Best NYC/NY State knife?

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Jul 18, 2009
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So, "gravity" knives (ie every modern design possible) are out of the question for legal carry in NYC.

I don't want to carry a swiss army knife.

Are there any viable options that are similar to a Buck 110?

NYC law requirements:
  • Cannot be opened by flicking wrist (aka gravity)
  • Blade up to 4"
  • no button release or auto's

My preference:
  • light weight
  • locking blade
  • cpm 154cm or similar
  • low profile for good for in-waistband-carry
 
Personally at the moment with several knife dealers no longer shipping ANY knife to NY, this question is hard to answer. The best solution is a non locking folder under 4" blade that is not a weapon designed blade. If you must go for a locking blade, then I suggest a sod buster liner lock as I have never seen a flickbale one yet. I would avoid any pocket clips, so I am not sure how you carry IWB, but SMKW offers clipable sheaths that could house a Sod Buster.
 
So, "gravity" knives (ie every modern design possible) are out of the question for legal carry in NYC.

I don't want to carry a swiss army knife.

Are there any viable options that are similar to a Buck 110?

NYC law requirements:
  • Cannot be opened by flicking wrist (aka gravity)
  • Blade up to 4"
  • no button release or auto's

My preference:
  • light weight
  • locking blade
  • cpm 154cm or similar
  • low profile for good for in-waistband-carry

I am in same boat , after looking at all my knifes best thing what I found Sebenza !! i have two and both cant be flicked !
problem is I usually getting bored fast with same knife , so if you find more let me know .
I also considering making few "friction " folder .
 
In other posts, it sounds like the way that some police officers are "flicking" knives in order to test them would easily defeat the blade retention on a sebenza. I doubt that a sebenza wouldn't qualify as a gravity knife under those conditions. Therefore, I wouldn't recommend it. I can't think of anything that readily meet all your criteria. I would recommend a Spyderco slipjoint but those don't lock. Maybe a souped up Okapi style or Opinel style folder w/ pocket clip? I also wonder if a Cold Steel Paradox or Black Rock Hunter would withstand scrutiny...
 
Spyderco UKPK or Urban.

That being said, I still edc my Large Regular Sebenza to the city. I just put it in my pocket when I'm walking around. It get's clipped in the office and on the ride home.
 
Is it legal if the knife does not lock, but can still be flicked open?

I have never handled a Spyderco UKPK, but I have a hard time believing it cant be flicked open. Even a Buck 110 can be flicked open if you use enough power in your "wrist flick."
 
If taking a trip to town, I'd be looking for something inconspicuous, not too expensive, and something small that would drop into the bottom of my pocket comfortably.

Something like this:

MAS-170P-170a.jpg

(photo from AG Russell's)

Where are you going in New York City? Keep in mind that some places in the city may not allow knives of any sort.
 
something like this would do very well for you...because of the way the mechanism is, and how the blade is, it is not possible to "flick" one of these open; I edc a knife similar to this (just different color and "medallion"), and I cannot "flick" it open. ( I live in Western NY, so I don't have the issues you in NYC do)
DSC_1215.jpg
 
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As for the NY State portion of the question you don't really have that much to worry about. Because sellers are refusing to ship to NYS it seems many people are assuming that whatever goes on in NYC holds true for NYS. With the exception of NYC, Monroe, and Erie county there are no blade length laws. We can carry clipped if we want to and while we are still banned from carrying balisongs, switchblades, and "gravity knives" I have never heard of cops "testing" the mechanism like in Manhattan.
 
something (( Do not link to live auctions. )) would do very well for you...because of the way the mechanism is, and how the blade is, it is not possible to "flick" one of these open; I edc a knife similar to this (just different color and "medallion"), and I cannot "flick" it open. ( I live in Western NY, so I don't have the issues you in NYC do)

A $12 chinese knife with phony U.S. military insignia, a fake double-edge, and black weapon-like styling... I can't imagine anything more ridiculous or useless.

But who knows, maybe just what the original poster had in mind... :rolleyes:
 
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I am in same boat , after looking at all my knifes best thing what I found Sebenza !! i have two and both cant be flicked !

WRONG WRONG WRONG!!! A sebenza will absolutely fail the "gravity knife" test in manhattan. Apparently you aren't up to date on how crooked and backwards their laws are. They grab a knife near the tip of the BLADE, and then flick the handle out. Pretty much any one hand opener will fail this test. You need something with a lot of resistance opening, and a light handle will help too, a heavy handle's momentum can defeat a stiff action.

I would take a small liner lock that takes two hands to open. You know, the kind that feel like your fingernails are going to be ripped out before you can get it open successfully.

I also would NOT take a UKPK, technically it doesn't "lock", but it looks like every other folding, tactical knife out there, and it can probably be flicked open. And a crooked enough cop/DA/judge would call it a gravity knife, and there's no shortage of crooked law enforcement in NYC.

A small SAK, or small stockman or something would be the only thing I would trust to not land me in jail.
 
Thanks guys, i had envisioned something like a buck 110 with ti-handles, s30v or similar blade steel, and no thumbstud...

i don't think you could consider that a "gravity knife" and i think it is a pretty cool knife anyhow.

I was wondering if there were other lockbacks that might be also lightweight and top-quality materials.

Al Mar?
Fallkniven?
 
What about knives that lock closed like the Benchmade Benchmite or the CRKT Lake? How do they deal with those kinds of knives?
 
I can open mine by pinching the thumbstuds between thumb and forefinger and snapping the handle down to open it. It would likely be considered a gravity knife in NYC.

Not to mention the blade shape will not help.

It should be noted that cops don't walk down the street frisking people or looking for pocket clips. Go about your business, don't go looking for trouble. That will help more then anything. Err on the side of caution. If you're going to be walking around a lot at night with dark cloths and a ski mask, you might not want to bring an Endura.

If you're walking around during the day in a business suit you could probably get away with a blacked out Military. :)
 
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