Which Knife for UK camping, hiking and backpacking, plus UK knife law

Join me in the woods for a chat over a brew and a bacon sarnie whilst I share and discuss just some of my knife collection. Lots of other options are available and this is what I have chosen to buy so reflect my personal view.
These include "UK legal" carry folders, folding lock-knives and fixed blades. I talk about the pros and cons of the designs and why I feel some are better than others for UK camping and hiking. I also share three tools to keep them sharp and clean.I hope this will help to inform your next camping knife purchase and staying legal.
Please bare in mind that I am not an expert in the law and this is my personal interpretation . The video is intended towards individuals using knives for the peaceful pursuit of their camping hobby and not in the legal carry context.

[@fog360]

I use a falkniven Tk4 for my out door adventures , best knife I’ve ever used , i always have a reason for carrying my knives 🔪 great video mate

[@Fellmandave1]

Just had a look at that Tk4 . looks sweet. My son has just been given a Fallkniven H1. So jealous! Thanks for the positive comment.

[@JusttJackk]

Uk laws are just stupid i understand why we have them though but literally all i take with me when camping hiking or doing bushcraft is the condor otzi neck knife witch i shouldn't really take out but its a small little neck knife but my edc is the victorinox huntsman witch i take camping hiking aswell

[@DavidFraser007]

I can't believe it's so terrible. When I was a kid in the scouts in the 70s, most of us had big bowie knives. Here in Czech Republic there are no knife restrictions.

[@K.M925]

I like cold steel folders for outdoors, a very strong look, the closer to a fixed blade as possible . I like multitools as well. I 'm avoiding taking a fixed outdoors because they are only small forest in my area .

[@Fellmandave1]

Thanks for sharing

[@isthi000ify]

Brilliant channel Thanks mate. I do wish we were allowed to carry locking blades for EDC like in America, they are so lucky.

[@Fellmandave1]

Thanks Bud, yes me too, but only for the sensible.

[@GTFBITK]

I enjoyed the video. Its interesting seeing what you are able to have in your jurisdiction.

[@Fellmandave1]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@craigstratford5086]

I have the boker plus and have to agree . Although it's a great robust knife it's an accident waiting to happen. The folding mechanism is ridiculously tight and it's so easy for your fingers to slip off of the blade no matter how careful you are .

[@RSLtreecare]

A very interesting and informative video. I have been camping, bushcraft for quite a long time. I have a few knives that go back to my start up days. My main knife, which I carry around is Swiss army Huntsman. I use around the house a number of other knives. My favourite is Casstrom no 10.

[@Fellmandave1]

thank you!

[@garenkarapetian709]

Thanks for the extensive coverage! Whenever one gets out into nature (however one calls it "hiking", "camping", "bushcrafting", "daywalk", etc) a good solid all-rounder knife is indispensable! It's the ultimate multitool really. SwissAK, multitool and EDC style knives simply won't do. Lack of locking mechanism puts your fingers in a very serious danger! I quite like the SRK knife (or SRK-C) - a good all-rounder (if one knows how to handle it). But just to be clear about the UK law and the "good reason", is "hiking" regarded as a good reason??? As long as you keep it inside the backpack while hiking/walking and getting to the camping location, and not on your person, you should be fine, no?

[@Fellmandave1]

Yes! You should be fine, it's all about intent.

[@robinhind3207]

Liked your VT. Like yourself I collect knives & have spent three figures on ones I've liked, such as my Japanese steel & gold Damascus folding knife. I've carried a pen knife every day since pre school, it's a family tradition as my Cornish family were mines carpenters & carried a pocket knife, I'm now 60+. Due to health problems I need a knive as I have great difficulty opening simple packages or use to cut food when out. Due to the new knife laws I now carry a small Opinel. The twist lock closed & opening plus the tap to open I like, having fingers traped & scared prior to having lock blades. For eating out I also carry a titanium spork (as deadly as any knife in an idiots hands). My father would never let me have a fixed blade, even though my mates had them, I've now started to collect them also. I'm a traditional in my likes, so plastic & man-made is out. I prefer wood handles (I do have some steel scale & skeletal ones). But trees & wood run through me. There was one thing I didn't like, the way you flicked some blades open it gave a knife glorifying sense to you item, otherwise a very good informative item, thanx R.

[@Fellmandave1]

Hi Robin, sounds like a warm history you have there and I understand your collection motivation. It would be great to see it! I get your point about the flicking. What I try and impress with the scouts is that you can admire a knife whilst not being interested in violence. Unfortunately that is the culture bred reaction, that they are a weapon instead of a tool with engineering beauty.

[@joeswildsurvival7755]

Thanks love the vid sent it to my scouts I am a young leader and they found it interesting

[@Fellmandave1]

Marvellous, have a look and share the natural navigation one. More upcoming for scouts and cubs!

[@joeswildsurvival7755]

@@Fellmandave1 will do

[@marcstupples8271]

Has there not been a court case in the last few years where a precedent was set that it is not the length of the cutting edge but the length of the blade and the government website has not been updated. Black belt barrister and a other UK knife channel have covered this. Just a heads up.

[@Fellmandave1]

will have to check, did you find the case

[@Countryboy071]

I aways thought it was just the cutting edge, according to the black belt barrister it's the total blade length has to be no more than 3 inches. However if its a small percentage I can't see any problem as long as its not brandished in public.

[@Fellmandave1]

Sorry guys the Knife at 27:175 is actually the Cold Steel Kobun, not the Tanto Lite! (my son has the Tanto Lite, whichI bought for him). Plus at 32:30 the one I broke was an SOG jungle Canopy- not Jungle formula- thats insect repellant !

[@leonardhpls6]

Jungle formula 😂😂😂 the rat is a nice knife

[@Fellmandave1]

🤔@@leonardhpls6 Aye its not easy you know talking and finking at the same time.

[@Countryboy071]

I use a civivi backlash for camp food prep, don't really know why but as a one handed opener seems handy. Obviously not an edc but useful on a trip. Only £60 so a budget folder and sharp enough for what i use it for.

[@Fellmandave1]

Probably not uk legal!

[@Countryboy071]

@@Fellmandave1 I've actually checked, as a law abide man. Currently they are legal, they are in the same category as one handed opener As long as its not spring assisted, is the same as a blade with a thumb stud. Apparently the government want to ban the sale of single hand openers. There are obviously thousands of these in the country. It wouldn't be realistic to ask everyone to turn them in. Instead the Labour government has said it will simply stop imports and manufacture of these knives in the UK. Ive got half a dozen such blades, some costing almost £400 each. As allways it's the minority that makes us enthusiasts suffer.

[@Flurb_Xray]

Thanks for the brief overview on the UK knife law. It was helpfull for my hiking holiday in two weeks in Scotland. Wow, and I though the German knife law is bullocks... So I hope I got it correctly: when I am hiking in the Highlands I have enough good reason for a folding locking knife with a blade under 3 inches?

[@Fellmandave1]

yes, just get it out to use.

[@Flurb_Xray]

@@Fellmandave1 Hi. Thank you for your feedback. I have been to Scotland End of August to Beginning of September this year. Had no issues with the knife. I just carried with me and used it on the trail and not in towns and cities anyway.

[@cptblackops]

Yeah we take things way to far (law wise) and apparently we are so sensitive that it even makes him stumble when he said "they get cut down pretty quick" for goodness sake

[@Fellmandave1]

Its tricky

[@DaveDoesOutdoors]

Nice range of knives Atb 👍🏽

[@Fellmandave1]

Thanks 👍

[@cris-vv1pn]

Great video I have the cold steal GI Tanto the wood find it good to work with like the sharpening rods looks easy to use

[@Fellmandave1]

Thanks Chris. Have long fancied the GI tanto. Looks super tough.

[@tecnotrog1]

nice video🦉

[@Fellmandave1]

Thanks Van!

[@bradjohnson4787]

Yeah, Mora makes workman's knives.

[@Fellmandave1]

agreed

[@stevelewis7263]

Although the Lansky Mad Rock and World knife are "legal" to carry, I think any copper who found them on you would seize them as they are AGGRESSIVE looking knives as opposed to say an inoffensive Swiss Army knife or a small Barlow knife, I have a novelty key ring knife which I don't carry it's from Rolson it has a 1cm blade, but because it locks it's illegal, so in many ways British knife law is ludicrous, and I also carry a knife daily either a Swiss Army or a Colt Canoe

[@Fellmandave1]

yes the madrock stays at home Steve

[@southerncomfort7490]

The fact that a police officer thinks they are aggressive is neither here nor there. Except so far as he puts an interpretation upon intended use. Then again, he could say the same about a trowel that you might be carrying, or a particularly pointy carrot. If you are going about your own business in a public place and posing no threat to anyone you should have nothing to fear from a the law. According to s.139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 you are not proscribed from carrying such a knife as the Lansky Madrock, then carry it you should. Why have we turned into a nation of lisping panty-waists?

[@pjvosman]

Bacon sandwich 5 out of 5. Nice pan you are using for the bacon. Do you know what brand and type it is?

[@Fellmandave1]

Hi Paul, thanks for commenting. That is a lifeventure titanium plate. Not recommended with very focussed stoves like a jetboil as it scorches the coating/ metal, but easier things like spirit stoves or a diffuse gas its good.

[@kalaharibushwarrior]

I have a question I hope you can answer. I currently live in Botswana, I have a few knives I would like to take back to the UK with me. A couple of sheath knives, a super tool leatherman, aMasai spear, and two opinel knives. A number 7 and a number 8. question is can I bring them to UK In my luggage. Or are they deemed illegal

[@Fellmandave1]

Hi, whilst I have a resonable understanding of using and carrying knives in the uk for legal purposes, I'm not qualified to answer your question on import of your knives and the spear, but that sounds great! I would check on gov.uk .Thanks for watching.

[@JusttJackk]

Would you say the victorinox huntsman would be legal to carry whilst camping

[@Fellmandave1]

Yes Jack, just use it appropriately and keep it private e.g for cooking next to your tent

[@leemichel8199]

18:19 got same knife got rid of the cerations .😅

[@Fellmandave1]

Nice!

[@requiscatinpace7392]

I don’t think cutting a bit out of the Svords cutting edge would make it legal as the overall blade length remains the same. I have the Madrock but I’ve never carried it because a police officer could measure it from where the spine and handle meet. If that’s how they measure it my Madrock may be too long to be legal, it’s too grey an area to bother risking it. I’m no expert and find uk knife laws very confusing.

[@Fellmandave1]

Hi, in my opinion it works as the law says "a cutting edge 3 inches long or less". At the end of the day its down to interpretation of an officer on the ground and the courts. Its intent and context thats important. Camper in the woods or load of lads on the street, which has which intent? Thanks for commenting, but thinking of taking this video down!

[@nickgent3821]

You are correct. It is NOT the 'cutting edge' it is the length of blade from end of the scales to tip. This is how its currently interpeted in court. Otherwise one could carry, for example, a 12 inch folding knife as long as it only had a 3in cutting edge which would be absurd. the 'cutting edge' does not imply that its sharpened. If you get stabbed after about the first 10mm its irelavent how much of the edge is sharp. But if its non locking and under 3in your survival chances are significantly improved.

[@griswald7156]

Bacon fat is good rust prevention…

[@Fellmandave1]

Dont want the dog licking your knife though.

[@srbmckenzie]

@6:53 - where's me brew!?

[@henrybushell5904]

16:10 the dog changed!

[@Fellmandave1]

2 dogs Henry

[@robhall4625]

Fallkniven r2 scout

[@Fellmandave1]

Very nice

[@grimmreaper3785]

So can you take any knife camping in 2022

[@Fellmandave1]

with good reason for needing that tool in that environment, yes

[@gizmo1252000]

everyone who makes video,s on uk knives always forgets about fishing . like a filleting knife .

[@Fellmandave1]

Hi, thanks for the comment. It was about camping knives.

[@FerndaleMichiganUSA]

Why are your knives all so hard to deploy?

[@Fellmandave1]

Flippers and spring assisted are banned in the UK my friend. Legal carry is a slipjoint, typically stiff!

[@FerndaleMichiganUSA]

@@Fellmandave1 I'm sorry to hear that. Good luck in 2024.

[@southerncomfort7490]

Just for some historical background, when they devised s.139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 the weapon of choice for many a football hooligan, (for that was what politicians were particularly worried about at the time), was the Stanley knife. Historically, if the yobs had never used those, our knife laws might vaguely approximate something that made sense.

[@Fellmandave1]

agreed