It’s Official: The British Government Is Going After Ninja Swords

[jesse]

I don't know if the group has seen this yet.  This was copied from one of my news feeds and wanted to pass it along in case it affects you.

 

If you live in the United Kingdom, your prime minister is coming for your Ninja Swords.
Keir Starmer tweeted on Thursday that his government will ban the apparently prevalent weapons “by this summer.” Anyone caught possessing one could face six months in prison.

You’re probably wondering what a “ninja sword” even is. According to the British Home Office, the machete-like device is “a fixed bladed article with a blade between 14-24 inches” with “a single straight cutting edge,” “a tanto style point,” or “a reversed tanto style point.” The government also concedes that “there is not a precise historical description of what a ninja sword is,” which could lead to this ban being equally as subjective as U.S.-proposed “red flag” laws.
Better quench your ninja fix now while you still can.

 

Warm Regards,

Jesse

  

[Kantaro]

 

[vajo]

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ninja-swords-banned-by-summer-as-manifesto-commitment-delivered

 

I think they talk about these swords.

[jesse]

@Chris Sch. I understand what your saying but the language in the bill fits numerous types of swords.  Don't go by the headline they use of 'Ninja swords' go by the description that will be used to confiscate it.

And from my experience with politicians and these innocuous looking bills, they will be used to take your 'weapons' away, whether sword Art or not.

If the government can take away your weapons, they will.

 

Warm Regards,

Jesse

[Robert S]

Nihonto with minimal sori could fall afoul of this law.  Might work better if they added an age criteria - i.e. less than 50 years old and straight.  I don't think the people they are targeting are buying older blades.  Still might catch the occasional piece from a few contemporary swordsmiths, but more manageable.

[Ironheart]

                 I just came on here to warn every one on here about this same issue I learned today about the UK but it seems some are aware already.   How stupid, will this outlaw machetes who work in landscaping ?  Or huge butcher knives used by cooks,  or what about Bokkens with a sharpened edge.  The pictures I saw shown were not even Japanese swords- but Gurkha, none were traditional Japanese blades.   As if criminals are going to obey the laws?  Can this Law be any more stupid?   I guess criminals will have to go back to renting Vans and running victims down or just getting a gun.  Oh wait, let me break my "in case of emergencies"  bottle to use the broken bottle to defend myself.   AS IF COLLECTORS OF Japanese SWORDS WALK AROUND WITH THEIR DAISHO TUCKED INTO THEIR HAKAMA!     Do any of you go out in public that way?   Here in Texas we carry ours in a Portable Firearms Case with large words NOT A FIREARM on the sides.  

One poster said you better get your fix in now----  But from the news I heard here in the USA is that all swords and knives are to be turned in to the authorities.  It did not mention those who already own collectable swords or antiques or historically relevant blades.   It lumped it all in together from what I gathered to be turned in.   ( The Government will pick out the good ones to keep or sell at Auctions )  Sorry Brits- the UK Government has caught the idiot bug,  this will further prevent Law Abiding citizens from self protection. F-them, get a survival tube and bury them in your back yard or build a hidden vault in your home.           We have a phrase here in Texas, " You can take my gun away after you pry my cold dead fingers off of it!" In your case,  you can create a banner or (  Bumper Sticker )     " You can take my Sword away after you chop my cold dead fingers off if it! "

 

 

[Rivkin]

Finally. At least one government has the balls to do something about ninjas.

[Schneeds]

Why wouldn't you just make an exception for antiques. Drug dealers are going to start dropping thousands on tanto when any idiot can buy a grind stone and fashion a knife from any number of sources? Lol

[Robert S]

I dug into the actual legal context.  Relevant defences are:

• The weapon is antique (over 100 years old)
• The item being of historical importance.
• Making the weapons available to a museum or gallery in certain circumstances.
• Educational purposes.
• Made before 1954.
• Made at any other time according to the traditional methods of sword making by hand.

Seems like they can't figure out whether the age limit is 70 years or 100, but overall this should provide a number of lines of reasonable defence for a collector.

[George KN]

In all seriousness, this is getting a bit out of hand. Although there are the age and tradition defences, I don't know how I could actually prove to a police officer my mumei shinto and koto blades were made when I say they are if they ever decided to seize them, nor how to prove in writing they are "traditionally" made. 

 

I do wonder whether long term setting up our collections as online museums might be possible to help skirt around these rules... Might even have tax benefits? Not sure what sort of paperwork would be involved though.

[Mikaveli]

5 hours ago, Robert S said:

I dug into the actual legal context.  Relevant defences are:

• The weapon is antique (over 100 years old)
• The item being of historical importance.
• Making the weapons available to a museum or gallery in certain circumstances.
• Educational purposes.
• Made before 1954.
• Made at any other time according to the traditional methods of sword making by hand.

Seems like they can't figure out whether the age limit is 70 years or 100, but overall this should provide a number of lines of reasonable defence for a collector.

No, the 1954 is specifically for curved swords, the 100 year rules is in general for offensive weapons.

The "Ninja sword ban" goes after single straight cutting edge swords, between 14-24" and with a "tanto" style point.

 

Section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 currently makes available defences that can generally be applied to all the offensive weapons on the prohibited list in respect of:

• The weapon is antique (over 100 years old).

• Functions carried out on behalf of the Crown or of a visiting force.

• The item being of historical importance.

• Making the weapons available to a museum or gallery in certain circumstances.

• Educational purposes.

• Production of certain films or certain television programmes.

• Theatrical performances and rehearsals of such performances.

5.3. For curved swords, there are further specific defences.

• Made before 1954.

• Made at any other time according to the traditional methods of sword making by hand.

• Religious reasons (this includes for zombie-style knives and machetes as well).

• Religious ceremonies (this includes for zombie-style knives and machetes as well).

• Use in permitted activities (for example a historical re-enactment or sporting activity).

• Blunt.

 

[The Forest Ninja]

8 hours ago, Rivkin said:

Finally. At least one government has the balls to do something about ninjas.

 

Leave the Ninjas alone. Name 1 who caught caught doing a crime in UK. 

 

Most of all blade crimes are with kitchen knives. So go after Chefs instead.

[Rivkin]

2 hours ago, The Forest Ninja said:

 

Leave the Ninjas alone. Name 1 who caught caught doing a crime in UK. 

 

Shinobi leave no names.

[Cola]

6 hours ago, Mikaveli said:

 

• Religious reasons (this includes for zombie-style knives and machetes as well).

 

 

Which religions encourage one to have a "zombie knife" or a machete?

[pcfarrar]

22 hours ago, Mikaveli said:

No, the 1954 is specifically for curved swords, the 100 year rules is in general for offensive weapons.

The "Ninja sword ban" goes after single straight cutting edge swords, between 14-24" and with a "tanto" style point.

It does say they are adding most of the curved sword defences to Ninja swords as well.

 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e568b187cebda7c4ca4cbe/Public_Consultation_Government_Response__-_Ninja_Swords-FOR_PUBLICATION.pdf

 

[Shuko]

They should be passing legislation that states any politician in office around the world who has an IQ below 100 will be euthanased.

 

 

[moriarty]

17 hours ago, Cola said:

 

Which religions encourage one to have a "zombie knife" or a machete?

A few Caribbean religions to my knowledge 

[Tohagi]

Is there any authentique Ninjato registred by NBTHK?

And by the way, could be nihonto token considered as a religion? 

[Stephen]

@Rivkin

I was wondering if some of our Ninja members was going to take offense LOL

[Rivkin]

6 hours ago, Stephen said:

@Rivkin

I was wondering if some of our Ninja members was going to take offense LOL

Since once I was investigated for "Scythian Supremacism"... few realize how powerful we are. No one bans akinakes. No one has the guts to openly question why. Ninjas are just the beginning.

[lonely panet]

Personally i think ninjas have gotten away with far to much lately.

 

Just how on earth will they find them to confiscate there swords? 

[Tohagi]

Hopes the Iga and Koga will do something about this 

 

My question about ninjato "papered" Hozon was half serious.

Any one heard or see (or posses ) such a blade ?

[Brian]

General consensus is that there was no such thing as a Ninjato, and that they used regular swords just like everyone else. The idea of a Ninja sword being straighter or different is apparently a myth. Someone said they sometimes had very large square guards so that they could be used as stepping stones to climb a wall...but I won't dignify that with a comment.

[Kantaro]

23 minutes ago, Brian said:

they used regular swords just like everyone else. The idea of a Ninja sword being straighter or different is apparently a myth. Someone said they sometimes had very large square guards so that they could be used as stepping stones to climb a wall...but I won't dignify that with a comment.

 

So if I understand it correctly we only have to find a Ninja and whatever he uses becomes automatical a Ninjato...?

[Tohagi]

... I've heard about short swords intended to be used indoor and quite straight to stab the oponent in tsuki mode...

Apparently a myth so...