Wincanton Auctions are pleased to accept Knives and Swords and other Militaria subject to their compliance with UK regulations, specifically that they are;

• made before 1954
• was made by traditional hand sword making methods
• is only available for the purposes of use in religious ceremonies or for martial arts
• is for use in a historical re-enactments or sporting activity for example a martial arts demonstration for which public liability insurance is held

Basic laws on knives

It’s illegal to:

• sell a knife to anyone under 18, unless it has a folding blade 3 inches long (7.62 cm) or less
• carry a knife in public without good reason, unless it has a folding blade with a cutting edge 3 inches long or less
• carry, buy or sell any type of banned knife
• use any knife in a threatening way (even a legal knife)

It is an offence to sell certain specified weapons including knives, swords and other blades. These are:

• Butterfly knives (also known as ‘balisongs’): these have a blade hidden inside a handle that splits in the middle
• Disguised knives: where a blade or sharp point is hidden inside what looks like everyday objects such as a buckle, phone, brush or lipstick
• Flick knives (also known as ‘switchblades’ or ‘automatic knives’): blades hidden inside a handle which shoots out when a button is pressed
• Gravity knives
• Stealth knives, which are knives or spikes not made from metal (except when used at home, for food or a toy)
• Zombie knives: a knife with a cutting edge, a serrated edge and images or words suggesting it is used for violence
• Swords, including samurai swords: a curved blade over 50 centimetres (with some exceptions, such as antiques and swords made to traditional methods before 1959
• Sword-sticks: a hollow walking stick or cane containing a blade
• Push daggers
• Blowpipes (sometimes known as ‘blow guns’)
• Telescopic truncheons: these extend automatically by pressing button or spring in the handle
• Batons: straight, side-handled or friction-lock truncheons
• Hollow kubotans: a cylinder-shaped keychain holding spikes
• Shurikens (also known as ‘shaken’, ‘death stars’ or ‘throwing stars’)
• Kusari-gama: a sickle attached to a rope, cord or wire
• Kyoketsu-shoge: a hook-knife attached to a rope, cord or wire
• Kusari (or ‘manrikigusari’): a weight attached to a rope, cord, wire
• Hand or foot-claws
• Knuckledusters

Offensive weapons which are designed to kill or inflict serious injury and do not have a legitimate use are banned or restricted in the UK.