RM to stop carrying bladed items from April 2024

soolin

This announecement has started to pop up when I use RM to buy labels or arrange collection:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: on and from Monday 22 April 2024 Bladed Items will be prohibited by Royal Mail

Bladed itemsInternational - Not allowed in the mailUK - Not allowed in the mail

The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (Commencement No. 2 and Saving Provision) Regulations 2022 These Regulations bring into force specified provisions of the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (c. 17) (“the Act”).

I haven't tracked down the full article yet but I did wonder if it even included standard cutlery. I used to sell vintage cutlery, luckily my stock is now virtually all gone, but I do know several people who sell things like vintage fish knife sets, butter knives - small canteens of cutlery etc and couriers are already very restrictive in what they will carry so many routinely used RM.

soolin

This is the page from RM which does show that normal cutlery will be prohibited also any sharp edge scissors (which is surely what scissors are?)

Bladed items

‘Knives or Blades’ defined by s141A Criminal Justice Act 1988 or ‘Bladed Products’ as defined by s41 of Offensive Weapons Act 2019. Such items include, but are not limited to, any knife blade, any kitchen knife (regardless of size or design), bread knives, knives that can be used for hobbies and trades (regardless of whether they are marketed as knives, for instance, utility knives and snap-off cutters), gardening and farming tools that have a blade, any trade tool that could commonly be described as a knife, butcher’s knives (including meat cleavers), cutlery knives, scissors with sharp edges, sporting equipment with a blade, replica and antique knives (including those used for re-enactment purposes), handmade and bespoke knives, open razors (where the blade is exposed), any axe, any sword, survival knives, or machete. Also, see Weapons below.

Please Note: It is the senders’ responsibility to ensure compliance with the law.

The following links to the legislation and guidance may assist:
Criminal Justice Act 1988 
Offensive Weapons Act 2019 
Statutory guidance: Offensive Weapons Act 2019 

RFW

I think it's part of the closing of the rather large loophole of the ban in sale of certain knives where they could still be purchased online. It's hard to find what the law is exactly or if RM are covering themselves in case something happens with a weapon that they delivered.

soolin

RFW said:

I think it's part of the closing of the rather large loophole of the ban in sale of certain knives where they could still be purchased online. It's hard to find what the law is exactly or if RM are covering themselves in case something happens with a weapon that they delivered.

I've had a bit of a rummage round today, started clearing some old stored stock with a view to listing or charity shopping it. Decided for most of the Cutlery sets I found it is probably better to just donate to a charity shop rather than list and then have to remember to delete anything unsold before the new postage rules come in.

 Most of it, even really old stuff (proper antique not just vintage) has very little value anyway and I can free up room to start reclaiming some of my garden buildings storage to store the grandchildren's outdoor toys. 

RealityS

I took some old cutlery, including a full canteen in a proper wooden box to my local charity donation centre & was told they would ‘have to’ throw away all the knives - yes even cutlery. Sold it online for £100 plus before the postage ban. Not sure what anyone with cutlery to dispose of should do! ???

soolin

RealityS said:

I took some old cutlery, including a full canteen in a proper wooden box to my local charity donation centre & was told they would ‘have to’ throw away all the knives - yes even cutlery. Sold it online for £100 plus before the postage ban. Not sure what anyone with cutlery to dispose of should do! ???

There will still be a market for good quality vintage cutlery but very decreased, I suspect antique type shops will still have a market, but that’s about it. A lot of car boots now ban things, obviously they have to actually notice you selling it so it’s not an easy sale. The prices at auction have dropped like a stone as well, art deco and mid century cutlery used to sell very well, now it tends to be in the £10 mixed boxes as no one wants it. 

Swords and daggers were the same, the ban on them has been in force now for years so auctions started adding them to mixed lots to get rid of them, I have an absolute stash of vintage swords and daggers, wrapped and hidden away against harm and there’s nothing I can do with them. I did think of taking them into a police station under the amnesty policy, but I really don’t want to be the one trundling  a trolley load of sharp pointy things in a shopping trolley through town , or even worse trying to park near the police station with a boot full hidden under a blanket. We apparently have a police liaison officer locally (high crime area) so I might try and contact them for advice, but I’m worried they will send a van round and carry swords out of my house in front of the neighbours! 

soolin

Just a reminder about this as there's still a lot of cutlery sets being listed on ebay containing knives and showing Royal Mail postage.

22laptops

soolin said:

RealityS said:

I took some old cutlery, including a full canteen in a proper wooden box to my local charity donation centre & was told they would ‘have to’ throw away all the knives - yes even cutlery. Sold it online for £100 plus before the postage ban. Not sure what anyone with cutlery to dispose of should do! ???

There will still be a market for good quality vintage cutlery but very decreased, I suspect antique type shops will still have a market, but that’s about it. A lot of car boots now ban things, obviously they have to actually notice you selling it so it’s not an easy sale. The prices at auction have dropped like a stone as well, art deco and mid century cutlery used to sell very well, now it tends to be in the £10 mixed boxes as no one wants it. 

Swords and daggers were the same, the ban on them has been in force now for years so auctions started adding them to mixed lots to get rid of them, I have an absolute stash of vintage swords and daggers, wrapped and hidden away against harm and there’s nothing I can do with them. I did think of taking them into a police station under the amnesty policy, but I really don’t want to be the one trundling  a trolley load of sharp pointy things in a shopping trolley through town , or even worse trying to park near the police station with a boot full hidden under a blanket. We apparently have a police liaison officer locally (high crime area) so I might try and contact them for advice, but I’m worried they will send a van round and carry swords out of my house in front of the neighbours! 

Why do you have, as you say, "an absolute stash of swords and daggers"?

soolin

22laptops said:

soolin said:

RealityS said:

I took some old cutlery, including a full canteen in a proper wooden box to my local charity donation centre & was told they would ‘have to’ throw away all the knives - yes even cutlery. Sold it online for £100 plus before the postage ban. Not sure what anyone with cutlery to dispose of should do! ???

There will still be a market for good quality vintage cutlery but very decreased, I suspect antique type shops will still have a market, but that’s about it. A lot of car boots now ban things, obviously they have to actually notice you selling it so it’s not an easy sale. The prices at auction have dropped like a stone as well, art deco and mid century cutlery used to sell very well, now it tends to be in the £10 mixed boxes as no one wants it. 

Swords and daggers were the same, the ban on them has been in force now for years so auctions started adding them to mixed lots to get rid of them, I have an absolute stash of vintage swords and daggers, wrapped and hidden away against harm and there’s nothing I can do with them. I did think of taking them into a police station under the amnesty policy, but I really don’t want to be the one trundling  a trolley load of sharp pointy things in a shopping trolley through town , or even worse trying to park near the police station with a boot full hidden under a blanket. We apparently have a police liaison officer locally (high crime area) so I might try and contact them for advice, but I’m worried they will send a van round and carry swords out of my house in front of the neighbours! 

Why do you have, as you say, "an absolute stash of swords and daggers"?

When they effectively banned the sale of long bladed items auction houses were still able to pass them on- but of course they had no real buyers. They did what the lower end of the auction house market always do- and added them to every bulk lot- so you bid and win a box of Royal Doulton ladies, and 2 fencing swords. A win for the auction houses who have effectively dumped their items without having to pay to dump them, but a pain for the buyer, like me, who would get charged for dumping them if I left them uncollected. I have wrapped the ones I have left, actually sealed and tied them up and stashed them safely- as legally I can keep them, I just can't carry them in public or sell them on. 

Could be worse, I once saw someone win 2 boxes of vintage crystal glass and a 3ft radiator......

22laptops

soolin said:

22laptops said:

soolin said:

RealityS said:

I took some old cutlery, including a full canteen in a proper wooden box to my local charity donation centre & was told they would ‘have to’ throw away all the knives - yes even cutlery. Sold it online for £100 plus before the postage ban. Not sure what anyone with cutlery to dispose of should do! ???

There will still be a market for good quality vintage cutlery but very decreased, I suspect antique type shops will still have a market, but that’s about it. A lot of car boots now ban things, obviously they have to actually notice you selling it so it’s not an easy sale. The prices at auction have dropped like a stone as well, art deco and mid century cutlery used to sell very well, now it tends to be in the £10 mixed boxes as no one wants it. 

Swords and daggers were the same, the ban on them has been in force now for years so auctions started adding them to mixed lots to get rid of them, I have an absolute stash of vintage swords and daggers, wrapped and hidden away against harm and there’s nothing I can do with them. I did think of taking them into a police station under the amnesty policy, but I really don’t want to be the one trundling  a trolley load of sharp pointy things in a shopping trolley through town , or even worse trying to park near the police station with a boot full hidden under a blanket. We apparently have a police liaison officer locally (high crime area) so I might try and contact them for advice, but I’m worried they will send a van round and carry swords out of my house in front of the neighbours! 

Why do you have, as you say, "an absolute stash of swords and daggers"?

When they effectively banned the sale of long bladed items auction houses were still able to pass them on- but of course they had no real buyers. They did what the lower end of the auction house market always do- and added them to every bulk lot- so you bid and win a box of Royal Doulton ladies, and 2 fencing swords. A win for the auction houses who have effectively dumped their items without having to pay to dump them, but a pain for the buyer, like me, who would get charged for dumping them if I left them uncollected. I have wrapped the ones I have left, actually sealed and tied them up and stashed them safely- as legally I can keep them, I just can't carry them in public or sell them on. 

Could be worse, I once saw someone win 2 boxes of vintage crystal glass and a 3ft radiator......

Are they British swords and daggers? Do any of them look nice to you? How have you felt about, owning them whilst you've had them, knowing some may have injured people?
It's no harm in me asking is it? As you say you've preferred to keep them.

horsewithnoname

22laptops said:

soolin said:

22laptops said:

soolin said:

RealityS said:

I took some old cutlery, including a full canteen in a proper wooden box to my local charity donation centre & was told they would ‘have to’ throw away all the knives - yes even cutlery. Sold it online for £100 plus before the postage ban. Not sure what anyone with cutlery to dispose of should do! ???

There will still be a market for good quality vintage cutlery but very decreased, I suspect antique type shops will still have a market, but that’s about it. A lot of car boots now ban things, obviously they have to actually notice you selling it so it’s not an easy sale. The prices at auction have dropped like a stone as well, art deco and mid century cutlery used to sell very well, now it tends to be in the £10 mixed boxes as no one wants it. 

Swords and daggers were the same, the ban on them has been in force now for years so auctions started adding them to mixed lots to get rid of them, I have an absolute stash of vintage swords and daggers, wrapped and hidden away against harm and there’s nothing I can do with them. I did think of taking them into a police station under the amnesty policy, but I really don’t want to be the one trundling  a trolley load of sharp pointy things in a shopping trolley through town , or even worse trying to park near the police station with a boot full hidden under a blanket. We apparently have a police liaison officer locally (high crime area) so I might try and contact them for advice, but I’m worried they will send a van round and carry swords out of my house in front of the neighbours! 

Why do you have, as you say, "an absolute stash of swords and daggers"?

When they effectively banned the sale of long bladed items auction houses were still able to pass them on- but of course they had no real buyers. They did what the lower end of the auction house market always do- and added them to every bulk lot- so you bid and win a box of Royal Doulton ladies, and 2 fencing swords. A win for the auction houses who have effectively dumped their items without having to pay to dump them, but a pain for the buyer, like me, who would get charged for dumping them if I left them uncollected. I have wrapped the ones I have left, actually sealed and tied them up and stashed them safely- as legally I can keep them, I just can't carry them in public or sell them on. 

Could be worse, I once saw someone win 2 boxes of vintage crystal glass and a 3ft radiator......

Are they British swords and daggers? Do any of them look nice to you? How have you felt about, owning them whilst you've had them, knowing some may have injured people?
It's no harm in me asking is it? As you say you've preferred to keep them.

I presume they’re not hurting anyone at the moment. The current owner is hardly responsible for what previous owners have done 🙄