All the illegal (banned) knives are either over 3 inches in blade length, have a fixed blade, or a hidden blade, or a blade that locks (with a mechanism, not tension), or are opened with one hand.
If you carry a fixed blade above 3" on your person (but not a banned blade like above), you need to be able to convince the officer that discovers it (which shouldn't happen anyway, unless you've done something silly/naughty) that you are carrying it for work or in some other reasonable capacity (not 'self defense') . If you don't, (or if you've already done something silly/naughty) they are obliged to assume that such a blade is intended to be used as a weapon, arrest you, and then you have to prove otherwise in court after the fact.
If you carry a non-locking, sub 3" blade that can only be reliably opened with both hands, you are technically free from the burden of proving anything. Although again, if you do something naughty while carrying it, or try to take one into a place where you don't need it (a nightclub, a sportsground, a hospital, an airport etc) you're asking for trouble and all bets are off.
All knives and blades (and bricks/screwdrivers/potatoes etc) can potentially be classed as offensive weapons if used as such, or if they are use to threaten as such. It's all about context.
To clarify, AFAIK:
All the illegal (banned) knives are either over 3 inches in blade length, have a fixed blade, or a hidden blade, or a blade that locks (with a mechanism, not tension), or are opened with one hand.
If you carry a fixed blade above 3" on your person (but not a banned blade like above), you need to be able to convince the officer that discovers it (which shouldn't happen anyway, unless you've done something silly/naughty) that you are carrying it for work or in some other reasonable capacity (not 'self defense') . If you don't, (or if you've already done something silly/naughty) they are obliged to assume that such a blade is intended to be used as a weapon, arrest you, and then you have to prove otherwise in court after the fact.
If you carry a non-locking, sub 3" blade that can only be reliably opened with both hands, you are technically free from the burden of proving anything. Although again, if you do something naughty while carrying it, or try to take one into a place where you don't need it (a nightclub, a sportsground, a hospital, an airport etc) you're asking for trouble and all bets are off.
All knives and blades (and bricks/screwdrivers/potatoes etc) can potentially be classed as offensive weapons if used as such, or if they are use to threaten as such. It's all about context.
tldr ^