They're at it again...

The UK Knife Licensing Consultation

What It Means for Collectors, and Why There’s No Need to Panic (Yet)

Recently, the UK Government announced a public consultation exploring the possibility of introducing a knife licensing system. Understandably, this has caused some concern within the knife collecting and enthusiast community, an already misunderstood hobby that's constantly being unfairly lumped in with criminal misuse.

At ArcticKnife, we’ve had a number of customers reach out asking what this could mean for collectors, buyers, and retailers such as ourselves. This post aims to summarise what we currently know, provide some context, and hopefully reassure those who are feeling uneasy about the direction of travel.

First Things First: This Is Only a Consultation

The most important point to make at the outset is this:

Nothing has changed yet.

A consultation is not legislation. It does not create new laws, introduce new restrictions, or immediately affect ownership, collecting, or buying knives. Instead, it is a process where the government supposedly gathers views from the public, industry, and stakeholders before deciding whether to proceed, and if so, how.

These processes typically take months or even years to result in anything concrete. Proposals are revised, challenged, amended, and in some cases abandoned entirely. Even if licensing were eventually introduced in some form, there would almost certainly be a lengthy transition period.

For now, this consultation is best viewed as an early discussion.

What Is Being Consulted On?

Overall, the consultation seems to be mostly focused on licensing the sale and importation of knives and bladed articles, not on licensing individual ownership or collecting.

The stated aim is to provide more comprehensive oversight of knife sales, particularly online, peer-to-peer and the privately imported. The consultation explores ideas such as:

• Licensing for knife sellers and importers - 'seller' being yet to be firmly defined.

• Suitability checks for those selling knives, i.e. criminal background checks.

• Greater accountability for businesses operating in this space, i.e. greater responsibilities in record-keeping, obligations to report 'suspicious purchases' and security requirements for business premises.

Once again, there is no proposal to licence individual knife owners or collectors in this document, nor is there any suggestion of banning lawful folding knives or retrospectively criminalising existing collections.

Why This Has Raised Concerns in the Knife Community

Knife laws in the UK are already among the strictest in the world, knives are increasingly discussed only in the context of crime, rather than craftsmanship, utility, or culture. For those who collect knives as tools, design objects, or works of engineering, this can feel frustrating and disheartening.

My own broader concern is that licensing sellers is a step towards knives being treated as an inherently dangerous or “controlled” product, similar in principle to firearms. While the consultation does not explicitly say this, it does reflect a gradual shift in how knives are framed in policy discussions. 

It’s reasonable to acknowledge that this could be part of a longer-term trajectory, even if no such outcome is imminent. Sadly, if this consultation amounts to anything, I think that it may mark the end of being able to import bladed items as a private/unlicenced individual.

What This Means for Knife Collectors Right Now

For collectors and enthusiasts, the practical takeaway is simple:

• Your current ownership of lawful knives is unaffected.

• Buying, collecting, and enjoying knives within existing law remains unchanged.

• There is no immediate action required other than responding to the consultation.

If you wish to engage, responding to the consultation is a constructive way to ensure that the voices of responsible collectors are heard. Thoughtful responses explaining how knives are collected, used, and appreciated as tools and craft objects can help counter overly simplistic narratives.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/licensing-for-knife-sales/licensing-for-knife-sales-accessible#questionnaire 

Taking a few minutes to complete the questionnaire helps to:

• Demonstrate the scale of lawful knife ownership and collecting in the UK.

• Highlight the difference between responsible enthusiasts and criminal misuse.

• Express the chilling impact of legislation that will serve only to criminalise law-abiding hobbyists and the industry that serves them.

Calm, thoughtful responses carry far more weight than anger or disengagement. Even brief submissions explaining how you lawfully own, collect, or use knives can help counter the idea that knives are weapons rather than tools, collectibles, and pieces of craftsmanship.

Staying Calm, Informed, and Engaged

The knife community has always thrived on knowledge, craftsmanship, and shared enthusiasm. Moments like this can feel unsettling, but they are also opportunities to demonstrate that collectors and specialist retailers are responsible, thoughtful, and are not part of the problem.

For now, the best approach is to stay informed, don't dispair, and engage constructively if you choose to respond to the consultation.

We will continue to monitor developments closely and will share updates as the situation evolves. In the meantime we strongly encourage all collectors to respond to the consultation questionnaire.

What This Means for ArcticKnife

We want to be very clear on this point.

ArcticKnife is not going anywhere. The Narwhal is unbothered by cold water.

We are a small, specialist business built around a genuine passion for knives, quality, and the community that surrounds them. Whatever direction policy eventually takes, we are committed to adapting responsibly, staying compliant, and continuing to serve collectors and enthusiasts in the UK.

If new requirements are introduced in the future, we will meet them head-on and do everything we can to:

• Keep access to quality knives as straightforward as possible.

• Support collectors with clear information and guidance.

• Act as a reliable, transparent, UK-based retailer and importer that you can trust.

If there is a role for us to play in helping the community navigate change, we will step up.

Final Thoughts

This is a consultation, not a conclusion.

At ArcticKnife, our commitment and resolve remains unchanged: to support the UK knife community, champion quality and craftsmanship, and provide a steady hand in uncertain moments.

If you have questions, concerns, or simply want to talk things through, you’re always welcome to get in touch. We’re here, and we’re staying put.

ArcticKnife. Locking in.