I've read thru quite a few posts in this forum, and I'm still unclear about what is lawful. And I've come to realize that further reading of other people's opinions (no matter who those people are) isn't going to result in clearing things up. So let me ask a specific question.
Do you know of somebody being arrested specifically for carrying a Spyderco Native, or a closely similar pocket knife. The Native has a 3 1/8 inch blade and is 7" long when open.
I know some municipalities consider a pocket knife with a blade longer than 3", or an open length of more than 6", to be a deadly weapon, as absurd as that may be.
It seems, from what I've read, that the smallest, cheapest knife that people find to be really useful, and safe, and of high quality, and which gives a real sense of satisfaction, is the Spyderco Native. So I would like to get one for EDC. A bigger knife would probably be even more useful, but frankly I can't afford anything bigger, and I would like to avoid problems with the law.
But I'm not going to prevent myself from carrying a useful knife in my pocket, just because some people think it's against the law. If a law isn't being uniformly enforced, then it simply becomes irrelevant. Hence my question about whether the laws against carrying concealed pocket knives like the Spyderco Native are indeed enforced. I would be surprised to find that they are, but I want to know.
Also, after reading so many opinions here, I would like to share my own point of view on the issue of pocket knife legality. It appears to me that legislatures are not trying to keep people from carrying pocket knives, because they specifically mention that pocket knives can be carried in a pocket. What they want to do is to keep people from carrying weapons. Since there is some overlap, the law must become muddled, leaving room for LEOs to make their own decisions.
So people who carry pocket knives that are very useful (like the Spyderco Native, and larger knives) must risk becoming law breakers, unless they keep them visible, which to me is not an option, and which I believe to be counter-productive in preventing violence. Furthermore, a pocket knife is primarily a tool, not a weapon, and it should be treated as such.
I don't want to carry a knife which is always visible, because some people will find it crude and offensive. I don't want to hurt anyones feelings or make them uncomfortable. Frankly, I'm not a violent person and I would not use a knife to harm, or even frighten anybody, even in self-defense. I would use pepper spray.
Once again, my question is "do you know of somebody being arrested specifically for carrying a Spyderco Native, or some closely similar pocket knife?
Do you know of somebody being arrested specifically for carrying a Spyderco Native, or a closely similar pocket knife. The Native has a 3 1/8 inch blade and is 7" long when open.
I know some municipalities consider a pocket knife with a blade longer than 3", or an open length of more than 6", to be a deadly weapon, as absurd as that may be.
It seems, from what I've read, that the smallest, cheapest knife that people find to be really useful, and safe, and of high quality, and which gives a real sense of satisfaction, is the Spyderco Native. So I would like to get one for EDC. A bigger knife would probably be even more useful, but frankly I can't afford anything bigger, and I would like to avoid problems with the law.
But I'm not going to prevent myself from carrying a useful knife in my pocket, just because some people think it's against the law. If a law isn't being uniformly enforced, then it simply becomes irrelevant. Hence my question about whether the laws against carrying concealed pocket knives like the Spyderco Native are indeed enforced. I would be surprised to find that they are, but I want to know.
Also, after reading so many opinions here, I would like to share my own point of view on the issue of pocket knife legality. It appears to me that legislatures are not trying to keep people from carrying pocket knives, because they specifically mention that pocket knives can be carried in a pocket. What they want to do is to keep people from carrying weapons. Since there is some overlap, the law must become muddled, leaving room for LEOs to make their own decisions.
So people who carry pocket knives that are very useful (like the Spyderco Native, and larger knives) must risk becoming law breakers, unless they keep them visible, which to me is not an option, and which I believe to be counter-productive in preventing violence. Furthermore, a pocket knife is primarily a tool, not a weapon, and it should be treated as such.
I don't want to carry a knife which is always visible, because some people will find it crude and offensive. I don't want to hurt anyones feelings or make them uncomfortable. Frankly, I'm not a violent person and I would not use a knife to harm, or even frighten anybody, even in self-defense. I would use pepper spray.
Once again, my question is "do you know of somebody being arrested specifically for carrying a Spyderco Native, or some closely similar pocket knife?
