Anyone ever had their blade length checked?

[Daniel Dorn]

FYI, Gov't restricts knife blade length to 2.5" At least where I work. That's for employees, only. You're not getting in here as a visitor with any blades. For our safety, of course.

I can sort of get by with our security guards with having a "tool of the trade" for boxes, bags, zip-ties and plastic containers. I try to stay within the limit, though.

Pre-9-11 I went to pick my wife up at the airport, and had to go through security to meet her at the gate. (can't do that anymore, either) I had a Microtech LCC D/A with a blade just over 4" They security guard put the open blade across his palm and though it was a bit over, he said, "I guess it's okay." and let me pass through.

 

[corwise]

When I was coming home from a deployment I mailed a bunch of stuff home so I wouldn't have to carry it. The post office opened my boxes to ensure I wasn't shipping home anything illegal (guns? drugs? I don't know) and pulled out the knife I kept in my flight bag and measured it. It had a 5" blade, which they said was the limit, and they allowed it to go through.
Not sure why they enforced that rule though, as everyone on this forum often mails knives they buy/sell that are significantly larger than 5". Guess some random military mail rule. Only time I can think of that someone cared about the size of my knife.

 

[BlueSpartan007]

I have measured knives relative to their published blade length and seldom can I get their measurement. My measurements tend to be different every time I make the measurement. I can't imagine LEO going to such great precise lengths to measure something like a knife when they can arrest you for intent to carry a deadly weapon in the right circumstance. Maybe in NYC... I suspect Mick Dundee might run into a problem in NYC.

The only knife prior to 9/11 that got a reaction by airport screeners was a a switch blade I had in my brief case (carry on). It was a hard surfaced brief case and the knife (in the box) had slipped behind the fabric near the hinge. I didn't even know it was there until they kept asking me "what is that?". I didn't know. I checked the brief case as checked baggage and was on my way. I usually had a knife in my pocket when going through the x-ray machine (placed in their tub).

That is definitely more of a concern for me. Not that I would ever cause an incident which would warrant such an accusation, but people can get pinned for almost anything now. No switchblades/automatics allowed here either..

 

[BlueSpartan007]

The max legal length for public carry here in Texas is 5.5". BY CASE LAW, it has been determined that blade length is determined by a straight line measurement from tip to guard, or where a guard would "logically" be, if a guard were present.

The LEOs I have spoken with about the matter all say that unless you are sporting an OBVIOUSLY illegal knife (based on length), such as BK9, 1219C2, W49, Ontario, Spec5, etc, they don' t bother checking, ULESS YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE SOMETHING to garner their interest/suspicions. Then what they use is a dollar bill. A dollar bill is over 5.5" long, so if the blade is less than that length, they don't worry about it.

On court hiuses, poli e stations, etc that don't allow knives, I remove my folders from y pockets and my fixed blades from their sheaths. Occassionally, I have gotten hassled about the sheaths by dim bulbs. I just point at their signs and say "It says no knives, not no sheaths." More than one deputy/rent-a-cop has been chastised by their supervisors after I insisted on speaking with him/her.

I don't believe our laws are that specific. Looking at our revised code still doesn't give an accurate measuring standard. Although in any case, I still feel that is the most pertinent measurement that can be done, and that's how I measure my own knives. Washington state is definitely on the liberal side (sadly), and I'm even in the conservative part of the state. I completely understand a rap sheet being a factor when being checked, or something in the moment that would cause curiosity. Yeah, I'm almost never in federal buildings. I hate risking running into an officer that isn't totally informed on the laws, but I guess you take that risk with any knife in your pocket. Haha, never thought I would've heard such nonsense as that.

 

[BlueSpartan007]

FYI, Gov't restricts knife blade length to 2.5" At least where I work. That's for employees, only. You're not getting in here as a visitor with any blades. For our safety, of course.

I can sort of get by with our security guards with having a "tool of the trade" for boxes, bags, zip-ties and plastic containers. I try to stay within the limit, though.

Pre-9-11 I went to pick my wife up at the airport, and had to go through security to meet her at the gate. (can't do that anymore, either) I had a Microtech LCC D/A with a blade just over 4" They security guard put the open blade across his palm and though it was a bit over, he said, "I guess it's okay." and let me pass through.

Man, that would've been a real loss. That's nice they let you guys carry, though. Even having a sak is better than nothing.

When I was coming home from a deployment I mailed a bunch of stuff home so I wouldn't have to carry it. The post office opened my boxes to ensure I wasn't shipping home anything illegal (guns? drugs? I don't know) and pulled out the knife I kept in my flight bag and measured it. It had a 5" blade, which they said was the limit, and they allowed it to go through.
Not sure why they enforced that rule though, as everyone on this forum often mails knives they buy/sell that are significantly larger than 5". Guess some random military mail rule. Only time I can think of that someone cared about the size of my knife.

Must be, I've never really heard of that. Yeah, I've never bought something of large fixed blade status that shipped to my house, but I know I'd be find if I did.