EDC Fixed Blade to Meet Texas Location-Restricted Length?

Born and raised texan, here. Worked in the trades a great deal of my life and have carried just about whatever I wanted regardless of the laws. The key to carry here is to not be a showboat or an idiot. A difficult task for many these days.

For example, there was a young warrior that was carrying a 12-inch Bowie and the horizontal position walking around in the mall. He was politely asked to take the knife back to his vehicle at which time he could come back and walk the mall. This of course would have defeated the purpose as he would have received no attention for being just another guy.

He refused. He was then arrested for creating a public nuisance. I don't like show boats or people that do stupid stuff just to get attention. Doubtful he had any real use for that knife to begin with but certainly no excuse for carrying it around. Glad he was arrested.

An acquaintance of mine that has moved farther into the full-time idiot status was protesting the fact he could not carry his assault rifles (not fully automatic, and magazine met the 20 round limit) when going to get a burger, gas, or where I usually see him at the cigar club.

He and his buddies made it a point to walk down one of our major thoroughfares strapped up waving their signs for all to see. Got what they wanted, lots of attention, including that from the police department. They were all arrested for creating a public nuisance and their guns were held for 90 days before being returned.

Even when we had knife laws that were applicable here (I live in San Antonio) the police left things alone if you simply used common sense. Many is the time I have shown one of my new work knives to a couple of my cop buddies for their admiration when I could have been arrested for having a knife with blade over three and a half inches that locked.

Carry something responsibly that looks like it could be used for a daily or work task and you won't have any problems. Cops have other things to do these days.
 
midnight flyer said:
Born and raised texan, here. Worked in the trades a great deal of my life and have carried just about whatever I wanted regardless of the laws. The key to carry here is to not be a showboat or an idiot. A difficult task for many these days.

For example, there was a young warrior that was carrying a 12-inch Bowie and the horizontal position walking around in the mall. He was politely asked to take the knife back to his vehicle at which time he could come back and walk the mall. This of course would have defeated the purpose as he would have received no attention for being just another guy.

He refused. He was then arrested for creating a public nuisance. I don't like show boats or people that do stupid stuff just to get attention. Doubtful he had any real use for that knife to begin with but certainly no excuse for carrying it around. Glad he was arrested.

An acquaintance of mine that has moved farther into the full-time idiot status was protesting the fact he could not carry his assault rifles (not fully automatic, and magazine met the 20 round limit) when going to get a burger, gas, or where I usually see him at the cigar club.

He and his buddies made it a point to walk down one of our major thoroughfares strapped up waving their signs for all to see. Got what they wanted, lots of attention, including that from the police department. They were all arrested for creating a public nuisance and their guns were held for 90 days before being returned.

Even when we had knife laws that were applicable here (I live in San Antonio) the police left things alone if you simply used common sense. Many is the time I have shown one of my new work knives to a couple of my cop buddies for their admiration when I could have been arrested for having a knife with blade over three and a half inches that locked.

Carry something responsibly that looks like it could be used for a daily or work task and you won't have any problems. Cops have other things to do these days.
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Thanks for a common sense perspective. Nobody wins if trying to prove a point by being a show off.
 
When the statutory limit was 5.5" I decided that I couldn't carry my larger knives so I sold them- Cold Steel SRK, Gerber BMF, things like that. I had the idea to buy something like a Spyderco Tatanka for EDC since it was just under the limit, then the legislature for the most part removed the limit.
I'm not a show off person, I'm mostly the opposite, but I want to meet the letter of the law so an overzealous officer can't take advantage of me. I visit Colorado frequently and I believe their written limit is 3.5" so I carry a Spyderco Tenacious or Manix 2.
 
bdmicarta said:
When the statutory limit was 5.5" I decided that I couldn't carry my larger knives so I sold them- Cold Steel SRK, Gerber BMF, things like that. I had the idea to buy something like a Spyderco Tatanka for EDC since it was just under the limit, then the legislature for the most part removed the limit.
I'm not a show off person, I'm mostly the opposite, but I want to meet the letter of the law so an overzealous officer can't take advantage of me. I visit Colorado frequently and I believe their written limit is 3.5" so I carry a Spyderco Tenacious or Manix 2.
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not to say you are a show off, not at all, I apologize if this is how it came across, I was referring to the other obvious examples where people were being in your face with attitude, at least it sounds like you trying to stay in compliance, and informed about the restrictions in the area you visit. That is smart.
 
cbach8tw said:
not to say you are a show off, not at all, I apologize if this is how it came across, I was referring to the other obvious examples where people were being in your face with attitude, at least it sounds like you trying to stay in compliance, and informed about the restrictions in the area you visit. That is smart.
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No I didn't take it that way at all, no need to apologize.
I understood what you were saying about people with attitude wanting to show off. Even if I had bought a Tatanka with 5" blade I would only have used it around friends which is why I never actually bought one, I couldn't justify the expense for a little bit of fun. My typical EDC is a PM2 or Manix 2, and I don't flaunt them if I'm at work and around people I'm not real familiar with.
 
jkort said:
@catspa - the free Remington folder she got years ago with a package of 22LR is all the knife she needs. She can't understand why I'd need more than one knife.
@strategy9 - that Lionsteel T5 looks sweet! Thanks.
Sadly, budget may have dropped to $0. Vet said late yesterday my 2 y.o. Pittie mix (sweetest dog I've ever owned) may have a ruptured ACL. :(
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Our female kitty was given prednisone for her pneumonia a few weeks ago, which caused diabetes, and yesterday she went into diabetic something or other and is in the hospital. She is hanging on. And the vet hospital is hugely expensive. Apparently, lots of vets quit during Covid so there is a shortage.

Anyway, hang in there. I completely empathize.
 
MY Bravo 1LT blade came in (new) at about 4"; so well under your target.

When 5.25" is the question, the answer is SRKW RMD (Swamp Rat Knife Works Ratmandu). It's no longer available from the shop; but there are plenty out there.
 
I am exceptionally fond of Buck 118.
Which would fill your bill and everyone would recognize you as a man with good taste.
 
To the OP - first off, the "location restricted" part of the law basically means that you can't carry a knife with a blade longer than 5.5" in the same locations where you one cannot carry a concealed handgun. If you don't go to those places, then carry what you want. I carry 6" and longer knives all the time when I'm already packing one for work around the farm and I don't have to take it off for runs to town since that changed.

This legislative session, there has been a new law file that removes many (not all) locations from the "restricted location" list. End result TBD in May.
 
Mm. So, no joke, I had a friend who carried a 7" Ka-Bar everywhere. To bars, metro, work... Everywhere. He became my friend (regretfully) because I made fun of him for it at a bar where I met him. We'd routinely shoot the S with the bouncers and HPD officers at the entrance. It would always be a conversation piece and he'd just go on about the marine corps till everyone turned green in the face once everyone asked. It was never a problem, but I never stopped making fun of him for it.

So rule of thumb for Texas, don't act a fool and you'll be fine. Also, don't carry a knife larger than 5.5" in a signed 30.06 location, a school, government building, etc.

As always, confirm everything with a lawyer before you commit to action.
 
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