# Brits: What's a zombie knife? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2018, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315 "2018-06-18T13:19:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/41 "2018-06-19T12:54:05Z")
I’ve always found nunchuk bans amusing, because the original idea behind the nunchuk was that it was something that you could use as a weapon which couldn’t be banned. You can say that the peasants can’t carry swords, but you can’t very well deny them threshing flails. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/42 "2018-06-19T14:23:01Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Those aren’t zombie killin’ knives - [THESE are zombie killin’ knives](https://www.zombietools.net/products/blades/) NB: These are “Zombie tools.” Perhaps the vendors, logically enough, go the straight nominalistic approach. Which undoubtedly is part of the whole legal definition train wreck. As suggested above in thread, “violence” itself is a troubling word; just like “assault.” Diver’s knives are in many ways designed to inflict violence against many fishy species. If they were _named_ “knives to gut human babies” that would be right out. But only economic decisions determine if they are also designed, named, and marketed additionally as a Baby-Care Tool–say, if a diver has one around the house and needs to cut through a cord around a new crib. So what most troubles me is that violence against Zombies–by legal definition, literally–is considered a bad thing in Great Britain. I guess I’ll never understand those guys. Also I’ve seen _Sean of the Dead_, so I think I’m informed on the issue. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/43 "2018-06-19T14:28:32Z")
FTR: Knives over a certain length are illegal to carry in many cities in the US. ETA (ref. **Chronos** ) above: “threshing flails.” Band name. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/44 "2018-06-19T14:39:29Z")
[QUOTE=Leo Bloom;21032167So what most troubles me is that violence against Zombies–by legal definition, literally–is considered a bad thing in Great Britain. I guess I’ll never understand those guys. Also I’ve seen _Sean of the Dead_, so I think I’m informed on the issue.[/QUOTE] We are a very liberal society - violence against anyone is considered a Very Bad Thing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/45 "2018-06-19T15:32:35Z")
I think the whole point of zombie media is that it’s about violence against humans, but with plausible deniability. You’ll face problems from a ratings board if you make a video game full of shooting humans, but if you just change the sprites slightly, you can claim that they’re zombies, and sell it to kids. And nobody is ever actually preparing for a zombie apocalypse: People who say that are really preparing for a human apocalypse, but don’t want to admit it. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/46 "2018-06-19T15:39:34Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > The term I’ve heard used to refer to the (usually young male) customers for such scary-looking-but-impractical knives is “mall ninja”. Silly buggers. I’d like to see them up against someone with a [Fairbairn-Sykes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbairn%E2%80%93Sykes_fighting_knife). ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/47 "2018-06-19T15:45:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > …And nobody is ever actually preparing for a zombie apocalypse: People who say that are really preparing for a human apocalypse, but don’t want to admit it. :dubious: “Nobody”? ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/48 "2018-06-19T15:47:13Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Silly buggers. I’d like to see them up against someone with a [Fairbairn-Sykes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbairn%E2%80%93Sykes_fighting_knife). That [scabbard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbairn%E2%80%93Sykes_fighting_knife#OSS_version) is the icing on the cake! ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/49 "2018-06-19T17:29:17Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > But only economic decisions determine if they are also designed, named, and marketed additionally as a Baby-Care Tool–say, if a diver has one around the house and needs to cut through a cord around a new crib. Or the cord on a new baby. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/50 "2018-06-19T18:25:23Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think the whole point of zombie media is that it’s about violence against humans, but with plausible deniability. You’ll face problems from a ratings board if you make a video game full of shooting humans, but if you just change the sprites slightly, you can claim that they’re zombies, and sell it to kids. And nobody is ever actually preparing for a zombie apocalypse: People who say that are really preparing for a human apocalypse, but don’t want to admit it. ^------ This sums it up, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/51 "2018-06-19T20:18:47Z")
What’s with all the neon green. I could see that looking cool to a 14 year old, but wouldn’t your average hooligan want colors that are a bit more sinister? Blacks, browns and brick reds, rather than something that makes it look like it came from a toy store. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/52 "2018-06-19T20:26:00Z")
Black and neon green is the hot color combo right now. See Monster Energy. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/53 "2018-06-19T20:43:07Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No, they are not “made for the slashing or stabbing of human beings,” they are made for the imagined cutting of _zombies_. Actually having seen some, they are just for show, they’d make terrible weapons. Like wall hanger swords. > > They are designed to appeal to those who would like to pretend that a zombie breakout is coming. Like wall hanger swords appeal to those who would like to imagine they would like to be a knight, saving damsels and slaying dragons. > > Altho not surprisingly knife violence is up, I doubt sincerely if any of it is due those these useless and showy fantasy pieces. I’d be really interested in seeing the stats on how many knife crimes are committed in the UK using ‘zombie’ knives. I’d guess it’s a pretty low percentage. Hell, I doubt that even knife violence is a serious issue, though I haven’t looked into it. I’d be surprised if we are talking more than a few hundred people killed a year, if that, in the UK. My WAG on this is that it’s another instance of the public thinking there is some serious issue and politicians appearing to Do Something™ by banning scary looking knives when almost certainly what violence there is will be from knives that will remain perfectly legal. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/54 "2018-06-19T21:00:56Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > People who say that are really preparing for a human apocalypse, but don’t want to admit it. They aren’t preparing for either. Whatever apocalypse they have in mind is a complete fiction; they might as well be preparing for the Rapture or the return of Cthulu. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/55 "2018-06-19T21:14:04Z")
> [@XT](#): > > I’d be really interested in seeing the stats on how many knife crimes are committed in the UK using ‘zombie’ knives. I’d guess it’s a pretty low percentage. Hell, I doubt that even knife violence is a serious issue, though I haven’t looked into it. I’d be surprised if we are talking more than a few hundred people killed a year, if that, in the UK. My WAG on this is that it’s another instance of the public thinking there is some serious issue and politicians appearing to Do Something™ by banning scary looking knives when almost certainly what violence there is will be from knives that will remain perfectly legal. From a earlier cite: > **[Why is knife crime increasing in England and Wales?](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/violent-knife-crime-rise-stabbing-murders-reasons-increase-london-why-a8326171.html)** > > Shocking statistics show incidents of stabbing have risen by 22 per cent in a year, with children as young as 13 among the victims \*Almost 40,000 offences involving knives or sharp weapons were recorded by police in the year, according figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which said “high harm” criminal offences have been building over the past two years…There have been more than 60 murders in London alone since the start of this year, amid a spate of stabbings and shootings that saw two teenagers murdered in one night earlier this month.l/I] But no mention of “Zombie Knives” being used, however, my guess is that you are correct that few crimes are actually commited using them. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/56 "2018-06-19T21:20:08Z")
I’d especially suspect that it’s mostly not zombie knives, because knives are often a weapon of opportunity. Things like a domestic dispute getting a little too heated, and one party or the other grabbing a knife from the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/57 "2018-06-19T21:43:26Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > …If they were _named_ “knives to gut human babies”… [SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!](https://media.giphy.com/media/TdwziQPhbNAzK/giphy.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/58 "2018-06-19T22:00:59Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > 😃 :smack: 😃 > > In my high school in the '80s, at any given moment, roughly 15% of my male classmates would have self inflicted nun-chuk bruises. That’s nothing. A friend of mine once chipped a tooth while fooling around with a butterfly knife - in class. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/59 "2018-06-19T23:05:59Z")
> [@XT](#): > > I’d be really interested in seeing the stats on how many knife crimes are committed in the UK using ‘zombie’ knives. I’d guess it’s a pretty low percentage. Hell, I doubt that even knife violence is a serious issue, though I haven’t looked into it. I’d be surprised if we are talking more than a few hundred people killed a year, if that, in the UK. My WAG on this is that it’s another instance of the public thinking there is some serious issue and politicians appearing to Do Something™ by banning scary looking knives when almost certainly what violence there is will be from knives that will remain perfectly legal. I don’t think the ban is a reaction to anything that has significantly happened (although the sensationalist Daily Fail headline does claim it), but rather, a pro-action to something which is significantly feared - an increase in the glamorisation of weapons amongst young people. It’s also odd that the article headline says “…customers will have to prove they are 18 or over to buy knives…”. That’s already in force, and has been for quite a few years (in fact ‘Zombie Knives’ have been banned for [more than a year](https://web.archive.org/web/20170328085543/https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives) already - must have been a slow news week, I guess) ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315/60 "2018-06-20T00:18:51Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Maybe–but gun control typically pushes people to _less_ effective alternatives. For instance, guns make extremely effective suicide tools. They can be used in the comfort of one’s home, with very little risk of running into someone that might stop you, are instant access once purchased, and have a high success rate. Contrast to bridges, drugs, etc., which are all less effective. So we generally have reason to expect that gun control might reduce the suicide rate. These knives, however, are _worse_ than the alternatives. It’s like having a ban on flintlock pistols. The standard alternative to a knife is a club or a fist. It is reasonable to suppose that if knifes were removed, people would resort to clubs or fists. Aside: the traditional English table knife has a rounded end. A deliberate effort was made to reduce the number of pointed knifes in society. Unlike the USA at the same time, where carrying blade weapons was common, and pointed knives were still used to eat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-whats-a-zombie-knife/816315.md?page=4)