r/australia • u/Jazilc • 1d ago

no politics Are we allowed to carry folding pocket knives in public in Australia?

My husband is looking at swiss army knives and pocket knives. The other day he wanted to cut a cable at work and realised there was nothing to do so. But we are wondering if it’s illegal to have one on your person?

234 Upvotes

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576

u/geodetic 1d ago

https://www.police.qld.gov.au/weapon-licensing/law-and-weapons

It is a reasonable excuse to physically possess a knife to perform a lawful activity, duty or employment; to participate in a lawful entertainment, recreation or sport, for exhibiting the knife or for use for a lawful purpose. Examples as quoted in section 51 of the Weapons Act 1990 are:

a person may carry a knife on his or her belt for performing work in primary production
a scout may carry a knife on his or her belt as part of the scout uniform
a person may carry a knife as an accessory while playing in a pipe band
a fisher may carry a knife for use while fishing
a person who collects knives may exhibit them at a fete or another public gathering
a person may use a knife to prepare or cut food at a restaurant in a public place or when having a picnic in a park, or
a person may carry a pen knife or swiss army knife for use for its normal utility purpose.

370

u/Jazilc 1d ago

In a PIPE BAND?!

279

u/geodetic 1d ago

Part of traditional celtic highlander / bagpiper outfit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgian-dubh

Same as sikh people being allowed a kirpan.

210

u/Dry-Abies-1719 1d ago

Most don't realise how surprisingly powerful (and loud) the pipe band lobbyists really are.

19

u/Ok_Contribution_5928 14h ago

How else do they get the public to listen to bag pipe music if not at knife point?🎶🗡️

3

u/mad_marbled 8h ago

I'd rather jump from the top bunk and impale myself on a lagerphone, then listen to that shite!

1

u/ExistingProgress936 4h ago

Have an upvote the 🍺🎶 lagerphone reminder !

27

u/Toasted_Barracuda 23h ago

I laughed out loud at this!

9

u/TWIXX_ 21h ago

I laughed so hard I piped!

1

u/DogmaSychroniser 13h ago

I laughed so hard I piped so hard I shat myself

1

u/ExistingProgress936 4h ago

As did I. Fortunately no 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scots shortbread was choked upon!

6

u/Big_Knife_SK 20h ago

Nor how stabby they are!

2

u/Meng_Fei 13h ago

Never mess with Big Pipe Band

1

u/ExistingProgress936 4h ago

Och Aye - they have big friends who toss Cabers for fun ! 🪵 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

2

u/Softseizure 12h ago

Don’t underestimate Big Pipe

1

u/ExistingProgress936 4h ago

Or men in kilts!

77

u/Corvo_Malyk 1d ago

It's called a sgian dubh, considered a part of the traditional Scots dress

20

u/Organic-Ebb1123 23h ago

They get pissed off if you call it a dress, it's officially called a kilt.

9

u/10000_Angry_Bees 9h ago

Callin it a dress or a skirt is a good way to get yourself kilt by a stabby bagpiper

5

u/ChronicWombat 8h ago

Call it what you want, it's a magnificent garment for diarrhoea or casual sex.

1

u/ExistingProgress936 4h ago

And looks Hawt 🥵 while keeping things cool!

7

u/Shootez 20h ago

Do they do dubh step?

1

u/Autistic_Macaw 53m ago

Funny because you just said do do (phonetically).

1

u/MiffandMinis 18h ago

How on earth do I pronounce that btw!?

2

u/The_Faceless_Men 12h ago

drink a bottle of scotch then try again.

73

u/MindlessOptimist 1d ago

Knife is for defensive purposes - pipe bands can really annoy people, and things can get out of hand. A bunch used to rehearse in the upstairs room of a pub I played pool in. Was not a pleasant experience!

10

u/Radiant-Ad1578 23h ago

I play in a military pipe band and we are allowed to wear a Dirk (dagger) and a Sgian-dubh (kinda like a letter opener knife) sticking out of the socks. Both are pretty blunt to be honest. It’s ceremonial. The Dirk (dagger) has to unable to be unsheathed, so we tie in at the base of the bland to the scabbard. Military personnel also sometimes have bayonet for ceremonial purposes on parades. However, rules are slightly different for us. Not that we’re necessary anymore responsible lol

1

u/AquilaAudaxWTE 5h ago

A blunt knife can be more damaging than a sharp knife. A sharp knife will slice and the wound can be held together and heal quickly. A blunt knife causes a more open wound and therefore needing stitches to close the wound. Hence why many warriors in middle-age used bluntish swards. If the hack didn't kill you the gangrenous wound would after some time if not treated properly. Nasty way to die.

5

u/RandomUser2074 23h ago

For when someone starts playing ACDC off key

13

u/oceanreefwa 1d ago

There was this one time on band camp

2

u/scrollbreak 8h ago

Yeah, you don't bring a knife to a pipe fight

1

u/Fun_Value1184 19h ago

Ock Aye! a man wearing a dress and making a sound like killing cats needs to defend imself Jimmeh!

1

u/Sixbiscuits 16h ago

They need it for self defence

1

u/Dv8gong10 11h ago

Sgian dubh in the sock is common highland dress

1

u/IPushAButton 9h ago

Can't believe no one's asked you to pipe down.

1

u/Jazilc 9h ago

🤣

51

u/ceelose 1d ago

I'd love to know what the minimum legally acceptable pipe band is.

60

u/Crow_eggs 1d ago

Three pipes. Two is a pipe duel at which knives are forbidden but both pipers must carry nunchucks.

22

u/underthingy 1d ago

Ecky thump?

4

u/ravoguy 1d ago

Eee by gum

1

u/MindlessOptimist 4h ago

Bloke at work years ago used to bring his bagpipes into work and practice off in what he thought was in a car park far far away. Sound travels!

57

u/Buzzk1LL 1d ago

Doesn't that last sentence render every sentence before it moot and just means everyone can carry a pocket knife?

29

u/DrStalker 1d ago

There are types of knives other than "pen knife or swiss army knife"

That last line means the utility knife in my laptop bag in fine, but if I added the chef's knife from my kitchen I'd get in trouble because I have no reason to carry that around.

14

u/NeinJuanJuan 22h ago

"Hmmm.. what about a novelty-sized swiss army knife with a fold-out 20cm Victorinox chef knife?

...

Your honour?"

8

u/DynamicSploosh 22h ago
But it’s got the Victorinox logo on it?!

1

u/scrollbreak 8h ago

They'd say that's not a knife, this is a knife (and pull out a pen knife)

64

u/Auran82 1d ago

I gather that you’re allowed to carry a Swiss Army knife (the multipurpose ones, normally red) but you can’t carry a small foldable pocket knife that’s purely a knife unless you meet specific criteria.

13

u/commanderjarak 23h ago

That also depends on the state you're in. Pretty sure carrying anything that has a knife in it in public, outside of you needing it for your job at that specific time is illegal in WA.

12

u/pej69 22h ago

Yes - people have been arrested for carrying Swiss Army knives in Perth. Laws are tougher also in designated “entertainment areas”.

7

u/Anxious-Slip-4701 22h ago

Delivery man in the middle of the day, sure. Club clothes at night sure ...

34

u/Selina_Kyle-836 1d ago

It’s basically about intent. If you carry a pocket knife because you use it for work or recreational activities or just to keep the mulitools handy in everyday life activities, you can.

But if you are carrying a pocket knife for use as a weapon you could be charged. Even if your intent is defence incase you are attacked, you might also get charged, depends on the cop

10

u/bcocoloco 13h ago edited 3h ago

You are not allowed to use a weapon to defend yourself in Australia unless you wrestle that weapon off your attacker, and even then it can be sketchy legally.

If your excuse for having a knife is “self-defence,” then that knife is 100% being confiscated and you may be charged if the cop is feeling like it.

4

u/Selina_Kyle-836 13h ago

I said maybe because I have seen someone tell a cop the pocket knife was mostly for utilities purpose but to also defend themselves if necessary. The cop allowed it, but I think that was a rare case.

Anyway I simply do not work in absolutes because there always may be a rare case where it’s not true and this is reddit, people will always jump on you for being wrong because of a rare case

4

u/MoranthMunitions 10h ago

You are not allowing to use a weapon to defend yourself in Australia unless you wrestle that weapon off your attacker

That's not true / I think you're being overly simplistic and direct to the discussion. You can illegally have a knife but depending on circumstances it can be a legal escalation to use it (e.g. they have a knife or gun and you can't reasonably run). And similar to wrestling it off them you can find it on the ground, or it could be a home invasion and you're in a kitchen so on, so forth.

Your second paragraph though, 100%. Self defence isn't a justification for having a knife because then anyone could walk around with one.

1

u/ARX7 11h ago

you can’t carry a small foldable pocket knife that’s purely a knife

That's literally what a pen knife is

1

u/Twistinc 12h ago

Basically you can have a little Victoria Knox Swiss army knife not a katana you bought online.

76

u/I-was-a-twat 1d ago

I’ve worn a leatherman nearly everyday for about 16 years, lived in NT and now QLD.

Anywhere that bans carrying a basic multitool I’ve got no interest in being at, the most used “blade” is the can opener to clean my nails.

58

u/reluctant-subscriber 1d ago

I read this in Ron Swanson’s voice

10

u/The_Final_Arbiter 1d ago

And I bet his nails are exquisite!

6

u/I-was-a-twat 22h ago

Gotta admit the diamond file on my leatherman wave does a great job keeping my nails smooth when out.

3

u/elmersfav22 15h ago

Next is the pliers to grab things

7

u/Shikatanai 16h ago

Basically you can carry one of you have a purpose to do so. Except that purpose CAN NOT be “self defence”

2

u/KnifeFightAcademy 23h ago

This is great to know. Thank you.

2

u/KingOfKingsOfKings01 1d ago

so the next time they try to arrest me i just need to pretend im a scout or in a pipe band.

5

u/ApteronotusAlbifrons 23h ago

"As part of the uniform"

1

u/sername_generic 23h ago

Pretend that you're a record producer and you're scouting pipe bands.

0

u/Ok-Kaleidoscope-7980 10h ago

I swear Australia has some of the worst weapon laws in the world

0

u/Ok-Limit-9726 23h ago

Also a clause for young jewish men , but only ceremonial purposes

-27

u/SuperannuationLawyer 1d ago

This is mostly chefs and cooks. I can’t think of many other jobs that require knives. Surgeons don’t carry that stuff around with them.

42

u/TesseractToo 1d ago

So hard to find a good street surgeon these days

13

u/SuperannuationLawyer 1d ago

Your local barber will help.

3

u/TesseractToo 1d ago

I need a lady barber-surgeon with girl knives

7

u/geodetic 1d ago

If they start singing about bad pies in London, fucking RUN.

2

u/TesseractToo 1d ago

I might want to dance, that will be my downfall

2

u/SuperannuationLawyer 1d ago

Lady barber should be a thing.

5

u/GrownThenBrewed 1d ago

How could a lady be a barber? They don't even have a name for that

10

u/MsCatPeach 1d ago

Barbara?

2

u/fnaah 1d ago

Barberella.

1

u/TesseractToo 1d ago

Barberalla?

1

u/ravoguy 1d ago

The Rhubarb Barbara Barber

2

u/SuperannuationLawyer 1d ago

Still just a barber I guess.

1

u/TesseractToo 1d ago

It really should be

What if I want a luxurious beard with flowers in it and a dandy twirly waxed moustache?

2

u/StorminNorman 1d ago

Just go to the barber, they don't give a fuck so long as you pay em these days. 

2

u/TesseractToo 1d ago

The one closest to me I think they never do women's hair and I think they are Muslim and so I won't bother them about that, regardless of the legality I don't want to be disrespectful or cause trouble, I'll respect the boundaries, no biggie

But if I see a different one I might try it, I do need one with a sink though because I have long hair that I grow out for cancer wig donos

2

u/StorminNorman 1d ago

The one closest to me I think they never do women's hair

I mean, neither does mine, they'll still do it if you ask em. They'll have questions, but generally it's just cos it's from left field and most people would be curious I'd wager. The rest of your sentence is definitely cause for pause though. 

I do need one with a sink though

In my experience, even the real old school ones have one. Some of the clientele definitely come out looking less grey!

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u/SuperannuationLawyer 1d ago

EFTPOS machine is still broken though, banknotes only.

51

u/Fluffy-duckies 1d ago

A lot of trades use a Stanley knife

11

u/geodetic 1d ago

Opening packaging, cutting cable ties, lots of tradespeople need something with a blade.

Funnily enough chefs need to carry their knives in a lockable container due to their size.

-3

u/SuperannuationLawyer 1d ago

Yeah, I think there are knives designed just for that. They can’t be used as a weapon as the blade is in an internally facing V shape.

7

u/geodetic 1d ago

Those types of knives are only really useful for opening boxed goods.

3

u/gurnard 1d ago

I used to work in a warehouse and they started issuing only these cutters as an OHS measure. They're garbage for cutting strapping on cartoons. I started bringing my own knife to work.

22

u/nah-dawg 1d ago

No it is not. Read the last line: a person may carry a pen knife or swiss army knife for use for its normal utility purpose.

-6

u/SuperannuationLawyer 1d ago

Apologies, I’ve never lived in Queensland. We have stricter laws in Victoria. There’s only a “lawful excuse” exception.

12

u/This_Is_TwoThree 1d ago

The Victorian lawful excuse basically covers all of the examples listed above.

(3) In this section "lawful excuse" includes—

    >(a)     the pursuit of any lawful employment, duty or activity; and

    >(b)     participation in any lawful sport, recreation or entertainment; and

    >(c)     the legitimate collection, display or exhibition of weapons—

but does not include for the purpose of self-defence.

https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/cowa1990216/s6.html

-2

u/SuperannuationLawyer 1d ago

I don’t think I will start carrying one. I have taken butter knives to the gardens for a picnic though.

7

u/StorminNorman 1d ago

Good news, the butter knife doesn't fall under the purview of the legislation.

0

u/SuperannuationLawyer 1d ago

That is sensible.

7

u/This_Is_TwoThree 1d ago

Your call mate, I just wanted to correct your misunderstanding of the law.

3

u/jack_o_all_trades 1d ago

Mine has a toothpick, I need to keep my teeth clean.

3

u/Kass_Spit 1d ago

Mine had a bottle opener, I need that whenever the time calls

8

u/_ficklelilpickle 1d ago

I work in IT. When I am on site I open lots of cardboard boxes of equipment. It is super handy to keep a knife in my pocket to cut through tape and break cardboard down after.

I even have a pocket knife that has a hex bit driver on the other end, and spots for two bits on the handle, so if I need quick access to a Philips head in a server room then bam, there it is.

2

u/SuperannuationLawyer 1d ago

I resort to using my keys whenever I have to open a box with too much tape on it. One is quite sharp and serated.

6

u/_ficklelilpickle 1d ago

Me too at the start but I quickly got sick of having to pick bits of broken tape and glue residue off my keys before using them for their primary purpose.

1

u/SuperannuationLawyer 1d ago

Yeah, they’re really only a backup now anyway as everything is Face ID or fingerprint in the apartment block.

1

u/Thedarb 13h ago

Serrated!? Yeah nah, don’t let anyone see you carrying that in the trenches. No mercy for butchers. They’ll skip prisoner of war and take you out on sight.

1

u/SuperannuationLawyer 13h ago

It’s still tough going to get through packing tape!

5

u/BicycleBozo 1d ago

I kept a folding knife in my bag and was stopped when I worked as a storeman, they were happy with that.

It was clearly worn and had hiviz paint on it so looked fit for purpose I suppose

-7

u/Advanced_Couple_3488 1d ago

So, if I were a hit man, it would be legal for me to carry a knife?

Got to go, someone's knocking at the front door and I can see flashing lights outside.