The current UK laws...
As researched online and confirmed by the friendly chap at the local nick when I stopped past to ask them about it...

It is perfectly legal to carry a knife as long as it is a folding pocket knife with a blade of under 3" length.
All knives outwith this limit are illegal to carry without due reason - so you are allowed to carry it as long as you can give a good explanation - a builder heading to work on site carrying a Leatherman is fine, a chef on the way to work with a roll of kitchen knives is fine, a fixed blade in the pack of someone heading off camping for bushcraft is fine and so on... A kitchen knife carried for stabbing people who get in your face is somewhat obviously not fine, and sadly neither is 'I am carrying a Leatherman because it is bloody useful' to most cops.
Actually getting caught with an illegal Leatherman is generally unlikely unless you are doing something stupid, and it does come down to the discretion of the officer that catches you - some may let you off with the Leatherman with an appropriate explanation, some will throw the book at you...

I should probably mention that despite folding away when not in use, the blade on a larger Leatherman when locked open is effectively a fixed blade, so that is what it is classed as. The smaller Leatherman tools (juice and squirt series, kick) are fine to carry, as are normal sized Swiss army knives and other pocketknives.
(442, Sat 1 Oct 2011, 15:13, 1 reply)

I'm going to ask you everything from now on.
I like it when someone puts in time and effort where the rest of us can't be bothered. Good show.
( number5 has been fighting tramps and losing., Mon 3 Oct 2011, 17:20, closed)