Concerns over 'zombie knife' loophole
Concerns have been raised over a “farcical” legal loophole than enables those found in possession of so-called zombie knives in their homes to avoid prosecution or having the weapons seized.
Jan 11, 2022
By Tony Thompson
Under the terms of the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, which came into force in July last year, a wide range of weapons are now illegal even if they are held in a private home.
However, in the case of zombie knives, they need to meet three key criteria to be considered illegal: they must have a cutting edge, a serrated edge and “images or words that suggest it is to be used for the purpose of violence”.
A report by London radio station LBC said: “In practice, this means that police officers are raiding the homes of known criminals and discovering brutal blades that fit all the characteristics of a zombie knife, but if there is no violent writing or imagery on the blade, they cannot confiscate it or bring criminal charges.”
Stuart Nolan of DPP Solicitors, and chair of the Law Society’s criminal law committee, told the station: “You can have and buy quite openly an item that for all intents and purposes is exactly the same as the prohibited item, except it doesn’t have writing on it that involves incitement to violence. The more you say it, the more difficult you may feel it is to understand, but that’s what it says, and I can only interpret the law as I understand it from the statute.”
Patrick Green, chief executive officer of knife crime charity The Ben Kinsella Trust, added: “It’s farcical. The whole premise of the Offensive Weapons Act was to do away with these knives, so I can’t make head nor tail of why you would include a statement which says unless it has certain writing on it, it’s not an offensive weapon.
“These are weapons which are maiming and killing people. The law has to be fit for purpose. This law in its present state isn’t, and that’s a real problem as we try to tackle knife crime.”
Recent data from the College of Policing shows that in London in 2019/20, the vast majority of knives used in murders were non-domestic, such as machetes, zombie knives and hunting knives.
FAQs
The Home Office has clarified the official definition as: “A zombie-style knife is any bladed weapon over eight inches in length with a plain cutting edge and sharp pointed end that also has either a serrated cutting edge, more than one hole in the blade, or multiple sharp points like spikes.”
Are zombie knives illegal in US? ›
Zombie-style knives are just as dangerous as traditional zombie knives, which were banned in 2016, but they do not have the same distinct images or threatening wording that incites violence.
Why are they called zombie knives? ›
A zombie knife is a bladed weapon that has been increasingly linked to violent crimes and gang use. Inspired by zombie films, they often have one smooth blade and one serrated edge.
Who invented the zombie knife? ›
History. The first series of zombie-themed knives was released in 2011 by American knife company KA-BAR after a company official joked about "the need for knives capable of killing a zombie when firearms aren't available".
What is a zombie's weakness? ›
They tend to have disgusting looking teeth, and lots of dead skin... Consensus zombies have only one weak spot: the brain. You must attack the brain. There is no other way to bring them down.
Is a Rambo knife a zombie knife? ›
The defence accepted that the knife had a cutting edge and a serrated edge but disputed that it was a Zombie knife because the reference to Rambo indicated nothing more than the name of a novel and a film that it was not Parliament's intention to criminalise possession of film memorabilia; and that the words “Rambo ...
What knife is banned in the US? ›
It's legal to have a dagger, dirk, stiletto, or hunting knife. However, ballistic knives, cane swords, throwing stars, and metal knuckles are illegal if the intention is to use them unlawfully against another person.
What is a Rambo knife? ›
Its large, rectangular blade is something between a machete and a butcher's cleaver. The knife in the fifth installment, Rambo: Last Blood, was dubbed “The Heartstopper.” The 15-inch hunting knife boasts a 9-inch blade and a Micarta handle. You can even buy your own Heartstopper from Sylvester Stallone's online shop.
What is a cyclone knife? ›
The M48 Cyclone Dagger Knife is a serious piece of kit. It's made of high-quality stainless steel, has a piercing point that could easily puncture a tire, and is sharp enough to shave (dull honestly lol ) with.
What is the difference between a zombie knife and a regular knife? ›
A new definition was outlined in August that states a zombie-style knife is “any bladed weapon over eight inches in length with a plain cutting edge and sharp pointed end that also has either a serrated cutting edge, more than one hole in the blade, or multiple sharp points like spikes”.
A "coffin" handle is a traditional style of knife handle that resembles, in its shape, a burial coffin.
What is a banshee knife? ›
The Banshee D2 is a fixed blade knife with skeletonized handle intended to be bound in paracord. It measures just over 6 inches long with a blade length of almost 2.5 inches.
Where are zombie knives made? ›
Zombie Tools. Our blades are burly, sharp and durable. They are made for use, not for show. We make everything in our shop in Missoula, Montana with all US-sourced materials.
What is GhostFace knife? ›
GhostFace uses a modified Buck 120, which is a common eight-inch hunting knife that is used as a main weapon by GhostFace, a persona adopted by the primary antagonists of the Scream and Stab film series. It also features a fuller beveled into the top of the blade to help lighten the blade.
What is the point of holes in a knife? ›
One of the most common reasons why kitchen knives have holes is to reduce friction. What you don't want is for your knife to get stuck when you are cutting through tough food. The holes in the blade create pockets of air that help to prevent this from happening.
What are the requirements for the black knife? ›
Weapon Stats
| Physical Attack | Magic Damage | Critical |
|---|
| 26 | 15 | 15 |
| Attribute Scaling | Attributes Required | |
| E STR, D DEX, D FAI | 8 STR, 12 DEX, 18 FAI | |
2 more rowsFeb 25, 2022
In general, survival knives have longer and broader blades. This means they can take a beating, and they're better for heavier tasks such as batoning. The larger blade is what gives survival knives their tactical appearance. The blades of bushcraft knives are generally a bit smaller, and often have a scandi edge.
What's the best feature for a survival knife? ›
The most important features for a good survival knife are: A tough and relatively easy to sharpen blade: In terms of steel a survival knife needs to be tough, to make sure it won't break during the more demanding tasks. It also needs to be easy to sharpen in the field with limited means.
What is the name of the knife used in autopsy? ›
For all routine procedures associated with postmortem examinations, the Tissue-Tek® Accu-Edge® Autopsy Knife Series is easy to assemble, and offers consistent cutting results. The Tissue-Tek® Accu-Edge® Autopsy Knife Series offers one chemical- and heat-resistant resin handle that accommodates 3 blade sizes.
