered all possible outcomes, their consequences, and the likelihood of each scenario well beforehand.

Would a hunting knife like this be legal to own in the UK?

Buying and carrying knives: the lawThe laws about buying and carrying a knife depend on the type of knife, your age and your circumstances.Basic laws on knivesIt is illegal to:sell a knife to anyone under 18 (16 to 18 year olds in Scotland can buy cutlery and kitchen knives) unless it’s a knife with a folding blade 3 inches long (7.62 cm) or less, such as a Swiss Army knifecarry a knife in public without good reason - unless it’s a knife with a folding blade 3 inches long (7.62 cm) or lesscarry, buy or sell any type of banned knifeuse any knife in a threatening way (even a legal knife, such as a Swiss Army knife)Lock knives (knives with blades that can be locked when unfolded) are not folding knives, and are illegal to carry in public without good reason.The maximum penalty for an adult carrying a knife is 4 years in prison and an unlimited fine.Good reasons for carrying a knifeExamples of good reasons to carry a knife in public can include:taking knives you use at work to and from worktaking knives to a gallery or museum to be exhibitedthe knife is going to be used for theatre, film, television, historical reenactment or religious purposes, for example the kirpan some Sikhs carryA court will decide if you’ve got a good reason to carry a knife if you’re charged with carrying it illegally.Banned knivesThere is a ban on the sale of some knives:flick knives (also called ‘switchblades’ or ‘automatic knives’) - where the blade is hidden inside the handle and shoots out when a button is pressedbutterfly knives - where the blade is hidden inside a handle that splits in two around it, like wings; the handles swing around the blade to open or close itdisguised knives, for example where the blade is hidden inside a belt buckle or fake mobile phonegravity knivessword-stickssamurai swords (with some exceptions, including antiques and swords made to traditional methods before 1954)hand or foot-clawspush daggershollow kubotan - cylinder-shaped keychain holding spikesshuriken (also known as ‘death stars’ or ‘throwing stars’)kusari-gama - sickle attached to a rope, cord or wirekyoketsu-shoge - hook-knife attached to a rope, cord or wirekusari - weight attached to a rope, cord or wire‘zombie’ knives - have a cutting edge, a serrated edge and images or words suggesting it is used for violenceThis is not a complete list of banned knives. Contact your local police to check if a knife is illegal.Last updated: 18 August 2016

Does a pocket knife count as a weapon, if pulled over by a cop and asked if you have any weapons on you?

It's somewhat a delicate situation.The major consideration would be if your 'pocket knife' really is a weapon as defined by law, or would look like a weapon to a reasonable person.The little keychain Swiss Army knife or a facsimile thereof that gives you like a 1" blade along with some tiny scissors and a little file probably won't cause you too many problems. A Leatherman tool probably won’t cause you too much trouble, either. You might answer by asking if either of those 'counts' when you're asked if you're carrying any weapons, should that be what you have. Personally, I do not leave home without a Leatherman Sidekick and carry it without any problems in many places where weapons are generally prohibited.The dangerous ground is where you have what is generally known as a 'tactical folder' or similar, especially if it has a somewhat aggressive look to it. Black in color or some type of camouflage pattern, a thumb stud or possibly a blade cutout, partially serrated blade, and other such features just make it look like it's meant to inflict harm. You wouldn't want to carry it clipped to your belt or pocket entering a school or a courthouse!In most places, what is legally a weapon is defined by law. For a pocket knife, the major consideration will be blade length. In my state, 5" is the 'magic number', but I think 4" is probably a safer rule to follow around the country. If it's a switchblade or any type of 'automatic' knife, then it is absolutely a weapon and probably illegal to carry without a permit, regardless of blade length. If you have a sheath knife, a fillet knife, a dagger (double edged, meant primarily for stabbing rather than cutting) or anything else like that, you best just say, "Yes, sir." You're only going to make it worse saying or doing anything else! With the popular tactical folder with a 3"-4" blade, just tell him that you have a pocket knife in your pocket as you would with any other common jackknife. He'll give you any instructions he needs you to follow at that point.Outside of a traffic stop, the primary difference in your situation would be if you are in or about to enter a ‘sensitive’ area where anything that can be used as any sort of weapon will be prohibited. Courtrooms, jails, and Social Security offices would be typical examples. In this case, even the keychain Swiss army knife won’t be allowed. Usually there will be signs posted advising the public of this prohibition.

Do/did you ever carry a "weapon" in school?

During my time in highschool I almost always had a weapon of some sort within reach. I went to a small school and there was never much trouble. I like to be prepared and a knife is useful for more than just defense.It was never a big deal. No one ever screamed in terror that they were going to be killed, it was common. Flipping open a knife barely got a second glance.It was about the same reaction to the rifle in my truck. This was also common. No one ever ran screaming in terror of being shot. The rifle was exemplary in it's behavior and never once did it hop down and harm a single person in all those years. A lot of us carried guns and no one ever got shot. A few road signs but never people. In the South, we generally teach our children to respect life and guns and the proper combinations of the two. Many 4 year olds are able to properly use a rifle.In this day and age, I would be tarred and feathered, labeled, sent to prison, then kicked when I got out just for saying the word “gun”. It's ridiculous, simple-minded crap. People place blame for failing in raising their children to not be fearful, ignorant, little beta wusses with loud mouths, big ideas and no hope.Should kids be allowed to take firearms to school? No, I'm not claiming that, although in some cases there's nothing wrong with it. I'm only showing how the world changes in a couple of short decades. I once got a couple of days of In-School Suspension for a knife, a straight-razor, and a can of Skoal. I got out a day early for Christmas.These days I still carry. You'll often find me sitting in class with my 9mm holstered and concealed, listening to a PhD give a lecture on some garbage that'll probably never be useful, right in the middle of that 'gun-free zone' that I invalidate by my very presence. Yep, it's that damn easy. And I'm not the only one.The difference is that if someone shoots up my campus I won't be cowering under a desk wondering when I'm going to die. No, either I or that person is going to be meeting God really soon and a lot of others probably won't be. That's why I carry at school, to uphold the oath I took to serve the People of the United States and the Constitution, and death and idiotic policies are secondary to that.

Is it worth it to have a pocket knife living in a city?

I’d guess from your question that you could get by without one. That’s fine.My job incorporates a lot of blue collar elements and having a multi tool on my person saves me a lot of time. A tactical folder or a Bowie knife or something would be mostly useless in my day to day. I suspect most people just have those because they think they’re cool. That’s fine too.I carry my multitool on my belt even when I’m off work, though. Why? Because I’m used to solving problems with it and I take pride in solving those problems. At the least, it’s nice to have the scissors to keep my nails short.It’s a philosophical argument, but I think it’s important to see a broken drawer, or a sticking screen door, or a kid with a splinter and think- “I can handle this!” as opposed to “Who did this?” or “Awww, Man!”. I think this because I think adults should be minimally competent. If you need help to change your windshield wiper fluid, much less a tire, then you’re profoundly helpless in a big swath of life. I don’t like that and I don’t want to be that. A multitool is a totem of that idea- a totem that also let’s you adjust a stuck screen door.Experience has taught me that good tools unlock potential. Having the right tool and a bit of creativity can really simplify the road to “I can handle this.” I find that very satisfying.Do you need a pocket knife? Ha! You and I both live well above our needs, Friend! If we’re lucky, it’ll stay that way. We won’t be relying on our knife to get dinner anytime soon.But I think it is worth having one.Oh, and the Leatherman Wave lets you fix your sunglasses! I know, right!