I have been lurking for a week or so and just about made a decision on which EDC would work well for me. I just need some help on two issues. The main one is size. In my town, it is illegal to carry concelled anything 3" or longer. My question is the concelled part. If I carry a 3.5" clipped inside of my pocket and you can see the clip, is that concelled? I really like the 3.25 to 3.5" blade length. If I went under 3", I have all but decided to purchase a BM 705, thumb stud, plain edge. I would really rather have an 806D2, but want no trouble with the law. Many of you are going to say to buy both - I still might get there, but one at a time. The other choice would be between the Emerson Commander or CQC7 or the Mini CQC7. I work a white collar job, so too big and tactical might be offensive to some and against company policy. The BM 705 or mini CQC7 would probably be more acceptable. If it came down to these two, which one and why. The BM axis lock seems very stable, but Emerson has been at this a while. Give some direction to the newbie will ya.
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First post on first serious folder
- Thread starter Clay1
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- Jan 3, 2002
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Talk to your local police department, highway patrol, sheriff's department, etc. and ask them if a knife clipped in a pocket is considered concealed or not. In my area the local police do not considered a folder that is clipped in a pocket to be concealed. This allows me to carry my Cuda Maxx clipped in my pocket legally!
A couple points. At work you will offend someone with any knife regardless of the size. I never use a knife in front of anyone at work. Also research the applicable state and local laws. City and District Attorneys offices are actually the best place to ask, as often cops fly by the seat of their pants. Feel free to ask them but talk to the City and District Attorneys as well.
Also remember in many states if a knife is carried for the stated purpose of self defense its illegal as it then becomes a weapon. Remember to tell officer friendly its a tool, for utility cutting jobs.
I don't know of any place where you have to have a knife clipped on to be legal. If its legal to conceal at all its legal to have just in the bottom of your pocket, and its much less noticeable at work that way. Hence no questions will be asked of you. If you whip out a 705 or small CQC7 mini, somebody is surely going to comment by asking who you are planning to kill. They may be afraid enough to call security or your boss. A teeny tiny swiss army classic rides in my pocket for public jobs at work. If that will not work, let building services take care of it. Screw em. But out-a sight- A larger folder is in the strong side pocket for emergency use. To each his own though. On the street I will exercise my rights, but at work I wish to make no waves.
Also remember in many states if a knife is carried for the stated purpose of self defense its illegal as it then becomes a weapon. Remember to tell officer friendly its a tool, for utility cutting jobs.
I don't know of any place where you have to have a knife clipped on to be legal. If its legal to conceal at all its legal to have just in the bottom of your pocket, and its much less noticeable at work that way. Hence no questions will be asked of you. If you whip out a 705 or small CQC7 mini, somebody is surely going to comment by asking who you are planning to kill. They may be afraid enough to call security or your boss. A teeny tiny swiss army classic rides in my pocket for public jobs at work. If that will not work, let building services take care of it. Screw em. But out-a sight- A larger folder is in the strong side pocket for emergency use. To each his own though. On the street I will exercise my rights, but at work I wish to make no waves.
I called my local police department,sheriff's department and state troopers and all the would say is it's "illegal to carry any knife concealed". When asked if it was clipped in my pocket would it be concidered concealed and I got the same reply. I asked what the legal carry size was and got the same answer.
I know some of the deputy sheriff and they will not say anything but the rest I just don't know. In the mean time I continue to carry my CUDA MAXX 5.5 and stay calm. It wuks fur me.
On the other hand I can carry any size fixed blade and no one even seems to notice. But pull out a 5.5in pocket knife and everyone thinks you're out to hurt someone. Go figure.
The best place to go is probably an attorney who has delt with this issue.
Good Luck
Dean
I know some of the deputy sheriff and they will not say anything but the rest I just don't know. In the mean time I continue to carry my CUDA MAXX 5.5 and stay calm. It wuks fur me.On the other hand I can carry any size fixed blade and no one even seems to notice. But pull out a 5.5in pocket knife and everyone thinks you're out to hurt someone. Go figure.
The best place to go is probably an attorney who has delt with this issue.
Good Luck
Dean
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- Jul 7, 2000
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I don't know what state you are in, but thought I'd chime in anyway. In my home state of MD, case law dictates that "absolute invisibility is not required" to define a knife/weapon as "concealed." In other words, case law here does not serve the 'clip was showing: it wasn't concealed' argument. I've had cops tell me the opposite though. Oh well, I'll just try not to get my ass busted.
Anyway, that's my long way of saying: I doubt you'll get a concrete answer on whether your knife is "concealed" or not. If a cop wants to put you in a holding tank, your knife will be a "concealed weapon" even it's a 2" slipjoint and 99% of it is visible. If a cop thinks you're a good guy, you're knife won't be a "concealed weapon" even if it's a giant bowie tucked in your pants, covered by your jacket. Then you're just carrying a "hunting knife" for "sporting purposes."
Anyway, that's my long way of saying: I doubt you'll get a concrete answer on whether your knife is "concealed" or not. If a cop wants to put you in a holding tank, your knife will be a "concealed weapon" even it's a 2" slipjoint and 99% of it is visible. If a cop thinks you're a good guy, you're knife won't be a "concealed weapon" even if it's a giant bowie tucked in your pants, covered by your jacket. Then you're just carrying a "hunting knife" for "sporting purposes."
The Magician
Illusionist
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Originally posted by ThinkOfTheChildren
If a cop wants to put you in a holding tank, your knife will be a "concealed weapon" even it's a 2" slipjoint and 99% of it is visible. If a cop thinks you're a good guy, you're knife won't be a "concealed weapon" even if it's a giant bowie tucked in your pants, covered by your jacket. Then you're just carrying a "hunting knife" for "sporting purposes."
That is correct. The knife is a small part of the equation. How you present yourself is more important. Don't get into trouble and no one will ever know. Don't be taking it out and flipping it at the maqll and crap and you will be fine. It's not like you obey EVERY law, right?
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2002
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I live a rural area of the Missouri Ozarks. The reason I called and/or talked to LEOs, including the State Patrol, instead of the Prosecuting Attorneys was because LEOs are the people I would be dealing with. If, in the LEO's opinion I was legal, the prosecuting attorney would never see me, regardless of what case law says. Every LEO that I talked to including all the sheriffs in all the surrounding counties consider a knife clipped in your pocket as NOT CONCEALED! I called the State Highway Patrol Headquarters in Jefferson City, MO and they said the same thing. In the rural areas of Missouri I can carry any folding knife I want to clipped in my pocket, and as long as I'm not causing trouble, the LEOs (and consequently the procesuting attorneys), will leave me alone.
Thanks for all of the input from everyone. Maybe I'm just a little paranoid, but if I ask and then don't comply and a situation comes up in which I need the knife for more than utility uses, I'm in the $hit. I live in Wisconsin not NY, so things are more rural than other parts of the world. We do have the the far left wing, tree hugger types in Madison (State capitol), but much of the state is filled with farms. I hear everyone loud and clear about how you respond to a LEO. You act like a red neck jerk and you will be all locked up in the back seat. Don't get me wrong - no troubles with the law on my end, but I do happen to be a red neck, white collar, educated fellow in my early 40s. Back to the blades themselves: doesn't anyone want to touch the BM vs Emerson question? I could use some help here too. Thanks guys - sorry that I am getting back to the thread so late, but this working for a living keeps me in toys.