Blade length issues

[brembo]

I lurk, alot. Learn lots, and enjoy it. I have noticed that people are quite observant of blade length legality issues. I for one have NEVER had a problem with dragging around large knives. For instance, I keep a Spydie Military in the needle-nose pocket of my work pants. If someone does notice it, its usually a comment on its size and then the obligatory "Can I see that knife?". I frequent courthouses(surveyor), and the guys at metal detectors just look at the knife and hand it back to me. (I did have one cop open a Leopard Cub, and ask why it was so sharp, I told him knives are supposed to be). I run around subdivisions with a 22" machette, and for the most part, no-one says a word.

Now my question. Lets say I run into a local constable and my 4" blade(hypothetical situation) is half an inch too long. Does the aformentioned constable take it and tell me not to carry anything similar? Or does he cuff me and toss me in the back of his cruiser? Is it a common happenstance to have yer blade nicked by the cops?

 

[Keith Montgomery]

You are going to find that it will be the officer in question that will usually make the decision as to what to do. He could take the knife and write you a summons to appear in court, he could arrest you and take to jail, he could let you go with a warning and he could say cool knife and turn out to be one of us. You never know which one you will run into.


Edited because sometimes I have to shake my head at my spelling.

 

[Burke]

I think a big part of it is your attitude and your appearance. My friend got pulled over in his sticker-charged black Chevy Blazer with the noisy exhaust. Got himself patted down, and told the REKAT Pioneer he was carrying was illegal because "it has a locking blade." I've been pulled over a few times for speeding, and I've never been patted down or harassed, but I think I'm probably more polite than he is (he can get confrontational when it's not necessary), and I generally present a somewhat more mature demeanor, even though I'm only about a year older. So, I guess a lot of it depends on the reaction people in authority usually have to you.

 

[bob bowie]

I agree with what Keith posted. It's alway better to error on the side of safety. Judging from the type of work you do, you may be able to get away with a slightly larger blade, Etc... But for a urbanite, a larger blade might attract to much attention. Most of the time, the police officer will confiscate the knife, and let you off with a warning. Sometimes, they just want to know where they can get one like it .