Florida knife laws are confusing me!

[Nicktterrell]

All the laws have to say about knives in florda concern what qualifys as a weapon, or laws against carrying concealed. We have no written explanation for open carry. Does this mean that anything goes for open carry? Also, another confusing issue, is a folding knife that is clipped to a pocket considered concealed or not. (assuming it would be considered a concealed weapon if completely hidden)

Sorry, I know this has probably been asked a million times but all the posts I can find just quote the same dang laws ive always known and never been able to make sense of!

 

[glistam]

One major thing to remember is to avoid third-party "summary" sites (like www.knifeexpert.com, which is 6 years out of date) and go right to the official legislative site to read laws. It's free and it's the most up to date and accurate.

Florida has extremely liberal laws towards carry of knives. You can carry just about anything concealed except dirks, metallic knuckles, blackjacks, billy clubs, tear-gas guns and chemical weapons. Everything else, including switchblades, is fine. Concealed or open is fine so long as not prohibited by local ordinances.
Concealed weapon statute:
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes...ing=&URL=0700-0799/0790/Sections/0790.01.html
Definition of concealed weapon:
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes...ng=&URL=0700-0799/0790/Sections/0790.001.html

Florida does have an open carry restriction statute, but it only applies to guns and electrical weapons (tasers and stun-guns)
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes...ng=&URL=0700-0799/0790/Sections/0790.053.html

The pocket-clip issue has no clearly defined answer. I'm of the school of thought that a knife inside the pocket with a visible clip is consider whichever mode is illegal. If concealed is illegal, cops might call it concealed under the rationale that they can spot it due to their training, but other citizens might not know what it is clipped to your pocket. If you live in LA or New York City where open carry can be illegal, they it counts as open carry.