Files into Knives

Joined
Nov 21, 2019
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I was at a knife show recently and overheard a comment from one of the makers there that it is illegal to make file knives in NZ, is this true and if so why?
 
In NZ they have a variety of knife laws. Besides brass knuckles and sword canes, another category is knives that are disguised as other things and tools. A file knife comes under that category if you leave the file teeth on the sides. It is the Kiwi equivalent of a shiv in the USA.
 
Don't trust what you heard, gossip is useless.
Don't trust us, go read the source.

https://www.police.govt.nz/advice-services/firearms-and-safety/prohibited-offensive-weapons

As I read that, a file knife is OK to make have and use - however intent - anything intended as a weapon "for protection" or "concealed" is not permitted.

That link specifically prohibits double edged daggers.

Find a criminal lawyer or judge that hunts and fishes and ask them.
 
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From what I have read and heard of the UK and Commonwealth knife laws -
If you take a file and forge/grind a normal shaped and beveled knife, you will be OK as long as it meets the legal parameters of a fixed blade knife.
However, if you take a file and grind an edge on it, leaving it straight, and leaving most of the teeth, it can ( and likely will) create a problem if you are stopped by a law enforcement officer.
 
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