Ever been stopped by a cop & had your knife confiscated?

I had a knife confiscated once, back in '92, and it's a sore point to this day.

I was in college in northern Idaho, picking up someone at the airport in Spokane, WA. I had a small, "relatively inexpensive" bali (~3" blade) that I used as a pocketknife for years.

I didn't realize it was on me until I got to the metal detector on the way to the gate to meet him. I dropped the knife in the little bucket along with my keys and wallet and walked on through, fully expecting no trouble.

However, when the bucket arrived to the security guard, she saw the bali, picked up her radio, and in a stern/nervous voice said "We have a KNIFE..." :rolleyes:

Next thing I know here comes two armed cops walking about 20 feet apart with their hands on their holstered pistols! :eek: They escorted me to a little back office, and informed me how knives that could be opened with one hand were illegal in Washington!? Also, I was "lucky I wasn't arrested on the spot". His example of an acceptable knife was one that you nearly had to break your fingernail off trying to open it. I asked if I could be allowed to remove the knife from their airport, and put the knife back in my car, and was informed that it was being confiscated and destroyed.

Needless to say I was frustrated, but never questioned their law. Not only that, but I got stopped for a bogus traffic violation (another long story), and on the way back home to Idaho, I must have passed through a dozen speed traps in 90 miles! When I crossed the border back into Idaho, right at the border we drove through a strange, whispy fog (the only fog of the whole trip), then clear again, and there were no more strange incidents.

You have now left... the twilight zone....
 
Being a second generation LEO has it's advantages when dealing with guns and knives, in my case. Dad was a hunter and appreciated a good knife, also. He had a common sense approach to both, and the right of honest citizens carrying. The Texas DA is an idiot, and has no legal standing. The other posts here by the other LEOs are very good and very sensible. And honest. Our local county attorney's job is to put the bad guys in jail, and he is good at it. He is my next door neighbor, which you can imagine is very handy, too! One of his best points is he being a real outdoorsman and keeps the unwarranted knife and gun charges where they belong, out the window. We confiscate more guns than knives in this area, seems to me, unless you count knives used in crimes.
 
Originally posted by brownie0486

He wasn't turning that one in. BTW, it was a custom Randall Gilbreath out of Dora, Alabama that I had made for me. All titanium and 154cm clip point blade thats polished.

Brownie
Click to expand...

I also have one of Mr. Gilbreath's knives, (though I have had nothing but trouble with mine) and carried it all the time. I have never been stopped by a cop when I had it on me, since I don't engage in much suspicious activity. It has about a 4 1/2" blade of ATS-34, double ground to a needle clip point, titanium handles and red bone scales. It's the best folder I've ever used to stick a coon, possum, or cat. Illinois law says it's a "dangerous weapon", but "dangerous weapons" are not illegal to use or carry; it only becomes illegal if you also intend to use it against another person. Mine is only a tool, thus technically I'm fine. However, I fully expect to be dealt with harshly if a cop ever finds it.
 
the possum:

Contact Gilbreath and he'll make it right, whatever it is.

If you like it enough to carry it for a few years it's worth getting it corrected.

I don't carry mine anymore as well. Kinda a put away though it has minor scars from carying it.

Brownie
 
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