Anybody else carry an illegal knife?

Navyblu said:
San Antonio city ordinance. It's funny, because anywhere else in Texas even autos are completely legal.


I always do. Many thanks.
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I'm in San Antonio too, Navyblu. I carry a knife everywhere and I've never once had a problem. I've looked at that ordinance and I think it's a class C misdemeanor, which is essentially a traffic ticket. I'm an attorney here, but practice civil rather than criminal law. My wife, however, is a criminal defense attorney and the only time she's seen a knife charge is when the defendant is being targeted for another reason (such as they are shady-looking or involved in some other type of crime and the knife charge was thrown on top). Additionally, I've never heard of anybody having problems with the locking knife issue, but the size issue has been enforced. I guess the biggest concern is that your knife might be confiscated at some point, which would be a drag.
 
Really interesting to read the posts here. I live in California, which has one silly knife law I sometimes fail to follow, but rarely and not intentionally. Any fixed blade must be visible, but when I am at home, I often keep a 2 inch becker in my pocket. Sometimes I forget to take it out, and it doesn't have a belt sheath.. So, I can carry my evil looking Spyderco Matriarch (or other massive locking folder) but my practical little becker is a no go... I know, I have it pretty good here, and those of you in more restrictive places have my sympathy.
 
I've been openly carrying this beast the last 2 days. I walk through the parking lot of a police substation twice every time I go to an AA meeting (usually 2 a day). No issues at all.



 
I heard somewhere that if you identify your knife as a tool, then knife laws don't apply. Sounds like an urban myth to me, has anyone ever heard this or used this strategy??
 
onojoe said:
I heard somewhere that if you identify your knife as a tool, then knife laws don't apply. Sounds like an urban myth to me, has anyone ever heard this or used this strategy??
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I DO identify my knives as such but, it probably wouldn't help in a legal sense.

I once tried to identify my RPG-7 as a personal hornet-nest killing implement. It really didn't help.
 
Charlie Mike said:
I've been openly carrying this beast the last 2 days. I walk through the parking lot of a police substation twice every time I go to an AA meeting (usually 2 a day). No issues at all.



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I never want to get hit in the face by you.

But I may get you to stab me so I can then run away with your knife embedded in me.
 
That sucks man. I doubt anything will happen unless you are doing something stupid and then they find the knife. That's how stuff like that usually works. DUI or something like that, then - oh hey, what's this in your pocket?

I live in Houston and carry pretty much whatever I want. Up to 5 1/2", fixed or folder, no dirks, daggers, double edges, etc. and all that jazz.
 
Salo said:
Why even have knife laws what most any citizen can conceal and carry a firearm?
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Opposition to draconian knife laws is much less vocal, less heated, and does not garner media attention like gun legislation. This is what happens when citizens quietly stand by while the government slowly strips away our rights with the stroke of a pen, and most often citizens are unaware that their rights have been taken. The second amendment legally grants all citizens the right to bear arms. Most people relate this with the right to own and carry firearms, but it includes the carry of knives as well. At one point San Antonio made it illegal to carry ANY knife within city limits. Non violent civil disobedience is most certainly warranted in some cases. I will maintain a position that illegal laws do not apply to me.
 
brownshoe said:
"I think you'll find that most knowledgeable people here discourage illegal carry"

Maybe in the subforums you go to, but there are many "knowledgeable people" on the forums who carry illegally on a regular basis even every day. Remember, the "dirk/dagger" laws affect anyone with a knife with an intent to use it for self-defense.

"The way to get the laws overturned is not thru civil disobedience, but by following the law in a responsible manner to show that only true criminal's do so and the rest of us should be allowed our freedom legally."

To me that is a very naive statement...are you a LEO? Unjust laws can only be challenged in the courts through an act of civil disobedience. Some of the US's greatest accomplishments in the late 20th century, e.g. racial freedom, are due to civil disobedience.

You sure are not a student of US history. We were founded upon civil disobedience. Without civil disobedience this country would be Great Britain :). Civil disobedience set free most of the other former colonies of European countries.

I carry what I want but is appropriate for the situation. I've carried my switchblades and balisongs even though they are not legal. I carry them in situations where police contact is minimal.
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Thank you so much for posting this!! I really didn't want to take the time to write my response to that post, but if I had it would have been pretty much word for word what you just said! :thumbup:
 
San Antonio is a good place to live in spite of the ridiculous ordinance banning locking folders. It is more like a small town with a large footprint unlike other large Texas cities. It started back in the 80's when some gang was holding up stores by flipping open Buck 110's or similar knives and is still the law although rarely enforced. I have spoken with many LEO about the law and all assure me that I have nothing to worry about and some admitted to liking the law because it gives them some discretion to use it if they see fit. Naturally I am not all that comforted by the assurances simply because there tends to be bad apples in every bunch.

Locking folders are still very popular in SA and sold at every store that you would think might sell knives including the many gun shows that hire SAPD officers as security. Perhaps of no coincidence most of the lockblade carrying residents are completely unaware that the ordinance exists. I am uncomfortable with the notion that I am violating any law so for my peace of mind I tend to carry fixed blades when I am about the city, mostly in small belt or pocket sheaths and usually have a larger fixed blade in my bag.
 
I don't like the idea of a fun-filled vacation in prison.
I don't like getting my fondling from cops either.
Thus, I don't carry illegal things. :)
 
I carry an "Illegal" knife sometimes, but rarely. It's a matter of blade length being 3 inches Vs 2 inches, so it's not that big of a deal.
Most cops aren't going to sweat you over it if you're not a gang member, or on parole or something.

It's akin to having the tint on your car windows too dark, or having your vehicles lowered too much, or some other minor foul like that.
 
By the way Charlie what goes in your other belt pouch there? Cell phone? It looks empty in that pic. Just curious.
 
The San Antonio ordinance was passed in 1995 by city councilmen wanting to be "tough on crime" due to gang activity such as the armed robbery incidents referenced previously.

I unintentionally illegally carried locking blade folders every time I went to San Antonio and Corpus Christi (due to fixed blade carry AND folder blade length) until 2013 when I learned of the ordinances here on bladeforums (and one of the reasons I joined BF).

My solution? I simply have not been back to either city since then.

I also wrote the mayors of both cities and advised them that I would no longer visit their cities and spend money there until they chose to follow state law and that I would discourage anyone from visiting as well. No that they really give a rat's patootie about my choice. But that's removed an estimated $3000 from their coffers in the last 1.5 years.
 
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