Carrying A Knife

[Elton]

Posted on behalf of Nick. Please add all replies to this thread:

 

As an angler, i've always carried various knives for the everday jobs that you need to do whilst fishing. I have a 4" victorinox, with lockblade for safety, which i use for preparing bait, cutting line and other tasks. My question is, can coarse fishing be used as a reasonable defence under the various acts which cover knife possession in a public place. Could it be argued that, because a smaller knife would be in theory sufficient to complete the same tasks, then carrying such a blade is an offence.

Thanks in advance, cheers, Nick.

[VSTOL Lures]

As we like to use the buzz word in the military it all comes down to 'reasonable force'.

 

In a court of law it would be up to the judge/jury to decide if you had acted within the boundaries of reasonable force i.e. was the use of the knife against your assailant justified and in proportion to the level of force levelled at you.

 

As an example, if he came over and pushed you and you stabbed him - obviously not

 

If he attack you with a weapon (knife, stick, club whatever) - you stab him this could be construed as reasonable force.

 

That fact that you are fishing means that you have a valid reason for carrying the knife (unless its a bayonet, bowie knife etc) much the same as a sparky who defended himself with a screwdriver. Obviously if you are carrying around a 6 inch filleting knife round your local stillwater then you might find it difficult to explain, but I cannot see a problem in a 4 inch victorinox being held by your everyday coarse or sea angler.

[Team Man]

I have that same knife in my tackle box and often ponder over that same question

[chesters1]

i think "carrying " is the relevant part ,if you parade round with your gear with a knife strapped to your waist then i expect you'l be looked harder at than if you have one in your tackle box out of harms way ,once on the bank its just a bit of fishing gear

Edited April 29, 2007 by chesters1

[Team Man]

If it comes to it, is a priest an offensive weapon

[Mark Crame]

If it comes to it, is a priest an offensive weapon

 

It was during the inquisition.

[Team Man]

It was during the inquisition.

 

 

 

[five bellies]

If it comes to it, is a priest an offensive weapon

 

 

The monster in the Exorcist seemed to think so

 

I keep a Green River knife in my Tackle bag For Coarse and fly fishing It is sheathed when not being used and shares the sheath with a steel for sharpening. The blade length would defenatly Rise an Eye brow about 5 1/2 inches but it is my tool of choice, Out door poeple tend to carry a knife I have since I was old enough to be trusted not hurt my self with it,My Dad alowed me to have a Pocket knife at the age of about 9. I have carried one all through my Teens and on more than one occasion Ive had seven shades beaten out of me but it never enterd my head to draw it as a weapon ,thats not the way I was raised. Im in my Fourties now and work in the city but still carry a pocket knife, My justification Its usefull! ! and thats that.

 

I supose I will come unstuck one day

 

I would say worry about it when It becomes a Issue, It would have to be one Sad Bored stiff Copper to nick a Angler for possetion of a knife Espeacialy if you have got all your Tackle with you as well.

 

Good luck fella

 

Bye the way any one know the way back to the sea Forum Im lost

[jason.p]

Being a farmer and a builder, I have always carried a penknife in my pocket. In fact I would feel positively "undressed" without one :( . I think this is one of those areas where common sense should apply, and carrying a pocket knife for fishing would seem to me to be common sense.

[ayjay]

Knife law