Ever Worry Bout The Knife You Carry

GigOne

GigOne

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 27, 1999
Messages
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With all of the different state and country laws..... Do you ever worry about the legality of the knife that you've elected to carry (i.e., blade length, auto, fixed, etc...)?

Man, I'm lucky........I've got one of those 'GI Joe" jobs that allows me to carry various types of fixed blades and folders. Can even carry auto's legally (life is good!)......

What say ye?

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GigOne
"Livin' Life - Full Throttle"
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[This message has been edited by GigOne (edited 03-06-2001).]
 
Most of the time I carry 2 knives on me ranging 3 to 4 inches in blade length. when I travel out of town, I carry a 3 inch plain edge folder and leave it in my carry on luggage at the airport. So far, I have never had any problems with airport security.
 
I really don't worry about it but I think before I act. For example, before I go into a federal building, I leave my knives that are over 2 1/2 inches in my vehicle. I don't wear my bigger folders, even though legal in my state, everywhere I go, simply because they are legal. In my state, no county or other local jursidiction can enact a law that is more restrictive than state law if the result is a crime. For example the max legal blade length is 5 1/2" - no county or city can make it a crime to carry a shorter blade. I try to at least be familiar with the state law dealing with knives when I go to another state - and when I travel I am VERY careful of what I carry. When I am enroute to hunt, my hunting knife is packed away in a closed container in the cago space of my vehicle.

I was a "GI Joe" too, and believe me, you are not always authorized to carry what you want. Be careful. I have known of guys being charged for illegal blades when on the way to the field with a bigger blade - get authorization in writing before carrying anything that is not authorized. I had friends on jump status and they could only carry autos during very specific times and tasks. They were kept in the arms room other times. Same with bayonets, etc.


<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by GigOne:
With all of the different state and country laws..... Do you ever worry about the legality of the knife that you've elected to carry (i.e., blade length, auto, fixed, etc...)?

Man, I'm lucky........I've got one of those 'GI Joe" jobs that allows me to carry various types of fixed blades and folders. Can even carry auto's legally (live is good!)......

What say ye?

</font>
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Your survival knife is the knife you have on you when a survival situation arises.
 
I, like Gig One, don't have to worry about what I carry either. My main carry knife is a Kershaw Boa (multi color). I used to carry a MOD Trident auto and a M-UDT, but I am tired of autos. I have a SOCOM elite and a 98' SOCOM coming this week, so I might carry one of those, but I doubt it. 3 1/2" is plenty of blade for me. I feel the Boa is the best thing since Beef Frank MRE's..(a little military humor). I usually put my knife in my luggage on airplanes, and take it out as soon as I claim my bags. Never had a problem.
 
I only tend to worry when I travel. I do not carry knives on to the plane. They are put in my suitcase. It is just not worth the possible aggravation.

Keith.

[This message has been edited by Keith Montgomery (edited 03-05-2001).]
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by USAFSP:
My main carry knife is a Kershaw Boa (multi color).</font>
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I LOVE my Boa as well, but I found that the thumb-ramp sawed a hole on my jeans when I clipped it in my front pocket. I finally removed the clip & thumb stud & stuck it in an Elishewitz (sp) Kangaroo pouch. MUCH better, but now it's kinda thick clipped inside my pocket. It's great on a belt though.

Mike
 
Nope, I can't say that it ever concerned me. I carried a DA SOCOM for a long time. I carried it in my front right pocket and as you may know it's pretty visible in the pocket, and I was never concerned or hassled about it.
NYC has alot of strict laws on the books but the police here know the score, they realize that a person has to defend himself and I believe that they give alot of room in regard to knives, at least that has been my experience anyway.

Donald.
 
I am not a soldier or an LEO and I am mindful of the law when I carry. Where I live, the law is pretty liberal concerning blade length, in Illinois a knife has to be over 3" to be considered a weapon but only if it is carried for use as a weapon. In other words, I can technically carry anything as long as I only use it for peaceful purposes. This is fine with me because I believe that avoiding bad places and people and using common sense are far more effective than any weapon when it comes to avoiding trouble. Despite the law, I tend to limit myself a bit when it comes to EDC because I like to carry knives that I can use in public without freaking out people within reason (some knife haters can't stand any blade). This is extra important for me because I work at college and that is definitely not the place to whip out a Civilian or Sifu. I also note that a good solution is to carry two knives. For instance, I sometimes carry a small knife like a BM 330 or 770, Spyderco Dragonfly etc. and a larger knife with a 3-3.5" blade for heavier work or just private flicking.
 
I don't worry at all. The laws in NY state(city excluded) are a lot less restrictive then people think. I can pretty much carry anything I want as long as it is not an auto, and I don't have the "INTENT" of using it "UNLAWFULLY" against another person. In NY state, you can even carry double edged knives if you follow the above guidelines. Most people don't realize that, though.

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Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
Knives, Weapons and equipment. Best prices anywhere.
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"only the paranoid will survive"
 
I personally worry a bit.

Driving around in the Denver area, you frequently pass through several different cites and counties. In fact, I can leave my house and go for short walk and pass through three different counties, all with completely different knife laws. There's simply no way you can be sure you're following the law in all of these different jurisdictions.

However, I figure that my chances of getting searched are low; and if I do get searched, my chances of getting arrested are probably low; and if I do get arrested, my chances of the case going to trial are low; and if the case does go to trial, my chances of getting convicted are probably low, etc..

It does happen though: people do get busted for carrying knives. I guess you shouldn't do the crime if you can't do the time. Most places around here set the punishment for illegal carry at around a 1000$ fine and/or up a year in jail. In reality, a conviction would probably just earn a choice of a couple days in jail or a couple hundred dollar fine. That sucks, but it's really not that big a deal, even if the worst case scenario should occur.

[This message has been edited by cerulean (edited 03-06-2001).]
 
When I used to consistently carry 3.5" to 4"-bladed folders as my primary LPU's (Life Preservation Units), I did worry about what would happen if say, the wrong person spotted my clip in a bar, etc.

Remembering not to tote your knife into certain places got cumbersome for me, so I switched to the BM705S as my primary LPU two years ago (it has a 2.9" blade). I compliment it with either a large fixed blade or on occasion something that goes bang, and I feel much better about leaving those items in the car or at the house when going into sketchy territory (post offices, DMV's, courthouses, etc.) when I know I've got the 705S on me somewhere. I usually check the 705 at the door at the circuit courthouses I frequent due to my job, and always get it handed back with the care and respect that a professional deserves. I truly think attitude has a big, big part in what one "deserves" to carry.

Professor.
 
Yes, of course I worry, sometimes. I always carry a spyderco Delica and sometimes also an ASP. Both are illegal to carry and in most cases also illegal to use in selfdefence. You might not get convicted if the amount of violence from the aggressor was higher than your response, but then chances are high that you get charged with carrying a knife or a "streetweapon" (the ASP).
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Sometimes the laws of an society reflect an opinion and not a realistic view of life.

I´m planning to upgrade to a spyderco Police, Endura or Gunting. Haven´t made up my mind yet.
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Jeff,
I don't worry about what knife I carry but am desperately worried about what knife YOU carry
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seriously though, I often carry one of my autos and almost always carry something over 3.5" How is anybody gonna tell who long the blade is if all they see is the pocket clip. I think any knife is okay as long as you are cool about it. Conversely, authorities are gonna give you crap about any sized knife if the perceive you as a threat or a problem. If I am in a situation where my knife may offend if pulled out, I just use the little SAK on my keychain, which nobody even raises an eyebrow at. On a plane, I carry a Crawford Titanium neck knife.It goes through the walk through metal detector just fine and is easily accessed from a seated position in case extreme circumstances force me to cut my way out of the seatbelt.
David

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AKTI# A000150
NC Custom Knifemakers Guild member
NC Knife Knuts member
 
Do I worry? You are kidding right? Look where I live in the Unfriendly to Knives!

My current carry is a Spyderco Military, Benchmade 750 Pinnicle and a SAK Adventurer.

Cause for concern?

What do you think a police man would say to that... about 15 years sir
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W.A.

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"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
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Founding president and member number 1! Wana join?
 
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