Leatherman Charge UK Legal - Disable Liner Lock

Intro: Leatherman Charge UK Legal - Disable Liner Lock

As posted in my Instructable (Victorinox Swisstool UK legal) I learned that in UK you may not legally carry any fixed blade knife or lockable folding blade knife or folding blade knife with a blade longer than 3 inches (7.62cm) except if you have a very good, genuine reason.

STEP 1: Background

I yet found a way to (temporarily) block the lock mechanism of my Victorinox Swisstool, but it does not lock so nice and I would prefer to carry my Leatherman Charge, as this has a belt Clip and also a serrated blade. The only Solutions I found in the wb to block the loch mechanism of the Leatherman involve heting the linerlock and bending it inwards until it no longer catches the blade. That sounds to me like violating the tool and may damage it permanently.

But ist that easy ...

CAUTION:

As BeachsideHank comments under my first Instructable - blade locks are an essential safety Feature to prevent harmful cuts and injury. Do not disable any blade lock unless really necesarry and without knowing what you do. And once you did - do not Forget, that the lock ist now disabled!

Unfortunately, UK government (and probably other governments too) thinks that a blade lock turns a great multitool into a absolutely deadly weapon and that folding knifes withOUT blade locks are safer than the ones WITH blade locks ...

STEP 2: Solution

The solution to block the linerlock is quite simple - yet I have not found it documented anywhere.

There are two copper washers, one of each side of the blade. So heat the screw (to soften the red Locktite inside the screw) and unscrew it (first photo).

Take out the blade and the two washers. Both washers are of different outer Diameter, as shown in the second photo. The bigger one is originally located between the blade and the outside of the handle. The smaller one is originally located between the blade and the inner side of the handle (where the linerlock is located).

Switch the washers - place the bigger on where the linerlock is (third photo), then the blade and the smaller washer on top. It is a bit funbling, as you have to press down the linerlock to put the smaller washer on top and then the outer part of the handle. Eventually put some Locktite on the screw and screw everythin together again.

Voila - as shown in the last photo, the bigger copper washer blocks the linerlock but still exercises enough pressure to prvent the blade from accidentially opening in your pocket (or wherever else).

Best of it - you can undo the mod within minutes if it is no longer required (I will change it back and enable the linerlock once I'm back from UK). It should also work with many other Leatherman multitools.

PS: Don't Forget that the tool has two blades, so repeat it on the serrated blade!

Comments

[dwade9]

The sun has definitely set on the British empire.

[ehjones]

Don't forget the saw blade too.

[garethgamma]

Did this to my Charge TTi last night and it's made me a happy man!
The law banning locking knives was a mistake when writing it but the government is 'too busy' to amend it apparently.

[Matt_Perry]

Does the blade have trouble staying open without the lock, for example does it just sort of flop closed now, or does it remain fairly securely opened?

[Pumuggel]

The blade remains open fairly secured due to the friction that you can adjust with the screw and due to the additional pressure that is excersiced by the liner lock against the big spacer. It does not flop closed at all, although it has not such a "pressure point" as the non-locking swiss army knifes.

[weeg91]

Alternative is to wrap sufficient duck tape around handle and liner lock. Got to find the right pressure so that it dont open too easily however.

[jmwells]

The (stupid) reasoning behind the locking restrictions are because of switchblade knives. Without a locking mechanism a switchblade is useless.

[MillennialDIYer]

Which is ironic given how useful switchblade are for people with limited dexterity in one hand, where using the knife one handed is much more comfortable. Let alone how it's simply more convenient for actual use in many scenarios. It's frustrating how switchblades fascinate just about anyone...but then if someone wants to own one, we think they simply want to assault someone.

[Victor805]

I've always found UK laws regarding white arms to be very stupid, the kind of stupid you get when people with no experience whatsoever in this issued can't come up with better ideas to fight rising crime than to ban everything. In my opinion, a blade that can't be locked in place is far more dangerous, since it can fold during use over your fingers or hand, specially if you're in an awkward position applying a lot of force. I would be careful when using it from now on, the hack was pretty clever by the way.

[MillennialDIYer]

+1 for this.

[MillennialDIYer]

It is really, really sad that some people have to resort to this. I sure do appreciate the freedoms of the US in moments like this. When I leave my home I get to decide how big a caliber I feel like carrying that day :D

[ablackack]

Living in Germany, where you are normally not allowed to carry any knives that can be opened and locked one-handed. But in my experience nobody says something against carrying a multitool luckily.

[mozone41]

That will ne the day when i would have a restriction on a multitool..... damn sad....