- Joined
- Apr 8, 2003
- Messages
- 209
The following is my understanding of Canadian knife laws. If anyone has anything to add, or can contradict anything I say, please do!
The relevant part of the Canadian Criminal Code (from an actual government website) can be found here:
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/c-46/40651.html
(If there are later bills or laws that contradict or add to this, please post a link here.)
1. The Code defines a "prohibited weapon" as:
"a knife that has a blade that opens automatically by gravity or centrifugal force or by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the handle of the knife"
Thus, a loose Kershaw Speedsafe that can be opened via centrifugal force (quick wrist flick or rapid downward movement) could be considered a prohibited weapon, as could any knife where a wrist flick can provide the mechanical force necessary to move the blade to the point where it engages the auto-opening mechanism. As a soon-to-be Boa and Leek owner, this worries me a bit.
However, this definition implies that most folders and all fixed knives are *not* considered "prohibited weapons."
2. It is perfectly legal to carry non-prohibited weapons (most knives, all swords, bowies, kukris, etc.), provided you meet three criteria: (a) you're not possessing it for dangerous purposes, (b) you're not in, or on your way to, a public meeting, and (c) it's not a concealed weapon.
The tricky part here would be explaining to a LEO why you're carrying a 15" kukri in the city for non-dangerous purposes, but if you can come up with something (bringing it to show a friend, maybe... other ideas?), you should be in the clear.
In other words, provided that you can come up with a reason for carrying a knife that doesn't involve self-defence or other potentially dangerous purposes, it's perfectly legal to carry any non-prohibited blade publically in Canada as long as it's not concealed.
Any thoughts on the potential legality of Kershaws (or almost every liner-lock) that can be opened via centrifugal force?
Any ideas for non-dangerous reasons to carry an 8" bowie around? "As a tool" seems a bit hard to defend for most people.
chris
The relevant part of the Canadian Criminal Code (from an actual government website) can be found here:
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/c-46/40651.html
(If there are later bills or laws that contradict or add to this, please post a link here.)
1. The Code defines a "prohibited weapon" as:
"a knife that has a blade that opens automatically by gravity or centrifugal force or by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the handle of the knife"
Thus, a loose Kershaw Speedsafe that can be opened via centrifugal force (quick wrist flick or rapid downward movement) could be considered a prohibited weapon, as could any knife where a wrist flick can provide the mechanical force necessary to move the blade to the point where it engages the auto-opening mechanism. As a soon-to-be Boa and Leek owner, this worries me a bit.
However, this definition implies that most folders and all fixed knives are *not* considered "prohibited weapons."
2. It is perfectly legal to carry non-prohibited weapons (most knives, all swords, bowies, kukris, etc.), provided you meet three criteria: (a) you're not possessing it for dangerous purposes, (b) you're not in, or on your way to, a public meeting, and (c) it's not a concealed weapon.
The tricky part here would be explaining to a LEO why you're carrying a 15" kukri in the city for non-dangerous purposes, but if you can come up with something (bringing it to show a friend, maybe... other ideas?), you should be in the clear.
In other words, provided that you can come up with a reason for carrying a knife that doesn't involve self-defence or other potentially dangerous purposes, it's perfectly legal to carry any non-prohibited blade publically in Canada as long as it's not concealed.
Any thoughts on the potential legality of Kershaws (or almost every liner-lock) that can be opened via centrifugal force?
Any ideas for non-dangerous reasons to carry an 8" bowie around? "As a tool" seems a bit hard to defend for most people.
chris