Florida Question

Rat Finkenstein

Rat Finkenstein

Joined
May 18, 2005
Messages
23,037
Does anyone know if you can carry a fixed blade concealed in Florida? It isnt a Dirk, but would it be considered legal? I was going to get a Carry permit for there, but the process would have taken too long, and only been approved long after I returned.
Alternately, can one carry a fixed blade openly?

and finally, is there a blade length law?

I have read over the law multiple times, but none of these questions are answered. it seems pretty vague- maybe it would come down to a matter of perceived intent?
 
Yo Rat,yes FL law is very old +very vague,reallly comes down to interpitation
of not only the officer but the da as well. All we know for sure is that you may have a " common pocket knife "
 
There is no "blade length law". Part of the FL law bans carrying a "Concealed Deadly weapon". I will look up case law rulings on the subject and post it. Even if case law shows it is not a crime you could still go to jail depending on the officer and reason and circumstances that he encountered you. As they say "You may beat the charge but you can't beat the ride". Get a CCW permit and you can carry anything you want in FL. It is a shall issue state (As long as no felony conviction).
 
Case law in FL shows "common pocketknife" to be accepted as four inches or less but there have been exceptions in both directions. Shorter more tacticool knives have been deemed weapons, illegal to carry concealed without a permit, and longer knives have been ruled to be tools, which are perfectly legal to carry concealed without a permit.

If it's not concealed or you have a FL permit, none of this matters.
 
Menocu said:
Case law in FL shows "common pocketknife" to be accepted as four inches or less but there have been exceptions in both directions. Shorter more tacticool knives have been deemed weapons, illegal to carry concealed without a permit, and longer knives have been ruled to be tools, which are perfectly legal to carry concealed without a permit.

If it's not concealed or you have a FL permit, none of this matters.
Click to expand...

So is it legal to openly carry a fixed blade- just not concealed?
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
So is it legal to openly carry a fixed blade- just not concealed?
Click to expand...

You really have to find out the laws in your particular municipality.
I live in Winter Springs, FL, and when I inquired at the local police station here, I was told you can't carry a folder over 3", you can't carry an auto or a balisong, and you can't carry a fixed blade.
Apparently local laws can vary greatly from state laws .... either that, or a lot of law enforcement personnel have no idea of what the laws are.
 
I've been looking into the legality of fixed blade carry also, especially with regard to Florida and Louisiana. Do respectable law-abiding people get free rides in police cars for carrying small fixed blades?

With regard to "concealment", is it technically concealed if its worn horizontal on your belt with an untucked shirt? Likewise, is it technically NOT concealed if your shirt is tucked in?
 
I have been open carrying a Gerber Gator 5in or Buck Knighthawk 7in fixed blades for past 3 months.

I have a Florida CWP as well which covers any other weapon I carry concealed.

I have not had any issues with leo. It is my understanding of the laws that open carry of fixed blades are legal with no set blade length. I have a book by Gutmacher that covers weaapons laws here in florida--gun oriented but covers knives as well.

I have gone in everywhere including libraries, wal-mart, resteraunts of all types, mall etc.

I would not go into any police station or regular bar.
 
jerrinfla said:
You really have to find out the laws in your particular municipality.
I live in Winter Springs, FL, and when I inquired at the local police station here, I was told you can't carry a folder over 3", you can't carry an auto or a balisong, and you can't carry a fixed blade.
Apparently local laws can vary greatly from state laws .... either that, or a lot of law enforcement personnel have no idea of what the laws are.
Click to expand...

This is a key point.
 
The local police dont know anything about weapons laws. They usally dont want you to carry anything so there bascially gonna tell you that.

If you really want a definitive answer go to the local state attorney office as I did. They woudl be the one prosecuting you. My local ASA said its legal and we wouldnt charge you but they recommened against of course.

Majority of police wether north south east or west which I have dealt with know little about weapons--guns and knives--this includes "swat" guys.

You can carry a folder over 3inches in Winter Springs---hell you can carry a 6inch folder there.

Im actually surprised that Winter Springs police actually know how to spell Balisong.
 
I have to agree with CULLEN3 about most cops having no idea what the weapons laws are (from first hand experience). It is a shame.
I have to disagree about SWAT not knowing about firearms (Also firsthand experience). Most of the weapon experts and enthusiasts in law enforcement tend to end up on a team.
 
CULLEN3 said:
in Winter Springs---hell you can carry a 6inch folder there.
Click to expand...

With a concealed weapon & firearm permit.

There is no concealed weapon/knife law on the municipal or county level in Winter Springs, so the cops saying anything over 3" is illegal to carry are misinformed.
 
I work with police on a daily basis as a field investigator for the state and in past talking with cops ---city, sheriff, state, some swat or most not---they did not know about glaser safety slugs, more than 6 shot relovers, what an AR-10 was, how to work an FN-LAR, Beta Mags, sabot rounds and these are just examples i can think of.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top