What is the policy?
The following or similar types of bladed products aren't allowed:
- Axes intended to be used as a weapon, such as a double-headed axe, battle axe, throwing axe, spike axe, tomahawk or Viking axe
- Multi-tool knives, craft knives, Stanley knives and Leathermans
- Pocket knives, folding knives, Swiss Army knives and clasp knives
- Razor blades and surgical blades
- Sharp kitchen knives (as in pair blocks), cake knives, carving knives, pairing knives, oyster knives and electric knives
- Stealth, throwing, ballistic, grivory and rubber knives
- Illegal knives and bladed products such as:
- Butterfly knives (also known as 'balisongs') - A blade hidden inside a handle that splits in the middle
- Flick knives (also known as 'switchblades' or 'automatic knives') - Knives which have a blade that opens automatically when a button or other device is pressed
- Gravity knives - Knives with blades released from the handle by force of gravity or by wrist movement and similar
- Hidden or disguised knives - A blade or sharp point hidden inside what looks like everyday objects such as a buckle, phone, brush or lipstick
- A knife or spike not made from metal and not designed for domestic use, for use as a toy, or for use in preparing food
- Push daggers
- Swords, including samurai swords
- Sword-sticks - A hollow walking stick or cane containing a blade
- Zombie and zombie-style knives, as well as cyclone knives and spiral knives
- Other illegal bladed or spiked weapons such as ‘handclaws’, shurikens, blowpipes, etc. See the Weapons policy for more details
- Listings which suggest that the bladed product is suitable for combat or encourage violent behaviour involving the use of the product as a weapon
The following knives and bladed products are allowed as long as buyers confirm they are 18 or older at checkout and sellers use age-verified delivery and follow all delivery guidelines:
- Crafting tools like rotary blades
- Dining cutlery sets that include knives used for eating, such as butter, cheese, fish, or steak knives
- Food processors, meat saws, and pizza cutters
- Letter openers
- Personal care products like manicure kits, dermaplaning tools, and straight razors
- Pickaxes and mattocks
- Scissors
- Spears and javelins
- Tools such as axes, billhooks, chisels, hatchets, hoof trimming tools, chainsaws, and saws
- Waiters friend or sommelier knife
Delivery guidelines for allowed bladed products
When selling allowed bladed products, sellers need to comply with any applicable laws and regulations, including the following:
- Bladed products must be sent using a carrier that provides domestic, age-verified delivery. This needs to be visible on the eBay listing, with sellers selecting only appropriate age-verified delivery services
- Bladed products must be safely packaged and clearly labeled to indicate that the recipient must be 18 or older, according to the carrier's requirements. Exact packaging and labelling requirements may vary by carrier. For more details, see this guide - opens in new window or tab
- Bladed products need to be delivered to buyers in person and not to collection points, P.O. boxes, or parcel lockers. Any sales to buyers who give a collection point, P.O. box, or parcel locker as an address will need to be cancelled
Bladed products cannot be imported into the United Kingdom following sale on eBay. The inventory must be located within the UK at the time of purchase.
eBay supports age verification on checkout for many items as part of our commitment to keeping our community safe. See our Age restricted items Help page for details. However, sellers are still responsible for confirming the buyer’s age and for using age-verified delivery when they sell age restricted items.
The listing must also follow our international trading policy. For example, the sale of knives on eBay.ie is prohibited with limited exceptions.
Activity on eBay is required to follow this policy, the eBay User Agreement and all applicable laws, as well as respect the rights of third parties. If it doesn’t, eBay may take action consistent with applicable laws and the eBay User Agreement, and may even be legally required to do so. Such actions may include, as an example only: Removing the listing or other content, issuing a warning, restricting activity or account suspension.
Why does eBay have this policy?
We take our role in community safety seriously. You can find more information on this Government website - opens in new window or tab.
Helpful links
Tip
Visit Seller Help - opens in new window or tab to find details of any policy issues with your account or listings, and get the information you need to quickly resolve them.