Am I the only one?

C

Cauldra

Joined
Jan 31, 2008
Messages
130
Earlier today when I was walking into a gas station, I noticed a cop car outside. Because of this I decided to put my Flash II, which was clipped to my pocket, all the way into my pocket. I usually just keep it clipped in my front right pocket. I'm in PA so it is legal to carry an A/O, but for a few reasons I slid the knife into my pocket. 1) When it comes to knives, cops don't always know the law. 2) I don't want to have to deal with explaining to any cop if he happened to notice the knife, even though I carry it for here and there, the cop could still give me a hard time. 3) I would expect the cop to give me a hard time because he would assume things because I'm 20 and my hair is half way down my back. I am always respectful when talking to cops, but that doesn't mean they will go easy on me. So who here tries to "cover up" their knife so that they won't have to possibly take a few minutes answering to a cop?
 
I've done it a few times and not just around cops. I certainly don't want to get into a discussion with a cop who's ignorant about the subject and has an attitude that day.
 
I don't try to hide that I carry a pocket knife, nor do I flaunt it. I believe that people are judged through their character and actions, rather than what they own and carry.
 
I usualy dont care about police seeing my knife unless I am in a heavily populated area; Like a county fair or something.

Usualy I dont care. I just act natural. If they say anything, look at them like your confused, you should be since its your right.
 
It depends on where you are a lot. In New York City, it is illegal to carry a knife exposed, and they define a visible clip as exposed. You could literally be arrested for this.

There is no particular reason for me to carry a knife visibly so I generally keep it as covert as possible. IWB carry is good, so is a back pocket. An untucked shirt covers a lot. :)
 
Having been a cop for 8 years but not now, I make it a point to keep my knife clipped in my pocket the way it is suppose to be.. If a cop wants to hassle me about knife laws and such I will gladly and tactfully debate him, and even embarrass him if need be.. I know alot of the cops around here and alot of them know I always have a knife or two on my person.. I have seen Officers and their departments humiliated do to things such as knife, gun, and carry permit laws.. All it takes is a letter to their department heads and one to the media and they will be put in the spot-light... I'm not a cop hater by no means, but I refuse to be pushed around unnecessarly.. I didn't treat folks that way when I was an officer, and I don't expect to be treated that way especially because an officer doesn't know the laws or his job...
 
I've switched to using a modified pocket sheath for my clip-on EDC (a Benchmade 710) Just a simple sheet of leather shaped like my pocket, thinned out where the clip slips over, which holds my knife vertical, in the same location it would be if it were clipped to the edge of my pocket, but about 1/2" lower with no clip visible from the outside. Still just as convenient and quick to draw or replace, but no clip seen and no pocket imprinting visible. By thinning the edges of the leather and giving it a slight curl, it molds around my leg and can't be detected from the outside, and doesn't add any bulk to my pocket. It took five minutes to make and no skill required... I made a couple of them, to fit the shapes of the different pants or shorts that I usually wear.

Stitchawl
 
Carry is legal in California. So I carry with knife clipped to pocket. Never had a problem with either the constabulary or general population.
 
I never cover mine up everyone carrys open here, and you can see 20 knives a day where I live if your out and about all day.
 
I'm in NYC where almost all my knives are illegal to carry. Whenever I see a cop I always pull my shirt down to cover the pocket clip. I usually carry in front right or back right pocket. It's annoying but I don't want to get arrested and I refuse to follow oppressive NYC knife laws.
 
In Canada, the difference between a legal and illegal knife is whether or not it is concealed, so I'm often obligated to keep the clip showing. However, I admit there have been a few instances when I've just tucked the knife into a pocket to avoid a hard time or a confrontation. I'm respectful when talking to cops as well, and there have been some nice ones here in Vancouver, but there's always the chance of running into one who's having a bad day. It sucks, especially since I'm doing nothing wrong, but sadly enough it's just more practical.



It's annoying but I don't want to get arrested and I refuse to follow oppressive NYC knife laws.

Shouldn't talk about that here.
 
I got pulled over a few months ago, and we went back to the squad car so he could run my license. I noticed that he had a knife clipped to his pocket and asked him what it was (some off brand POS don’t really remember). We sat and talked about what knives I thought he might like within his budget. I thought that based on what he wanted to spend, what he used it for and what he wanted it to look like he should get a BM 710 (he had spent some time playing with my 940 and thought the axis lock was pretty cool). About a month latter I get pulled over for having a brake light out and it’s the same cop. He walked up to my window looked at me for a second smiled and pulled out the 710d2 he had gotten a few weeks before.
 
Everything I carry is always legal, but yeah, I'll carry different things based on where I'm going, how many people I'm going to be around, the likelihood of being hassled, etc. I always have a (legal) gun on me as well, so keeping it concealed isn't a big deal.
 
More people around here carry a Buck 110 on there belt than those who don't. The cops just assume that everyone here has a knife on them.
 
The only time I have slid my knife in my pocket was going into a big Post Office. I was carrying my D2 Para that day and had visions of someone freaking out and me losing it! Probably never happen, but sliding into the pocket is no big deal. At work I am either flipping the Para out or constantly playing with an Axis lock mini grip. Good thing I work with a bunch of guys.
 
I always keep my knife buried in my pocket, if I had one with a pocket clip then I'll clip it on my pocket when I think I'll need it soon. I would prefer to avoid hassles with a LEO or someone who thinks I'm going to stab them and kill everyone with a 3" knife *sigh*.
 
YayILikePie said:
I don't try to hide that I carry a pocket knife, nor do I flaunt it. I believe that people are judged through their character and actions, rather than what they own and carry.
Click to expand...

I agree.

I carry legally, my knife is within in the legal limits, I don't wave it around or threaten people with it. I use it when the situation calls for the use. I have no police record and don't intend on having one. I also don't intend to change the way I carry my knife.

My pocket clip has been noticed before, and once or twice it was noticed by a police officer who just wanted to talk knives. But the conversation never started "what's that in your pocket." It's always "what Benchmade are you carrying," or "is that a Benchmade or a Spyderco" since from a distance the clips look similar.

EDIT:

I'm also curious to know why so many people here seem to have run ins with the law concerning knives... I'm 28 years old and I've been pulled over once because I made a right turn at a redlight without coming to a complete stop very late at night. My knife never even came up and I didn't get a ticket. No police officer is going to care what knife or how you're carrying it unless you give him a reason.
 
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I cover up; even if is a small SAK. Despite the laws with knives, I just don't want to hear someone asking 'what's that?' or getting themselves worked up into a lather when the know it's a knife. Mostly, it's just to keep people quiet. Like others have mentioned here, an untucked shirt covers quite a bit. In my case, a Vic Spirit, Vic Champion, Byrd Cara Cara and whatever else is clipped to the pocket (s). :D
 
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