From HMRC...
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPort ... OD1_025807
Quote:
2. Scope of offensive weapons controls
2.1 The Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959-1961 prohibit the
possession and importation of:
• 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”.
• 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”.
2.2 The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Orders 1988,
2002 and 2004 prohibit the possession and importation of:
• A knuckleduster: a band of metal or other hard material
worn on one or more fingers, and designed to cause
injury and any weapon incorporating a knuckleduster.
• A swordstick: a hollow walking stick or cane containing a
blade which may be used as a sword.
• The weapon sometimes known as a “handclaw”, being a
band of metal or other hard material from which a number
of sharp spikes protrude, worn around the hand.
• The weapon sometimes known as a “belt buckle knife”,
being a buckle which incorporates or conceals a knife.
• The weapon sometimes known as a “push dagger”,
being a knife with a handle that fits within a clenched fist
and a blade that protrudes between two fingers.
• The weapon sometimes known as a “hollow kubotan”,
being a cylindrical container holding a number of sharp
spikes.
• The weapon sometimes known as a “footclaw”, being a
bar of metal or other hard material from which a number
of sharp spikes protrude, worn strapped to the foot.
• The weapon sometimes known as a “shuriken”, “shaken”
or “death star”, being a hard non-flexible plate having
three or more sharp radiating points, designed to be
thrown.
The weapon sometimes known as a “balisong” or
“butterfly knife”, being a blade enclosed by a handle
which is designed to split down the middle, without the
operation of a spring or other mechanical means, to
reveal the blade.
• The weapon sometimes known as a “telescopic
truncheon”, being a truncheon designed to extend
automatically or by hand pressure applied to a button
spring or other device attached to its handle.
• The weapon sometimes known as a “blowpipe” or “blow
gun”, being a hollow tube through which darts or hard
pellets are propelled by the use of breath.
• The weapon sometimes known as a “kusari gama”,
being a length of rope, cord, wire or chain fastened at one
end to a sickle.
• The weapon sometimes known as a “kyoketsu shoge”,
being a length of rope, cord, wire or chain fastened at one
end to a hooked knife.
• The weapon sometimes known as a “manrikigusari” or
“kusari”, being a length of rope, cord, wire or chain
fastened at each end to a hard weight or hand grip.
• A disguised knife, that is any knife which has a
concealed blade or concealed sharp point and is
designed to appear to be an everyday object of a kind
commonly carried on the person or in a handbag,
briefcase, or other hand luggage (such as a comb, brush,
writing instrument, cigarette lighter, key, lipstick or
telephone).
• A stealth knife, that is a knife or spike, which has a
blade, or sharp point, made from a material that is not
readily detectable by apparatus used for detecting metal
and which is not designed for domestic use or for use in
the processing, preparation or consumption of food or as
a toy.
• A straight, side-handled or friction-lock truncheon
(sometimes known as a baton).
BUT an eight inch-long, serated steel, military fighting knife designed for parting ribcages doesn't even raise an eyebrow.
The UK is a strange fish indeed...