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I was casting an eye over things you\u2019re not allowed to sell on eBay the other day and found myself wondering what is forbidden generally. What is it illegal to sell in the UK? On looking up the information, I found there really aren\u2019t that many prohibitions. Sites like Gumtree and eBay have their rules (and with good reason) but legally you are allowed to sell most things. <\/p>\n
However, just for reference here\u2019s the things you definitely can\u2019t sell anywhere because they are illegal to sell in the UK.<\/p>\n
Knives<\/strong> The ban includes lock knives which are not classed as folding knives as they have blades that can be locked and refolded only when you press a button. They are illegal to carry in public.<\/p>\n Other banned knives it is illegal to sell in the UK include butterfly knives (or \u2018balisongs\u2019) which have a blade hidden inside a handle that splits in the middle, and any knives that are \u2018disguised\u2019 in some way, such as those that look like an everyday object but have a knife inside. The government offers the interested reader a number of inventive examples such as a buckle, phone, brush or lipstick. Intriguing!<\/p>\n Flick knives or \u2018switchblades\u2019 are illegal to sell in the UK, as are gravity knives, stealth knives, zombie knives (the mind boggles but it transpires these are knives with a serrated edge). Swords, including samurai swords with a curved blade over 50cm are also banned, although there are exceptions for antiques and swords made using traditional methods before 1954. Sword-sticks – a hollow walking stick or cane containing a blade – are a no-no too.<\/p>\n Other items that are illegal to sell in the UK include: blowpipes (\u2018blow gun\u2019), telescopic truncheons that extend automatically by pressing button or spring in the handle, and batons – straight, side-handled or friction-lock truncheons.<\/p>\n Pretty coloured – but lethal – kubotans<\/p><\/div>Then you get into the realms of horror movies. You can\u2019t sell hollow kubotans which are a cylinder-shaped keychain holding spikes, or shurikens which are those lethal little stars you see people throw in movies, or kusari-gama – a sickle attached to a rope, cord or wire. <\/p>\n And finally you can\u2019t sell good old-fashioned knuckledusters. That\u2019s kind of a relief! <\/p>\n Ivory<\/strong> It is prohibited to sell ivory that remains in an unworked form regardless of its age, so if you have a tusk or a tooth, even if it is mounted, this cannot be sold on. In addition, any antique item that is reworked or fixed after June 1947 is illegal to sell.
\nYou can sell some knives of course, otherwise we\u2019d all be eating our fish and chips with a spoon, but according to the government website it is illegal to sell knives to anyone under 18 in the UK. This is with the exception of 16 to 18 year olds in Scotland who can buy cutlery and kitchen knives. The general exception to the rule is a knife with a folding blade less than 3 inches long (7.62cm) such as a Swiss Army penknife.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wholesaleclearance.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Illegal4.jpg\")
\nThe trade in ivory is now carefully controlled and thankfully our culture is aware of the horrific abuse elephant populations have endured over the past few centuries. Under current regulations you may only sell ivory if it is antique. What this means is that it must have been worked (or carved) into its current form before 1947. <\/p>\n
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