United Kingdom · checked 2026-10-26 · Medium confidence

Knife carry law in Scotland

Scotland has its own law: s49 Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995. Carrying a blade or point in public is an offence unless you show a reasonable excuse or lawful authority. Non-locking folding pocketknives with an edge up to 3 inches are excluded. Locking folders, fixed blades and larger knives need an excuse. Flick, gravity and butterfly knives are banned.

This summary rests on mostly official, partly secondary sources. Open questions are listed at the end. Treat anything marked unclear as a reason to leave the item at home.

How we apply the law

Rules are checked from the top. The first one that fits decides. Every verdict on this site comes from this list, not from hand typed cells.

1ProhibitedAny knife or tool, gravity or flick opening
Gravity/inertia knives and butterfly (balisong) knives are banned in Scotland: sale, import and possession (public or at home) are offences, with narrow museum-type defences.
Source
2ProhibitedAny knife or tool, automatic
Flick/automatic knives are banned: the 1959 Act covers blades opening automatically by a button, spring or other device in or attached to the knife. Possession has been an offence in Scotland since 27 March 2023.
Source
3UnclearAny knife or tool, spring assisted
Spring-assisted knives: UK Home Office guidance (written for England & Wales) says manually opened knives and partly-opening ones are not flick knives, but a spring that drives the blade fully open may be caught. No Scottish authority found.
Source
4No restriction foundA folding knife, no lock, cutting edge up to 76.2 mm
A non-locking folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches (7.62 cm) or less is excluded from s49. No specific restriction found for carrying it in public on foot; school and prison rules still apply, and any knife can still be an offensive weapon under s47 if intended for injury.
Source
5Reason neededA folding knife, no lock
A non-locking folder with an edge over 3 inches falls within s49. You must show a reasonable excuse or lawful authority.
Source
6UnclearA folding knife, ring lock or other lock
Ring locks (Opinel Virobloc) and unusual locks: no authority found. Crime.Scot says a working lock takes a knife out of the exemption but a broken/disabled lock may allow it back in if small enough; We did not read McAuley itself. Treat as needing an excuse.
Source
7Reason neededA folding knife, liner lock, frame lock, back lock, axis lock, compression lock or button lock
Per McAuley v Mulholland 2003 SCCR 326 (as summarised by Crime.Scot), a functional locking mechanism takes the knife out of the folding-pocketknife exclusion at any size. You need a reasonable excuse.
Source
8No restriction foundA multitool, no lock, cutting edge up to 76.2 mm
A multitool whose blade cannot lock and whose cutting edge is 3 inches or less fits the s49(3) wording (Swiss Army-type). No Scottish case on multitools found.
Source
9Reason neededA multitool
A multitool with a locking blade, or a blade edge over 3 inches, is within s49. You need a reasonable excuse, e.g. use at work.
Source
10Reason neededA fixed blade
Fixed blades are never within the folding-pocketknife exclusion. You must show a reasonable excuse or lawful authority (work, religion, national costume are listed defences).
Source
11UnclearA keychain tool or scissors only
s49 covers any article with a blade or point (Crime.Scot says even scissors); only folding pocketknives are excluded. Whether a keyring blade or small scissors qualify is untested in sources read; keyring knives disguised as a key are banned.
Source
12UnclearAnything else
Combination not covered above. Assume a reasonable excuse is needed.
Source

34 popular knives and tools, checked here

Specifications come from the makers. Where a maker does not publish the cutting edge length, a length rule can only be answered if even the full blade length falls on one side of the line. Otherwise the result is unclear, on purpose.

Product	Specs	Result
Victorinox Cadet (Alox)	blade 64 mm (2.52 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A non-locking folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches (7.62 cm) or less is excluded from s49. No specific restriction found for carrying it in public on foot; school and prison rules still apply, and any knife can still be an offensive weapon under s47 if intended for injury.
Victorinox Classic SD	blade 40 mm (1.57 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A non-locking folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches (7.62 cm) or less is excluded from s49. No specific restriction found for carrying it in public on foot; school and prison rules still apply, and any knife can still be an offensive weapon under s47 if intended for injury.
Victorinox Climber	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A non-locking folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches (7.62 cm) or less is excluded from s49. No specific restriction found for carrying it in public on foot; school and prison rules still apply, and any knife can still be an offensive weapon under s47 if intended for injury.
Nagao Kanekoma Higonokami SK (Niwaki-sold Kanekoma)	blade 71 mm (2.80 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A non-locking folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches (7.62 cm) or less is excluded from s49. No specific restriction found for carrying it in public on foot; school and prison rules still apply, and any knife can still be an offensive weapon under s47 if intended for injury.
Victorinox Huntsman	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A non-locking folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches (7.62 cm) or less is excluded from s49. No specific restriction found for carrying it in public on foot; school and prison rules still apply, and any knife can still be an offensive weapon under s47 if intended for injury.
W.R. Case & Sons Mini Trapper	blade 69.9 mm (2.75 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A non-locking folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches (7.62 cm) or less is excluded from s49. No specific restriction found for carrying it in public on foot; school and prison rules still apply, and any knife can still be an offensive weapon under s47 if intended for injury.
Spyderco Roadie	44 mm cutting edge (1.73 in)	No restriction found Why A non-locking folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches (7.62 cm) or less is excluded from s49. No specific restriction found for carrying it in public on foot; school and prison rules still apply, and any knife can still be an offensive weapon under s47 if intended for injury.
Victorinox Spartan	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A non-locking folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches (7.62 cm) or less is excluded from s49. No specific restriction found for carrying it in public on foot; school and prison rules still apply, and any knife can still be an offensive weapon under s47 if intended for injury.
Spyderco Squeak	44 mm cutting edge (1.73 in)	No restriction found Why A non-locking folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches (7.62 cm) or less is excluded from s49. No specific restriction found for carrying it in public on foot; school and prison rules still apply, and any knife can still be an offensive weapon under s47 if intended for injury.
W.R. Case & Sons Trapper	76.2 mm cutting edge (3.00 in)	No restriction found Why A non-locking folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches (7.62 cm) or less is excluded from s49. No specific restriction found for carrying it in public on foot; school and prison rules still apply, and any knife can still be an offensive weapon under s47 if intended for injury.
Gerber Dime	blade 38.1 mm (1.50 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why s49 covers any article with a blade or point (Crime.Scot says even scissors); only folding pocketknives are excluded. Whether a keyring blade or small scissors qualify is untested in sources read; keyring knives disguised as a key are banned.
Kershaw Leek	blade 76.2 mm (3.00 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why Spring-assisted knives: UK Home Office guidance (written for England & Wales) says manually opened knives and partly-opening ones are not flick knives, but a spring that drives the blade fully open may be caught. No Scottish authority found.
Leatherman Micra	blade 40.6 mm (1.60 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why s49 covers any article with a blade or point (Crime.Scot says even scissors); only folding pocketknives are excluded. Whether a keyring blade or small scissors qualify is untested in sources read; keyring knives disguised as a key are banned.
Opinel No.07 Stainless Steel	blade 80 mm (3.15 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why Ring locks (Opinel Virobloc) and unusual locks: no authority found. Crime.Scot says a working lock takes a knife out of the exemption but a broken/disabled lock may allow it back in if small enough; We did not read McAuley itself. Treat as needing an excuse.
Opinel No.08 Stainless Steel	blade 85 mm (3.35 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why Ring locks (Opinel Virobloc) and unusual locks: no authority found. Crime.Scot says a working lock takes a knife out of the exemption but a broken/disabled lock may allow it back in if small enough; We did not read McAuley itself. Treat as needing an excuse.
CRKT Squid Assisted	blade 60.2 mm (2.37 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why Spring-assisted knives: UK Home Office guidance (written for England & Wales) says manually opened knives and partly-opening ones are not flick knives, but a spring that drives the blade fully open may be caught. No Scottish authority found.
Leatherman Squirt PS4	blade 40.6 mm (1.60 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why s49 covers any article with a blade or point (Crime.Scot says even scissors); only folding pocketknives are excluded. Whether a keyring blade or small scissors qualify is untested in sources read; keyring knives disguised as a key are banned.
Victorinox Swiss Card Classic	blade length not published	Unclear Why s49 covers any article with a blade or point (Crime.Scot says even scissors); only folding pocketknives are excluded. Whether a keyring blade or small scissors qualify is untested in sources read; keyring knives disguised as a key are banned.
Buck 110 Folding Hunter	blade 95.3 mm (3.75 in); cutting edge not published	Reason needed Why Per McAuley v Mulholland 2003 SCCR 326 (as summarised by Crime.Scot), a functional locking mechanism takes the knife out of the folding-pocketknife exclusion at any size. You need a reasonable excuse.
Leatherman Arc	blade 70.1 mm (2.76 in); cutting edge not published	Reason needed Why A multitool with a locking blade, or a blade edge over 3 inches, is within s49. You need a reasonable excuse, e.g. use at work.
Benchmade Bugout	blade 82.3 mm (3.24 in); cutting edge not published	Reason needed Why Per McAuley v Mulholland 2003 SCCR 326 (as summarised by Crime.Scot), a functional locking mechanism takes the knife out of the folding-pocketknife exclusion at any size. You need a reasonable excuse.
Morakniv Companion (stainless, Hi-Vis Orange shown)	blade 104 mm (4.09 in); cutting edge not published	Reason needed Why Fixed blades are never within the folding-pocketknife exclusion. You must show a reasonable excuse or lawful authority (work, religion, national costume are listed defences).
Spyderco Delica 4 (Lightweight)	65 mm cutting edge (2.56 in)	Reason needed Why Per McAuley v Mulholland 2003 SCCR 326 (as summarised by Crime.Scot), a functional locking mechanism takes the knife out of the folding-pocketknife exclusion at any size. You need a reasonable excuse.
CIVIVI Elementum	blade 75.2 mm (2.96 in); cutting edge not published	Reason needed Why Per McAuley v Mulholland 2003 SCCR 326 (as summarised by Crime.Scot), a functional locking mechanism takes the knife out of the folding-pocketknife exclusion at any size. You need a reasonable excuse.
ESEE Izula-II	blade 66.8 mm (2.63 in); cutting edge not published	Reason needed Why Fixed blades are never within the folding-pocketknife exclusion. You must show a reasonable excuse or lawful authority (work, religion, national costume are listed defences).
Spyderco Ladybug 3	43 mm cutting edge (1.69 in)	Reason needed Why Per McAuley v Mulholland 2003 SCCR 326 (as summarised by Crime.Scot), a functional locking mechanism takes the knife out of the folding-pocketknife exclusion at any size. You need a reasonable excuse.
Benchmade Mini Bugout	blade 71.6 mm (2.82 in); cutting edge not published	Reason needed Why Per McAuley v Mulholland 2003 SCCR 326 (as summarised by Crime.Scot), a functional locking mechanism takes the knife out of the folding-pocketknife exclusion at any size. You need a reasonable excuse.
Spyderco Para 3	67 mm cutting edge (2.64 in)	Reason needed Why Per McAuley v Mulholland 2003 SCCR 326 (as summarised by Crime.Scot), a functional locking mechanism takes the knife out of the folding-pocketknife exclusion at any size. You need a reasonable excuse.
Gerber Paraframe I (stainless, plain edge)	blade 76.5 mm (3.01 in); cutting edge not published	Reason needed Why Per McAuley v Mulholland 2003 SCCR 326 (as summarised by Crime.Scot), a functional locking mechanism takes the knife out of the folding-pocketknife exclusion at any size. You need a reasonable excuse.
Ontario Knife Company RAT Model 1 (RAT I)	blade 88.9 mm (3.50 in); cutting edge not published	Reason needed Why Per McAuley v Mulholland 2003 SCCR 326 (as summarised by Crime.Scot), a functional locking mechanism takes the knife out of the folding-pocketknife exclusion at any size. You need a reasonable excuse.
Leatherman Skeletool CX	blade 66 mm (2.60 in); cutting edge not published	Reason needed Why A multitool with a locking blade, or a blade edge over 3 inches, is within s49. You need a reasonable excuse, e.g. use at work.
CRKT Squid (Thumbstud)	blade 54.76 mm (2.16 in); cutting edge not published	Reason needed Why Per McAuley v Mulholland 2003 SCCR 326 (as summarised by Crime.Scot), a functional locking mechanism takes the knife out of the folding-pocketknife exclusion at any size. You need a reasonable excuse.
Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X	blade length not published	Reason needed Why A multitool with a locking blade, or a blade edge over 3 inches, is within s49. You need a reasonable excuse, e.g. use at work.
Leatherman Wave Plus	blade 74.2 mm (2.92 in); cutting edge not published	Reason needed Why A multitool with a locking blade, or a blade edge over 3 inches, is within s49. You need a reasonable excuse, e.g. use at work.

What the verdict does not cover

Public transport and restricted zones: 'Public place' means any place other than domestic premises (a private dwelling and its garden/garage), school premises or prisons, so shared stairs of flats count (s47(4)). Normand v Donnelly [1994]: carried through a public area to a private one still counts (Crime.Scot). Airports: UK hand-luggage rule bans knives with sharp/pointed blades or blades over 6 cm in hand luggage (gov.uk).
Schools, workplaces and events: s49A: offence to have a s49 article or offensive weapon on school premises (defences: reasonable excuse/lawful authority, work, educational purposes, religion, national costume; the carrier must show them). s49C: offence to have an offensive weapon or any blade/point in a prison, no 3-inch exemption. Police may enter schools to search (s49B). We did not check colleges/universities.
In a vehicle: 'Has with him' means readily available, not necessarily on your person: Smith v Vannet [1998 SCCR 410] upheld a conviction for a knife under a car floor mat while the accused stood 6 feet away (per Crime.Scot, secondary). Knowledge goes to the defence stage (Hill v HMA 2014), per Crime.Scot.
Age limits: Selling or letting on hire a knife to under-18s is an offence (s141A), but a Scottish rule lets sellers supply cutlery and kitchen knives to 16-17-year-olds (gov.uk). Folding knives of 3 inches or less are exempt from the sale restriction (Exemption Order 1996, UK-wide). No separate minimum age to carry found.
Buying and importing: Online sales to Scotland: since 1 Jan 2021 s141C sets minimum seller conditions (age-check system, parcel marked for 18+ delivery, no lockers). OWA 2019 s38 (delivery of bladed products to residential premises or lockers is an offence unless a defence applies) has been in force in Scotland since 28 Jun 2022. Banned weapons cannot be imported (gov.uk). Ordinary knife imports: see England & Wales note.
Penalties: s49: up to 12 months and/or a fine up to the statutory maximum on summary conviction; up to 5 years and/or fine on indictment. s47 (offensive weapons) similar (6 months summary, 5 years indictment).
Recent changes: 13 Dec 2010: defence changed to 'reasonable excuse' and burden wording to 'show'. 23 Jun 2022: zombie knives added to Scottish prohibited list (SSI 2022/218). 28 Jun 2022: cyclone/spiral knives added; OWA 2019 delivery rules in force. 27 Mar 2023: possession of flick/gravity knives and listed weapons banned in private (SSI 2023/72). 29 Apr 2026: Crime and Policing Act 2026 passed.
Pending changes: Crime and Policing Act 2026, Scottish parts not yet in force on the sources checked: higher maxima (s29), photo-ID online-sale rules (s33, commencement by Scottish Ministers) and delivery changes (s35), bulk-sale reporting (s42). England & Wales 'zombie-style knife' (2024) and ninja sword (2025) bans are England & Wales orders; We found no Scottish equivalent.

Reasons the authorities have accepted

Use at work (e.g. tradesperson or chef transporting or using a knife)
Religious reasons (kirpan)
National costume (sgian-dubh)
Frame v Kennedy [2008] HCJAC 25 accepted fancy-dress purpose as a reasonable excuse for batons (Crime.Scot summary): courts look at the circumstances

Sources

Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 s49
“This section does not apply to a folding pocketknife if the cutting edge of its blade does not exceed three inches (7.62 centimetres).”
1995 Act s49A (school premises) and s49C (prisons)
“Any person who has an article to which section 49 of this Act applies with him on school premises shall be guilty of an offence.”
1995 Act s47 (offensive weapons; definition of public place)
““public place” means any place other than— (a) domestic premises, (b) school premises”
Crime.Scot: s49 explainer (McAuley v Mulholland on locks)
“knives that have a functional locking mechanism do not count as folding pocketknives regardless of size”
Scottish Government: prohibited items annex (zombie, flick, gravity knives)
“Section 44 of the 2019 Act amends the 1959 Act further to prohibit the possession of any knife under section 1 of that Act”
GOV.UK: Selling, buying and carrying knives and weapons

What we could not confirm

McAuley v Mulholland was not read directly; the lock rule and the 'broken lock' point come from Crime.Scot (an advocate's website, secondary).
The burden of proof on the balance of probabilities for s49(4) is from Crime.Scot; statute says the accused must 'show'.
Whether ring locks, detent/friction locks or deliberately disabled locks count is not settled in any source read.
No Scottish equivalent of the 2024 zombie-style knife or 2025 ninja sword bans found; not verified either way.
Spring-assisted knives: no Scottish authority.

Keep going

General information, not legal advice. Know something we got wrong? Tell us and include a source.