Boston Carry

H

harlycarly

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Oct 1, 2008
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Just curious about some general rules regarding Boston. I'm thinking that anything serrated is a no-no, as well as double edged. Length limits? I'm more familiar with NYC restrictions. Anybody care to comment on something for the pocket in Boston? How about a Spyderco Aviator which also doubles as a money clip?

All input would be helpful.
 
Serrated is okay (can't think of any reason it wouldn't be), double edged is not. I don't go into Boston much anymore but I'm pretty sure the length limit is still 2.5 inches. I can't say I abided by that when I worked in town since I usually carried an Endura. Never had any trouble, but it was also pre-9/11.
 
Hi,

You a correct, no double edged, and also no Assisted Opening due to the funny way their switchblade definition is worded: http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/269-10.htm

Note however that against all odds, the balisong is legal in Mass.

That's state law part.

In Boston specifically, their is a length limit if 2.5" unless you are:
1. hunting/fishing/cooking/have a job that customarily uses it
2. Going to or from such an activity.
3. Taking it home from the store or a place of repair/sharpening provided it's packaged up.
(see part 16-45.1 of the Boston Municipal Code

There is nothing about serrations, as this is a common feature of fish-scalers and search and rescue knives.
 
glistam said:
Hi,

You a correct, no double edged, and also no Assisted Opening due to the funny way their switchblade definition is worded: http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/269-10.htm


Great. I'll keep any type of spring assisted locking folder home.



Note however that against all odds, the balisong is legal in Mass.


Odd, indeed. Wouldn't bring one anyway. Want it to be as innocuous looking as possible.

That's state law part.

In Boston specifically, their is a length limit if 2.5" unless you are:
1. hunting/fishing/cooking/have a job that customarily uses it
2. Going to or from such an activity.
3. Taking it home from the store or a place of repair/sharpening provided it's packaged up.
(see part 16-45.1 of the Boston Municipal Code


Thanks. 2 1/2 it is.


There is nothing about serrations, as this is a common feature of fish-scalers and search and rescue knives.
Click to expand...

All the better, opens up options I didn't think I had.
 
jujigatame said:
Serrated is okay (can't think of any reason it wouldn't be), double edged is not. I don't go into Boston much anymore but I'm pretty sure the length limit is still 2.5 inches. I can't say I abided by that when I worked in town since I usually carried an Endura. Never had any trouble, but it was also pre-9/11.
Click to expand...


Funny, I was thinking of an Endura myself, but may try to keep under the 2.5 mark. Thanks for the input.
 
Wow, when was that law enacted? I used to carry my Native with me at all times, and was under the impression that I was good so long as the blade was under 4 inches. Not sure where I got that assumption from (I think someone from a knife store there told me), but I guess I was wrong.
 
Unless I'm reading that wrong (which is very possible considering my lack of fluency in Legalese) I think it says the limit is 1 and 1/2 inches. Not sure what kind of blade has a 1.5 inch blade, but I'm pretty sure it's no fun.
 
MJF said:
Unless I'm reading that wrong (which is very possible considering my lack of fluency in Legalese) I think it says the limit is 1 and 1/2 inches. Not sure what kind of blade has a 1.5 inch blade, but I'm pretty sure it's no fun.
Click to expand...

I think you're reading the wrong part.

There are two parts, State law and Boston City Law. They overlap. Cities laws exist within state laws, so when in Boston, you must abide by state law AND Boston Code on top of that. But outside Boston, just state law.

The state of Massachusetts had NO length limit for conventional folders. The 1.5 inch length limit is for switchblades and AO's only. You can carry a SOG Pentagon Elite II for all the law says.

It is only in the city of Boston that you must abide by the length limit of 2.5" for knives (exclude aforementioned lawful purposes).
 
You're right...It's oddly worded though. I still think a 1.5" switchblade/AO wouldn't be any fun.
 
Boston used to be a place where free men lived. George Washington expelled the British from Boston - and now a 2.6" knife blade is illegal. Not trying to be a wise guy here, but when I read stuff like this it makes me sad - and I can only wonder where real men like John Adams have gone. They no longer live in Boston, thats for sure.
 
MJF said:
You're right...It's oddly worded though. I still think a 1.5" switchblade/AO wouldn't be any fun.
Click to expand...

The state law it is by far one of the most bizarre and poorly written statutes I know if. It's a nearly page long run-on sentence!
Too bad a law can't be overturned by the Supreme court for awful grammar.
 
Last summer, my girlfriend and I went fishing on Castle Island in South Boston. My 4" Cold Steel "Voyager" (sans clip) rode deeply in the right front pocket of my jeans. When I returned the fishing rods to the truck and we went for dinner afterwards, I kept that knife right where it was. Very low-profile carry and nobody needs to know. Worst-cast scenario and we get stopped by any one of the LE agencies in Boston (Regular Boston PD, Transit PD, Boston Municipal PD, etc.), then the story that we agreed upon was that we were fishing, had our dinner, and were planning to return to our fishing.
 
I used to carry my native all the time, and never even came close to having a problem. YMMV Though.
 
Supermoto said:
Assisted blade are legal in ma. They are not automatic spring release, you have to start moving the blade before the spring takes over
Click to expand...

I'm erring on the side of caution due to "automatic spring release device" being rather vague. Got any sources that may clear that up?
 
jujigatame said:
I've never heard of an AO being classified as a switchblade in Massachusetts.
Click to expand...
They're not. I recently returned from the Eastern Fishing and Outdoor Expo here in Massachusetts. One of the knife dealers had AOs on display, along with a working model equipped with an unsharpened blade for safety reasons. He demonstrated to the attendees the way the knife worked. One of the people there was a Massachusetts Environmental Police Officer in uniform. These people have even more power than the State Police, since they can arrest for ALL offenses, not just fish and game related ones. The EPO remarked how handy the knife was and that he was thinking of getting one himself. If that knife was Massachusetts-illegal in any way, the EPO would have enjoyed an easy felony bust and the dealer would have been paraded out of the DCU Center in handcuffs!
 
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