How to Post Knives in the UK

Please note: this blog post does not constitute legal advice. Always do your own research before posting any bladed item. You are solely responsible for complying with courier policies and UK law.

Why This Guide Exists

After being asked repeatedly online about how to legally post knives within the UK, it's time to set the record straight with a clear, concise, and accessible guide. Whether you're a hobbyist, collector, or small business, it's essential to understand the rules to avoid seizure, fines, or worse.

The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 was introduced to reduce violent crime by strengthening controls on the sale and delivery of offensive weapons, including knives and corrosive substances.

Key requirements for sellers and shippers of 'bladed items':

• You must verify the buyer's age (18+) at the point of sale and delivery.
• You must ship using a service that allows 'bladed items' and includes age verification at delivery.

This applies to all distance sales, including online orders and private sales.

If you're selling or sending a knife:

1. Verify the recipient is over 18 at the point of purchase.
2. Use a courier service that's knife friendly with age verification at delivery.
3. Securely package the knife to prevent injury during transit. 
4. Clearly label the outer packaging to indicate that the parcel contains a bladed item and requiring age-verification of the recipient.

Failure to meet these requirements can result in your parcel being seized and destroyed, and you may even face legal consequences.

Royal Mail 

Royal Mail now only allows bladed items to be sent via:

• Tracked Age Verification 24
• Tracked Age Verification 48

All other Royal Mail services are prohibited for knives with the exception of sub-3" non-locking UK legal carry knives.

Prohibited Items

The following cannot be sent through Royal Mail under any circumstance, on any service:

• Combat/hunting/survival knives.
• Daggers, throwing knives, machetes, swords, fantasy knives.
• Replica weapons, stiletto knives, razors, axes, etc.

Requirements for Legal Shipments

If your knife is not on the prohibited list, you must:

• Book an Age Verified shipment via the Royal Mail website or app (account required).
• Ensure the knife is securely packaged to avoid injury to handlers.
• Clearly mark the package with something along the lines of:

“BLADED ITEM ENCLOSED – AGE RESTRICTED – TO BE HANDED TO AGE VERIFIED PERSON ONLY”

IMPORTANT: Failure to use the correct service, safe packaging, include the correct labeling, or send prohibited knives can result in seizure and destruction of your package.

Royal Mail Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Reliable and widely accessible
• Relatively affordable

Cons:

• Max insured value is only £150

If you need higher insurance or more flexibility, consider the following couriers with age verification services:

• UPS (check for "Adult Signature Required").
• Parcelforce Worldwide (express services with Challenge 25 policy).
• DPD (age verification upon delivery).

IMPORTANT; always confirm directy with the courier service that they support knife shipments and offer age verification.

• DHL: Knives are prohibited on UK services.
• Evri (Hermes): No age verification, knives not permitted.
• FedEx: FedExs policy regarding the shipment of knives is convoluted, for that reason I do not consider them to be knife friendly in the UK.

Posting a knife in the UK isn’t difficult if you follow the rules. The key is:

• Age verification at both sale and delivery.
• Correct courier service with Age Verification (Royal Mail AV, UPS, etc.)
• Secure packaging.
• Clear labelling of outer parcel, i.e. Bladed item enclosed, hand to over 18s only.

By following this checklist, you can post bladed items legally, responsibly, and with confidence.

If you're unsure about your specific knife or shipping method, it's best to contact the courier directly or consult legal advice.