Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959

by the Parliament of the United Kingdom

For works with similar titles, see Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act.

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CHAPTER 37

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]

BE it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Penalties for offences in connection with dangerous weapons. 1.—(1) Any person who manufactures, sells or hires or offers for sale or hire, or lends or gives to any other person—

(a) any knife which has a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the handle of the knife, 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 in the case of a first offence to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds or to both such imprisonment and fine, and in the case of a second or subsequent offence to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding two hundred pounds or to both such imprisonment and fine.

(2) The importation of any such knife as is described in the foregoing subsection is hereby prohibited.

Short title, commencement and extent. 2.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act, 1959.

(2) This Act shall come into operation at the expiration of the period of one month beginning with the day on which it is passed.

(3) This Act shall not extend to Northern Ireland.