Legality Of Selling Handmade Knives?

[Silverflash]

Hi guys, apologies if this is in another thread or sticky but I haven't found a similar thread.

My question is; what is the the law on selling handmade knives?

I'm getting quite into knife making now, and I have made too many to count , I do it as a hobby but funding it is the problem, it can be rather expensive to buy the materials and tools etc. I want to sell some and make custom knives so I can continue making them and have the funding from selling them. If it's legal to do that with no licensing then that is great! Can't find any information on it though.

[Iron Hoarder]

Completely legal. Do not sell to under 18"s. Taxes are your problem. Enjoy.

[Pious Pigeon]

I can take them off your hands for free if it will give you peace of mind.

[FGYT]

only licencing is if you live or sell in scotland

And as above you commit an offence if you sell to an under 18 regardless of where in the world they live and you haven't tried tried ot confirm their age by a method your local trading std approve/reccomend ( yes for the pedantic you may get let of by a judge in court even if the TS dont accept your proof)

the under 18 doesn't commit a crime as its legal for him to buy and own and use same as any one else just illegal for you to sell
again ages are different in scotland for various things

EDC S139 folders are legal to sell to any age

[Silverflash]

Thank you all for the speedy replies. Firstly, does the tax problem still apply to private sales rather than commercial ones? Also is it negotiable with trade rather than purchase? What about gifting knives too? I want to keep on the good side of the law here, naturally.

[Kiri]

For the Tax issue I would suggest ringing up your local inland revenue office and asking them.

It really depends what your overall income is. Essentially if you are earning anything then you should let the tax man know.

You may well not be taxed on it, if you are under your personal tax limit for the year, but what really pisses them off is if you have streams of income coming in and you don't tell them about it.

I would err on the side of caution and ask.

The rules on gifts and "payment in kind" etc are complicated. Again I would ask.

Even better ask an accountant! As occasionally staff at Inland Revenue have been known to get it wrong!

[Badgie]

There is also the issue of illegal knives like switchblades/flick knives and gravity knives. Some of these are illegal to make, sell, hire out or even give away (though not actually to own). This comes from the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act of 1959 and, as usual, is a knee-jerk reaction to events in the news at the time. Clearly you need to avoid such knives.

[Nice65]

There is also the issue of illegal knives like switchblades/flick knives and gravity knives. Some of these are illegal to make, sell, hire out or even give away (though not actually to own). This comes from the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act of 1959 and, as usual, is a knee-jerk reaction to events in the news at the time. Clearly you need to avoid such knives.

What?

I don't think he's on about whether he can make and sell autos and gravity knives

Kiri is right, you may need to declare income. Keep sales records, receipts, outgoings etc. You certainly don't need any licence to make and sell knives.

[Silverflash]

What?

I don't think he's on about whether he can make and sell autos and gravity knives

No I wasn't asking that As much as I'd like to make an auto I don't think making illegal knives is worth the risk. Most of my work is just wit fixed blade designs. By the sounds of it, I think it will be much easier to make knives and not sell them, it means I'll have to self fund it but it's definitely worth it.

[Saint-Just]

By the sounds of it, I think it will be much easier to make knives and not sell them, it means I'll have to self fund it but it's definitely worth it.

What?

What is so difficult? you have to be prepared to declare any additional income, whether it comes from you making knives or selling horse manure.
And you need to take sufficient precaution to sell to adults.

If that is enough to discourage you from selling you didn't want to sell in the first place.

[paddytray]

then go for it and use this if ever a problem to prove you tried to talk to experts (not me) before you continued to make and sell them . tap on the wrist i recon

[two_zero]

No I wasn't asking that As much as I'd like to make an auto I don't think making illegal knives is worth the risk.

Can always give a go at assisted..

[Torchy]

EDC S139 folders are legal to sell to any age

Is that true? I thought it was all knives

[dannyboy87]

Is that true?

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/...3/section/141A

Doesn't look like it

[two_zero]

Is that true? I thought it was all knives

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/...3/section/141A

Doesn't look like it

"there are no age restrictions to the sale of folding (non-locking) slipjoint knives with a blade of under 3 inches"

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/...36-The-Law-FAQ

Q: How old must I be to buy a knife?
A: It is an offence for anyone to sell a knife to any person under 18 years of age in the UK.

Section 6 of The Offensive Weapons Act 1996, which is an amendment to section 141 of The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (offensive weapons) states that:

141A. - (1) Any person who sells to a person under the age of sixteen years an article to which this section applies shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, this section applies to-

(a) any knife, knife blade or razor blade,
(b) any axe, and
(c) any other article which has a blade or which is sharply pointed and which is made or adapted for use for causing injury to the person.

Section 43 of The violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 has amended the following...
The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 has amended the law to make it an offence to sell a knife to persons under the age of 18.

EXEMPTIONS:
There is an exemption order to the above, The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Exemption) Order 1996 which reads as follows:

This means there are no age restrictions to the sale of folding (non-locking) slipjoint knives with a blade of under 3 inches and the sale of safety razors.