Pocket Clips

ranger51 · #1

I have read here and other forums that some people have been hasseled by police due to the officer seeing a knife pocket clip, and then all the trouble starts. I have painted all my clips the color of blue jean blue. They can hardley be noticed now. I wear jeans 99% of the time so that color works for me. If I wore other colored pants, I would just change the color of the clip to match the pants being worn. With my clip being painted, it's hardley noticed now. Just wanted to share for those who might like to do the same. :spyder: :)

johnnylighton · #2

Excellent advice. :cool:

I also think it's worth familiarizing yourself with your state's laws on carrying knives, as well as your county and city laws.

Furthermore, where I live it's important never to state that your knife is a weapon. Although it's not written down in any laws (that I've read), in Los Angeles County the D.A. has instructed all law enforcement offers to make an arrest whenever a citizen states that he or she is carrying any item as an offensive or defensive weapon. For me, it's just a tool. It's not a "just in case" or an "if the sh** hits the fan" item.

ranger51 · #3

johnnylighton wrote:Excellent advice. :cool:

I also think it's worth familiarizing yourself with your state's laws on carrying knives, as well as your county and city laws.

Furthermore, where I live it's important never to state that your knife is a weapon. Although it's not written down in any laws (that I've read), in Los Angeles County the D.A. has instructed all law enforcement offers to make an arrest whenever a citizen states that he or she is carrying any item as an offensive or defensive weapon. For me, it's just a tool. It's not a "just in case" or an "if the sh** hits the fan" item.

You are correct. I have studyed the laws here, and I would be good to go without painting the clips. I just thought of it today, and tryed it out, and the color matches my jeans perfectly. So, maybe the clip won't draw attention.

I_like_sharp_things · #4

Can you post some pics of your clips please?

Azwaiian · #5

wow, that really sucks that anyone would have to color their clips just to keep the police from arresting them. it is a good thing for me that Arizona is very much aware that an adult can be trusted with a knife, as well as a gun. that is why i left the state of california and have never looked back. here in Arizona, we expect that everyone is carrying a knife and a gun and deal with it accordingly, which is to say, we ask our citizens, during traffic stops or when we deal with anyone, if they are carrying and then ask them to check it out. if they're carrying a knife, i love to talk to them about knife stuff, especially if it is a spyderco knife! good times!
love them spydies!

ranger51 · #6

I_like_sharp_things wrote:Can you post some pics of your clips please?

I'd be happy to, but I have no camera it this time. Soon as I get one, I will post some pic's.

Minibear453 · #7

Sigh. You know society's messed up when a gun is perceived as "less dangerous" than a knife.

DeathBySnooSnoo · #8

Minibear453 wrote:Sigh. You know society's messed up when a gun is perceived as "less dangerous" than a knife.

no kidding!

On the topic of clips and cops. Up here in Canada, you can't carry concealed, but you get hassled if they see the clip. The rule here is carry with a good and valid reason....but if you just slip it in your pocket, you never get hassled (as long as you are not acting a fool).

Waco · #9

Shiny knife clips are quite common around here and I've not heard of anyone getting hassled because of it.

2cha · #10

Step-brother charged with openly carrying a knife and had knife confiscated in Brooklyn this summer, when a police officer saw the shiny clip. It was a SS Delica that I gave him. He was RIDING A BIKE!!! when the cop stopped what he was doing and literally pulled him over, told him to put his hands in the air, reached into his pocket and took out the Delica. He tested Delica length against his palm, then tried and failed to open with inertia. Gave him a $300 ticket for openly carrying a knife, confiscated his knife, and told him he was lucky the knife was "legal" length and not a gravity knife. Judge threw it out of court, but the knife is still gone,... :mad:

Rwb1500 · #11

2cha wrote:Step-brother charged with openly carrying a knife and had knife confiscated in Brooklyn this summer, when a police officer saw the shiny clip. It was a SS Delica that I gave him. He was RIDING A BIKE!!! when the cop stopped what he was doing and literally pulled him over, told him to put his hands in the air, reached into his pocket and took out the Delica. He tested Delica length against his palm, then tried and failed to open with inertia. Gave him a $300 ticket for openly carrying a knife, confiscated his knife, and told him he was lucky the knife was "legal" length and not a gravity knife. Judge threw it out of court, but the knife is still gone,... :mad:

Welcome to NYC, where anything fun is illegal.

Waco · #12

Rwb1500 wrote:Welcome to NYC, where anything fun is illegal.

Move. I've never understood why people pay extra to live where it's crowded. :confused:

johnnylighton · #13

waco kid wrote:Move. I've never understood why people pay extra to live where it's crowded. :confused:

There's many benefits to living in a place like NYC. Basically, it's close to stuff -- a lot of stuff. Many ways to earn a living, restaurants of every kind, live music, movies, and other entertainment, unlimited dating possibilities, sports teams, and every social circle you could think to be in. It's like the flip side to living in the beautiful country. Both have their good and bad points.

It seems like the response to the type of crime that happens in a big city goes along with restrictive weapons laws, somehow. I'd like to see one big city liberalize its weapons laws -- maybe crime would plummet!

Waco · #14

johnnylighton wrote:There's many benefits to living in a place like NYC. Basically, it's close to stuff -- a lot of stuff. Many ways to earn a living, restaurants of every kind, live music, movies, and other entertainment, unlimited dating possibilities, sports teams, and every social circle you could think to be in. It's like the flip side to living in the beautiful country. Both have their good and bad points.

True. I grew up in a small town. I hate traffic. I like cities just big enough to have a reasonable selection of the things you mentioned, but I can drive there in 15 minutes and not worry about parking.

Leatherneck · #15

Knife laws are so murky & muttered in many places that it's almost impossible to get a definitive answer most of the time. My Brother-in-Law is a police officer and I asked him if my Para 2 would raise his eyebrow and he said not at all unless I was being/doing something suspicious or threatening. If a policeman harasses a person for a pocket knife then likely he is going to be a pain in the but for one reason or another.

jackknifeh · #16

johnnylighton wrote:Excellent advice. :cool:

I also think it's worth familiarizing yourself with your state's laws on carrying knives, as well as your county and city laws.

Furthermore, where I live it's important never to state that your knife is a weapon. Although it's not written down in any laws (that I've read), in Los Angeles County the D.A. has instructed all law enforcement offers to make an arrest whenever a citizen states that he or she is carrying any item as an offensive or defensive weapon. For me, it's just a tool. It's not a "just in case" or an "if the sh** hits the fan" item.

If you are talking to a police officer and he/she asks if you have any weapons on you and you have a Michael Walker in your pocket (2.5" blade) what should you say? If you say "no" and leave it at that then the officer finds out you have the Michael Walker tool would they consider you saying "no" a lie? Or you could answer by saying "No, I don't have a weapon but I do have a small pocket knife." A few years ago I was drinking (quite a bit) in a bar (nice peaceful place). An officer asked if I had a weapon and I said no. I didn't even have a small pocket knife on me at the time. The question was a friendly one and there wasn't any problems happening but the question was asked about a weapon by an LEO. What I mean is I wasn't being arrested. But, if I had had a small knife I wonder how the officer would have interpreted different answers. Opinions of LEOs on this forum would be appreciated.

Jack

The Deacon · #17

I'm not an LEO, but if your state does not consider a 2.5" bladed pocket knife to be a deadly weapon, then an unqualified "no" is an appropriate answer. I could strangle some one with my belt or stab them in the jugular my ballpoint, but that does not make those items weapons.

ranger51 · #18

The Deacon wrote:I'm not an LEO, but if your state does not consider a 2.5" bladed pocket knife to be a deadly weapon, then an unqualified "no" is an appropriate answer. I could strangle some one with my belt or stab them in the jugular my ballpoint, but that does not make those items weapons.

You are so right! I was in Law enforcment years ago. Our main purpose was to protect, and HELP people. I can remember going to the Post office every morning and helping the elderly and the disabled. If we pulled someone over who was DUI/DWI, and they lived in our town, as long as they didn't become beligerent, we would take their keys, drive them home, and take them back to get their car the next day. If it happenend again, they went to jail. We earned the respect of our citizens.
Now it's a different world. If a cop sees a knife clip on the outside of your pocket, there most of the time will be trouble. I live in the Adirondack Mtn's, and thank God, we don't have that problem here yet. A knife here is part of how we live, and if you venture into the woods here without a knife, you will soon wish that you had one. All the LEO's here know that, and won't hassle you one bit. NYC is a totaly different outlook. Only the crooks can have pistols and knives there. Makes my blood boil everytime I think about it.
Whats your opinion?