Age Verification & Shipping Policy for Knives & Sharp Items

GN Surgical Ltd is committed to the responsible sale and delivery of knives, scissors, scalpels, and all sharp-edged instruments. This page sets out our age verification requirements and shipping rules in full compliance with UK law.

1. Legal Age Requirement

Under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, it is illegal to sell knives or bladed instruments to anyone under the age of 18 years in the United Kingdom.

• You must be 18 or over to purchase any knife, scalpel, surgical blade, or sharp instrument from GN Surgical Ltd.
• By placing an order for a bladed product, you are legally confirming that you are aged 18 or over.
• Providing false information about your age is a criminal offence.

2. Age Verification Process

• GN Surgical Ltd uses electronic age verification at checkout for all bladed products.
• We may request additional proof of age (e.g. passport, driving licence) before dispatching any order containing knives or sharp instruments.
• Orders where age cannot be verified will be cancelled and fully refunded.
• Our couriers may also conduct an age check upon delivery for certain bladed items. If the recipient cannot prove they are 18+, the parcel will not be handed over.

3. Professional & Legitimate Use

• Our surgical, dental, and veterinary instruments are intended for use by qualified professionals (surgeons, dentists, veterinarians, nurses, beauticians, and trained practitioners).
• By purchasing, you confirm the item is for lawful professional or personal use only.
• GN Surgical Ltd reserves the right to request proof of professional credentials or business registration before fulfilling orders for certain instruments.

4. Restricted & Prohibited Items

• Certain bladed instruments (e.g. fixed-blade knives over 3 inches, zombie knives, gravity knives) are prohibited for sale to the general public under UK law. We do not sell such items.
• All products listed on our store comply with UK regulations for lawful sale.
• It is the buyer's responsibility to ensure the item is legal to own and use in their country or region.

5. Shipping Rules for Sharp Items

• All knives and sharp instruments are shipped in rigid, puncture-resistant packaging with blade guards or sheaths fitted.
• Sharp items are dispatched via tracked and signed-for services only — no untracked or letter-format shipping.
• Packages are labelled "Sharp Instruments – Handle with Care" where required by carrier guidelines.
• We comply fully with Royal Mail, DPD, and all UK carrier regulations for the shipment of sharp objects.
• International orders are subject to the destination country's import laws for bladed instruments. Customers are responsible for checking local regulations.

6. Delivery Age Check

• For orders containing knives or bladed instruments, our couriers operate a Challenge 25 policy.
• If the person accepting delivery appears to be under 25, they will be asked to provide valid photo ID proving they are 18 or over.
• If valid ID cannot be provided, the parcel will be returned to us and a refund issued (minus any return shipping costs).
• We recommend ensuring an adult aged 18+ is available to receive the delivery.

7. Returns of Sharp Instruments

• For safety, all returned sharp instruments must be re-sheathed and securely packaged before return shipment.
• Please contact us before returning any bladed item so we can provide safe return packaging guidance.
• We cannot accept returns of sharp instruments that arrive unsafely packaged.

8. Reporting Misuse

If you have concerns about the misuse of any product purchased from GN Surgical Ltd, please contact us immediately or report it to your local police authority.

Contact Us

For any questions regarding age verification or our sharp instrument shipping policy:

• Email: info@gnsurgical.co.uk
• Website: gnsurgical.co.uk

Last updated: May 2026. GN Surgical Ltd complies with all applicable UK legislation regarding the sale and delivery of bladed instruments.