Now that I’m back in the nanny state of the United Kingdom and my usual daily carry of an XM-18 3.5” puts me into the same boat as a kitchen knife wielding stabby gang member I’m reduced to carrying a pocket folder which is a hazard to my fingers, namely the Spyderco Squeak. What UK legal finger hazard do you carry?
When at work I always have a Leatherman Surge on my belt (recently changed from a Wave) and a 58mm classic SAK in my pocket, invaluable for its tweezers, toothpick, small flathead and little scissors.
When not at work I’ll always have the 58mm SAK in my pocket, along with either a Squirt PS4, Skeletool, or more recently a Juice CS4.
Dave, may I suggest the Leatherman Juice CS4. It has a non locking blade so is legal carry, it’s bigger than a PS4 but smaller than a Wingman, decent pliers, saw and scissors.
The only issue is they’re discontinued. So it’s either catching a second hand one, or finding somewhere still with stock. I happened to see one in Go Outdoors in Kidderminster. It was on the shelf for £80 so I grabbed one straight away and it ended up scanning through at £70!
A few years ago a friend was visiting a friend in England. They went to a museum with security at the door.
As they neared the metal detector, my friend pulled a small lock blade knife (a fancy one, but I don’t recall the brand), and said to the guard, “You’ll want to hold onto this for me then”.
The guard after fumbling about with it a bit announced: “IT’S GOT A LOCK!!!”
Texas boy. “Sure, all you got to do is push this to fold it”
UK boy: “Awww David…”
Guard: “IT’S GOT A LOCK!!!”
Texas boy: “Sure, it works like this…”
UK boy; “Awwww David…”
Guard: “IT’S GOT A LOCK!!!”
This goes on for some time and a supervisor is call.
Super: “When did you come to the UK?”
Texas boy: “Day before yesterday”
Super; “Where are you from?”
Texas boy: “Texas”
Guard: “IT’S GOT A LOCK!!!”
UK boy: “Awww David…”
Super: “Well this is going in the bin, and be on your way”
UK boy: “Awww David…”
He’s now known as “David, the international fugitive from justice”
I think it helped that he is a solicitor (or lawyer in ’Merica speak).
All the Best,
Jeff