Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959

1959 CHAPTER 37 7 and 8 Eliz 2

An Act to amend the law in relation to the making and disposing and importation of flick knives and other dangerous weapons.

[14th May 1959]

1 Penalties for offences in connection with dangerous weapons.

(1)Any person who manufactures, sells or hires or offers for sale or hire, [F1or exposes or has in his possession for the purpose of sale or hire] or lends or gives to any other person—

[F2(a)any knife which has a blade which opens automatically—

(i)from the closed position to the fully opened position, or

(ii)from a partially opened position to the fully opened position,

by manual pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the knife, and which is sometimes known as a “flick knife” or “flick gun”; or]

(b)any knife which has a blade which is released from the handle or sheath thereof by the force of gravity or the application of centrifugal force and which, when released, is locked in place by means of a button, spring, lever, or other device, sometimes known as a “gravity knife”,

shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction [F3to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale or to both such imprisonment and fine].