I find my leather man useful for removing spines from tires, and the file is useful for roaring inner tubes and removing the edges of metal burrs when the substance cracks or has worn out a lot and causes a problem along the way. You can carry a knife that you need to use for work while you`re at work, or carry it around at the beginning and end of the day between home and work. Something like carrying a knife that you use for work when you stop by stores after work is technically not allowed, as there is no reason why you should need that knife while you are in the store. uplink “I would have thought it was the prosecutor`s job to prove the case against you, instead of you having to prove anything” NO, the prosecutor has to prove beyond a doubt that you had the tool and that he has a locking blade, or a blade larger than three inches, and that you were in a public place. The person with the multitool must prove the defense. That`s why it`s an expensive risk to wear one. The easiest way to find out if you can wear your multitool in public is to ask yourself, “Do I have a good reason to carry my multitool knife?” The law specifically mentions multi-tools when it says “lock knives” are illegal to wear in public unless you have a “good reason” to wear one. Let`s break that down. If you walk down the street and wear it, they get angry. If you travel by bike or camp in the forest, they will be a little more forgiving. Technically, it`s very illegal AFAIK, so don`t get caught doing anything wrong. I`m definitely a fan of Leatherman, this is my third. The fit and finish are superb, as is the presentation (a very nice gift box with Cordura case).
The tools (including the knife) are unlockable and therefore UK Carry legal, which for me was the appeal of this model as there are not many British multitools that have reasonably sized clamps. It still looks like a quality product, but somehow it doesn`t feel as “prestigious” as my other leather men without the locking tools. I don`t have anything negative to say about quality, it`s still great. The blade and tools are tightly stretched out of the box, so you can open them without losing your nails, but firm enough that they don`t float during use. I think this may remind me of the Chinese Ledermann multi-tool clones from 20 years ago, which had no locking blades and were either way too loose or extremely tight. The Bond is not like that at all, but still feels a small step away from a “real” leather man. The only place it really loses points for me is that you have to pay £15 for the pocket clip. It`s a small curved piece of metal and two minute screws to shout loud Leatherman, put one in each box for free!! It is a criminal offence to have one in a public place as it is a blade item that does not fall under the folding knife due to locking, blade less than 3 inch exception. It is a defense for you to prove that you have it for a good reason or legitimate authority. So, if the poice finds it on you, you run the risk of spending a day in court where you have to prove your innocence after weighing the odds. Given that the crime lasts up to two years in prison, I would not choose to wear one. Can you prove that you really need a locking blade for your ride? Locking knives of any size are illegal.
Locking blades seem to change the nature of the law. If the blade can be locked, it is more dangerous and “better” to use it in an attack. Before I bombard myself with negative comments below, I do not condone the use of a knife for aggressive or threatening behavior. It`s this kind of behaviour – clearly not from multi-tool fans – that has put us in this position, and the UK government is trying to protect the public from it. It is illegal to carry a knife in public for no good reason – unless it is a knife with a folding blade 3 inches long (7.62 cm) or less, for example some of the smaller Leatherman multi-tools. In early 2018, the UK government announced that it would try to pass a law banning the sending of knives purchased online to your home. If you have to go somewhere to get your knife, the legality can be checked and the age of the person receiving it can be verified. It is anything but foolproof.
It is also not certain that this ban on home delivery should also apply to multi-tools. It is legal to wear a multitool in public if the multitool has a knife with a cutting edge of 3 inches (7.62 cm) or less AND if it is a friction blade. I think if you are worried about laws, you should not leave the house, but try to stay there legally. I`m not a lawyer, so nothing I`ve said in this article is legal advice. Also, keep in mind that using a knife (legal or illegal) is also dangerously illegal. Threatening use of your (legal) Swiss Army knife is always illegal. I think it`s a matter of “good reason” to have one, so if it`s with your bike kit, then you might have a legitimate excuse – if it`s just in your pocket, then it`s harder to show. Leatherman multi-tools are often overlooked. These are great tools to have around the house or garden shed, but many of the tools available at Leatherman have locking blades that make it illegal to wear them in public in the UK. Because it has no influence on legality. I`m not a lawyer, so nothing I`ve said in this article is legal advice. What do you do if one of these examples doesn`t apply to you, but you still think you have a “good reason.” The problem is that if you are arrested for carrying multi-tools, it is the courts that decide if you have a “good reason”, not you.