I was just curious? some of you guys carry some pretty big and exotic knives. Have you ever been confronted by officers who challenged you about carrying too big a knife or one that may have been a mechanical assist which they thought was a switch blade and illegal? I have some ZT knives and they pop out with authority. Someone not familiar with them could easily think it was spring powered as a "switch blade." I know it is not, so you don't have to define what a switch blade is. I am very familiar with what is legal where I live but there are a lot of different laws and some that actually conflict between local and state in the same location. Just wondering if a police officer has stopped you or confronted you for an illegal weapon.
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Anyone ever have his knife confiscated by the police?
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Not really. I've once had an LEO stop me and ask to examine my Emerson CQC-8. I was extremely nervous for a second, but he just wanted a chance to handle it. He had, apparently, been consideringing buying an Emerson and noticed the end of it sticking out of my pocket.
That being said, I'm pretty careful about local laws when I'm carrying or traveling. Ohio has fairly loose knife laws, but it does leave a fair amount up to the officer in question. That's one reason I try to assiduously avoid speaking about my knives as self-defense options or weapons, etc.
That being said, I'm pretty careful about local laws when I'm carrying or traveling. Ohio has fairly loose knife laws, but it does leave a fair amount up to the officer in question. That's one reason I try to assiduously avoid speaking about my knives as self-defense options or weapons, etc.
Most cops are pretty regular guys if you give them a chance and assuming you were not acting crazy or acting in some way that would make them suspicious like you just committed a crime or are acting in a threatening manner, they tend not to hassle you. Interestingly there are, I suspect many LEO's on this forum who are just as interested in knives or guns as you and I are as hobbyists. Majority of cops are pretty nice guys when they are not arresting you.
Best thing is to do what you did and not over react until they make their intentions known.
Best thing is to do what you did and not over react until they make their intentions known.
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Many times, but I was on probation.
BrentD86
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The laws around me are very vague and although assisted openers are legal, and there is no size limit.... it just says that you are allowed to carry a "reasonable" pocket knife. Now what is reasonable? Honestly around here that is completely up to the officer, most policemen are normal people just like you and me and you won't have any problems as long as you don't have anything that is specifically illegal and you mind your manners. What I would be more concerned about is running into one of the bad ones, the ones who know what that exotic knife is and what it costs, the ones that will confiscate it and you can watch it go right out of your pocket and into theirs before they send you on your way with a warning. Had it happen to a friend of mine.
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Yeah, but who gets to decide what "reasonable" is? I don't think a Cold Steel Hold Out with a 6-inch blade would be reasonable to most people, but how about a 5-inch, or a 4-inch? A lot probably has to do with your overall appearance. If you're nicely dressed and aren't acting in a threatening manner, many cops will be understanding. But some others won't find anything over 3-inches reasonable.
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I've never had my person or my
property searched by the authorities.
property searched by the authorities.
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Anyone ever have his or her knife confiscated by the police?
^^^ Fixed it for you!
Anyways, no, the cops I've run into have always showed me their knives and I've showed them mine. We actually will stand there and have a conversation like we know each other lol. This may be because I'm a girl, but I don't think so. I think it's because I don't appear as a threat and I don't act weird around them. I talk to them like they're the average Joe on the street.
^^^ Fixed it for you!
Anyways, no, the cops I've run into have always showed me their knives and I've showed them mine. We actually will stand there and have a conversation like we know each other lol. This may be because I'm a girl, but I don't think so. I think it's because I don't appear as a threat and I don't act weird around them. I talk to them like they're the average Joe on the street.
LOL. Dude, someday you have gotta tell us your life story.
To answer the question, no, I've never had any problems. I don't even see how a anybody would know I was carrying a knife unless I used it in front of them, and I'd probably avoid doing that in front of a police man. Not worth the risk of getting into trouble, even if it's a very small risk.
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nope, knock on wood.
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Haven't flown lately?
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That ain't the half of it. The knives (off the top of my head) were... BM42, MT Combat Troodon, MT fire ant Makora, MT Halo 3. I was a drug dealer at the time so I had to pack something flashy.
Here's my one knife/cop story. I live in San Diego.
One day, several years ago, I go to Home Depot and park my motorcycle right up in front of the building. There is an empty police car parked in front of the building right next to where I parked. I was carrying a fixed-blade (Entrek Cobra) in a back pocket sheath, only the handle was visible. I unzipped my jacket before I went inside the store.
When I came back out to leave there were two cops sitting in the car. I stowed my purchase in my saddlebags, zipped up my jacket, put on my gloves and helmet, got on my bike, started the engine, backed out of the area I was in and was preparing to ride off when both cops got out of the car. They were two young looking cops (young to me anyways), with one looking like a kid (rookie I imagine). The older of the two said something like "Excuse me sir, would you turn off your bike". I turned off my engine and the cop told me that when I was at my bike, before I zipped up my jacket, that part of the jacket had covered my knife, and that technically that could be considered "conceald", (it's illegal to conceal a fixed-blade here). But this was just a friendly warning, the cop was totally cool, no attitude at all, it actually sounded like he wanted to help me avoid any possible trouble in the future. He didn't even ask to see my ID. He made no attempt to take the knife, nor did he ask for it. He just gave me the warning, I thanked him, and I was on my way.
And I've continued to carry a fixed-blade every day since then.
Several other cops have seen me carrying a fixed-blade, and yet despite being a bit rough looking, with my ragged black leather motorcycle jacket, and unshaven appearance, and riding a motorcycle, none of them have said a word about it. Some just smile at me in a friendly way and nod in passing.
One day, several years ago, I go to Home Depot and park my motorcycle right up in front of the building. There is an empty police car parked in front of the building right next to where I parked. I was carrying a fixed-blade (Entrek Cobra) in a back pocket sheath, only the handle was visible. I unzipped my jacket before I went inside the store.
When I came back out to leave there were two cops sitting in the car. I stowed my purchase in my saddlebags, zipped up my jacket, put on my gloves and helmet, got on my bike, started the engine, backed out of the area I was in and was preparing to ride off when both cops got out of the car. They were two young looking cops (young to me anyways), with one looking like a kid (rookie I imagine). The older of the two said something like "Excuse me sir, would you turn off your bike". I turned off my engine and the cop told me that when I was at my bike, before I zipped up my jacket, that part of the jacket had covered my knife, and that technically that could be considered "conceald", (it's illegal to conceal a fixed-blade here). But this was just a friendly warning, the cop was totally cool, no attitude at all, it actually sounded like he wanted to help me avoid any possible trouble in the future. He didn't even ask to see my ID. He made no attempt to take the knife, nor did he ask for it. He just gave me the warning, I thanked him, and I was on my way.
And I've continued to carry a fixed-blade every day since then.
Several other cops have seen me carrying a fixed-blade, and yet despite being a bit rough looking, with my ragged black leather motorcycle jacket, and unshaven appearance, and riding a motorcycle, none of them have said a word about it. Some just smile at me in a friendly way and nod in passing.
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Not to thread jack, but I second this life story thing
Back when I was 18, some friends and I were hanging out at a local abandoned quarry (a popular place for kids in my town), and I just happened to be unlucky because the cops showed up that day. I had no clue about knife laws so the crappy M-Tech folder I had on me was lost forever. It inspired a neurotic attention to blade length for a while, but now that I'm older I don't really care what I carry. The law here is 3", which if you do follow puts a pretty big damper on the whole knife enthusiast thing. I don't foresee myself in a situation where a LEO will be searching my person any time soon.
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I was (young and stupid) intoxicated and arrested at a local bar, at the charge office they asked if I had anything in my pockets. I pulled my folder out(cheap Kershaw), slammed it on the table and grunted, "just a knife!"
The charge officer was friendly though and recognized after a good chat that I was arrested without reason and assaulted by the officer, he let me go with my knife back.
Stupid hurts!
The charge officer was friendly though and recognized after a good chat that I was arrested without reason and assaulted by the officer, he let me go with my knife back.
Stupid hurts!
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Not since about 1998.
Well, being I only carry tools to do a job and don't carry "illegal weapons" it has never been an issue.
In my work I spend plenty of time hanging out with LEO's and most of them are knife guys too; it's your demeanor and attitude that will get you in trouble, the knife you may be carrying, not so much.
Big Mike
"Never a weapon, only a tool I use at work to open boxes and cut my sandwiches with at lunch!"
People are so scared about anything they aren't familiar with now-a-days! If I was to walk down the street with my bushcraft pack, I'd probably get stopped by the police in no time at all. Of course I have a fixed blade strapped to it, along with a small axe and a saw.
People are so scared about anything they aren't familiar with now-a-days! If I was to walk down the street with my bushcraft pack, I'd probably get stopped by the police in no time at all. Of course I have a fixed blade strapped to it, along with a small axe and a saw.