Anyone ever have his knife confiscated by the police?

The knife laws in Kansas are completely backward. You can't legally carry (and depending on the reading even own) anything other than an ordinary pocket knife with a blade less than 4" in length.
 
As a young guy growing up in urban NJ, circa 1960's, I had several knives taken away from me on different occasions. One was a nice buffalo horn italian folder that had sentimental value. I asked about getting it back and was told to go to the local precinct and ask the desk sargent. Stupidly, I did just that (what WAS I thinking?). Ended up getting slapped in the head and nearly arrested. Different times.
 
It's never happened to me. Where I live in the the mountains of North Carolina most of the time the cops don't give you a second look even if you're walking around with a small fixed blade on your hip (never went around with a fixed blade larger than about a 3 inch blade). As for when I'm carrying a folder only, they likely wouldn't even see it as I have my shirt untucked and it hangs down low enough to mostly cover my front pocket except for the lowest part of it (past the end of my knife handle).
 
I had an ossifer try......before I handed it to him I set it up at an angle at the curb and snapped the blade off by stomping on it with my boot...my standard policy for anyone attempting to confiscate my blade. He was mad and a bit surprised but then he just walked away. I would have forced him to also give me a receipt for it. I don't want it to become "lost" while it was in custody. It is mine, not yours, and I will do with it as I need to. The only time.
 
broe said:
I had an ossifer try......before I handed it to him I set it up at an angle at the curb and snapped the blade off by stomping on it with my boot...my standard policy for anyone attempting to confiscate my blade. He was mad and a bit surprised but then he just walked away. I would have forced him to also give me a receipt for it. I don't want it to become "lost" while it was in custody. It is mine, not yours, and I will do with it as I need to. The only time.
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So you broke your knife on the "suspicion" he was going to take it? And he just sat by while you were handling your knife while placing it on the curb?


But to stay on topic, never had a knife taken. Not even in he young and dumb days. If you are not doing anything to draw undue attention to yourself, then the chance you get stopped is minimal......unless you are on probation:D
 
No, but had a friend tell me this past weekend, that he had one "confiscated" by a policeman in NJ. It was a folder clipped in his pocket, and was told he couldn't have a knife in NJ. He chose to hand it over and not argue.
 
DoctaD said:
No, but had a friend tell me this past weekend, that he had one "confiscated" by a policeman in NJ. It was a folder clipped in his pocket, and was told he couldn't have a knife in NJ. He chose to hand it over and not argue.
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Guess it is still business as usual in the Garden State. At least he didn't get slapped in the head.
 
harlycarly said:
Guess it is still business as usual in the Garden State. At least he didn't get slapped in the head.
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Not to hijack but I believe the correct term is "slapped UP SIDE the head"!

Never had a knife confiscated but then I usually carry IN the pocket, not clipped TO the pocket, no handles or holsters or anything showing. I avoid the really large stuff some folks EDC partly for this reason.
 
I have never had any problems with law enforcement. I did run into a customer at work who had a Kershaw leek confiscated (stolen) by a police officer who said it was an auto. The guy said the cop told him it was a felony to have the knife switchblade.
 
I never have been searched by the police, normally they are pretty relaxed about knives, and ive carried a cold steel voyager xl lots before
 
In NYC I was stopped. Post 9/11 they've got a ton of well trained undercover cops. They noticed the clip from a Sebenza in my pocket. I told them I use it to cut boxes from ebay and so on. One said what should we do to the other? The other said we don't want to interfere with someone's job or work and they let me keep it. That was OK.

The cops closer to where I live are mostly fine but some of the young ones seem to have a bit to prove. One gets pulled over for driving normally somewhat often. I suppose they're running my plates. Anyway, I wouldn't trust these guys to not take a knife that is in any way dangerous looking or concealed. Of course, if it's not concealed, they would probably stop me. So concealed it it. There's almost no crime here and they primarily give out driving tickets. I've had a bout 3 speeding tickets over many years and no felony or misdemeanor convictions. I'd have to convince them it's for work. It's quite annoying.

Technically, a fixed out in the open blade is most legal here but no one wears one. A combination of boredom and macho I think. Depends on the cop. I can't stand being stopped --- it's such a hassle and you wonder what you've done. Almost always nothing or some dumb thing like having brights on on a dark empty road.
 
In Ohio it is very important whether or not the knife is a "tool" or a "weapon". You could have a 5in blade on you, but If you articulate that it is a "tool" you are fine. If you say your 2in blade is for defense, or something to that effect, you are in violation of the CCW law (2923.12) and have committed a misdemeanor of the first degree. Officers can confiscate your knife if you are stopped and while they conduct their investigation, but have to give it back as soon as the stop is over. Obviously unless it has been used in a crime...
 
Yes. Without a 6 pg report it was a kobalt $3 knife that was in my ash tray when i got pulled over. They then searched my truck.... know your rights! I was 17yr old

Btw no ticket for anything was issued
 
Only once. My stepson broke into my gunroom, took a couple of handguns and several knives. The cops caught him. I got everything back except a cheap switchblade. My next purchase was a gun safe.
 
Lost a SAK @ an airport once - it was in a small, small zipper pocket inside another pocket of my carry on bag and I had no idea it was even there.

Made it to my destination with it in there... the screeners on the way back were a little more careful apparently.
 
MassMatt said:
Not to hijack but I believe the correct term is "slapped UP SIDE the head"!
...
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i dont think they talk like that north of the mason-dixon line. lol


on topic;
nope, not so far at least. i dont carry knives with a pocket clip so theres nothing to see. i use machetes and 'hori hori' digging tools in my work sometimes but when i have them i am quite obviously working and have not had any trouble. it helps that i notify the people we are working for beforehand and am very polite and go out of my way to explain what i am doing to locals and passersby.
 
wouldestous said:
i dont think they talk like that north of the mason-dixon line. lol
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I bet you're thinkin' of 36°30′ instead of Mason-Dixon ;)

On topic:
I've never been stopped by an officer for anything in my life. I conduct myself well, I know the knife statutes by memory, and I abide by them. I don't think I'll have a problem in the near future.
The only time I was ever confronted about a pocket clip was by coworkers. I pulled out the Leatherman clipped to my pocket, and all of them were like "Oh, it's one of those boy scout thingys."
 
My advice for dealing with law enforcement-

Know your local knife laws. Know your rights.

Find your local knife laws online, print them out, and carry a copy in your wallet. Believe it or not, but showing a cop that you know the law, and actually showing him the law, can and has prevented knives from being confiscated.

If a cop trys to tell you that your knife is illegal, tell him "That's not what my lawyer told me. If you take my knife I will call him and have him meet me at your station". Naturally this is a bluff, but it can work.

If a cop insists on taking your knife, ask to speak to their supervisor. Their uniformed superior officer should be riding around in another police car. Also, politely ask for their name and badge number. Look at the name tag on their chest and at their badge so you can record the info yourself. Write down any identifying numbers on their police car. Write down their license plate number.

Whether or not you choose to fight through legal channels to get your knife back is up to you. But I say, if you are willing to let the police illegally take your lawful property without standing up for your rights, then you don't deserve those rights.

Another idea if you are truly concerned about you knife being confiscated is to have your personal info ingraved somewhere on the knife. It would be pretty hard for a dishonest cop to say that it was HIS knife, or that he found it, or that he took it off someone else, if it has YOUR name engraved on it.

And if you think that you will incur the wrath of the cops, or that they will drum-up some reason to arrest you if you try to get your knife back, well, that's exactly what they want you to think. That's how they get away with violating peoples rights.
 
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