A matter of the law

Legally, what length is this blade?

  • Under 3.5"

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Exactly 3.5"

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Over 3.5"

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
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Michael_Aos

Michael_Aos

Joined
Jan 25, 2001
Messages
1,639
Large-2.jpg
 
Looks like just a hair under 3.5"

I think the law in CA (case law) allows for the measurement of only the cutting edge in determining blade length.

Nice knife, BTW :)
 
in seattle and ny knives are measured from the hilt. forget the ricasso. put the ruler flush with the guard or hilt all the way to the tip.
 
I put the ruler that way on purpose. I don't want to predispose the outcome.

If, by Colorado law, it's >3.5", then it's illegal (and it's gonna go back).

I've read some info on the web, but I've never seen anything that says PRECISELY how a prosecuter would measure it.

Mike
 
I don't know how long the knife is, but I do know how big the picture is: to big.

Normally, we ask folks to keep 'em below 600 pixels, usually 450 pixels. I encourage people to post a link ONLY to a larger picture for those who want to see the bigger picture.

We still have a lot of members on 56K dialups and such and our international members can face slow responses even if they have good local connections.
 
i agree with DB1 and can speak with confidence (LE0)..it is the CUTTING surface mike that is measured..like on a handgun...it is the actual barrel not the slide or barrel to lug..that determines the barrle length...the knife should remain.
 
I doubt you will find many knife laws that say how to determine the blade length. It's one of those ambiguities they like to use to keep us on the raw edge of legality, never sure what we can get away with. :D

The only fair measure would be penetration depth, how far into a ... an object ... the blade would go: from tip to bolster. By that measure, as well as I can see from your picture, the blade is precisely 3.5".

I also doubt that quibbling over a few technical details would, ultimately, matter -- like a recurve or hawksbill actually having a longer cutting edge than a wharnecliffe, or a thumbstud preventing the blade from sinking all the way to the bolster.

We've also heard simplistic and unfair measures used, like placing the blade across a palm and declaring it too long, by a person with narrow hands ... or the LEO who tried to say the three-inch rule referred to overall length. Good grief.
 
You're probably going to get "all three" as answers. And the fact is, you'd probably get all three answers from different cops you asked. Just hope none of them are in the position to arrest you, if they "interpet" the law "wrong." Isn't the law fun? This is why the laws should not exist in the first place.

-- PG
 
well said by the guys here.. and another vote of precisely 3 1/2 inches by Esav Benyamin...again, if the law is 3 1/2 and the blade in question is 3 5/8th's...NOBODY is going to take it down to an 1/8..but if it says 3 1/2 and the blade is 3 3/4...that may be a different story..thats way over and not a slight difference.
 
gosh..
looking at that pic again,DB1 is right..it is actually a tick under 3 1/2 inches..nowhere close to 3 5/8th...
 
IT HAS AN INDEPTH EXPOSE ON THE COLORADO KNIFE LAW AND ITS
CHALLENGE IN COURT... IT SHOULD ENLIGHTEN YOU...funny..colorado
is an open range state..which allows that you may carry a firearm
as long as its not concealed , unless you have a permit..but
try carrying a knife in colo., of the biggest hunting & fishing states.. you knife people in colorado need to take back your rights..
you'll see what i mean after you read the article....
 
Yep, I can walk in and buy a concealed-handgun permit. No problem.

But even with it, I can't carry a knife >3.5", or any size auto.

They don't do concealed "weapons" permits, only concealed hangun.

A knife with a blade >3.5" is a "weapon".

Mike
 
it is not huge man,
you are comparing apples to oranges..when comparing apples to apples..it is as most EVERYONE has agreed.. a 3.5 inch blade or a little less but, certainly NOT MORE.. :)
 
Seems as though 77% think it's 3.5 or better. Check the numbers and make them say what you want to hear I guess!
 
mike,
in your last pic...you have the knives staggered so obviously, it looks bigger..if you align them bolster to bolster...you will notice they are VERY similar in size even when you are comparing it to a 3 inch Obenauf...
i agree with knifeman...it is like stats 101..it is all in perception..to demonstrate: knifeman...says 77% say it is 3.5 or greater..but, also...63% say it is 3.5 or under..see what i mean?
 
Sorry, yeah, that's a bad scan.

I had them lined up more closely, but the TnT moved when I closed the scanner. Let me try again.

Mike
 
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