The manufacture, sale and purchase of hand-crafted swords and knives is a legitimate and traditional trade which supports thousands of businesses across the World.

These crafts and trades directly support sporting, military, movie, theatre, TV and entertainment industry, antique dealers, martial arts, religious, Highland dancing, cultural and ceremonial, knife and axe-throwing, re-enactment and living history, bushcraft and survival, auction houses, collectors, and restoration markets.

As of the 7th May 2024, Royal Mail and Parcelforce have directly impacted the majority of these markets (military, movie, TV and entertainment industry, antique dealers, martial arts, religious, Highland dancing, cultural and ceremonial, knife and axe-throwing, re-enactment and living history, bushcraft and survival, auction houses, collectors, and restoration markets) directly by banning the carrying of swords and most blade types.

Royal Mail and Parcelforce have explicitly prohibited the following blades from their services - Hunting/combat/survival type knives, daggers, movie knives that promote violence (such as Rambo or Crocodile Dundee style knives), replica fighting knives, throwing knives, machetes, swords, fantasy knives, knives with images or words that suggest use for violence, stiletto knives, battle axes, open razors/folding razors and any similar items are prohibited and cannot be sent.

Their blanket-banning of swords, daggers and hunting/survival knives alone is ill-conceived and impacts thousands of legitimate trades and businesses throughout the UK as well as negatively affecting the international import of these items for all markets.

Small businesses are now suffering directly as a result, having no choice to continue by using courier companies which typically cost anywhere from 2 - 5 times as much as Royal Mail and Parcelforce services. These companies and craftsmen are also now billed on a monthly basis, making postage and shipping repayments more difficult.

With restrictive costs affecting the import of trade items as well as drastically higher postage and shipping costs being billed monthly, the situation has already resulted in established craftsmen and businesses re-considering their future.

The blanket banning of carrying blades by Royal Mail and Parcelforce is directly threatening the continued existence of traditional crafts and trades in the UK right now. Trades, crafts and culture are at stake if this issue is not addressed.

This petition aims to gather as much public and trade support as possible towards presenting the results directly to Royal Mail and Parcelforce. We ask Royal Mail and Parcelforce here to fully re-consider their imposed blade bans towards allowing legitimate and traditional craftsmen, trades and industries to operate cost-effectively and efficiently when it comes to national and international postage and shipping of their items.

Thankyou all for your time and support towards this.