Carrying ZT 560 in CT

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zima2190

Joined
Feb 3, 2015
Messages
105
I'm not sure if this is the correct place to ask this...
I'm a CT resident and was considering purchasing a ZT 560. I know CT knife laws can be a little vague and was wondering if someone could answer a question for me. I know the 560 is listed as a 3.75" blade which is under the 4" limit, but CT law doesn't specify whether to measure straight from start of blade edge (with a ruler) or the whole blade edge going with the curve (if any, like with a tape measure). So I'm looking to see if someone who owns a 560 could tell me the measurement of blade edge (2nd method) since I have not handled one and the only place I know is a ZT dealer is a good drive from me.
 
My guess is that the measurement is from handle to tip - straight line - though, I don't live in CT; and have never checked their law. (When I go there, I've never given a second thought to what I carry...but it is also unlikely that, even if I get pulled over, the police would have any reason to check my knife.)
 
Sorry, I don't think I was clear enough. I've heard of police measuring both ways in CT and the limit is under 4" (with the exception of if you have a hunting/fishing license and are currently using the knife for such). So I want to know the blade edge length to know whether I can carry it regularly (if under 4") or should only take it fishing with me (if 4" or over) just as a better safe than sorry type of thing.
 
That'd be very much appreciated, thank you. If it comes in at 4" or over I may just look into getting a ZT with a smaller blade. (Not the 566, I want to avoid assisted opening since it may be legal federally, CT law has not defined it as separate from switchblade. Again, a better safe than sorry thing)
 
Actually Connecticut law is one of few states that specifies how the blade must be measured. Only the sharpened edge must be less than 4". You may have heard of police measuring both ways, but an officer attempting to include the choil or other non-edge portion is actually in violation of statutory law and if an arrest is made, subject to federal suit and firing.

I have never in my life heard of a cop pulling out a tailor's tape and measuring along on a curve, and I suspect that would not fly in a court of law. It is also worth mentioning that cops are generally not this pedantic about knife laws, and they are rarely enforced unless the suspect is committing a separate crime.

https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_943.htm#sec_53-206

Text rendered as bulleted list for clarity
Sec. 53-206. Carrying of dangerous weapons prohibited. (a) Any person who carries upon his or her person any
  • BB. gun,
  • blackjack,
  • metal or brass knuckles, or
  • any dirk knife, or any switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which a blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length, or
  • stiletto, or
  • any knife the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or more in length,
  • any police baton or nightstick, or
  • any martial arts weapon or electronic defense weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, or
  • any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument,
shall be guilty of a class E felony. Whenever any person is found guilty of a violation of this section, any weapon or other instrument within the provisions of this section, found upon the body of such person, shall be forfeited to the municipality wherein such person was apprehended, notwithstanding any failure of the judgment of conviction to expressly impose such forfeiture.
Click to expand...
 
So, I am a CT resident and I just want to share how police play fast and loose with the blade laws. In response to the CT law legal language that states "any knife the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or more in length" still isnt very clear to some of the officers. Its clear to me. But Ive seen it cut both ways (pardon the intentional pun). Ive had the actual edge length measured and Ive had the entire blade measured by the police. Usually is the blade has a drastic curve they forget trying to measure the actual edge and go right for the whole blade itself. The two times Ive seen it measured with an actual small ruler it was too subjective for them to try and rotate the ruler along the actual edge. So they gave up and measure the whole blade probably thinking it would be "close enough"

They do measure any way they want. Or rather, whatever way was handed down to them or whatever seems to work at the time. Ive lost cheap knives in the past (when I was a kid) and Ive seen them measure with a small ruler they had in their cruiser and Ive seen them measure according to the width of their own palm. One officer in Bridgeport (my home city for most of my life) was a very small guy. He was just over 5ft tall. Every thing about him was small (hands, feet, head, et al). He took a cheap folder that I had by measuring it against the width of his palm. (totally inaccurate) The blade was much smaller than my palm but the blade was longer than the width of his palm. He took it and claimed it was illegal. I should note that when I was a kid and lost some of the cheap pocket knives given to me by my dad, uncles, and family friends, that I got all of them back.

Im not bashing the police here. I tend to like the vast majority of the officers. A few friends are police officers. They admit to using the palm method or eye-balling it. Even an aggressive-looking knife is taken even though its perfectly legal. But I would like to warn the OP and any other CT residents that they may choose to measure incorrectly. (or dont know any better) And of course I noticed that if youre respectable, then they tend not to measure your knife at all. The last time I had to hand a knife to an officer (a Kershaw Blur) I said "This thing is pretty cool" while rattling off the blade steel and the grippy material, all features and benefits. He didnt even open it and handed it back to me.

If I find myself in a position to hand one of my knives over to an officer again I might proactively say to him that ALL of my knives are within the CT law, ensuring that I know, follow, and ultimately respect the law. But for CT residents you need to be ready to encounter this. You may even say that the edge is under 4" and they may put it up against their palm or measure the entire blade and confiscate it. And a $50 dashcam helps keep vehicle interactions within the correct parameters of proper interpersonal interactions between the two parties.
 
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