Fixed Blade Carry in VA

[justbob]

Short and sweet:

I am going to order a Gene Ingram fixed blade in the 2"-2-1/2" blade length. I find such knives to be eminently practical for EDC-type chores. I entertain no thoughts whatsoever of using said knife to ward off bands of evil denizens, although I suppose it would do in a pinch. . . .

(Insert your own yawn and "spare me," here.)

Seriously, this will be my daily tasks blade and constant companion knife, the knife that will be eventually handed down / willed to someone who can and will tell the stories that the knife's worn scales and scratches know all too well.

(This is where my charmingly sentimental wife goes "awwwwww. . . .")

The BIG question:

Can I legally carry such a knife sheathed on my belt in the Commonwealth of Virginia? We have that vague "thou shalt not conceal a dirk, dagger, or Bowie" knife clause in our knife laws. I have yet to encounter anyone willing to define the two former terms; I have a pretty good idea as to what a Bowie knife is and its limitations, having watched Billy Bob Thorton and friends in action in San Antonio. (I will not carry a Bowie knife, concealed or otherwise. I promise.)

As for "concealed," I oftentimes wear a sport coat with my khakiis. It would be unrealistic for me to say that my knife will not at times be covered by my jacket, or my overcoat.

Of course, my small Sebenza--which recently became a safe queen--or the Spyderco Kopa that I was eyeing prior to discovering Mr. Ingram's knives, clipped to or shoved deep into a pocket and/or covered by my jacket, poses no problem. Go figure.

Does anyone know the straight story on legal carry of small, utilitarian, fixed blades in VA?

Many thanks,

Bob

 

[dsvirsky]

In Richards v. Commonwealth (1994), the Virginia Court of Appeals defined "'dirk or weapon of like kind" as "any stabbing weapon having two sharp edges and a point" and "'bowie knife or weapon of like kind" as "any stabbing weapon having a single sharp edge, a dull or serrated flat edge and a point." Of course, the Virginia Courts have also ruled that a balisong is a "weapon of like kind," even though single-edged, because, when open, it "most closely resembles a dirk."

What this means is that you should be able to carry any fixed blade knife that clearly was not intended to be a stabbing weapon. Here in SW Virginia, I do so without a second thought. Depending on where you live, YMMV.