Is it legal to carry any kind of weapon in the UK?
<p>Concealed or otherwise is it legal for a private citizen to carry any kind of weapon for self defence purposes in the UK?</p>

<p>JeffUK has quoted the relevant law.  However the question then becomes "what is an 'offensive weapon'", and "what is a lawful excuse?".</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Almost anything can be classified as an offensive weapon if you can use it as a weapon.  See <a href="https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q338.htm" rel="noreferrer">https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q338.htm</a></p></li>
<li><p>A lawful excuse is something like "I am going to play baseball, which is why I have a baseball bat".  It is emphatically <em>not</em> "I want it for self defence".  Specifically, <a href="https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/offensive-weapons-knives-bladed-and-pointed-articles" rel="noreferrer">https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/offensive-weapons-knives-bladed-and-pointed-articles</a> cites</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Patterson v Block [1984] 81 LSG 2458 – carrying a weapon for defence can still amount to intent to cause injury</p>
</blockquote></li>
</ul>

<p>So the answer to the OP's original question:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Is it legal for a private citizen to carry any kind of weapon for self defence purposes in the UK?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>is "No".</p>

<p>Technically, no, you must have have reasonable excuse or lawful or authority to carry a weapon in public and 'Self Defense' is not normally a reasonable excuse.</p>

<p>However if you mean 'Can I do it without fear of prosecution'  then the answer is 'Yes' as long as you can provide a reasonable excuse when asked why you are carrying the weapon.</p>

<p>It's a very nuanced piece of law, the definition of a 'weapon' extends to practically any physical item.  It could be both illegal to carry a butter knife, and legal to carry a large machete depending on the circumstances.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Possessing an offensive weapon in a public place is an offence contrary to s 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953.</p>
  
  <p>To satisfy the charge, the prosecution must prove each of the following elements:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>has with him (possession);
  
  <ul>
  <li>in any public place;</li>
  <li>any offensive weapon.</li>
  </ul></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Having established all of the above, the charge would succeed, unless the accused proves that he had either:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>lawful authority; 
  
  <ul>
  <li>or reasonable excuse.</li>
  </ul></li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://www.inbrief.co.uk/offences/offensive-weapon-possessing/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">inbrief.co.uk</a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives</a></p>

<p>The maximum penalty for an adult carrying a knife is 4 years in prison and an unlimited fine. You’ll get a prison sentence if you’re convicted of carrying a knife more than once.</p>

united-kingdom weapons