The K-Zone: Fisher v Bell (1961)

In this case (Fisher v Bell [1961] 1 QB 394) the defendant, a shopkeeper, was prosecuted for displaying an illegal flick-knife for sale. Because it is an offense to offer such an item for sale (RestrictionOfOffensiveWeaponsAct1951) he was convicted. On appeal, however, it was held that ``offer for sale'' has a technical meaning in law, and a a shop window display is an InvitationToTreat, not an Offer in contractual terms. The conviction was therefore quashed. In 1961 a further Act was passed making it an offense to `expose for the purpose of sale' an offensive weapon.

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