An electrician kept a lock knife in his car to clean his nails - but must now carry out 80 hours community work as a penalty.
City magistrates ordered the destruction of the blade and also imposed a four-month prison term, suspended for a year, on Jack Shaw.
Presiding JP Cheryl Abraham told him: "This is a serious error of judgement."
The court heard that Shaw was in a vehicle which was stopped by police officers on Mansfield Road, Daybrook at 1.25pm on November 18.
Anthony Cheung, prosecuting, said: "They searched and found a lock knife in the centre console of the car."
Derek St Delroy Brown, mitigating, told the three magistrates: "This is a very straightforward case.
"He has been very frank on the use of the knife. It is to clean his nails. It has a very small blade."
Mr St Delroy Brown said recent knife crime laws had been introduced to deter use of the weapons by gangs.
He told the court: "That is not the situation here. He is not involved in any gang activity. He has been a fully qualified electrician for eight years, working five or six days a week, often 11 hours a day.
"He works all over the country, mainly in London.
"This is a case where there are no aggravating features. There is no gang activity, no evidence whatever of this."
He said that community work would be a big punishment for Shaw, 24, of Rockwood Crescent, Hucknall.
"It will have a massive impact upon him because of his self-employment," added Mr Delroy Brown.
Shaw pleaded guilty to having a lock knife in Daybrook without good reason or lawful authority. He must pay a £122 government surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.
After being sentenced, Shaw told the magistrates: "Thank you very much."
