This is the knife that a novice angler took with him on a fishing trip to Argyll.
With its wavy 13in blade, two-handed handle and protruding “wings” the weapon would look more at home on the set of oriential martial arts films such as Kill Bill or The Last Samurai.
But Darren Fleming, 25, told Oban Sheriff Court yesterday that the knife, described as a “dagger sword” in court, was taken to cut line on his first fishing trip.
Fleming however failed to persuade Sheriff Linda Smith that the knife, which has The Flying Dragon etched on its blade, was for dealing with trout on the shores of Loch Feochan near Oban.
She told him: “I have no difficulty in finding you guilty. The knife in question defies any reasonable rule that this would be in any way practical to take on a fishing expedition.”
Sentence was deferred for background reports until July 22. He pleaded not guilty to having the knife without reasonable excuse of lawful authority.
Police found Fleming with the knife at Kilmore, near Oban, on May 3.
The court heard he had gone fishing with his two cousins.
Police had approached the shore where the Audi car Fleming and his cousins were travelling in was parked in a field.
Constable Danny MacBeth said: “Reports had come from members of the public relating to a vehicle matching its description.
“They were in the process of setting up a camp. They had also started to fish, with fishing rods in the water.
“We saw some items scattered about that caused us concern.
“There was a large dagger sword with a 13.5in blade.”
He said that when Fleming was asked about the knife, he immediately admitted ownership.
When searched, Fleming also produced a smaller sheath knife from his Wellington boot.
Constable MacBeth said the smaller knife looked like a normal fishing knife.
Fiscal Eoin McGinty did not seek a conviction on the charge of having the smaller knife without reasonable excuse.
Fleming told the court that he took the dagger sword on the trip when his cousin picked him up in the car: “I didn’t know what I was to use, I just knew I needed a knife and stuff like that.”
He said that when he visited a fishing shop en route he realised that the dagger was inappropriate and bought a smaller knife.
Fleming, of 10, 2-1 Montgomery Avenue, Paisley, said in evidence it was his first ever fishing trip and he had taken the knife from his house to “cut fishing line”.
