Selling knives and bladed articles

Minimum age for knife sales

The minimum age for purchasing knives varies by location and product type. Get this wrong and you face prosecution.

What counts as a "knife" or "bladed article"

The law defines "article with a blade or point" broadly. All of the following require age verification:

• Kitchen knives - including all sizes from paring knives to chef's knives
• Craft and utility knives - Stanley knives, box cutters, scalpels
• Outdoor knives - hunting knives, camping knives, fishing knives, penknives
• Axes and hatchets - all sizes including small camping axes
• Razor blades - loose blades only (blades permanently enclosed in a cartridge or housing with no more than 2mm of blade exposed are exempt, as are complete safety razors)
• Letter openers - if they have a sharp blade or point
• Scissors - those with pointed blades (safety scissors are generally exempt)
• Multi-tools - if they contain a blade

Blade length threshold: While the 7.62cm (3 inch) blade length is relevant for carrying knives in public, it does not affect your selling obligations. You must age-verify sales of bladed articles regardless of blade length.

Prohibited offensive weapons - you cannot sell these at all

Some weapons are completely prohibited. It is illegal to manufacture, sell, hire, lend, or give these items to anyone, regardless of age. Since July 2021, private possession is also illegal.

Age verification - implementing Challenge 25

Trading Standards strongly recommends using a Challenge 25 policy: if the customer looks under 25, ask for ID. This gives you a safety margin and demonstrates due diligence.

Implementing effective age verification

A robust age verification system should include:

1. Written policy: Document your Challenge 25 policy and ensure all staff have access
2. Staff training: Train all staff who may sell restricted products. Keep dated training records
3. Till prompts: Configure your EPOS system to prompt for age verification when knife-related products are scanned
4. Refusals log: Record every refusal (date, time, product, reason). This is crucial evidence if challenged
5. Clear signage: Display "It is illegal to sell knives to anyone under 18" at point of sale and near knife displays
6. Regular audits: Periodically test your own compliance

Selling knives online - additional requirements

Online sellers face stricter requirements under the Offensive Weapons Act 2019. You cannot simply add a checkbox saying "I am over 18" - you must verify age at both checkout and delivery. And for bladed products (articles with a blade capable of causing serious injury, including kitchen knives), UK sellers must not deliver to residential premises or lockers at all - age verification at the door does not make such a delivery lawful.

Delivery arrangements that comply

For bladed products, do not deliver to home addresses at all. Lawful options include:

• Click and collect: Verify age when the customer collects from your premises
• Collection points and pick-up shops: With age verification on handover
• Business (non-residential) addresses: With age verification on handover

Delivering a bladed product to residential premises or a locker is an offence for UK remote sellers under section 38 of the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, even if the courier checks ID at the door. Limited defences exist for products made to the buyer's specification and for sporting or re-enactment use. For bladed articles that are not 'bladed products', age-verified handover (never letterbox delivery or leaving with neighbours) supports your due diligence defence; if your courier cannot verify age, the item must be returned to you.

Record keeping: Keep records of age verification (checkout logs and delivery confirmations) - good practice that supports the due diligence defence.

Scotland - exception for domestic cutlery

Scotland has a specific exception that allows retailers to sell ordinary domestic cutlery and kitchen knives to 16 and 17 year olds.

The "all reasonable precautions" defence

If you are prosecuted for selling a knife to an under-18, you may have a defence if you can prove you took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence.

What counts as reasonable precautions:

• Written age verification policy (Challenge 25)
• Documented staff training with refresher dates
• EPOS till prompts for restricted products
• Refusals log maintained consistently
• Age restriction signage displayed prominently
• Regular compliance audits and mystery shopping

What undermines your defence:

• No written policy, or policy not followed
• Staff training not documented or out of date
• No evidence of refusals (suggests no one is checking)
• Self-service tills without intervention for knife sales
• Previous warnings or failed test purchases

The defence is not automatic - you must prove it. Keep comprehensive records.

Enforcement and penalties

Trading Standards actively enforce knife sales laws using test purchases with under-18 volunteers. Businesses that fail are prosecuted.

What happens in a test purchase

1. Trading Standards send an under-18 volunteer (usually 15-17) to attempt to buy a knife
2. The volunteer does not lie about their age, but does not volunteer it either
3. If asked for ID, they admit they do not have any
4. If the sale proceeds, officers waiting outside record the offence
5. The business and individual staff member may both be prosecuted

Consequences of a conviction:

• Fine: Unlimited - typically £2,000-£10,000 for first offence
• Imprisonment: Up to 6 months (rising to 2 years under the Crime and Policing Act 2026 once its knife provisions commence)
• Criminal record: For the individual staff member who made the sale
• Reputational damage: Local press coverage, loss of customer trust
• Future scrutiny: More frequent test purchases and inspections

Training your staff

Every member of staff who may sell restricted products must be trained. Training should cover:

1. What products are restricted: Knives, blades, axes, sharp-pointed articles
2. The minimum age: 18 (16 in Scotland for domestic cutlery only)
3. Your Challenge 25 policy: When to ask, what ID to accept
4. How to refuse a sale: Politely but firmly, with no exceptions
5. Proxy sales: Do not sell if you suspect the adult will give the knife to a minor
6. Recording refusals: How to log refusals in your system
7. Personal liability: The individual staff member can be prosecuted

Record all training with dates and staff signatures. Refresher training should be at least annual, or when laws change.

Quick reference summary