Buck Knife on my belt!?

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deerhunterp

Joined
Dec 27, 2008
Messages
125
I have recently begun to carry a Buck 110, and now understand why so many people do the same. You don't always need to carry a tactical folder.

I live in a rural area, so a Buck Knife is not really an issue. I will be spending some time in Tacoma, Washington though, and I am concerned that I will garner unwanted attention for having the knife on my belt. Since the blade is pushing the legal limit, should I carry something else? I've been told by a few cops that knives don't really matter unless you're being stupid. Does open carrying a belt knife constitute stupidity? Has anyone ever been stopped by the police or concerned citizen for carrying a 110 or similar knife?
 
I have had more problems w/ clip knives because they can't see what it is. I was given a very bad time from a security guard once because of a skeletonized knife. He could not understand why it was all metal. It was smaller than a 110 Hunter.
 
I never have, I work in Los Angeles (so I'm speaking on my experiences within this county only) and it's never been a problem. I carry one all the time. I don't doubt a cop could make a stink if they wanted to though, the law is the law. In my work I talk to cops quite bit, almost everyday and I've asked them about it. It just comes down to common sense, profiling you as a troublemaker or not, etc. otherwise they could care less if you're going about your day minding your own. They've also said if I was under question, they'd run a check on me, if I came back clean then they would either send me on my way with my knife, or not, depending on the law and their mood..my mood too..lol.
When in doubt tho, in other states.. I just carry a three inch or less in my pocket, better safe than sorry.
 
According to this chart, a knife with a blade length greater than 3.5" is considered to be a "dangerous knife" in Tacoma. Isn't the blade length on a Buck 110 3.75"? If so, I'd carry something else.
 
deerhunterp said:
I have recently begun to carry a Buck 110, and now understand why so many people do the same. You don't always need to carry a tactical folder.

I live in a rural area, so a Buck Knife is not really an issue. I will be spending some time in Tacoma, Washington though, and I am concerned that I will garner unwanted attention for having the knife on my belt. Since the blade is pushing the legal limit, should I carry something else? I've been told by a few cops that knives don't really matter unless you're being stupid. Does open carrying a belt knife constitute stupidity? Has anyone ever been stopped by the police or concerned citizen for carrying a 110 or similar knife?
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I've never lived in Washington, so I can't speak on knife carry in that state. I live in California (San Diego), and I have been openly carrying a fixed-blade for several years without any issues (it's legal here), and that's despite all the cops that have seen me carrying. No, I don't think carrying a belt knife constitutes stupidity.

In regards to the law, I strongly recommend that you obey any knife laws wherever you are or may be visiting. You don't want to give the cops any lawful reason to arrest you. Being arrested for carrying an "illegal weapon" might just ruin your life (seriously). I speak as someone who has gone through the criminal justice system, and as someone who has been incarcerated- don't gamble with the law. If you lose, you can lose BIG. It would be very easy for a cop to stop you and ask to see your openly carried knife, and if that knife is even a fraction of an inch above the legal limit that cop would be lawfully justified to arrest you and take you to jail, and he just might do that. Believe it. A fraction of an inch of blade length might seem insignificant to us, but as far as the law is concerned, that fraction of an inch can mean the difference between going about with your life, or going to jail.

By the way, I've had a 110 for over thirty years. And despite all of the much more expensive modern folders I own, that 110 is still one of my favorite knives.
 
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It's always just safer to stick within the law than skate along the edge of it. There are far too many fine folders that will meet the criteria for that jurisdiction I would think, so go with one of those.
 
It would be best to carry something that would not invite unwanted attention from LE or anyone else. There are plenty of knives out there for very affordable prices that would accomplish this and still provide for the utility you need.

After all, it's better than spending some time in uncomfortably close accommodations with the less desirable elements of society...remember, when they want to snuggle they're looking for a little spoon!
 
IMO a Buck 110 is much less suspicious than a tactical folder, so depending on what state you reside in it will not be a problem with the law.....I live in California and one of the only very few good things about living here is that the knife laws are not that bad, I once got searched by undercover cops with my Buck 110 concealed in my right front pocket and the cops didn't raise an eyebrow about it, they just gave the knife back and I went on with my day.
 
Almost all laws refer to concealed carry. Open carry is mostly un regulated. Other than restricted areas. (court houses, bars, schools)
 
@LeathermanGX said:
Almost all laws refer to concealed carry. Open carry is mostly un regulated. Other than restricted areas. (court houses, bars, schools)
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That is WAY off from accurate...localities have a wide variance in laws that run the spectrum of concealment to not, it just depends where you are.
 
I live in the same area, and I have never had an issue with carrying a knife in Tacoma, Fixed Blades, Folders in my pocket or on my belt. I don't sport anything over 5" fixed or a 4"ish folder, and never try to conceal it. I'm also a 42 yr old average looking guy, and have never had a bad encounter with a cop, unless you count getting a ticket, and even then I tell the cop up front that I have a knife in the glove box before getting anything out, and offer them to get it if they feel it necessary. No takers thus far on that.
Same answer about knives as you got. Knives aren't the issue when it comes to laws, what you do with it, or when carrying it, is when they care. If I threaten someone with it, pick a fight with a cop, commit a crime, get caught with drugs, etc, etc., it is a useful law to us to confiscate a possibly dangerous weapon, and to add charges to solidify an arrest to break up a problem. Average guys with knives doing normal stuff with them is not an issue. Bag guys with knives is the issue in their book.
 
BTW, Leatherman, you could not be more incorrect. Your concealed knife may be a non issue (a SAK in your pocket is concealed), and open carry may be perfectly fine or a huge problem. The law is vague enough to let a cop apply judgement when there's an issue. Both concealed or open carry can get you in a heap o' poop, or not be a problem. It's your actions that create a problem or not.
 
One of the few advantages of living in So. Illinois, a Buck 110 hardly gets a second look from anyone, I've even wore my custom shop elk stag one in a custom neck rig I had made, and never had a problem.
 
Defining something as a dangerous weapon doesn't in itself ban it. The act of concealing a dangerous weapon is a violation.
Sawed off shotguns, or having a barrel of less than 16 1/2", are not banned in Washington State. They're defined as destructive devices, and simply require a tax stamp.
 
A pencil is a dangerous weapon if you want it to be. :)) just havin' fun. Maybe I'll carry a pencil in a nice hand tooled leather sheath. :)) Watch the cops face when he opens that up..
 
If your set on the 110 style with sheath carry, you could always go with the 112. Its a little smaller and might fit into your legal requirements. I carry my 110 in a sheath all the time, but I don't tuck my shirt in so no one even knows I have it.
 
@LeathermanGX said:
Defining something as a dangerous weapon doesn't in itself ban it. The act of concealing a dangerous weapon is a violation.
Sawed off shotguns, or having a barrel of less than 16 1/2", are not banned in Washington State. They're defined as destructive devices, and simply require a tax stamp.
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Wrong again, and there is NOTHING simple about SBSs or any other federally regulated weapons, DDs are something else entirely from firearms.
 
RCW 9A.56.063. lists slim jims, slide hammers, master keys etc as thieving tools. However non of them are banned. Possession of a stolen car with one of these items constitutes intent.
So committing a crime with a "dangerous weapon" is evidence of intent to commit the crime.
 
deerhunterp said:
Has anyone ever been stopped by the police or concerned citizen for carrying a 110 or similar knife?
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To get back to the original question, I've carried a Buck 110 or similarly sized large folder in a belt sheath and have never been stopped or challenged. I don't go into federal buildings and I don't visit schools. But in everyday regular places, both city and countryside, it has not been an issue.
 
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