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eBay listings and bladed items

So I went on eBay to buy a spokeshave as one of mine broke after it broke in my hand doing some shaping work, I was met with this when I tried to buy it. What's even more silly is that I already have a credit card on the eBay account that I use for most purchases.

Screenshot 2025-12-14 at 20-02-36 Verify your age.png

I am so glad they're getting tough about all these spokeshave-related incidents, I feel so much safer knowing that someone under the age of 18 will not be able to buy a spokeshave with ill intent...

Then the other day I bought a long piece of 50mm wide planer knife for grinding into spindle moulder cutters, something that could practically be classed as a machete if you put a handle on it, absolutely no checks whatsoever, and no age verification postage.
 
My DS has a problem with this. As a postgraduate student, he has income, but it is a "stipend", not a salary. The good news is that does not attract tax. The bad news is that banks and other card providers are not interested in giving him a credit card. Without which buying things like knives (or certain video games :rolleyes:) online becomes impossible.

I did wonder at the time this was introduced about the all-encompassing nature of "bladed items". Even a pencil sharpener might technically need age verified delivery ! I bought an 8" chef's knife for DS (from one of the few remaining Sheffield manufacturers of sharp things, obviously :sneaky:), and had to prove I was over 18 on delivery - which sadly is not difficult these days.
 
I got verified when they delivered a brushcutter blade wich was actually less shsrp than the back edge of our butter knife.
I didnt get checked though when they delivered a tablesaw riving "knife" or the new blade.
Its a lot easier to download an OBJ or STL file and 3d print a working pistol if your intent is malicious.
 
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It's peculiar. I bought a set of Italian fish butchery shears on the bay and got all the bladed stuff. They said they would need age verification on delivery, but in reality the courier just left it in the parcel box. It's a daft law: knives are so prevalent in kitchens that it is no trouble for even the dimmest criminal to get hold of one. I realise that the authorities wanted to stamp out zombie knives etc, but applying the same law to a box of butter spreading knives is silly.
 
Sheffield Tony said:
It isn't over yet:

www.gov.uk

Licensing for knife sales

We are seeking views on our proposals to introduce a licensing system for sellers and importers of knives and bladed articles.
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk
Click to expand...
I've had a quick look at the Executive Summary.
As before, the intention is to reduce knife crime but the measures up for consideration could have huge consequences for anyone interested in woodworking, since so many of our tools fall under the definition of " bladed article."

The proposal proposes a licensing scheme, akin to the one applying to firearms. Licences might just be for commercial companies but the same rule could be applied to individuals.

Licences could be mandatory for anyone importing knives or selling knives. It could apply to a private individual selling a single antique or modern tool, whether online or in person.

It could become illegal for a private individual to import a single tool for their own use, unless via a licensed importer.

There's no indication of the cost of the licences, except that they expect the scheme to be self-financing, so I expect some UK sellers would decide to give up on selling tools at all.

I think the drafters of the proposals need to be told what the consequences could be for

- the survival of our tiny, precarious tool making industry

- the preservation of at-risk heritage craft skills that need specialist bladed tools

- the preservation of surviving examples of historic or antique tools as part of our heritage.

You can send your feedback up to February 24th.
 
It’s also interesting that the document references the licensing scheme already introduced use in Scotland.

www.gov.uk

Knife dealers licence (Scotland) - GOV.UK

You need a licence in Scotland if you want to deal in knives, swords or weapons with blades or sharp points
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk

This seems to have a much more sensible focus:

“You don’t need a licence to sell knives designed for domestic use (eg for cooking or DIY). The following are also exempt as long as their blades are 8.91 centimetres or shorter:

  • kirpans (ceremonial daggers carried by Sikhs for religious reasons)
  • skean dhus (small knives worn as part of traditional Highland dress)
  • folding pocket knives
You can also supply arrows at historical re-enactment events or teach sports like fencing or archery without needing a knife dealers licence.”

The questions in the online feedback form refers to knives and bladed items suggesting an intent to go further than Scotland. I plan to provide feedback via the free format email option and to copy in my MP.
 
Nowhere do I see the definition of a blade.. planer blade ? Spokeshave ? Look at where we are now with eBay for example. None of this will make any difference whatsoever other than make it harder to buy woodworking tools. And it is pointless responding for we are few in number.
 
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I’ll respond as well, worrying for the many small makers who make axes and knives for green woodworking. No doubt the licence will be an amount which is inconsequential to big business but makes it unaffordable to small makers!

On a different matter, they covered knife crime in a session at my daughter’s school. Whilst I know knife crime is a big issue this is a girls grammar school in Kent. They sent out some details to parents and stated it was illegal to carry a knife and example photos included a Swiss Army knife. I emailed the head to explain the law properly but got no response. Whole generations being told knifes are simply weapons and not taught how to use them safely
 
The Head is labouring under the burden of a judgement 25 years ago, whereby ANY communication, written, digital or verbal, by a school, or employee thereof, was considered: " a legal document" (Paraphrasing).

Obviously, sensible people see ordinary comms as just that, ordinary. But...with the litiginous culture having crossed the pond, long time long ago, and knife crime being big contemporary headlines, I'd wager most of next year's pension he/she/it is weighing his/her/their response carefully, as the comm may be subsequently (ab)used by some soapboxing turdweevil to publicise their restrictive, personal, self-agrandising agenda.

Sad.

Don't shoot the practitioner; bollock the all-too-woke "nannies' who aspire to a perfect world, where their pipedream of utter placidity and empathy reigns. They need some field experience in the Serengetti or coastal Alaska to have their viewpoint reset by viewing a food chain in action.
 
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Here in France knives are freely available. There is a card of them by the checkout in the supermarket. Not in a case, not locked away, just next to the chewing gum. There is also a knifeman who does the markets, He has a van of them and you can buy any size you like, handle them, get a feel for them. Then buy one and take it home in your pocket.
Nobody seems to think there is anythng wrong with any of that.
S
 
SamQ aka Ah! Q! said:
The Head is labouring under the burden of a judgement 25 years ago, whereby ANY communication, written, digital or verbal, by a school, or employee thereof, was considered: " a legal document" (Paraphrasing).

Obviously, sensible people see ordinary comms as just that, ordinary. But...with the litiginous culture having crossed the pond, long time long ago, and knife crime being big contemporary headlines, I'd wager most of next year's pension he/she/it is weighing his/her/their response carefully, as the comm may be subsequently (ab)used by some soapboxing turdweevil to publicise their restrictive, personal, self-agrandising agenda.

Sad.

Don't shoot the practitioner; bollock the all-too-woke "nannies' who aspire to a perfect world, where their pipedream of utter placidity and empathy reigns. They need some field experience in the Serengetti or coastal Alaska to have their viewpoint reset by viewing a food chain in action.
Click to expand...
That’s really interesting I did not know that about comma from the school, although it doesn’t explain the need to say knives are illegal instead of the actual law.

Not sure who the woke comment is aimed at but I’d definitely fall into that category in the eyes of someone from the “other side”. I don’t think my motivations are at all politically minded just sad at the loss of skills kids today have and a big fan of what can be achieved with a knife!
 
Sheffield Tony said:
It isn't over yet:

www.gov.uk

Licensing for knife sales

We are seeking views on our proposals to introduce a licensing system for sellers and importers of knives and bladed articles.
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk
Click to expand...
Oh no. This could become horrendous if implemented. It could mean the end of so many things. No more finds in the local flea markets or small artisan tool makers. I shall also respond with feedback. As many as possible should in the hope that the government won't go to far work this.
 
I carry a swiss army knife when I travel (not by air). It has a mini screwdriver for tightening screws in my specs, bottle opener, corkscew, scissors, straight an phillps screwdrivers etc etc and normally finds a use on every trip.
Normally it sits in my bathroom bag in my suitcase in the car. Yesterday it was in my backpack which the security guard at Portsmouth harbour chose to go through the scanner. He wanted to see it to prove it was not a fixed blade. That is fine he said but a fixed blade would have been confiscated. There must have been half a dozen camper vans on the same ferry, all, I can safely assume would have had a fully equipped kitchen. There is nothing to stop drivers of said campers going into their vans after the security check to get what ever bladed items they wanted and take on board the ferry.
Daft or what?
 
AndyP said:
I carry a swiss army knife when I travel (not by air). It has a min screwdriver for tightening screws in my specs, bottle opener, corkscew, scissors, straight an phillps screwdrivers etc etc and normally finds a use on every trip.
Normally it sits in my bathroom bag in my suitcase in the car. Yesterday it was in my backpack which the security guard at Portsmouth harbour chose to go through the scanner. He wanted to see it to prove it was not a fixed blade. That is fine he said but a fixed blade would have been confiscated. There must have been half a dozen camper vans on the same ferry, all, I can safely assume would have had a fully equipped kitchen. There is nothing to stop drivers of said campers going into their vans after the security to check to get what ever bladed items the wanted and take on board the ferry.
Daft or what?
Click to expand...
I had a similar experience when I last went through Portsmouth. I had a little Leatherman Micra in my pocket and again the security guy looked at it and said it was okay. I had a locking folding knife (my Stanley marking knife) and a decent collection of chisels in the tool chest that would do plenty of damage if someone was so inclined to use them that way.
 
AndyP said:
I carry a swiss army knife when I travel (not by air). It has a min screwdriver for tightening screws in my specs, bottle opener, corkscew, scissors, straight an phillps screwdrivers etc etc and normally finds a use on every trip.
Normally it sits in my bathroom bag in my suitcase in the car. Yesterday it was in my backpack which the security guard at Portsmouth harbour chose to go through the scanner. He wanted to see it to prove it was not a fixed blade. That is fine he said but a fixed blade would have been confiscated. There must have been half a dozen camper vans on the same ferry, all, I can safely assume would have had a fully equipped kitchen. There is nothing to stop drivers of said campers going into their vans after the security to check to get what ever bladed items the wanted and take on board the ferry.
Daft or what?
Click to expand...
I got a ferry to Guernsey and was asked if I had any knives. I said yes, I've got a fishing knife (imagine a filleting knife with a 6"+ blade) in my fishing gear. He just told me to leave it in the car.

I also took a bottle of MIG welding gas on the ferry once so I could help my Dad repair a trailer. I'd checked the FAQs beforehand and thought it was OK, but it was a bit vague. I told the guy it was an inert gas and he asked me what its flashpoint was😆. I'm not sure what he was going to do with that information anyway...
 
MattS said:
I’ll respond as well, worrying for the many small makers who make axes and knives for green woodworking. No doubt the licence will be an amount which is inconsequential to big business but makes it unaffordable to small makers!

On a different matter, they covered knife crime in a session at my daughter’s school. Whilst I know knife crime is a big issue this is a girls grammar school in Kent. They sent out some details to parents and stated it was illegal to carry a knife and example photos included a Swiss Army knife. I emailed the head to explain the law properly but got no response. Whole generations being told knifes are simply weapons and not taught how to use them safely
Click to expand...
I still have my Scout sheath knife, which was obligatory to have on one's belt on parade*:

20260128_161630.jpg

We used them for many things whilst on Scout camps mostly, including practicing throwing them (which is why mine now has a rounded tip).

It was bought from our local barber's shop, which had a section selling fishing tackle etc. at the front, which you walked through to get to the actual salon bit. Originally the blade was 5 1/8" (it lost about 1/8"). Sheffield steel.

It was my school's Scout troop. Our Scout leaders were also our teachers, and weren't in the slightest worried about assaults, but were annoyed by knife throwing because of the damage it did to the knives (like mine!). I think I was twelve or thirteen when I bought it from pocket money.

I gave my old uniform away last year, to my American grandson, as he's in Cubs over there. The other grandson, here, is very unlikely to do any Scouting, sadly.

Also sadly, I don't expect to give the knife to either of them, as I believe they're not permitted in US Scouting any more. Hoping that's wrong, then he can add his own mark to the sheath.

Knives don't kill people - humans do.

*of course, our parades were on school premises, and we were allowed to wear our Scout uniforms all day at school, on days when we had parade after school. The CCF wore theirs, similarly.
 
AJB Temple said:
.....I have stopped selling on eBay.
Click to expand...

I used to sell on ebay, circumstances changed and I stopped for a few years but now I won't.
Its unduly loaded against the seller.
I sell a bit on Gumtree now and then
Its great for local buyers who can save on postage but you dont get the visibility of ebay
 
Just bumping this thread in case anyone was thinking of sending a response and hadn't got round to it. The time limit is end of 24 February. I've just sent my email.

www.gov.uk

Licensing for knife sales

We are seeking views on our proposals to introduce a licensing system for sellers and importers of knives and bladed articles.
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk
 
I’d suggest using the email facility rather than the online questionnaire. It also makes it easier if you want to forward it on to your MP.

I was positively surprised to get a response and follow on questions from my MP. It may be that being in a rural constituency he realises there are legitimate reasons for having a bladed item.
 
Just fallen foul of the rules. They think I am going to slice someone to death with the electric bread knife that I ordered. You know, run as very very very long mains cable behind me as I become Edward Scissor hands. Ordered one online. DPD driver is too lazy to drive down our narrow track. Other DPD drivers have no problem. DPD rules say they can’t leave the item in a safe place. Or deliver to a neighbour. And even if he did drive down I need to produce either a photo driving licence or passport.

It’s not as if I look under 25. If I did …being 77..it would be a dermatological miracle.
 
It's frustrating, isn't it.
Our legislators got plenty of detailed feedback on absurdities like this before the legislation was passed - I can say that with confidence as I provided some myself - but went ahead regardless.
 
This is the current status

16 Apr 2026 01:08Bridgwater Your parcel is being held in our DPD Bridgwater depot

Well, as I have zero intention of wasting my time and petrol driving there, they know what they can do with it.
 
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