UK Knife Guide - Folding and Fixed Blade Knives

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KNIFE INFORMATION PAGE

BLADE SHAPES
CLIP POINT The spine of a clip-point blade curves concavely or in a straight line right down from its highest point, which creates a sharp tip which is useful as a pick or for cutting in tight places.
DROP POINT A drop point blade features a convex curved drop in the point. This creates a much stronger blade tip.
DROP POINT UTILITY A drop point blade that is ground with a radius leaving a concave shape above the cutting surface.
TANTO A modified format of Japanese original sword. The front edge meets the bottom edge at an obtuse angle. A flat grind is applied to the point, leaving it extremely tough. Much cutting area is sacrificed as the trade off for tip strength.
MODIFIED TANTO A modified tanto blade is superficially similar to its original Japanese version. However, the blade has a more gently curved point and a back edge angled slightly to the point and sharpened for a short distance from the point.
SPEAR POINT A spear point blade is a symmetrically pointed blade with a point that is in line with the center line of the blade's long axis. It can have two sharpened edges, a partly sharpened second edge or a false second edge. Originally used to sharped writing quills which gave it the pen knife name.
SHEEPS FOOT This blade shape has no sharp tip and offers good control from the none sharpened back of the blade. It's a popular design for emergency rescue knives.

BLADE FINISHES
MIRROR POLISH Extremely meticulous and elaborate polishing operation resulting in a flawlessly bright and smooth surface. Free from scratches and blemishes, which helps to prevent rust.
HARDCASED COATING A matte scratch resistant coating with excellent corrosion protection as well as nice decorative qualities.
BLACK TINI FINISH The black titanium nitride coatings are some of the toughest coatings that can be applied to steel. They exhibit extreme hardness and are exceptionally scratch and peel resistant.

BLADE GRINDS
FLAT GROUND (STRAIGHT/WEDGE) A knife's edge that tapers from the cutting edge all the way to the blade's spine that is ground completely flat without a radius.
HOLLOW GROUND An edge that is ground with a radius leaving a concave shape above the cutting surface. Found on most cut throat razors.

LOCKING MECHANISMS
LINER LOCK A modern design for easy one handed opening and closing. A leaf spring type liner within the groove of the handle that snaps into position under the blade when it is deployed. The lock is released by pushing the liner to the side to allow the blade to return to its groove set into the handle.
FRAMELOCK OR MONOLOCK A weight conscious update to the liner lock, which works in a manner similar to the but utilises a partial cutout of the actual knife handle, rather than a separate liner inside the handle to hold the blade in place.
AXIS LOCK An ambidextrous design, plus outstanding locking performance.
BACK LOCK A classic locking system that includes a pivoted latch affixed to a spring, and can be disengaged only by pressing the latch down to release the blade. A secure locking design with two hands required to lease the lock.
DOUBLE-CHECK LOCK A modified locking mechanism, to provide extra locking security. To release the blade, you pull the toggle back and simultaneously remove the locking liner off the pivot. Ambidextrous function and can be easily accomplished one handed.

HANDLE MATERIALS
STAINLESS STEEL Highly durable and easy to clean, top rust resistance but harder to sharpen.
MICARTA A composite of linen or paper fabric in an epoxy resin. It is incredibly lightweight, durable and visually appealing. It can be bead blasted or polished, changing its appearance.
PAKKAWOOD A waterproof plywood product, usually constructed from birch. Superbly tough and durable due to the high pressure treatment.
ALUMINUM The most common material for folding knife handles. It provides a solid handle with minimum weight added. Normal colour anodized to spec.
G10 A modern handle material made of epoxy filled with woven glass fiber that is impervious to changes in temperature. Usually black but can be other colours.
ANODIZATION Subjecting aluminum to electrolytic action which coats the aluminum with a protective / decorative film.

CARE TIPS
Regardless of the cost of your knife proper care is essential to maintain optimum performance from reducing wear from use, temperature, light, moisture and oxidants. Regular maintenance is required for performance and safety. Dull knife blades are not only less efficient they are also potentially more dangerous for use than sharp ones. On folding knives make sure the locking chamber is free of dirt and debris that would compromise the safety mechanism. High carbon content helps blades to hold sharpness for quite a long time. However, this additive can cause rust, especially when blades are exposed to a humid or marine environment.
So preventive care is required. The whole cleaning process can be started with warm water to remove debris and then air dried thoroughly. On locking knives it is advisable to occasionally clean the locking chamber with a blast of compressed air and lubricant the mechanism. Lubricate the components of your knife periodically. Use regular 3 in 1 oil is fine or a fine grade, semi-chrome polish can be used to wipe down the blade and simultaneously adds an invisible coating for added corrosion protection without leaving any oily film which may attract dirt and debris. Knives should not be stored long term in leather sheaths as these can hold moisture.
Fixed and folding blades are exclusively designed for cutting. Any attempt of using them in place of a screwdriver, pry-bar, chisel, punch or throwing gadget is regarded as abuse of a knife. Knife blades should never be sharpened on a power grinding machine, as it would compromise the temper of our blades and ruin the cutting edge. We offer a wide range of top brand knife sharpeners.

UNITED KINGDOM BANNED KNIVES

It is an offence for any person, without lawful authority or good reason, to have with him in a public place, any article which has a blade or is sharply pointed [CJA 1988 section 139(1)]

Balisong	Butterfly knives
Belt-Buckle Knife	Any buckle that conceals a knife blade
Disguised Knife	Pen, lipstick or other common items
Full-Auto Knife	Flick knives
Gravity Knife	The blade is released by the force of gravity
Push Dagger	Held in a clenched fist with blade protruding between two fingers
Stealth Knife	Undetectable by a metal detector
Sword Cane	A walking-stick or cane concealing a sword blade

We only sell to customers that are 18 or over.

CARRYING KNIVES
The British Association for Shooting and Conservation Ltd,
Marford Mill, Rossett, Wrexham LL12 0HL
Tel: 01244 573000 Fax: 01244 573013

The use and carrying of Knives (Criminal Justice Act 1988 & Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006)

It is now ILLEGAL to have any sharply pointed or bladed instrument in your possession, in a public place without good reason or lawful authority.

A public place is anywhere that the public has, or is permitted to have access to, even if they must pay to do so.

This not only covers areas such as roads and highways, shops, and pubs but also less obvious areas.

This is important to realise for those working or spending leisure time in the countryside, as public footpaths or other rights of way come under the definition of a public place.

Estate land where the public may have access is also a public place even if it is privately owned.

Your car or other vehicle is also classed as a public place whilst on the highway, and the police now have search and seize powers without warrant with respect to knives.

Good reason for carrying a knife may be shown by occupation as a farmer, estate manager, recreational stalker, game shooter, angler or anyone else who has reasonable grounds for expecting to need a knife whilst pursuing a lawful activity.

Leaving a knife in the car, or in your pocket for when you next go shooting, or forgetting that it is there, is NOT a defence.

Carrying a knife in public must be in connection with the activity for which it is needed; going into a shop with a knife in your pocket if you are returning from or going to a place where you farm, fish or shoot etc. would constitute good reason.

There is an exemption in law for folding pocket knives.

These must have cutting edges of less than three inches and blades which do not lock.

However when pocket knives of this type are carried for example in a nightclub, at a school or to a football match they are likely to be viewed as offensive weapons even though the actual knife isn’t an offensive weapon in itself.

There is a further exemption for the carrying of knives as part of either a national costume (such as the Scottish Skean Dhu) or as part of a religious obligation (the Sikh Kirpan).

Offences under Section 139 are triable in both Magistrates’ and the Crown Court.

Penalties on conviction in the Magistrates’ Court are a maximum of six months imprisonment, a maximum fine of £5,000 or both.

In the Crown Court, penalties are a maximum of two years imprisonment, a maximum fine of £5,000 or both.

ANT SUPPLIES LTD

KNIFE INFORMATION PAGE

ROUGH GUIDES;

We only sell to customers that are 18 or over.