The UK Legal EDC Flipper Knife! Hoo Knives V3

You want a Flipper knife that you can carry every day in the UK perfectly legally? Look no further than the V3 from Hoo Knives! This sub 3" blade beauty has all the looks of a locking flipper but it is a double detent mechanism. Normally you might be concerned that a double detent will be to weak for functional use and that the blade may close on you. Thanks to a brilliant design the V3 blade will not close on your fingers and is perfectly functional for all your EDC tasks. The fit and function are superb and the quality of materials will have the most avid knife guys drooling...
hooknives.com/
Update: I just spoke with Carl at Hoo Knives. A couple of people had asked where these are made. They are designed in the UK and made in China. The quality is off the scale as is Carls QC.
In the video I said Manufactured by UK company. Apologies as I should have said designed!

[@samfletcher93]

Thats a gorgeous peice of craftsmnaship. Only just discovered this brand about 20 minutes ago and im already looking to purchase one. Brilliant materials, clear passion in their craft, UK made and UK legal.

[@pzajkoh1487]

Awesome, I got the blackout version last Tuesday. This is the first flipper knife that I can carry that is UK legal. Glad you have one. Same as I was aware but got one just now.

[@sailingneil]

Beautiful wee EDC knife, i am not sure it would ever be on my pocket when you can fidget with it so easily.

[@markpitt4521]

Received one of these from Carl (#77) and it's a fantastic pocket knife and very useful tool to have on your person. Excellent build quality with premium materials. Been keeping a close eye on the debates over the legality of a flipper style knife and expressed my concerns with Carl... He actually pointed me towards your previous video :)

[@DeusNyx]

Damn.....I was eyeing this up mere moments ago! The universe is telling me something!🤣

[@thatgearguy]

Its definitely telling you to buy one!! I absolutely love this thing!!

[@motaman8074]

I am the universe and I say get it!

[@SkunkPunch73]

@@motaman8074Oi in that case where’s my bloody lighter gone again? 🫵😘👍

[@lovebitcoin813]

Great review of this knife 👍100% the best edc knife there is soon i will get one for myself and some more for family members as a christmas present my Dad works on offshore oil rigs i think he will love it and use it a lot 🙂

[@murph8411]

I doubt he will be allowed to take it offshore with him unless he breaks regulations. Most companies don’t allow knives unless you’re a chef or a diver or the like and even then they wouldn’t allow folding knives and certainly not ones that don’t lock. I don’t think they even allow people who are likely to be cutting ropes when tieing in or removing goods from containers now and they often only supply safety knives where the blade is mostly covered apart from a slot to slide the rope etc in.

[@jimbarbwe1985]

HOO knives are beautiful, amazingly finished, probably the best looking and feeling Stonewashed Ti, very high-quality and are cheap for what you get. I have V1 V2 & as of last week the V3 also. Carl is a top man and has done what most can only dream of and he is putting the effort in for us in the UK to have a beautiful legal EDC. I collect knives so I have access to a fair few but I find myself with a HOO on my hip as an EDC more often than not. I can't recommend Carl and HOO knives enough and I think any who is on the look out for a EDC should be looking at HOO, I believe that they are also going to be at the Sharp Show UK if anyone wanted to see how cracking they are in the flesh.

[@jamesalexander4405]

Completely agree, I have 2 V1s and a V2, they are quality products and I'll buy a V4 if he does one!

[@willwilson2502]

Definitely my favourite out of all 3 versions 👍🤙👊

[@SkunkPunch73]

Outstanding stuff I’m so glad I found your channel and subscribed, you really are doing some excellent quality content in both the field of our stupid laws and the actual stuff that is out there for us to be able to get hold of. I have been into knives for a good while but never heard of this companies product before. I’m not one for all the instagram and such like so I do miss out on a lot. Have a cracking day my friend and more importantly stay safe and healthy brother 🫵😘👍

[@thatgearguy]

Thanks Skunk and you bud!

[@19331936]

I'm glad to see another UK maker I used to keep it Sheffield Only but that has now dwindled to near zero sadly.

[@Toadonthehill.]

Thanks for the review, I’ve often looked at Hoo Knives but found them a bit out of my budget however I will save up some pound notes and have another look at them. Thanks again for the information about the knife law changes, I’ve been talking about them on my channel for a while but don’t have anything like the subs you have and only a few of my Subs are from the UK. I did contact my MP but it fell on deaf ears and was reminded of the high UK knife crime. Stay Safe and Sharp my friend 😎🐸🇬🇧.

[@thatgearguy]

Thx toad, much appreciated!

[@Doobster67]

The UK knife law is absolutely non justifiable and unfair! As a bush crafter and a forager i use knives a lot and find it very handy to have a fixed blade with me as much as possible, but because of a few violent little chavs in the cities we ALL have to have our RIGHTS restricted!!!!! The BS that comes out of the Home Office makes no sense to people living in the countryside. There might be no need for some desk monkey to be carrying a lock knife to the office but people living in the countryside face many different tasks during the day and having a lock knife would be a very reasonable tool to have, sadly the little sleazy warped members of parliament don't agree!!! I wonder how many injuries have occurred due to people having to use a non locking blade that has closed on their fingers whilst using it! If that happened to me I would seriously look at suing the government!

[@TomDingleby]

"because of a few violent little chavs in the cities we ALL have to have our RIGHTS restricted" Nope. Because of politicians and overzealous police rights are restricted.

[@MoorlanderEDC]

Great content buddy. The flick knife/auto knife is crazy that these knives are being lumped together with then. The extended tang on a flipper isn't a mechanism even close to the button that releases a spring to propel the blade forward or out. It's the UK government trying to make laws that aren't stopping knife crime. Love these knives. Carl's an awesome fella. I have the Hoo v1 and v2

[@farleysmoke5130]

Just been on the website. I can afford the clip 😂 rest of the knife I’ll have to ask santa 🎅🏼 for. Great review thanks 😊

[@andyjones5824]

Hell fire!!!! I was thinking about looking further into this knife until I saw your comment..... I looked too.... I think even Santa would tell me to get lost!😂. That said, it does look a lovely knife

[@MichaelB2L]

I really like the handle design. Minimal ergonomic design which would make it more comfortable for more people and in a variety of grips (if that makes sense haha) Super deep pocket clip!! 👏 Clearly designed by a thinking Brit. I haven’t handled one and I’m bit dubious when it comes to detents, I’d much prefer a slip joint with a back spring, just personal preference. Looks great and well thought out for the UK.

[@donkeykong7777]

There has been talk recently regarding "flippers' being classed as assisted opening knives. the theory being that a thumb stud or hole has to be pushed until the blade is open, however when you press the flipper your finger loses contact with the blade yet the blade continues to the open position without it being touched, hence the assisted opening. Black Belt Barrister made a very interesting video on this subject a couple of months ago. We all know the laws are a complete farce and it will be a shame if flippers go the way of flick or gravity knives.

[@Rabixter]

I was thinking the same thing. My counter argument to that theory would be that when you press the flipper, depending on the force you apply, the blade may or may not open fully. The gov website disallows knives "...where the blade opens automatically or is released from the handle, either by gravity or by pressing a button or something else on the knife." So the fact that pressing the flipper with insufficient force will not always open the blade fully, should disqualify it from the definition of "automatic". Having said that, they could also argue the definition of "automatic". One of the oxford dictionary definitions for automatic states "a device or process working by itself with little or no direct human control." The key terms being "little or no". How much is "little"? I don't know. That can also be argued as well. I don't know what the legally acceptable definition of automatic would be. It's such an annoying grey area. Makes me wonder if its worth buying any flipper knife at all.

[@kalliste23]

Don't be fooled. If the police decide they don't like the look of you nothing with a blade is legal in UK.

[@kalliste23]

@@whatsMyNameAgainAgain the police make it up as they go along and the courts back them. That goes double for the firearms and shot gun certificates process. That is not the rule of law and it's certainly not justice.

[@Rabixter]

I am brown. So any blade is automatically illegal in my hands. Especially if the police officer is white.

[@perkin2000]

Klecker Cordovan was a nice UKL flipper, and dozens of Sanrenmu (and comparable manufacturers) knives have been making sub-3" detent flippers for many years. Not sure of the availability of them now, or rather if it's worth the effort, given the custom's rabid pursuit and retention of anything sharp, but possibly worth a look on the second-hand markets.

[@mickthebandit]

I’ve just realised how much I need one of these 😎

[@SteveHinrichs]

Very nice looking knife. I looks solid.

[@1959Berre]

I live in Belgium. We have reasonable laws about weapons. Actually, these laws are quite simple and clear. Every object is a weapon when it is used as a weapon and/or the environment where it is used. This has nothing to do with how (scary) the thing looks. A 10 inch chef's knife is perfectly legal in a kitchen, but not in a disco. The same applies to a screwdriver, it is fine to have one when working on a bicycle in the street, but not in a pub or in a bar, except when you are there to repair something, like a wall socket. A machete is fine in the garden for chopping shrubs, not so much in a supermarket. Any 'innocent' object, like a bronze candle stick, can be considered a weapon when it is found in a place where it does not belong. Some time ago a dude went to jail for cutting off someone's foot with a brush cutter in an argument. Those machines have not been banned, still perfectly legal to own and to use for what they are intended.

[@johnporterfield7523]

Yep gonna get 1 ordered. Quality

[@James-id4ht]

I love that here in Oklahoma, deep in the good ole USA , any and all knives and swords are legal to not only own but to carry and legally use for self defense. Sorry to hear the UK doesn't trust its own citizens to be responsible adults and chooses to punish all it's citizens instead of the criminals.

[@curleex3838]

These knives that DONT lock are dangerous, as a keen wild camper ive seen many a bad cut because of these silly rules, camp craft knives are used for preparation of wood for a fire or cutting food or like i do is carve faces in dead wood and to have a blade that locks with a strong lock is a sensible choice, these unlockable knives are a no go and not good for much, unless u want to lose a finger..!

[@MichaelB2L]

Reaching out telepathically to Carl 🤨😉…..

[@AROTTWEILERR]

It can close and sure enough it will

[@paulongley2033]

What is the point of this new law ,it will stop no crime. This will just fill up the prisons with inosent people ,and cost tne country millions. 😢

[@Dan-wo4bx]

I wouldn’t of been surprised if it had a £300 price tag , top materials beautifully engineered. Far too nice for me i was cutting up a life raft full of salt water and sand today best i stick to cheap beaters .

[@scipio7837]

Because of the flipper and thumb studs it won't make across the Canadian border unless a retailer considers it... maybe.

[@thepenultimateninja5797]

6:48 I believe the exact interpretation of the "capable of folding" was clarified to mean "must be foldable at all times", thus excluding locking blades. If having your finger in the cutaway/flipper area prevents the blade from folding during use, wouldn't that mean that it is a "locking" blade in the eyes of the law?

[@thatgearguy]

No

[@thepenultimateninja5797]

@@thatgearguy I dunno man, I wouldn't want to be the test case. Remember, it used to be legal to carry locking folders until the 1998 R v Deegan case decided that "capable of folding" meant "immediately foldable at all times". You said yourself that the knife isn't capable of folding when held a certain way.

[@Rabixter]

@@thepenultimateninja5797 Very interesting argument. If that theory was tested in court and it was ruled illegal, that would suck because that would disqualify any foldable knife with that safety feature. Would force us all back to the Swiss Army knife. That being said, the safety feature requires you to place your hand in a certain position for it to work. If you hold the knife in a way that does not put your finger in the cutaway, that feature would not exist. Therefore its not the feature alone which stops the blade from immediately folding, its the combination of the feature + finger placement. The knife has the capability of being immediately foldable, subject to the finger placement. Now, I doubt the law can control how you hold the knife. If this knife was ruled illegal based on the theory that the cutaway prevents it from being immediately foldable at all times, then one could also argue ALL folding knives are illegal because placing a finger in front of any blade will prevent it from folding immediately, as the time required for the blade to cut through your finger from fully open to fully closed position would be non-immediate (unless you have a very sharp knife).

[@mrnobodieswildcampingadventure]

As long as you have a justifiable reason why you are carrying a blade, then you have a defence in court! Excluding outright banned knives!

[@halcooper6059]

The thumb studs on this knife seem to function as a blade stop rather than existing as a blade opening method.

[@williamstacy6645]

I'm curious I've not heard anything of neck worn knives they're usually small and a 2inch blade in an attackers throat will ruin his day. I wear a crkt minimalist Cthulhu for just in case. In Tennessee I could strap a Scottish Claymore on my back and it'd be legal but I'd look ridiculous 😅

[@thatgearguy]

In the UK they would class as fixed blades and require "good reason" to carry if stopped.

[@murph8411]

Personally I couldn’t care less about cards and stickers. I’d much rather the moon was spent on the actual knife and not bumph. The case looks like the cases you get with almost every cheap Chinese watch or torch nowadays as well. I’ve lost count of the number of them I’ve thrown in the back of a cupboard to never see the light of day again. I wouldn’t worry too much about a “lifetime warranty” either since knives rarely go wrong. Even if it did you’re going to have problems showing you didn’t use the knife for something or in some way they say invalidates the warranty and that’s also assuming the very young company is going to be around in even a few years time.

[@thatgearguy]

I bet your fun at parties!

[@davidbyrne8801]

Civi foldis flicks doesn't lock under 3 inches

[@johnwoodcock6468]

Look like a sebenzs

[@ChrisCarries_EDC]

Any issues with the pivot screws loosening?

[@thatgearguy]

None

[@jamesalexander4405]

I've had mine for a couple of weeks and yes they loosen. Some blue loctite resolved that.

[@murph8411]

Did I miss the measurement part of the video where you measured the length of the actual blade since they don’t even pretend it is the cutting edge alone that has to be under 3 inches? If the cutting edge is just over 2.8 inches I am worried the blade length will be over 3 inches and trying to grind it down to come in at under 3 inches in total would be problematic.

[@thatgearguy]

It isnt over.

[@amcc2531]

I have a bright yellow victorinox rescue knife in a pouch . Am I to presume this is no longer allowed. For safety it has one hole to open the blade and it locks. Also used for cutting seat belts and smashing windows in emergency.

[@thatgearguy]

Yes, you cannot carry that without "good reason". General safety use would not constitute a good reason unless you had it for work as a first responder ect.

[@litterpicker1431]

A knife probably isn't the best tool for those purposes. I carry a resqme car escape tool, which has a spring-loaded glass breaker and a blade better suited to cutting seatbelts, and suitable for little else. They're cheap as chips. (I also carry knives. I like knives.)

[@ianmcklatchie4390]

The guy from whom I buy ALL my blades recently told me that my "spring" assisted knife should be thrown in my bin, right away. Is this Hoo knife spring assisted?

[@thatgearguy]

No

[@JackBlack-gh5yf]

Where are these knives actually manufactured? Historically, there is a Sheffield-manufactured non-locking (friction folder) flipper called a Sheldon Knife.

[@thatgearguy]

There are plenty of UK friction folders. Selfe Made Knives is a guy who springs to mind. But this is the only flipper.

[@murph8411]

China, it tells you on their website.

[@JackBlack-gh5yf]

@@murph8411 Thanks for the info 👍

[@speckledjim_]

I get a lot of my knives from HH, but i have to go elsewhere for flippers, they're adamant that they're illegal. Can't see them selling this

[@thatgearguy]

They are a great company but they have totally caved on the flipper thing. They know they arent illegal, they just dont want to run the importation gauntlet.

[@speckledjim_]

@@thatgearguy it's really frustrating. We're down to only a couple of reputable UK companies who will sell them

[@thatgearguy]

@@steveclark.. You are talking total nonsense. Firstly it would have to lock which this does not. Secondly flippers are not banned. I just had one returned to me by border force. Flippers that lock are on sale in the UK from a number of legit outlets right now. At least know the laws before commenting on this stuff.

[@thatgearguy]

@@steveclark.. Which is why customs returned my flipper knife?

[@murph8411]

@@steveclark.. yes, it’s so sad that the intention behind the law wasn’t to ban locking knives but the judge decided in favour of that and trying to get another judge to overturn that precedent seems almost impossible. Maybe one day but I can’t see any judge going against this now given the current climate.

[@techtinkerin]

160 quid, sorry can't justify that much just because it has a flippy thing😂

[@1956chelsea]

Excuse my ignorance, but I was under the impression you could not carry a knife. I and my son had an encounter with the metropolitan police outside of St Paul’s, being Americans we had our knives confiscated, but chatting with the officers, they seemed to think it was not a good idea to carry any knife of any sort.

[@murph8411]

That’s the police for you. Especially in cities. It may be because you were entering St Paul’s. There are places that don’t permit you to carry a knife and I’d imagine somewhere like St Paul’s or other tourist attractions would have these rules.

[@twatmunro]

What were you doing that led the police to search you?

[@murph8411]

@@twatmunro search and screening for all visitors and worshippers at entrances and exits including bag searches and person searches using detector equipment.

[@thatgearguy]

You can carry a sub 3" non locking knife in the public. There may be certain building which have their own rules. Schools and court houses you cant take any knife. The Police will say dont carry any knife because they love to give patronising, false advice instead of quoting actual law (which is what they are paid to uphold).

[@1956chelsea]

@@twatmunroWe we’re going into St Paul’s, the gentleman outside asked us if we had knives, we said yes, they asked to see them, then told us they were illegal and confiscating them, so we called the police.

[@chox2001]

Unable to comment anymore I’m restricted maybe I’m speaking truth. I don’t thumb down the video because my opinion is mine only

[@thatgearguy]

Your not restricted by me. However anyone whose comments may hurt the channel have a chance of being deleted.

[@MEANASSJAMSTER]

all of my knives are illegal... but I don't need anybody's permission to have knives or guns... ;)

[@thatgearguy]

Thats a real intelligent thing to post.

[@MEANASSJAMSTER]

@@thatgearguy are you not sick of being dictated to by the so-called elites? ...I am! ...and I only want knives that are Weapons ...oh, and some GOOD training so as not to end up with it stuck up my buttt... - same for guns really! ...how NOT to wake up with your own gun in your face....

[@chox2001]

The price should come down to a realistic price now it’s had a kickstart. It’s a £60 knife if they think about sales the box it arrives in should have a way to lock it or put a lock on. I never like the clip on knives it should be an extra. My idea of a legal knife is one you open with thumb and finger. Why skirt on the edges of law because it looks like manufacturers are taking the piss. Anyone opening and closing one of those knives getting exited should be seen as a questionable.

[@thatgearguy]

It is in no way a £60 knife. Your idea of the law and the actual law are two very different things.

[@reconvlogs3024]

You my sir are a top class 🔔🔚 who hasn't a clue what he is talking about. I bet you work for border force and are but hurt @thatgearguy got his "confiscated" knife back.

[@chox2001]

@@user-yi3ox8wy4k I never compared it to another £60 knife but it shouldn’t be £160. If you want to pay that then losen your belt so they can have your pants down.

[@chox2001]

@@thatgearguy move on to next year when officers and government see you all flicking you knives open and getting exited. Then it’s going to be confiscated like everything else. They want to remove anything that’s close to laws so why buy a future item that will be sent to scrap. You and nobody else will stop this onslaught. Come back in 5 years and tell me I’m wrong. Then I will bow down to you.

[@murph8411]

I’ve seen the gerber fastball in cpm 20sv for as low as 80 usd on US websites. We hardly ever get reduced prices here in the UK. I’ve seen this advertised as American made which would mean you’d expect to pay more than for one of their Chinese made knives or the Hoo knives.

[@oldmanandguitar]

In my area police are likely to take anything. If you read the full law not just the main points a knife has to be two hand opening for full exemption.

[@batteredwarrior]

Literally just read the law. There is nothing saying it has to be two-handed opening. There are two exceptions under the law... 1) The blade must be sub-3 inches. 2) It must be non-locking. That's it.

[@thatgearguy]

Which area are you talking about?

[@Interdiction]

Far too expensive for a pocket knife . Rip off

[@thatgearguy]

It isn't a rip off. It is a premium grade tool which will last you a lifetime. I believe in buy once, cry once. The initial layout is more than a budget option but it wont let you down and is a pleasure to own and use. Everyones different, some people want to buy cheap and replaceable.

[@alanwalton5735]

I'm sorry to say. If you don't fish, hunt,Camp or are in any technical/ farming etc trade. EDC knives . Why are you carrying. It's no option just justify carrying a knife.

[@thatgearguy]

Because they are the most useful tool on the planet?

[@GG-ml3vr]

Its better to have one and not need it than to need one and not have it.

[@reconvlogs3024]

Because I like to exercise my right, unfortunately fairies like you ruin it for people like us

[@murph8411]

Erm, to open the stupid plastic packets that many things come in now and that it’s easy to cut yourself on? To slice or peel a piece of fruit, salami, cheese or whatever I fancy eating while I am out? To sharpen a pencil I’m using to mark something. To cut a walking staff for myself while I’m out walking my dog and have found I could do with the extra help unexpectedly? To cut my dog free of something he has got tangled in or so many other reasons.

[@mickeygoldmill3965]

Just got one lovely knife👍

[@justinsanford997]

how do i contact you ThatGearGuy?

[@thatgearguy]

[e-mail]