The government has expanded the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988, by adding “zombie-style knives and machetes” to its list of prohibited weapons.
The changes to the 1988 Order came into force on the 24th of September 2024 and will cover zombie-style knives and machetes with specific characteristics.
A zombie-style knife or machete will be defined as a bladed article with the following elements:
- A plain cutting edge.
- A sharp pointed end; and
- A blade of over eight inches in length (measured from the tip to the top of the handle in a straight line).
In addition to this basic specification, it must also have one or more of the following features:
- A serrated cutting edge (other than one no longer than two inches next to the handle).
- More than one hole (of any shape) in the blade.
- Spikes.
- More than two sharp points in the blade.
(A sharp point is defined as having an angle between the edges which create the point of less than 90 degrees. In the case of a curved edge the angle will be measured by reference to the tangent of the curve).
Most conventional machetes will not satisfy the definition above because they do not have sharply pointed ends to their blades.
Once added to the list these weapons will be absolutely prohibited even in a private home.
However, the Order contains a general defence for antique examples which are defined as being over one hundred years old from the date of any alleged offence. This would cover First World War German bayonets, many of which had saw-toothed backs.
Annex from government guidance
Examples of ‘zombie-style knives’ and ‘zombie-style machetes’ which will be caught by the legislation.
The measurements relating to the images below are of the blade length, being the straight-line distance from the top of the handle to the tip of the blade.
20” / 50cm ‘zombie-style’ machete. This has a plain cutting edge, a sharp pointed end, a blade over 8” in length, a serrated cutting edge and more than one hole in the blade
17.3” / 44cm Desert style machete. This has a plain cutting edge, a sharp pointed end, a blade over 8” in length, a serrated cutting edge and more than one hole in the blade.
15” / 38cm Fantasy Hunting Knife. This has a plain cutting edge, a sharp pointed end, a blade over 8” in length, a serrated cutting edge and more than one hole in the blade.
10.5” / 26.5cm Fantasy knife. This has a plain cutting edge, a sharp pointed end, a blade over 8” in length, a serrated cutting edge and more than one hole in the blade.
9” / 22.86 cm Rambo style knife. This has a plain cutting edge, a sharp pointed end, a blade over 8” in length and a serrated cutting edge.
18” / 45.72 cm Cutlass style machete. This has a plain cutting edge, a sharp pointed end, a blade over 8” in length and a serrated cutting edge.
10” Fantasy Hunting Knife. This has a plain cutting edge, a sharp pointed end, a blade over 8” in length and a serrated cutting edge.
10” Rambo Style Knife. This has a plain cutting edge, a sharp pointed end, a blade over 8” in length and a serrated cutting edge.
Feature Guidance
A serrated cutting edge. Regular blunt grooves, known as Jimping, are often present on the thumb ramp, spine or choil area of knife blades. These are designed to provide grip and are not a serrated cutting edge for the purposes of the legislation.
A serrated cutting edge. Fully serrated knives, which do not also have a section of plain edge do not qualify under the definition.
A serrated cutting edge (other than a serrated cutting edge of up to 2 inches next to the handle). Where there is a section of serrations in the cutting edge next to the handle, as long as they do not exceed 2” in length, this should not be counted as a serrated edge for the purposes of the legislation.
More than two sharp points in the blade (other than a sharp point of a kind specified in sub-paragraph (2)
2(b) a sharp point on the cutting edge of the blade near the handle.
Where the cutting edge ends nearest the handle of a knife this forms an angle, sometimes called the heel of the blade. This should not be counted as a point for the purposes of the legislation,
Example 1. This tanto style blade has a primary sharp point, Point 1. The angles making the point are 50 degrees (Less than 90 degrees) so Point 1 is a sharp point for the purposes of the legislation.
Example 2. Point 2 is not a sharp point for the purposes of the legislation because the angle creating the point is greater than 90 degrees.
With thanks to the BASC
