Fixed under 4" for NYC Carry

S

spytech

Joined
Jan 5, 2011
Messages
7
I currently have a benchmade warn 583. it is a Great knife, a bit on the big and heavy side, but a great knife. i will no longer be carrying this because nyc is now classifying it as a gravity knife - so it is not legal for carry (from what i am told). been stopped because they saw the clip; held for questioning for 2 hours then released, because i have a clean record, never been arrested - so they let me go, but keep my knife. do not want to deal with this anymore.

i was looking at something fixed no double edge and under 4 inches. i would prefer D2 steel. i went to paragon sports and they had the boker amico i thought it was a great little knife, but wanted something with a slightly larger blade.
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What do people think about the boker amico? also, what can people recommend for me in the limits of what i can have in NYC. i have carried for 12 years, kinda feel naked with out a knife, so looking to jump into something soon.

thanks in advance guys.
 
If you're okay with a different steel the Spyderco Street Beat is a great little knife that seems like it'll fit your criteria. Most people wouldn't notice the difference between VG-10 and D2 and I believe VG-10 has better corrosion resistance. It's around the same price range as the Amico.

spystreetbeat1.JPG
 
man, they really got you just for seeing the clip? that sucks. And some cop will probably be sporting a "new" BM as his duty knife from now on...

I'd triple check the knife laws for fixed blades. Seems like most places where folders are prosecuted, then concealed fixed blades are just as illegal. Though I can't speak for NYC.
 
Kaizen1 said:
If you're okay with a different steel the Spyderco Street Beat is a great little knife that seems like it'll fit your criteria. Most people wouldn't notice the difference between VG-10 and D2 and I believe VG-10 has better corrosion resistance. It's around the same price range as the Amico.

spystreetbeat1.JPG
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Thank you... pleasure being here. seems like a great community. i really like the street beat, i will look more into it - seems like a front runner.

goodeyesniper said:
man, they really got you just for seeing the clip? that sucks. And some cop will probably be sporting a "new" BM as his duty knife from now on...

I'd triple check the knife laws for fixed blades. Seems like most places where folders are prosecuted, then concealed fixed blades are just as illegal. Though I can't speak for NYC.
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they do it for different reason, some cops, think if they bust you it is overtime with the paper work. usually i show my my friend PBA card (i have several) and its ok, some are hard asses. i will look more into the laws.

thanks for the quick response, if anyone has other suggestions i would be glad to hear/read about it.
 
Welcome to Bladeforums!

I'm going to move this to Knife Laws, since ultimately your problem is not finding a knife, but finding one you won't get busted for.

Fixed blade under 4" and carried concealed should be legal. What should be legal and what won't get you into trouble may not be the same. NY law is not unusual in criminalizing dangerous weapons -- an ominously flexible category. Add in that most police aren't experts on the fine points of knife law and your legal knife can land you in serious and expensive trouble.

But I am a pessimist when it comes to these possibilities.
New York is my hometown and I don't go there anymore.
 
I don't live in NY, but I would like to go see a Yankees game next year, so I've been thinking about this as well. What do you think about the ESEE Izula for NYC carry?
 
in NYC the law's are:
1. blade must be under 4"
2. you must conceal the knife
3. no gravity knives
4. no automatic knives
5. no bali-song's (butterfly knives)

for more info refer to NYC administrative code 10-133 through 10-134

follow those rules and you should have a problem. i EDC a spyderco endura4.
 
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jimnolimit said:
in NYC the law's are:
1. blade must be under 4"
2. no gravity knives
3. no automatic knives
4. no bali-song's (butterfly knives)

follow those rules and you should have a problem. i EDC a spyderco endura4.

p.s. i feel a fixed blade for EDC in NYC would be cumbersome.
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Busted.

The current working definition of a gravity knife in NYC today is any folder that has a blade that can be flung open, even by holding the blade and swinging the handle away from it. Spydies are right up at the top of that list, since the hole gives them such a good grip.
 
...again thanks for all the quick responses.

jimnolimit said:
in NYC the law's are:
1. blade must be under 4"
2. no gravity knives
3. no automatic knives
4. no bali-song's (butterfly knives)

follow those rules and you should have a problem. i EDC a spyderco endura4.

p.s. i feel a fixed blade for EDC in NYC would be cumbersome.
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my benchmade is under 4 inches is not a gravity knife (spring assisted opening) which should be legal, but they where removed from all stores in NYC that sold them. so what gives? fixed may be a bit cumbersome, thats why i like the boker amico and the street beat, at least the boker i had in my hand and it would be fine/comfortable to carry
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Busted.

The current working definition of a gravity knife in NYC today is any folder that has a blade that can be flung open, even by holding the blade and swinging the handle away from it. Spydies are right up at the top of that list, since the hole gives them such a good grip.
Click to expand...

the endura4 is NOT a gravity knife, i can hold it and wave it around all i want and it wont open. you're confusing the term gravity knife with anything that opens.

NYC penal law:

Section 265.00 4. "Switchblade knife" means any knife
which has a blade which opens automatically by hand
pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in
the handle of the knife. 5. "Gravity knife" means any
knife has blade which is released from the handle or
sheath thereof by the force of gravity of the application
of centrifugal force which, when released, is locked in
place by means of a button, spring, lever, or other
device.
 
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Esav Benyamin said:
Busted.

The current working definition of a gravity knife in NYC today is any folder that has a blade that can be flung open, even by holding the blade and swinging the handle away from it. Spydies are right up at the top of that list, since the hole gives them such a good grip.
Click to expand...

so would the boker amico or street beat work for me??? i am leaning towards the street beat. they sell the boker in paragon, and they (city) took all the knives that were not legal, i am assuming the boker amico is legal because of this.
 
spytech said:
so would the boker amico or street beat work for me??? i am leaning towards the street beat. they sell the boker in paragon, and they (city) took all the knives that were not legal, i am assuming the boker amico is legal because of this.
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paragon might have removed certain knives for other reasons and not because they where illegal. if your benchmade would not open when waved around then it's legal. the only thing i can think of would be that the cops could see the knife in open view. don't clip the knife on your pocket, put it in your pocket.

on what grounds did they arrest you? what reason did they give you?
did you ask for your knife back?
 
jim, if the officer can flick it then it is a gravity knife. In my days in NYC law enforcement, I never found a Sydie I could not flick. Paragon had their knives under $1000 taken by the DA for being gravity knives ( read all about it everywhere). It is strange that they did not taken the expensive ones as they open the same way! I guess the rich have different rules.
Spytech, glad the PBA cards helped, but there are too many guys that don't honor them so much anymore. Did they give you a voucher for the knife?
 
I put it directly to the NY county's DA office whether the knife could be opened by holding the blade and snapping open the handle. They were actually forthcoming with some case examples defining a gravity knife (I'm amazed they bothered to respond to my Email), but have yet to clear up this one point.

I now carry a TOPS C.A.T. It's the same model as their TOM Brown Tracker Scout minus the blade graphics and numbering. Stout little knife for under 75.00 to my door.
 
jimnolimit said:
the endura4 is NOT a gravity knife, i can hold it and wave it around all i want and it wont open. you're confusing the term gravity knife with anything that opens.

NYC penal law:

Section 265.00 4. "Switchblade knife" means any knife
which has a blade which opens automatically by hand
pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in
the handle of the knife. 5. "Gravity knife" means any
knife has blade which is released from the handle or
sheath thereof by the force of gravity of the application
of centrifugal force which, when released, is locked in
place by means of a button, spring, lever, or other
device.
Click to expand...

If it can be whipped open without touching the blade, it's a gravity knife in NY. Tightening the pivot screw could make all the difference. I don't know if you could request the arresting officer open it in such a manner right on the spot, but it might not be a bad idea to do so, otherwise they can haul you in for questioning, and test it out at their leisure - maybe even work it loose to make sure it opens for the judge. About half of my lockbacks can be opened with a snap of the wrist. The design of the knife doesn't matter, only how it can be made to open and if it locks upon opening.
 
Heavy Handed could you post what examples they gave you? I would love to see a upstate DA's answer to this question ??? Thanks!
 
HeavyHanded said:
If it can be whipped open without touching the blade, it's a gravity knife in NY. Tightening the pivot screw could make all the difference.
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^ this is correct.

p.s. i have 3 spydies and none of them will open unless fingers are involved.
 
tom19176 said:
jim, if the officer can flick it then it is a gravity knife. In my days in NYC law enforcement, I never found a Sydie I could not flick. Paragon had their knives under $1000 taken by the DA for being gravity knives ( read all about it everywhere). It is strange that they did not taken the expensive ones as they open the same way! I guess the rich have different rules.
Spytech, glad the PBA cards helped, but there are too many guys that don't honor them so much anymore. Did they give you a voucher for the knife?
Click to expand...

the definition of a gravity knife in according to the NYC penal law is :

"means any knife has blade which is released from the handle or
sheath thereof by the force of gravity of the application of centrifugal force"

if you have to assist the blade opening with your finger = not a gravity knife.


as far as paragon having knives taken away i'll have to look into that. the price of the knives has nothing to do with their legality :confused:.
 
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