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Knife dealers licensing
If you sell, hire, lend or give away certain knives, blades or swords as part of a business, you need a Knife Dealer's Licence.
This applies to:
- knives and knife blades not designed for domestic use
- swords
- any other article with a blade or sharp point that's made or adapted to cause injury
It's a criminal offence to deal in these items without a licence.
What counts as "dealing"
You're a dealer if your business involves selling, hiring, offering or exposing for sale or hire, lending, or giving these items to people who aren't buying or receiving them as part of their own business or profession, even if this is only part of what your business does.
This includes sales by auction, and accepting goods or services as payment. It also applies to remote sales, where you may need to licence both the premises you're selling from and the premises you're dispatching from, depending on their location.
Domestic and non-domestic knives
The law doesn't define "domestic" or "non-domestic" knives. We interpret a domestic knife as one used, or habitually used, in a home. If you deal in knives that don't fall into this definition, or in swords, you need a licence.
Exemptions
You don't need a licence for:
- folding pocket knives, kirpans, or skean dubhs, where the blade is 8.91cm (3.5 inches) or shorter
- hiring, lending or giving fencing weapons while teaching or training someone in fencing, if you're a qualified fencing professional
Related resources
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Knife Dealer Application Form
This document contains the application form for granting or renewing a knife dealer’s licence from Orkney Islands Council. It asks for applicant or business details, premises information, the knives or blades to be sold, insurance of at least £5 million, convictions and previous licence history. Applicants must choose a one- or three-year licence, display a public notice for 21 days, sign a declaration and submit the form with the required fee and documents.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Knife Dealer Conditions
This document contains the conditions for Orkney Islands Council knife dealer’s licences under Scottish law. Licence holders must supervise the premises, keep insurance, display the licence, obtain approval for alterations, and prevent under-18s from selling or supplying these items. Dealers must check customers’ age and identity, keep transaction and refusal records, display required notices, hide items from public view, and store them in locked cabinets or stores. Sword sales require checks and records about intended use, with printed records kept on the premises.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Knife Dealer Guidance Notes
This document contains guidance on Orkney Islands Council’s licensing requirements for businesses that sell, hire, lend or give non-domestic knives, blades, swords and similar weapons. It explains exemptions, application forms, fees, supporting documents, site notices and how applications are assessed. It also outlines licence conditions, renewal periods, notification duties, offences, appeals and examples of items that may require a licence.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Knife Dealer Notice Display
This document contains a site notice template for an application to Orkney Islands Council for a knife dealer’s licence. It gives details of the applicant, premises and manager, and explains how to make a written objection or representation within 28 days. The notice must be displayed at or near the premises for 21 days.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Knife Dealer Compliance Certificate
This document contains a compliance notice for applicants applying for a knife dealer’s licence from Orkney Islands Council. It confirms that a site notice was displayed for 21 days, or explains why the applicant could not display it because they lacked access rights. The form records the premises, dates, any damage or removal of the notice, applicant details, signature and position. It must be returned to the Head of Legal Services after the notice period.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.