Broad Ohio Knife laws... Help

ColtThrower · Dec 12, 2005

Yeah, my name says it all, I am a knife thrower. Relevant to that, I just bought a 5 inch long (whole knife/handle) long Gil hibben thrower set with a sheath. The blade is 3 1/4 inchlong. Now, before I attempt to wear them in the open, I went online to try and find the Ohio Knife laws... they are completely contorted and don't say anything about straight blades. I found out what the info on serrated blades is... and as far as a straight blade, all I've heard is the usual "if it's longer than the width of your palm, it's illegal." I honestly don't think thats right. Only 1 site said that and it was worded a bit different, but that's what the point of it was. Can anyone help me out here?

samwereb · Dec 12, 2005

The line that divides a concealed knife from a concealed weapon in Ohio appears to be drawn at 3.25-inches.

But you asked about carrying in the open, and you need to be aware of something. It is fashionable now for prosecutors to charge people with illegally carrying concealed weapons when they carry knives in belt-sheaths. The rationale is that the sheath conceals a part of the knife, the blade, and partially concealed is thereby concealed and illegal.

If you draw any scrutiny upon yourself while carrying a "throwing knife" it will be hard for you to convince a "law enforcement officer" that you carried it for any other purpose than for throwing it.

ColtThrower · Dec 12, 2005

3.25 limit, ok... much appreciated there. Yeah It does sound kind of weird carrying a throwing knife in the open, sheath or no sheath, etc... I am still confused about how people can carry guns if they have a concealed carrying license, yet a knife in the open is a problem? No offense to anyone, but America is just getting stranger and stranger =/

cognitivefun · Dec 12, 2005

ColtThrower said:
3.25 limit, ok... much appreciated there. Yeah It does sound kind of weird carrying a throwing knife in the open, sheath or no sheath, etc... I am still confused about how people can carry guns if they have a concealed carrying license, yet a knife in the open is a problem? No offense to anyone, but America is just getting stranger and stranger =/

there is a well organized gun lobby in the US that has gotten politicians' attention and so there are laws pushed through to allow concealed handgun carry.

There is no real knife lobby though, so the laws don't make any sense and vary locale by locale.

cavetech · Dec 13, 2005

Hi ColtThrower:

That's not entirely true. Florida issues a concealed weapons permit. Sure it covers concealed handguns. But it also covers concealed knives or almost any other weapon as long as you can conceal it. Oh, and as many as you can carry concealed.

My .02 worth.

thatmguy · Mar 12, 2006

samwereb said:
The line that divides a concealed knife from a concealed weapon in Ohio appears to be drawn at 3.25-inches.

Really, where did you find this?

I hope you all realize there is a difference between state laws (Ohio Revised Code) and municipal laws, unique to different cities, towns, villages, hamlets, etc. They are two very different things.

There is NO STATE LAW covering BLADE LENGTH.

The horsesh!t about wider than ones palm is TV farce from the 40's and 50's.

Can you imagine the heyday a lawyer would have with that in court, presenting one officer with huge hands, and another with small hands?? So now it depends on who stops you?

Pahtoocara · Mar 17, 2006

thatmguy said:
I hope you all realize there is a difference between state laws (Ohio Revised Code) and municipal laws, unique to different cities, towns, villages, hamlets, etc. They are two very different things.

There is NO STATE LAW covering BLADE LENGTH.

He is right. Blade length is usually determined by municipality. I hear the "what blade length is legal?" question all the time. Really, there is not always an easy answer. The state law is purposefully vague.

Search Ohio Revised Code on Google then look for 2923.12.

Siggyhk · Apr 12, 2006

I believe that in ohio there is absolutely no spicific law with regards to the length of ones knife blade. I do however think that there is a law with regards to the carrying of any knife (or weapon") for the sake of use as a "weapon". -You can get nailed for a cs mini pal on you keys, but might get off for carrying a concealed spyderco military at work. - Almost 100% possitive here.

Also, ohio considers a "concealed" weapon any weapon that is within your reach. Meaning it can be on the car seat next to you, or clearly exposed via pocket clip on your pants and you can still be charged for ccw. Not sure, but the glove compartment might be a ccw too.

What it took me "years of trouble" to figure out is that it all comes down to intent. (Key word- "INTENT").

By the way, a ccw permit for a gun does not apply to carrying a knife.

Joe Dirt · Apr 12, 2006

Pahtoocara said:
He is right. Blade length is usually determined by municipality. I hear the "what blade length is legal?" question all the time. Really, there is not always an easy answer. The state law is purposefully vague.

Search Ohio Revised Code on Google then look for 2923.12.

Yep. No lenght limit defined at a State level.

You have to look to each city for the info you need.