Sikh sect which carries swords

According to wikipedia, all (male) Sikhs who choose to become Khalsa (and thus gain the surname "Singh", meaning lion) are supposed to keep 5 special items with them at all times, one of which is a dagger - but it was originally a sword. All these 5 items begin with the letter K, and include a kirpan (the dagger/sword), the kara (a steel bracelet) and kesh (uncut hair, typically wrapped in a turban). I'm not sure, but KDE is probably recommended also.

One thing I didn't know - it's forbidden for such Sikhs to eat "halal" meat. That can't be easy in some countries.

Lawful reason is pretty open to court interpretation. Job or pass time has tended to require actual appointments or indication of intended visit. Carrying in any way as an every day thing will tend to involve it being classed as a weapon.

I have a fairly large knife (far from a sword) strapped to the inner door of my brother's and my little narrow boat. As on the canals and rivers it is a genuine safety need to cut ropes or remove branches weeds etc.

But even walking with such on the towpath without a direct need has lead to friends arrest.

Edit; the kirpan is a specific exception in the offensive weapons act. So would not apply to anything not specifically allowed for in that act.

Religious exceptions do not apply in general. Only quoted one IE that one,

Just looked up. The crossbow law you may have mistaken.

Technically it is still legal to own and carry long bow. But not to use to hunt. The laws requiring Englishmen to train have been repealed, and carrying arrows must be safety tipped in public. So it's not practical. But if you have a safe private space to practice (100m from public access).you do have a technical right.

But again carrying when. You are clearly not travelling to hobby shoot, is likely to come under offensive weapons act.