archers prepare to fire, take aim,
"Loose"
archery and the law
A bow is not a listed offensive weapon thus it is not illegal in itself to buy, own or use
The arrows are designed for target use (low penetration) so unless they are modified (broadheads) they are not offensive.
Which makes them as offensive as a baseball bat or cricket ball in the eyes of the law.
- A bow could be considered an offensive weapon, so when transporting or carrying one you have to have good reason, e.g. you are going to a practice range. If you unstring the bow then it ceases to be an offensive weapon at that moment as it isn't ready to be used, many people transport their bow unstrung.
- Keeping any weapon at your bedside or near a door could be considered as having it with intent to use it as a weapon against intruders and that would be illegal even if you didn't use it. You're only allowed to defend yourself with a 'weapon of opportunity' and you can't aim to harm anyone who isn't threatening you.
- You shouldn't use the bow where it presents a danger to the public. You need consent of the land owner or their agent. It is also strongly advised that you have insurance, which is why being a member of a club is useful.
- You cannot hunt with a bow and arrow in the UK. but you can practice the medieval art of sword play and archery
There were also some historical laws about being able to shoot Welshmen found in certain cities at nightfall (red dragon) and in York, there was a street where a woman could legally shoot her husband with a bow. But it isn't worth trying the case law in those circumstances, the CPS will not be lenient, but your within your rights to practice and hold a club for the practice thereof
Carrying bow and arrows in public:
Section 139, Criminal Justice Act, 1988
139. Offence of having article with blade or point in public place
(1) Subject to subsections (4) and (5) below, any person who has an article to which this section applies with him in a public place shall be guilty of an offence.
(4)It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had good reason or lawful authority for having the article with him in a public place
So my understanding is that if the police pulled you up for having a sharp object (i.e. an arrow which isn't really sharp) then you would need to prove you had them for a good reason. This is open to interpretation, but practising archery at a target is sufficient
What is ‘reasonable excuse’ under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 or ‘good reason’ under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 would depend on the circumstances. It would be for an individual to demonstrate that he or she has a good reason or reasonable excuse to possess a bladed article or offensive weapon in public. such as practising archery at a target or attending a dueling club Whether the individual’s explanation amounts to a ‘good reason’ or a ‘reasonable excuse’ is a matter for the courts to determine and not the police.
Canadian Weapons Law
Canadian law is quite reasonable when it comes to weapons. A weapon is defined by intention not function. This means that a baseball bat is a tool for playing baseball unless your intention is to beat up your neighbour with it. The same is true for a sword. If you have a good reason to be carrying one, i.e. “I’m taking it to my martial arts class”, then generally you’re in the clear. However a police officer has a tremendous amount of leeway in the judgement they make of your intention. If they believe that you may have nefarious intent they can confiscate the weapon. They can also make judgements about risk to the ‘public peace’. If they think you carrying the item is going to ‘disturb the peace’ they may also choose to take action in some way.
An illustration; one morning at 6am while carrying a bare blade from my apartment to a nearby demonstration, I became aware of a car pacing me along the street. I glanced over my shoulder to see that it was a police cruiser. The window slowly slid down and the cop inside called out “Off to the crusades?” I paused for a moment and told him that I was going to a nearby demonstration for my martial arts school and that seemed to satisfy him, with a nod he was off.
An alternate scenario had less comfortable results. Two students were on their way from class on public transit. They boarded their bus with rapiers strapped to their backpacks. The bus driver made no immediate comment but once the students had boarded he called the police and proceeded to wait at the stop for them to arrive. A message was relayed through a few passengers to the Duello members that the police had been called and the members decided to disembark and seek another way home.
A third incident involved a student from another school. He was carrying a sword cane with him on the skytrain (technically legal as long as the blade is longer than 12 inches). A skytrain police officer questioned him about the cane to which his response was “What’s it to you?” The cane was promptly confiscated. so always reply its for practice down at the historical battle re-enactment society
Wise Rules for Transporting Swords in Public
For sword transport specifically I have a few recommendations:
If possible travel with the sword in a bag that completely covers it. This takes any discomfort out of the equation and generally avoids all possible concerns of police officers as well as potential for others to misunderstand.
Alternately cover the hilt of the sword with a small bag. Generally as soon as you do this the sword becomes essentially unidentifiable to the general public. Most people seem to think it’s a broom.
Carry an Academie Duello card or rack card. That way if questioned you can always show them the card and add some legitimacy to your story.
Carry the sword strapped to a bag or by holding the forte (like we do before the salute) or supporting it under the pommel with the blade lying along the length of your arm and by your shoulder (like a rifle parade position). Don’t carry it by the handle or brandish it in any way. I hope this seems obvious.
Wise Rules for Transporting Archery Equipment in Public
The following was put together by Patricia Gonsalves our Archery Program head.
On transit, archery students may:
Carry a quiver/bag of arrows exposed as long as their bow is in a case.
Carry a bow (1) out of case as long as their arrows are completely concealed within a bag or case
General rules and good sense:
Keep all equipment in secure cases
Do not open cases on a Translink vehicle
If the driver asks what is in the cases answer ‘archery sports equipment’ and school or club associated with.
If the driver asks you to leave the bus, leave the bus. Follow rule #1 of Duello: don’t be an idiot.
These are generally good rules for on the street transport as well.
Communicating about Swords and Bows in Public
If a security official or police officer asks you about your sword or bow:
Be polite. They’re doing their job.
Tell them about the school and make it clear that the sword is dull and made for practice or that your bow is unstrung.
Show them a card or tell them the location of the school
swords uk
Samurai and other curved Swords - On April 6th 2008 a law came into effect banning samurai and other curved swords with a blade length of 50cm or more but not straight edged swords, there are some exceptions for registered martial artists, re-enactors and even certain genuine Japanese swords.
An amendment to this act was passed, which came into effect on the 1st of August 2008, which allows curved and samurai swords which are handmade using traditional forging/production methods to be sold without a license which you will see on the site and can buy and own without a license.
We also sell handmade swords which, in our expert opinion, meet the definition set out in the amendment, but, according to the home office, were not really intended to loop hole.
Some controversial legislation was passed in 1988 which made certain types of knives illegal to import or sell in the U.K, these include push daggers, butterfly knives, blowpipes, sword canes, gravity knives (similar to flick knives), knuckle dusters (inc. knives and other weapons with knuckle duster style handles), throwing stars (with 3 or more spikes) and some martial arts equipment, we will not source these items for you so please don't ask. For a more detailed breakdown you can view 'The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons)' by clicking OFFENSIVE WEAPONS ACT .
a discussion of Rule 103 (c) of the Archery GB Rules of Shooting and what constitutes a offence. I'm now wondering how the rules of Archery GB actually tie in with the law (or laws, Scotland and England being different).
Ordinary members of the public can buy archery equipment, but are they allowed to use them on private property without being governed by the rules of Archery GB? yes
are we required by law to practice to repel boarders?
So, there definitely *was* a law requiring people to practice archery. I *think* that 33 H.8.c.9 simply confirmed it, and did not repeal it. Now we turn to the Chronological Index. This shows that 3 H.8.c.3 was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act (26 & 27 Vict.c.125) [this was a law to tidy up and remove a whole range of obsolete laws]. I presume, but am not certain, that this also repealed sections 1 to 4 and 7 to 10 of 33 H.8.c.9. The whole of the latter was repealed by the Betting and Gaming Act (1960 c.60).
So: F The law requires all Englishmen to practice archery. T It did so once upon a time. Tb It stopped doing so in 1863. T It definitely stopped doing so in 1960.
imagine rocking up to a meeting of the battle reenactment society in full kit, on mounted houses too, they would shit themselves, because and i say this confidently they're fucking cowards,
men of honour & women of valour it is your right and duty to stand up to the oppressors and tyrants of people's and all nations, it is what you were borne to do.
to arm's!.
men of honour & women of valour it is your right and duty to stand up to the oppressors and tyrants of people's and all nations, it is what you were borne to do.
to arm's!.
