[Misc] Flick Knives

[Lenny Rider]

Are they still illegal?

Or does anything go in 21st century Britain?

The obligatory school day trip Newhaven-Dieppe usually involved some fresh faced youth buying French bangers or if you were a real rebel a flick knife.

On our trip in July 1976 a mate, who was flush, or as flush as a 12 year old can be, bought one, then returning to the UK we had an extremely animated pep talk from our teacher, who warned our school had been earmarked for a search at Newhaven (which never happened) and anyone caught with a flick knife faced 18 months in borstal, so into the Channel it went. (amazing what influence good old fashioned bullshit had back then)

I also recall for a small French port Dieppe had a lot of dirty book shops.

 

[Icy Gull]

A kids school day trip to France in the late 60s was the perfect opportunity to buy a flick knife, we all did it!

I am pleased to say I didn’t know anyone who used one on other kids, it was just the “thing to have”

As I remember it they weren’t legally for sale in the UK even then

Another fad around the same time was an identity bracelet. When my father saw mine he asked what I was wearing. When I told him, he said “Why, can’t you remember your name?”

 

[schmunk]

Are they still illegal?

Of course they are, and I'm certain you already knew that.

End of thread (unless some other old men want to reminisce wistfully about their schooldays... ...so, another 100 or so posts to go.)

 

[Icy Gull]

End of thread (unless some other old men want to reminisce wistfully about their schooldays... ...so, another 100 or so posts to go.)

Done

 

[macbeth]

yes they are illegal and have been since the blanket ban on carrying knives came in. absolutely no scope in the justice system to enforce any of that, though

 

[Justice]

A flick knife , things had advanced in the 80’s the Newhaven Dieppe run was now full of kids buying cans of CS gas and of course the obligatory French bangers that were clearly Chinese

 

[PeterT]

Are they still illegal?

Or does anything go in 21st century Britain?

The obligatory school day trip Newhaven-Dieppe usually involved some fresh faced youth buying French bangers or if you were a real rebel a flick knife.

On our trip in July 1976 a mate, who was flush, or as flush as a 12 year old can be, bought one, then returning to the UK we had an extremely animated pep talk from our teacher, who warned our school had been earmarked for a search at Newhaven (which never happened) and anyone caught with a flick knife faced 18 months in borstal, so into the Channel it went. (amazing what influence good old fashioned bullshit had back then)

I also recall for a small French port Dieppe had a lot of dirty book shops.

I did a similar trip in 1977. One of the guys had a full length spear, and I remember there being a yoghurt fight with some locals too!

 

[Bakero]

Nostalgia threads aren't what they used to be.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Of course they are, and I'm certain you already knew that.

End of thread (unless some other old men want to reminisce wistfully about their schooldays... ...so, another 100 or so posts to go.)

Why not? Personally I'd much rather be 11 again in the 80s and off to eat steak hache in some grotty Dieppe hotel with my mates than trying to pay a mortgage, feed a family and navigate social media lunacy with my own brood. 2023 sucks, man.

Our bangers were all let off within 2 minutes of getting off the coach IIRC.

 

[Lenny Rider]

Of course they are, and I'm certain you already knew that.

End of thread (unless some other old men want to reminisce wistfully about their schooldays... ...so, another 100 or so posts to go.)

Loosen up old love, if us old blokes can't get all dewie eyed about a Chinese firework, a switchblade and a French gash mag, where are we heading?

 

[Chicken Run]

Did I imagine it or was there ‘flick combs’ as well?

 

[GingerBeerMan]

Why not? Personally I'd much rather be 11 again in the 80s and off to eat steak hache in some grotty Dieppe hotel with my mates than trying to pay a mortgage, feed a family and navigate social media lunacy with my own brood. 2023 sucks, man.

Our bangers were all let off within 2 minutes of getting off the coach IIRC.

You know social media isn't mandatory right?

 

[jackalbion]

I remember going to a French Market on a school trip to Etaples in year 6 which must have been about 2006-2008 ish, me and my friends all bought BB Guns and flick knives which were taken off us after one friend grassed us up. We weren't the worst though, one of the girls bought a live Rabbit because it was in a cage, and smuggled back to the hostel.

 

[happypig]

First made illegal to buy, sell or carry in 1959. If you had one obtained before that it was still legal to have it at home. In 2019 it became illegal to even own them. Same goes for gravity knives, balisongs and a host of other obscure bladed items.

 

[marlowe]

Did I imagine it or was there ‘flick combs’ as well?

 

[Bozza]

Just a quick reminder to check out NSC's Amazon link for all your lethal weapon purchases.

Cheers.

 

[PFJ]

I still have my flick comb somewhere. Liked the idea of flick knives, but I lacked that violent streak. So these were perfect.
Also see imitation gun lighters

 

[schmunk]

Just a quick reminder to check out NSC's Amazon link for all your lethal weapon purchases.

Cheers.

Link added.

Amazon product

 

[Rdodge30]

I bought the obligatory bangers and flick knife on a school trip to France, inspired by the book cover of Run Baby Run by Nicky Cruz.

 

[Guinness Boy]

You know social media isn't mandatory right?

It pretty much is for teenagers. I only really use NSC. That's my point, there's social media induced stress for any parent these days.

If your reaction to social media use by young people is just banning it then it a) won't work and b) you're hiding from the issue.