Canadian Knife Laws

[cybrok]

(from http://www.cutleryscience.com/reviews/canada.html)


[...]
As of right now the main restrictions on the types of knives in Canada are listed in Section III of Bill C68

"prohibited weapon" means

(a) a knife that has a blade that opens automatically by gravity or centrifugal force or by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the handle of the knife
This bans switchblades and knives that you can flip open ie. swinging/snapping the knife in a circular motion.

Knives opening with the wave system are legal.

Note one handed opening via holes in the blade, disks, studs etc., are not illegal.

Law enforcement officers and many other types of civil employees, firemen etc. are not bound by this.

There are no federal laws about about the lengths of knives allowed. As far as I know, no provinces have specific legislation about knife lengths either. However there are many informal "blade length rules" in Canada. These vary from 3" to 4" for folders in various areas around the country depending on what differentiates a pocket knife from a fighting knife to the local constabulary.

One other important bit of information is that there are no federal laws about knife materials, this means that non-magnetic knives are legal for possession and carry. As well there are no formal laws on serrations, or dual edged blades, however these are much more likely to catch the attention of a police officer, or security say at an airport.

Besides the restrictions on opening mechanism there are two additional policies you need to be aware of. The first is concealment, technically its not allowed at all, even a SAK can get you in trouble, ie.

90. (1) Every person commits an offence who carries a weapon, a prohibited device or any prohibited ammunition concealed, unless the person is authorised under the Firearms Act to carry it concealed.
You can get a concealed carry permit (talk to the local constabulary) but its very difficult. However I have been carring a SAK in my back pocket for 15 years without one incident, including going though various airports. This is mainly because of the second and most general rule : most police officers will ok any knife they regard as a "tool", but if they feel in any way that it's for "fighting" they'll take it off you and you can get charged for possessing a dangerous weapon. What this means is that is you ever get asked "why you are carrying that?", never ever say "For self-defence", say its for cutting boxes, rope, tubing, food etc.

This probably comes from this section of C68

117.15
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing anything that by this Part is to be or may be prescribed.


(2) In making regulations, the Governor in Council may not prescribe any thing to be a prohibited firearm, a restricted firearm, a prohibited weapon, a restricted weapon, a prohibited device or prohibited ammunition if, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, the thing to be prescribed is reasonable for use in Canada for hunting or sporting purposes.
Along those lines anything consider to be intended to be used as a weapon can get you into trouble, for example all of the following are banned in Canada:

"nunchaku" and any similar instrument or device, being hard non-flexible sticks, clubs, pipes or rods linked by a length or lengths of rope, cord, wire or chain;
"shuriken", being a hard non-flexible plate having three or more radiating points with one or more sharp edges in the shape of a polygon, trefoil, cross, star, diamond or other geometric shape;
"manrikigusari" or "kusari", and any similar instrument or device, being hexagonal or other geometrically shaped hard weights or hand grips linked by a length or lengths of rope, cord, wire or chain;
any finger ring that has one or more blades or sharp objects that are capable of being projected from the surface of the ring.
"crossbow", with a stock of 400 mm or less
"Constant Companion", being a belt containing a blade capable of being withdrawn from the belt, with the buckle of the belt forming a handle for the blade
any knife commonly known as a "push-dagger" that is designed in such a fashion that the handle is placed perpendicular to the main cutting edge of the blade; and any other similar device but not including the aboriginal "ulu" knife.
"Spiked Wristband", being a wristband to which a spike or blade is affixed; and any other similar device
"Yaqua Blowgun", being a tube or pipe designed for the purpose of shooting arrows or darts by the breath; and any other similar device
"Kiyoga Baton" or "Steel Cobra" and any similar device consisting of a manually-triggered telescoping spring-loaded steel whip terminated in a heavy calibre striking tip;
"Morning Star" and any similar device consisting of a ball of metal or other heavy material, studded with spikes and connected to a handle by a length of chain, rope or other flexible material.
"Brass Knuckles" and any similar device consisting of a band of metal with finger holes designed to fit over the root knuckles of the hand.
[...]

In addition:

A knife with a brass knuckle handle like those are prohibited.

Except for brass knucle handled knives and push daggers, EVERY fixed blade knife is legal to OWN, wich includes machetes, khukuris, swords, bayonets, double edge daggers and knives with rings for the index or pinky (like a karambit).

Assisted openers are LEGAL. AO's are not prohibited because the opening device activator is not attached to the handle: no switch, not a switchblade.


And remember, never but NEVER tell a cop that your knife is for self-defense.

LAST BUT VERY IMPORTANT:

These laws are for the whole country. But each city have its own knife laws for knife carrying. CHECK YOUR CITY LAWS BEFORE YOU CARRY A KNIFE. The best way is to ask a cop.



Just another deception. These blades are made by Justin from Ranger Knives. Two nice examples of beauties that are illegal to own.

[Steven Penner]

Thanks for the info.

It is nice to have the ruling info to prove that AO's are Ok.

Steve

[cybrok]

It is nice to have the ruling info to prove that AO's are Ok.
Steve

If, like me, you have a AO.

And, like me, you always have a pen drive on yourself.

I suggest you save that picture on your pendrive, so you have with you the proof your knife is legal according to the criminal code.

[chimeragrande]

Interesting, accurate and well laid out thread. I have read most of C-68 section III and come to similar conclusions. I am still curious as to the legality of anything with a double edge. (Probably a bad idea with the very loose tool / weapon category open for interpretation.)

Ranger Knives makes some nice ones.

[cybrok]

I am still curious as to the legality of anything with a double edge. (Probably a bad idea with the very loose tool / weapon category open for interpretation.)

At home, no problem at all.

Carry... You have the right to carry a tool, you can't carry a weapon.

If you are good enough to convince a cop that you have a double-edge dagger on yourself and you use it as a tool, you really are good and earned the right to carry it :P

Seriously, I think it would be hard to use a double edge as a tool, and even harder to convince someone you do.

[Deadlyliving]

Very nice thread i must say and has answered a lot of my questions, thanks

[JaGWiRE]

Would assisted openers be features like:
The wave on spyderco knives
and the axis lock on benchmade knives (would like to get one, but not sure if it's legal.)

[cybrok]

Waved knives are legal since they were invented after the laws were bade

Axis Lock ok too. Of course you can adjust them so they will flick open, just like almost any folders. Just use your judgment.

[JaGWiRE]

Waved knives are legal since they were invented after the laws were bade

Axis Lock ok too. Of course you can adjust them so they will flick open, just like almost any folders. Just use your judgment.

LOL, yeah, I thought so. As long as your knives pivot is tightened when it comes into Canada I think it's alright assuming it's no bail song or switchblade or anything.

[DonTomas]

These laws are for the whole country. But each city have its own knife laws for knife carrying. CHECK YOUR CITY LAWS BEFORE YOU CARRY A KNIFE. The best way is to ask a cop.

Are there any online resources to check local/provincial laws/ordinances? Drew a blank on TorontoPD/OPP websites.

I don't want to walk up to a random cop & get the standard "Law-abiding-civilians-only-need-2"-SAKs,-anything-else-makes-you-a-felon."-speech.

[george tichbourne]

Criminal code laws can only be made by our federal government.

Cities can only pass bylaws which usually carry only fines not a criminal record.

[pageophile]

And this all goes out the window if you happen upon a unfriendly and/or unreasonable LEO.

No offense to the LEO's that frequent this forum, I've met plenty of great LEO's and a few not so great.

At times I think they are padding their own collections

[DonTomas]

Criminal code laws can only be made by our federal government.

Cities can only pass bylaws which usually carry only fines not a criminal record.

Thanks, George. I found the Toronto By-Laws online, I'll go through them. Shouldn't have skipped the civics class in high school.

[JaGWiRE]

Thanks, George. I found the Toronto By-Laws online, I'll go through them. Shouldn't have skipped the civics class in high school.

Let me know too. Seems like the majority of this forum in Canada is in the west, but I am a Torontonian just like you.

[DonTomas]

I read Toronto's municipal code and bylaws for the last couple years and found nothing. Ran searches on the bylaws that are available online, and came up with nothing. There could still be something on the books preceding 1998 or in the bylaws of the former boroughs, so I'm just holding on to C-68 for now. Any unemployed law-school grads here who want to go down to the Clerk's office to do some research?

[JaGWiRE]

How does it work if you carry a fixed blade or a folder in your backpack / bag? Is that still considered concealed?

[Andrew Taylor]

no, 'concealed' means on your person, so if you have a great big knife tucked in your waistband, and your jacket is part zipped up, you are carrying a concealed weapon and creating easy access. If you hang it on your belt and the bottom of the sheath is visible, you are carrying a tool that is visible.

Intent is everything.

[kimjune01]

wow thanks
great idea for listing stuff out for Canada
would it ever be possible for a balisong to be a tool in the eyes of the law?
lol silly question.. see u guys around

[Rob!]

Please be cautious about relying on any advice from the internet (including that which I am about to offer).

Knife laws in Canada are very much subject to interpretation by users, law enforcements and the courts. They are not black and white. If you are stopped and challenged by an officer, he will not be interested in your printout of this internet discussion forum.

...'nuff said!

Rob!

[cybrok]

wow thanks
great idea for listing stuff out for Canada
would it ever be possible for a balisong to be a tool in the eyes of the law?
lol silly question.. see u guys around

I you get a bali and succeed in convincing an officer that you can have it, I strongly suggest that you become a lawyer.