Do You Worry About "Legal" Blade Length??

[HaroldB]

That also applies to firearms.
Years ago I lived in Kalifornia and had my life threatened. Even with no criminal history, the local sheriff's dept. said NO ONE got a CCW (unless you were rich or famous).
When talking to my uncle (retired Navy SEAL), he asked me if I'd ever been 'patted down' in my life? No, I said. His reply was, "Then what are you more afraid of - being shot dead or being frisked for the first time?". :cool:

[BigBrad75]

I live in Kentucky, where the law is VERY unclear as to what blade length is illegal. The law states that you can legally carry "...a regular pocket knife or a regular hunting knife, but anything else is considered a deadly weapon". I, personally don't worry about it, because I have my CCW License, but what if I didn't? Would a Military be considered a 'regular pocket knife'? I would think so, but I doubt it if some pissed of judge/cop would agree. It's really just left up to opinion it seems. But who's opinion matters? I'm guessing not mine.

[Avantage]

On the whole territory of Russia is the general law on the blade length.
All folding knives with blades less than 15 cm (5,9") are considered to be a tool. they can carry without restriction. The only exception is auto knife, like some Microtech models and knife with the edge on both side, longer than 9 cm.
But all the sellers must certify all knives. And if your knife does not have a certificate, it is considered a weapon. In this case, it can take with them only for hunting, but not in public places.
Although, in courthouses and other government offices will not let you with any knife.
The police can not do anything if they find you have allowed a knife during the examination, but if you used a knife against the man, it would be considered an aggravating circumstance. And regardless, you have a legal or an illegal knife.

[Visual Articulation]

In florida 4 inches or under folder concealed is legal. No true blade length for one that is in view, at least from the all the legal jargon Ive perused. Like most of u i refrain from the legal spotlight so i'm squeaky clean if they try to give me a hard time. lol for instance not a spidey i know but a cs rajah one is fun to pocket in certain situations however it rides less due to the P'kal which constantly impresses me.
God Bless adhere to the law and have a blast!

[Slick]

Where I live nobody can figure out the applicable knife laws. My bad, but things should be clearer. I go with the three finger rule but that is so crazy. Big hands and small hands...and a cop who'd like your knife. It is kind of a good deal. No court or possible jail time and a cop gets a new knife at your expense. I've never been shaken down but have seen it done and it was efficent and not pretty.

[Simple Man]

I live in Kentucky, where the law is VERY unclear as to what blade length is illegal. The law states that you can legally carry "...a regular pocket knife or a regular hunting knife, but anything else is considered a deadly weapon". I, personally don't worry about it, because I have my CCW License, but what if I didn't? Would a Military be considered a 'regular pocket knife'? I would think so, but I doubt it if some pissed of judge/cop would agree. It's really just left up to opinion it seems. But who's opinion matters? I'm guessing not mine.

But the real nice thing is that we have a CDW (Concelaed Deadly Weapon) license instead of the regular CCW. That means that with a CDW, you can carry anything you can find short of a Class 3 firearm, and even for that a license is obtainable. Full auto knives, double edged, may mall ninja toys, you name it. Edit - Projectile knives would probably be out. :rolleyes:

[Blerv]

But the real nice thing is that we have a CDW (Concelaed Deadly Weapon) license instead of the regular CCW. That means that with a CDW, you can carry anything you can find short of a Class 3 firearm, and even for that a license is obtainable. Full auto knives, double edged, may mall ninja toys, you name it. Edit - Projectile knives would probably be out. :rolleyes:

Dang you Kentucky folks! That's pretty dang cool :) I'm jealous.

[spydernewbie]

Question:

What would you do if you lived in NJ?

2C:39-3; Apparently you need an explainable lawful purpose to get away with carrying anything besides a dagger/dirk/stiletto, auto, gravity, or balistic knife, which are flat-out illegal. Even then, as in most states, certain less-common knives would probably be "per se" weapons even with an explanation. * NJ state police seem to think all knives are illegal unless the carrier has an explainable lawful purpose. Legally, that probably isn't so, but it may take a court hearing, some lightening of your pockets, and some quality time in jail to sort things out.

[ChrisR]

Question:
What would you do if you lived in NJ?

I'd see if I could work out the exact legal status of knife carry in NJ so that I understood what I could carry and under which situations ... and then I'd make sure that I didn't do anything illegal :)

PS: remember that a chat with a legal professional, who defends cases involving knives, is often far more reliable than asking on a forum or Googling "New Jersey knife law"

[SmoothOne25]

i'm dirty jerz too, but i always check to see where i stand with my weapons. i never break the law ....unless its a new sweet spydie i can't put down! :D :p

[Frapiscide]

If i remember correctly, the length requirement for a folding knife is 4". I didn't see anything on fixed blades, so I carry them.

[chuck_roxas45]

If i remember correctly, the length requirement for a folding knife is 4". I didn't see anything on fixed blades, so I carry them.

Hey dude, the way I hear it 4" is illegal most anywhere except for a few fortunate places. I'd be careful with this.

[DaBird]

I am in the "don't ask / don't tell" camp ----- I try VERY hard to live within the Law --- except about what I may choose to defend/save my and my families life , then if need be , I'll be tried in a "higher court" other then man's.

[Frapiscide]

Hey dude, the way I hear it 4" is illegal most anywhere except for a few fortunate places. I'd be careful with this.

PA is really obscure when it comes to knife laws. I keep my nose clean and try to not attract attention. I also talked to a police officer and he said that the legal length was 4".

[chuck_roxas45]

PA is really obscure when it comes to knife laws. I keep my nose clean and try to not attract attention. I also talked to a police officer and he said that the legal length was 4".

Ok, it's your call but police officers are not particularly good sources of legal information.

[san28734]

Honestly i'm more afraid of having my knife taken away than i am getting in trouble with it. Of course i don't want to be fined or anything, but i feel like the chances are better that they'd just confiscate it and send me on my way with a warning, and the officer would have himself a nice new Caly 3.5 or whatever. Of course i'd be happy to walk away without a fine or further trouble, but i'd be super pissed off for losing my knife.

I 100 percent agree. The worst part would be losing the knife. I carry a small Benchmade for my EDC in my front pocket, and now, my new Millie in my waistband. I am very white-bread when it comes to looks and behavior, and I honestly don't worry. I had a cop check my benchmade when I walked through security at Disneyworld. He told me to unclip it and keep it in my pocket, which I happily did, because he didn't notice the Impala in my waistband. That's the extent of my experience, though.

[DeathBySnooSnoo]

I've been doing research on Canadian laws and they are basically a huge grey area. It's all about intent rather than any blade size. But this little tidbit from the Canadian Border Agency I found a little bit interesting.

"(c) Gravity knife – A gravity knife is a folding knife which may be opened automatically by force of gravity. The knife may be additionally controlled by a lever or button, but typically, applying pressure to such a device and pointing the knife downward will result in the knife’s blade releasing and locking into place."

Now I know that is not the same as a law or by-law that the cops follow, but it is still interesting because I have been carrying my Manix 2 a lot. Now If I point the Manix at the ground and pull back on the lock, the blade most definitely releases. Now it doesn't lock into place without releasing the lock...but it stall makes me wonder about getting a Manix 2 over the border and because of that, the legality of even carrying it.

[jackknifeh]

Is there a lawyer in the house? I downloaded and read FL knife laws a few years ago. I couldn't get a simple understanding on the subject. I thought you could get something like 3 7/8" is legal, 4" isn't. No such luck. The only thing that seems definate concerns knives that you CAN'T buy unless you have a certain occupation. Automatic knives for LEOs for example. If your job allows you to carry a firearm I would think any knife is ok. So I've given up on finding a simple verdict. That's ok for me because I don't live where it is a concern. Not much crime, lots of hunting and fishing and knives. There was a joke about my town (and others) stating you couldn't live here unless your pickup had a burned out headlight and a gun rack in the cab. :) But for those who live with the possibility of a knife being taken or even being arrested why is it so hard to find specific rules? From what I've seen on this forum NYC is the strictest location. Are there easy to understand laws there? I don't understand why it's so complicated.

Jack

[chuck_roxas45]

I know that knife laws here are deliberately made hazy so that a lot of discretion is left up to the LEOs.

[psychophipps]

Absolutely. I prefer not to give any potential overzealous use of arrest and/or seizure powers a freebie. The legal limit in Texas, besides any local ordinances, is 5-1/2 inches.

I have yet to be in a situation that absolutely required a bigger knife than this.