Standard Delivery £5.95

2 - 4 working days – Delivery is Monday to Friday

Age Verification Delivery £6.16

2 - 4 working days – Delivery is Monday to Friday

Next Working Day Delivery £7.95

1 - 2 Working Days – Delivery is Monday to Saturday

Orders must be placed before 12:00pm (GMT) for same day processing
Orders after 12pm Friday will be shipped the following Monday
We do not ship on weekends.
Due to spiralling courier costs we are no longer to offer delivery to Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Highlands.

Delivery Surcharge (on all oversized packages. e.g. swords) £19.95

Increases in courier shipping costs for oversized parcels mean they are now subject to an additional carriage charge of £19.95.

No, we do not currently ship orders outside the UK mainland. Due to spiralling courier costs we are no longer to offer delivery to Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Highlands.

All orders are shipped using a tracked delivery service. As soon as your order is dispatched you will automatically receive an email with your tracking number from Royal Mail (Or another carrier depending on the items size and location)

Yes you can cancel your order. Please email us on: hello@dnaleisure.co.uk with your full name , order number and reason for cancelling.

If you wish to return you unused and unopened items please use our contact us page or download, complete and return our Order Cancellation Form

Order Cancellation Form

The answer is simple. It’s totally up to you!

We would highly recommend registering an account with us, especially as you'll intend to shop with us again! This will make your shopping experience with us a more pleasurable one. After all, who enjoys writing address information out again and again!

Furthermore, this will give you access to:

- View past orders

- Upload your ID - To speed up age checks. This way your order will always be processed faster.

- Our special offers. As you have been loyal to us, its only right to do the same back. Therefore by registering an account, you will have the opportunity to receive an array of fantastic special offers, deals and promotions.

- Fire-Sale - From time to time we may need to clear stock in order to make space for new, exciting products. This results in holding what we call a “FireSale” to free up space. Only our lucky registered customers will have the opportunity to have access to these deals which will come through by emails.

If you don't wish to open an account just yet, you can checkout as our most welcomed guest. This is a speedy process, just follow the checkout instructions.

Ensuring age-restricted items arrive in the right hands

In October 2017, the UK government consulted on changes to legislation to restrict the sale of knives and corrosive substances in response to an increase in serious crimes involving knives and ‘acid attacks’. In June 2018, the Home Secretary introduced the new Offensive Weapons bill, which received Royal Assent on 16th May 2019

The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (‘OWA’) is coming into effect from 6th April 2022. From this date, couriers are legally not permitted to deliver age-restricted items unless the Age Verification (‘AV’) service is used.

Under the OWA, if an item is sold via the internet, the seller must check the buyer is not under 18 at the point of sale and take steps to ensure bladed items are not delivered into the hands of someone under 18.

What this means about your deliveries

From the 6th April 2022*
All orders containing age-restricted items will now require an Age Verification delivery service. This means you will now need to prove that you are aged 18 or over unless you clearly look over 25. You will also be asked to sign for the item before it is handed to you.

Changes to our service
Age verified delivery will incur additional costs and will start from £6.16. Orders can be collected directly from our warehouse or if you spend £60+ you will receive free delivery. You will be notified at the time of purchase that proof of age is still required at the point of delivery.

What you will need
Only a valid Passport or Driving Licence will be accepted by the couriers. If the item is delivered to a neighbour they will also need to provide valid ID (Passport or Driving Licence).

*DNA Leisure's Age and ID verification delivery services commence on April 1st 2022; to ensure all deliveries meet the 6th April deadline.

If you are purchasing a knife or age-restricted item we are legally required to check a customer's age in accordance with UK laws. To confirm your age and identity we require a legal document containing both a picture of you and a reference to your date of birth; this includes documents like a Drivers License, Passport or in some cases a firearms or shotgun certificate.

Please be aware that we use AgeChecked, a third-party Age Verification software provider, for any orders that contain age restricted products. This complies with our legal obligation to ensure that we are not allowing minors to purchase age restricted items from our website. AgeChecked Ltd do not store any personal data and all accounts are anonymised and private.

If we fail to obtain your age verification via AgeChecked, we need to be able to find you on the public electoral roll using your exact name and address. This just involves searching the details you provide against a national database of over 18's. We must find an exact match at your address to use this method.

If you're sending a gift to friends or family, we will also require a copy of their ID document as well.

'We reserve the right to notify the police of any orders which appear to be an attempt to break the law or raise other concerns to us. We reserve the right to decline any order at our absolute discretion.

Providing your ID is really simple...

The whole process is quick and easy, simply take a photo of your license or passport using your mobile phone and then send it to us at hello@dnaleisure.co.uk. Once we have checked your information our warehouse team will despatch your order. If you've ordered with us before, we won't need to check your ID again unless your address or any other personal details change.

Please note, if you place your order, but then refuse or are unable to comply with our age checks or do not provide proof of age on request, we reserve the right to cancel your order and refund you minus a 20% restocking fee capped at £5. This helps us to cover the costs of running our age checks.

For more information please email us or call 01582 765906.

How our Age Verified order process works...

Useful Points

Previously, if you change your address we would have required up-to-date address information but this is not needed now because of age verified deliveries.

If you do not collect your parcel from the Royal Mail sorting office it will be returned to us and you will have to pay for re-delivery.

If you look under 25 years old and do not have ID (Driving License or Passport) your items cannot be delivered and your postage will not be refunded.

No. All online orders are processed automatically by the Paypal secure payment gateway. When placing your order you will be given a choice of paying by Paypal account or by credit/debit card (WorldPay).

You do not need to sign up for Paypal to purchase through this site.

Absolutely not!

We understand, it gets very frustrating when companies send too many emails which is why we currently send up to 2 emails each week.

Occasionally, if we make a mistake or have some really great offers or a competition we wouldn't want you to miss, we may send you an additional email.

If for some reason the product you purchased is not right for you. You are more than welcome to return it (At your own cost) for a full refund.

If your order has been damaged during transit to you yourself, you must notify us of this within 1 working day of delivery. We will then happily replace this for you.

Visible damage, misuse and wear & tear are not covered under warranty. Such products will only be returned to sender and carriage costs invoiced and billed.

Returns are usually credited with 14 days of receipt. We will refund you as soon as the returns been processed.

For more, in depth information regarding our returns policy please visit our Terms and Conditions page.

So we can process returns more effectively, download, complete and return our Returns Form with your parcel.

Returns Form

Similar to paintball markers, GelSoft guns fire frangible ammo. Small balls of water-based gel that pop on impact. They're a lot of fun to use, but there are several very important conditions to their use and ownership.

Age Restriction

You MUST be over 18 to purchase a GelSoft gun. You do not need to be over 18 to use one provided you have permission from an adult who's supervising.

Realistic Imitation Firearms

Some of our GelSoft guns look very similar to real firearms. Some are considered to be Realistic Imitation Firearms under the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006. If you're purchasing one of our all black guns you will have to confirm with us that the gun will be used for one of the 'permitted activities'. Examples include skirmishing, historical re-enactment or target practice. This is only permissible on private property where you have full legal permission to use them.

Insurance Cover

You need to have insurance cover for the intended 'Permitted Activities' but don't worry as most household insurance policies cover activities like skirmishing at home, but you will need to double check this and confirm you understand this during checkout by ticking the relevant box.

Safety

You must use eye protection with our GelSoft guns.

To grow, or rehydrate ammo simply pour the desired amount of gel beads into a container. Please ensure you use a big enough bucket/container to grow the ammo. Add more than enough water into a container and allow 3-5 hours for the GelSoft ammo to grow. Once grown, drain out any excess water leaving you with just fully grown gel balls.

GelSoft guns generally use two different forms of batteries, a 7.4v and 11.1v battery cell. The voltage usually indicates the 'pressure' of the battery and will determine how fast the GELSOFT gun shoots. Using a higher voltage battery will typically increase the firing rate of the blaster however there are trade-offs when using a 11.1v. The increased battery voltage means that more pressure and repetitions are placed on the gearing and motors which can cause increased stress and wear on components. Blasters that are not built for 11.1v use may cause misfiring as the gearing may not fully cycle before the next stroke of the piston occurs.

Please note: Upgrading your battery voids any warranty.

If your battery is fully charged but doesn’t shoot or only gets a few minutes of use... This is usually indicative of a battery failure. The battery needs to be replaced and the defective battery disposed of safely. Over time, batteries do need to be replaced. If you are having this issue within 30 days of purchase, please email us and we will send you a replacement.

If your gun is emitting a high pitch "squealing" noise and you are not hearing the piston firing, this is usually indicative of the motor of the GelSoft gun not being aligned with the gears in the gearbox. GelSoft guns have motors located in the handgrip of each gun. There will be a large flathead screw piece typically located in the centre of the handguard. Tightening/Loosening will raise or lower the motor to a point where the gears should catch and operation continues as normal. If you hear no noise at all, then the gears are far too low or too high and need to go in the other direction. If you are uncomfortable or unsure about how to proceed, contact us on sales@gelsoft.co.uk

If a blaster is cycling as normal but is not feeding/shooting any GELSOFT ammo… This usually indicates an issue/blockage with the magazine. Try the following:

1. Attempt to clear any blockage by shaking and tapping the mag to loosen any gels.
2. If the above doesn’t work, empty the magazine and shake/tap out all ammo, and then reload. This usually tends to happen after not using the gun for a while.
3. Ensure you have drained out any remaining water after growing your ammo so actual water isn’t loaded into the magazine.

Please Note: Ensure you empty the magazine fully after use. If GELSOFT ammo is left in there for some time, they will dehydrate and shrink.

Ensure that the battery connection is secure and there is no visible severed or stripped wires from the buttstock. Use a different battery if possible to ascertain if the issue is located with the battery or the blaster. If the blaster is still not firing, contact customer support at sales@gelsoft.co.uk.

If you are purchasing a knife or age-restricted item we are legally required to check a customer's age in accordance with UK laws. To confirm your age and identity we require a legal document containing both a picture of you and a reference to your date of birth; this includes documents like a Drivers License, Passport or in some cases a firearms or shotgun certificate.

Please be aware that we use AgeChecked, a third-party Age Verification software provider, for any orders that contain age restricted products. This complies with our legal obligation to ensure that we are not allowing minors to purchase age restricted items from our website. AgeChecked Ltd do not store any personal data and all accounts are anonymised and private.

If we fail to obtain your age verification via AgeChecked, we need to be able to find you on the public electoral roll using your exact name and address. This just involves searching the details you provide against a national database of over 18's. We must find an exact match at your address to use this method.

If you're sending a gift to friends or family, we will also require a copy of their ID document as well.

'We reserve the right to notify the police of any orders which appear to be an attempt to break the law or raise other concerns to us. We reserve the right to decline any order at our absolute discretion.

Providing your ID is really simple...

The whole process is quick and easy, simply take a photo of your license or passport using your mobile phone and then send it to us at hello@dnaleisure.co.uk. Once we have checked your information our warehouse team will despatch your order. If you've ordered with us before, we won't need to check your ID again unless your address or any other personal details change.

Please note, if you place your order, but then refuse or are unable to comply with our age checks or do not provide proof of age on request, we reserve the right to cancel your order and refund you minus a 20% restocking fee capped at £5. This helps us to cover the costs of running our age checks.

For more information please email us or call 01582 765906.

New Laws (2024) for Zombie Knives & Fixed Blades

With each passing year comes a fresh set of laws, and this time, there are notable changes regarding the classification of 'Zombie Knives'.

In recent weeks, we've been inundated with calls and emails from concerned customers seeking clarification on these new laws, fearing they may inadvertently possess something illegal. Media outlets have been abuzz with reports suggesting that all machetes will soon be added to the banned list, with further bans anticipated.

Fortunately, the government isn't imposing a blanket ban on all machetes but is instead targeting a wide array of bladed items, including many that our customers—and ourselves—currently own.

The precise wording of this new legislation remains unsettled, but we anticipate it will broaden the definition of 'zombie knife', potentially encompassing many more innocent knives. Click here to read the draft legislation in full.

The current laws as they stand:
A "Zombie Knife" is defined as a blade featuring both a cutting and serrated edge, along with **visual elements or textual references that imply its intended use for violence. These visual elements may consist of depictions such as blood, skulls, zombies, or scenes of violence, while textual references include words like "killing," "combat," "self-defense," and similar language that may be interpreted as inciting violence.

THE NEW DEFINITION
As we understand it, the NEW definition defines 'Zombie Knives' as – A Knife with: A plain cutting edge; A sharp pointed end; Blade over 8 inches^[1]

Which ALSO has:

A serrated edge (except an up to two inch serrated edge next to the handle); OR More than one hole in the blade OR Spikes;^[2] OR More than two sharp points on/in the blade;^[3]

The specific wording on images or depictions of violence on the blade or handle has been removed.

[1] - Blade measured in a straight line distance from the top of the handle to the tip of the blade.
[2] - Presumably meaning any extra sharp points on or around the blade.
[3] - Excluding:

1) A sharp point where the angle between the edges which create the point is an angle of at least 90 degrees. (Where there is a curved edge, the angle will be measured by reference to the tangent of the curve.)
2) A sharp point on the cutting edge of the blade near the handle. (We'll provide a diagram for this shortly)

Examples of items that will likely become illegal to own:

Holes on blade and over 8”

Has both a sharp edge and a serrated edge + over 8”

Over 8”, has more than one hole, has more than one point, serrated edges

Over 8” blade + serrated and sharp edge

Examples of items that should not be affected by the adjustments:

Only has a sharp edge

Only has a sharp edge

 

 

We do not have a precise date for the arrival of the new legislation. Our anticipation is that it will likely occur around September, although there is a possibility of it being either earlier or later than this timeframe.

Hand-in & Compensation

Traditionally, when a law undergoes a change resulting in the prohibition of an item that was previously legal, compensation is often offered. Hence, here's the good news: The government plans to conduct a surrender program, likely accompanied by a compensation scheme.

Based on past experiences, we've witnessed compensation being provided, leading us to believe it will likely occur again. However, it's important to note that this is not legal advice; rather, it reflects our informed perspective.

Historically, the surrender process has been relatively straightforward: Wrap and secure the knives you intend to surrender, then bring them to designated police stations. Inform the staff at the front desk that you wish to surrender knives, and they will dispatch someone to document and retrieve the items.

During this process, they may request some personal information and issue a receipt. Compensation has been provided in the past at this stage.

According to current information, it appears that individuals may be eligible to claim £10 for each surrendered "zombie" knife. However, this figure is subject to change as more details emerge. Rest assured, we will update this page with confirmed information as soon as it becomes available!

What happens now?

Currently, you are free to continue using and enjoying knives that do not fall under the category of 'Zombie Knives'. Whether it's for gardening, farm work, outdoor activities with appropriate permissions, or simply as collectible items kept indoors.

However, once the new legislation is officially enacted, these knives must be surrendered if found to be in violation of the revised laws.

We have ceased importing, purchasing, or restocking these items. Once our current inventory is depleted, they will not be replenished. Please refer to the link below for a comprehensive list of items classified as "Zombie Knives". This is an opportunity for you to make a purchase.

The silver lining is that you will receive a refund for a portion of your investment when you surrender these items.

A critical reminder: When transporting these items to a surrender location, ensure they are securely sheathed, well-packaged, and stored in your vehicle's trunk. DO NOT leave them loose in your car or easily accessible.

We will provide updates as soon as additional information becomes available.

EDC or Everyday Carry Knives

The term EDC has a different meaning based on your country of residence. Generally speaking, it means a set or series of items that you carry with you on a daily basis for convenience. This can include bags, pens, wallets, watches and so on. For most people though, the big one is knives.

EDC Knives are the go to everyday knife that you take with you as you go about your day. In some countries, this can be nearly any knife. In the UK however, it's limited. We can, as a general rule, carry a knife with a non-locking blade that measures less than three inches. This means that there is no button or mechanism that needs to be adjusted before the blade can close. It can freely close just by folding the knife shut.

Generally you're allowed to carry such a knife with you throughout much of the UK without needing any specific reasons to do so. There are of course still some limitations that are mostly common sense such as schools, prisons and so on. 

When we say EDC knife, we mean a tool that is legal to carry with you, without a specific reason. We stock a reasonable range of these knives which you can find on our EDC category page.

*Please be aware, this isn't legal advice, just general option based on our understanding of the laws. If in doubt, contact your local police station, or a laywer.

Knife Styles/Types

There are so many knife types and designs that it would be almost impossible to include every single on of them in a reasonable page of information. For now, we'll stick to the main contenders, the iconics, most populars and most well known varients.

Ball Bearing:

Ball bearing knives are just regular everyday lock knives that feature one powerful upgrade. A ball bearing system in the pivot that reduces the friction you feel as the knife opens. This serves to make the manual operation of these knives incredibly smooth. They feel extremely premium when compared to a non ball bearing knife. This type of mechanism is more often found on high end, more expensive knives, but is increasingly appearing on more affordable models too. 

Lock Knives:

Knives that lock open when the blade is deployed. These can be very simple or extremely complex mechanisms but the general function is the same. Once the blade is opened, a mechanism such as lever or button must be activated before the blade can be closed again. This is a safety feature as it prevents the blade from accidentally closing onto your fingers while you're using the knife. The most common mechanisms are called: liner locks, frame locks, button locks and back locks.

The Tanto:

The Tanto design originates in Japan during the Heian period, however has been modified many times since its inception. It was originally designed as one of a Samurai’s three swords or ‘Nihonto’. These knives were designed to be stabbing and piercing weapons but have evolved since then to become tools with many additional uses.

Traditionally Tanto knives would feature sloping points that terminate in a sharp, semi-reinforced point that were fairly resistant to deformation. More recently, they’ve come to feature very angular, very reinforced points that are exceptional piercers as well as being extremely resistant to bending or breaking. What's come to be known as a Tanto, is really an 'American' tanto. It can even be traced back to being popularised by Cold Steel.

Long gone are the days where they were only useful for the military. These days tantos are renowned for their exceptional geometry and resiliant point that is far less prone to deformation compared to other knife types. They make great camping and outdoors knives and are very well suited to general cutting tasks too.

The Bowie:

Bowie knives’ origins are shrouded in mystery, yet most collectors and historians agree that they started out as a pattern designed by James Black for Jim Bowie. These knives are typically quite large and all feature deeply clipped points designed to offer a sharper piercing tip.

Most common Bowie knives also feature cross guards designed to protect the users fingers as well as preventing fingers sliding onto the sharpened cutting edge.

Bowie knives have become very common amongst collectors and hunters alike owing to their unique appearance as well as their versatility in the field. These knives come in many forms, varying greatly in price and quality as well as design and intended use.

The Dagger:

Daggers are usually double edged, symmetrically shaped knives sharpened to a point terminating roughly central to the lines of the handle.

Commonly designed to fit a boot knife role. ;Today, they are often used in the same role as many other knives when they aren’t available or simply down to taste. Mostly collectors knives these ones, as they can be very modern and premium in appearance while lacking as many practical applications as other types of knives on this list. Though, as will any knife, it'll still perform all your daily cutting tasks as required!

The Karambit:

Karambits are of Southeast Asian design where they began life as agricultural tools designed to harvest plants such as rice as well as raking roots and various other similar activities. They are believed to have been inspired by the claws of large animals such as cats and bears.

The Karambit works so well because it grabs into the material and the curved edge draws into the cut. These are actually fantastic gardening implements, and are uncannily good at opening boxes.

Generally speaking, you may be allowed to take a fixed blade knife camping provided you're camping on an established campground, have the land-owners permission, or if you own the land yourself.

You must prove you have a good reason to carry the knife such as camp-craft and fire-making. It is often up to the Officer and the Courts discretion to decide if your reason for needing the knife is adequate. Make sure to use common sense and not go waving your knife about.

It's good practice to keep your tool wrapped up and stowed in the bottom of a bag until on location and out of public view.

A non-locking knife is a folding blade that closes back into the handle. It does not have any mechanism to hold the blade open such that if folded the knife it will return to the closed position without having to disengage any sort of lock. This is very important as it is a condition for some sub three inch knives to be legal to carry on your person without an established reason.

New Laws (2024) for Zombie Knives & Fixed Blades

With each passing year comes a fresh set of laws, and this time, there are notable changes regarding the classification of 'Zombie Knives'.

In recent weeks, we've been inundated with calls and emails from concerned customers seeking clarification on these new laws, fearing they may inadvertently possess something illegal. Media outlets have been abuzz with reports suggesting that all machetes will soon be added to the banned list, with further bans anticipated.

Fortunately, the government isn't imposing a blanket ban on all machetes but is instead targeting a wide array of bladed items, including many that our customers—and ourselves—currently own.

The precise wording of this new legislation remains unsettled, but we anticipate it will broaden the definition of 'zombie knife', potentially encompassing many more innocent knives. Click here to read the draft legislation in full.

The current laws as they stand:
A "Zombie Knife" is defined as a blade featuring both a cutting and serrated edge, along with **visual elements or textual references that imply its intended use for violence. These visual elements may consist of depictions such as blood, skulls, zombies, or scenes of violence, while textual references include words like "killing," "combat," "self-defense," and similar language that may be interpreted as inciting violence.

THE NEW DEFINITION
As we understand it, the NEW definition defines 'Zombie Knives' as – A Knife with: A plain cutting edge; A sharp pointed end; Blade over 8 inches^[1]

Which ALSO has:

A serrated edge (except an up to two inch serrated edge next to the handle); OR More than one hole in the blade OR Spikes;^[2] OR More than two sharp points on/in the blade;^[3]

The specific wording on images or depictions of violence on the blade or handle has been removed.

[1] - Blade measured in a straight line distance from the top of the handle to the tip of the blade.
[2] - Presumably meaning any extra sharp points on or around the blade.
[3] - Excluding:

1) A sharp point where the angle between the edges which create the point is an angle of at least 90 degrees. (Where there is a curved edge, the angle will be measured by reference to the tangent of the curve.)
2) A sharp point on the cutting edge of the blade near the handle. (We'll provide a diagram for this shortly)

Examples of items that will likely become illegal to own:

Holes on blade and over 8”

Has both a sharp edge and a serrated edge + over 8”

Over 8”, has more than one hole, has more than one point, serrated edges

Over 8” blade + serrated and sharp edge

Examples of items that should not be affected by the adjustments:

Only has a sharp edge

Only has a sharp edge

 

 

We do not have a precise date for the arrival of the new legislation. Our anticipation is that it will likely occur around September, although there is a possibility of it being either earlier or later than this timeframe.

Hand-in & Compensation

Traditionally, when a law undergoes a change resulting in the prohibition of an item that was previously legal, compensation is often offered. Hence, here's the good news: The government plans to conduct a surrender program, likely accompanied by a compensation scheme.

Based on past experiences, we've witnessed compensation being provided, leading us to believe it will likely occur again. However, it's important to note that this is not legal advice; rather, it reflects our informed perspective.

Historically, the surrender process has been relatively straightforward: Wrap and secure the knives you intend to surrender, then bring them to designated police stations. Inform the staff at the front desk that you wish to surrender knives, and they will dispatch someone to document and retrieve the items.

During this process, they may request some personal information and issue a receipt. Compensation has been provided in the past at this stage.

According to current information, it appears that individuals may be eligible to claim £10 for each surrendered "zombie" knife. However, this figure is subject to change as more details emerge. Rest assured, we will update this page with confirmed information as soon as it becomes available!

What happens now?

Currently, you are free to continue using and enjoying knives that do not fall under the category of 'Zombie Knives'. Whether it's for gardening, farm work, outdoor activities with appropriate permissions, or simply as collectible items kept indoors.

However, once the new legislation is officially enacted, these knives must be surrendered if found to be in violation of the revised laws.

We have ceased importing, purchasing, or restocking these items. Once our current inventory is depleted, they will not be replenished. Please refer to the link below for a comprehensive list of items classified as "Zombie Knives". This is an opportunity for you to make a purchase.

The silver lining is that you will receive a refund for a portion of your investment when you surrender these items.

A critical reminder: When transporting these items to a surrender location, ensure they are securely sheathed, well-packaged, and stored in your vehicle's trunk. DO NOT leave them loose in your car or easily accessible.

We will provide updates as soon as additional information becomes available.

The law on buying and carrying knives.

The laws about buying and carrying a knife depend on the type of knife, your age and your circumstances.

Basic laws on knives

It is illegal to:

• ✖ Sell a knife of any kind to anyone under 18 years old (16 to 18 year old's in Scotland can buy cutlery and kitchen knives)
• ✖ Carry a knife in public without good reason - unless it's a knife with a folding blade^[1] less than three inches long. For example, our Golan Gold Trim Gentleman's Knife.
• ✖ Carry, buy or sell any type of banned knife
• ✖ Use any knife in a threatening way (even a legal to carry knife)

[1] - Folding blades are defined as a blade that readily folds back into the handle, without needing to disengage a lock. Such as a slipjoint knife with no locking mechanism.

Good reasons for carrying a knife

Examples of good reasons^[2] to carry a knife in public can include:

• ✓ Taking knives you use at work to and from work. 
• ✓ Taking knives to a gallery or museum to be exhibited or valued.
• ✓ The knife is going to be used for theatre, film, television, historical re-enactment or religious purposes, for example, the Kirpan some Sikhs carry
• ✓ Hunting or camping on land you have permission from the landowner to be using for this purpose.

[2] - If you're ever stopped with a knife that you have 'good reason' to have with you, you may still be cautioned and interviewed, a court has the final say on what is, or isn't, legal to carry and will ultimately decide. The above reasons are guidelines only, and not professional legal advice.

Banned knives

Some knives are completely banned to own, buy, sell, exchange and so on, even in your own home. The following is a non-exhaustive list of banned knives and similar items. You can view the full listed provided by the government by going to their website. 

[3] - Certain traditionally hand-made swords are exempt from this. Examples include our traditional katanas'

[4] - The definition of 'Zombie Knives' is set to change soon. See tab labelled 'New Laws'.

This is not a complete list of banned knives. If you're unsure, contact your local police department or legal advisor for further information.

 Excerpt from https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives Correct as of 06/02/2024 at 23:40 PM.

Crossbow Laws

There seems to be some confusion on the laws regarding crossbows in the UK. We've seen it a number of times - people asking if there's a power limit or if there is some restriction on buying them or even if there is a maximum number you're allowed to own!

The long and short of it is yes, Crossbows are completely legal to own. There are however, a number of restrictions.

1) You cannot purchase a crossbow if you're under the age of 18.

2) You cannot have your crossbow in any public place in much the same way you can't carry a normal bow or the majority of knives.

3) Crossbow hunting is completely illegal, you cannot hunt or shoot any living thing with a crossbow.

There are no power limits on crossbows in the UK. The confusion stems from competition use where they are much more strict about the power ratings. We see this one a lot, but we can confirm, there is no upper limit on crossbow power. However, if the bow has less than a 1.4kg (approx 3lb) draw (such as certain children's toys) the above restrictions don't apply.

There is also no limitation on the number you're allowed to own - feel free to have as many as you like, provided you're sensible and follow the basic rules you're sure to have a good time.

Crossbows are a fun, and relatively safe way to target shoot provided common sense is used. Don't shoot without a solid backstop, or on land where you don't have express permission, even better if it's in writing. Ensure you treat the bow with respect and it'll be a great investment - all the accessories and maintenance equipment are widely available online, you can find it and bolts, etc on our store here.

DNA Leisure offers a number of Crossbows for sale in various draw weights and configurations. For starters, we highly recommend our pistol crossbows which are much more manageable in the confines of a garden. Bigger, more powerful crossbows need much more range, but we recommend any of our rifle crossbows as they offer all the power you need in an easy to use rifle configuration.

Similar to paintball markers, GelSoft guns fire frangible ammo. Small balls of water-based gel that pop on impact. They're a lot of fun to use, but there are several very important conditions to their use and ownership.

Age Restriction

You MUST be over 18 to purchase a GelSoft gun. You do not need to be over 18 to use one provided you have permission from an adult who's supervising.

Realistic Imitation Firearms

Some of our GelSoft guns look very similar to real firearms. Some are considered to be Realistic Imitation Firearms under the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006. If you're purchasing one of our all black guns you will have to confirm with us that the gun will be used for one of the 'permitted activities'. Examples include skirmishing, historical re-enactment or target practice. This is only permissible on private property where you have full legal permission to use them.

Insurance Cover

You need to have insurance cover for the intended 'Permitted Activities' but don't worry as most household insurance policies cover activities like skirmishing at home, but you will need to double check this and confirm you understand this during checkout by ticking the relevant box.

Safety

You must use eye protection with our GelSoft guns.

Similar to paintball markers, GelSoft guns fire frangible ammo. Small balls of water-based gel that pop on impact. They're a lot of fun to use, but there are several very important conditions to their use and ownership.

Age Restriction

You MUST be over 18 to purchase a GelSoft gun. You do not need to be over 18 to use one provided you have permission from an adult who's supervising.

Realistic Imitation Firearms

Some of our GelSoft guns look very similar to real firearms. Some are considered to be Realistic Imitation Firearms under the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006. If you're purchasing one of our all black guns you will have to confirm with us that the gun will be used for one of the 'permitted activities'. Examples include skirmishing, historical re-enactment or target practice. This is only permissible on private property where you have full legal permission to use them.

Insurance Cover

You need to have insurance cover for the intended 'Permitted Activities' but don't worry as most household insurance policies cover activities like skirmishing at home, but you will need to double check this and confirm you understand this during checkout by ticking the relevant box.

Safety

You must use eye protection with our GelSoft guns.

Paintball guns are products that fire 'frangible' balls of paint. They're designed to be reasonably safe to use in team skirmish sports where the weapons are fired at each other in a controlled environment. Please note that while they are designed to be reasonably safe, it is essential to wear eye protection when using paintball markers.

Frangible Ammo

A paintball is a type of frangible ammo. It's a water-soluble paint contained in a thin but solid sphere that is designed to break on impact with a target, releasing the paint. There are rules governing paintball guns and one of them is that they fire frangible ammo.

Limitations

To be considered a paintball marker, the product MUST be restricted to firing at a maximum of 300fps. Anything higher than this can run into legal problems. Most UK paintball sites actually set their limits slightly lower to ensure a factor of safety, so please research and ask your local sites what they recommend before purchasing.

You must be over 18 to purchase a paintball marker.

UKARA

We do not require a UKARA or paintball license in order to purchase paintball markers. However, you must confirm with us first that the intended use for your purchase is one permitted under UK Law. This can include paintball skirmishing as well as a handful of other activities such as military simulation training. You will be required to read and accept a number of conditions as you add a paintball marker to your cart. Full details can be read on the product page of any of our paintball markers.

Using your Paintball Marker

DO NOT use a paintball marker outside of your private property or a legally sanctioned paintball site with the permission of the owners. This means not walking around in public or pointing your marker at any other person.

Blank firing guns are heavily regulated.

The main and most important things to keep in mind:

1) They must be painted or coloured a non-realistic colour such as blue, red or green.
2) They must have a blocked barrel.
3) It must be difficult or impossible to convert them into live firing weapons.
4) They must be 'top venting' - which ties into having a blocked barrel. All gasses and debris must be ejected out of the top of the product rather than through the barrel.

Non Realistic Colours

This is fairly self explanatory - and we only sell blank firing replicas in non-realistic colours. What's important for you to remember is that it's a criminal offence to modify them to appear more realistic. This means, don't paint them black! Use them as they are. Safely.

Blocked Barrels

There must be no way for a projectile to travel through a barrel. In short, these replicas must have a permenant inclusion or 'blockage' in the barrel that prevents them being used as real firarms. This is often a piece of hardened steel, or tungsten carbide that is extremely hard to drill through. 

Non-Readily Convertible

The guns we sell are designed to be non-readily convertible. The frames are made from durable, but soft metals that deforms if clamped in a vice. As well as not being able to withstand the pressures involved with live rounds. The barrels are blocked and the chambers have inclusions that prevent the insertion of rounds. A lot of work goes into making it extremely difficult, if not impossible to convert these replicas.

Top Venting

All of our blank replicas are top venting. This is where the gasses from each 'shot' are ejected from the top of the frame and not out of a barrel. This means that it's not possible to load some debris or bearings etc into it and use the gasses to fire a projectile.

Be Sensible

It should go without saying that you MUST NOT ever take these blank firing guns outside your home, or place where you have legal permission to use them. DO NOT ever point them at any living thing, and always point them in a safe direction. Care must be taken not to burn yourself on the gas port.

Safety

You must wear hearing protection with these replicas! Eye protection is also recommended.

Limitations

You MUST be over 18 to purchase a blank firing replica.