Had Any Blades Conficated Lately?

T. Erdelyi

T. Erdelyi

Joined
Feb 3, 2001
Messages
32,359
In thirty years of carrying knives, (basically since I was 9 or 10 yrs. Old), and looking like either a longhaired hippie freak or a hard-core biker, I’ve been stopped by LEO probably a hundred times based on my appearance.
Basically I chose the look so I tolerated the profiling, and the searches that went along with it.
I’ve been questioned too many times to count as to the knives I carried, (some good, some bad), and even had several officers attempt to confiscate my knives, most times, IMHO because they liked them for themselves. But in 30 years, either through my demeanor or knowledge of my rights, I have never, (knock on wood) lost a single knife to the Police.
In these days of paranoid sheeple and people who don’t have the common sense not to aggravate the LEO’s who stop them, I constantly hear stories of people losing their knives to the police.
Even today I still have long hair tied back into a ponytail, Grateful Dead stickers on my car, and tie-dyed T-Shirts, and I still have no problems.
Is it me, or do the people who have had their knives confiscated just live in a police state?

:cool:
 
Asian, 5'8" and fit, always dressed in a suit or Khaki's, crew cut and glasses. Living in Lower Manhattan, NYC where during the workweek 40 percent of the people in my neighborhood is a cop, fed, or other government employee...
I carry everything...
I never get stopped...

sorry
 
I'm a large black man who usually dresses casually and I have never had a knife confiscated. I think there are a couple of reasons for this, I don't carry knives into places where they are likely to be taken and I generally live a low key and legal life style.
 
I have to agree with Anthony. I keep my carries legal and conduct myself in a responsible manner. Actually I've never been searched nor have I had anything confiscated.
 
Yeah. I'd think if you keep the knives from places where they're more likely to confiscate them (ie concerts, bars) you'll probably have no problem.
I'm an asian student, casual wear, not even a cop has stop me on the street. The only time ever was when I was stupid enough to be trapped by those radar traps, and back then I couldn't buy knives anyways.
 
In the United States, somewhere along the line during the evolution of case law, it became legal for a police officer, once allowed to stop and question someone, that the officer may for his own safety, frisk and remove any objects, legal or otherwise that may be used to harm him or someone else. Lacking the intent to commit a crime, the Officer may not arrest you, but he may remove the object, and/or place restraints on the person.

Upon satisfaction, the officer may, upon his discretion based upon his perception of safety, hand the owner the objects that the officer had siezed. Now, in preserving the status of safety, the officer will usually "make safe" whatever objects before it is given back to the owner... for example, a legally owned pistol will be unloaded before returned to the rightful owner, who is usually instructed to reload the pistol only upon his return to his home or vehicle. In the case of a knife, there is no way to "make safe" easily in the field. So by one or more reasons...1) immediate safety of the officers and public 2) potential and later threat to officer or public or 3) inability to neutralize the potential threat of the object... the officer may choose to retain the object. There may or may not be provisions where the owner can later retrieve the knife or have it mailed or otherwise delivered to him.

If the officer chooses to return your knife to you, you have convinced him, not only of your legal right to own that knife, but that you pose no threat to him/her and the general public at that time, or a later time. also, one more factor is whether or not the officer wants to do more paperwork, as a confiscated weapon must generate some amount of paperwork.

I think I got everything
 
I've always carried self-defense 'weapons' with me, but never been searched. Never had anything confiscated. I've had things stolen, like my baton, and other knives, but never confiscated........yet.

actually, tell a lie. I've had pepperspray confiscated from me at the airport. They only took one out of the 7 I had. They didn't bother rescanning my bag (lucky for me)

that's all.
 
After 24 years of Police work, I never confiscated a knife because I "liked it".

YUP, Illegal knives got taken, but I simply cannot remember ONE incident where the knife was a custom or hi-end production. I also never remember one argument that the Police "lost" when deciding to confiscate an illegal knife?????

And the knives confiscated were POS clones, not worth losing your career over, so tagged and logged they all were, and THROWN into a box in the evidence/property room for destruction.

There were hundreds of knives, not one with a known name on them,
MOST made by the same makers, either a guy named "Stainless steel" or a guy named "Taiwan"................:p ;)
 
Since any knife is legal here (actually there is no law regarding knives in our country) I never had a knife confiscated - I was not even asked to show what I am carrying....

David
 
Originally posted by wolfmann601
After 24 years of Police work, I never confiscated a knife because I "liked it".
Click to expand...

No offense intended Wolf I have a lot of respect for LEO I have several freinds, and family on the job and, I lost a good friend who was Chief of the PAPD, on 9-11:( . I chalk my luck up to lectures from my brother-in-law on how to present myself in a non-threatening manner, and make the officer feel at ease comfortable, ( they're never really at ease or comfortable , but at least as close as they can get).

Although knives do get confiscated by some LEO's,(who like them better than you do) that's the exception not the norm.

:)
 
wolfman, this statement has me wondering:

"deciding to confiscate an illegal knife"

What exactly would make a knife illegal?
 
Here in Missouri, you can only carry folders that have blades under 4 in. You can also not carry any "gravity" knives or autos. So if I carry an auto, it is therefore illegal.
Anywho, no, I've never had a knife confiscated but then I don't really take a knife where I feel that it may be confiscated (govt buildings, the arch, etc.) I also don't live a lifestyle where I feel that I would have the need for a cop to search me (I know that sometimes it doesn't matter....). I am a nursing student so often times, I am wearing khakis, dress shirt, lab coat, and tie going to visit a patient or in scrubs while on the unit. And anyone who has seen my mug on the USN knows that I'm just not an intimidating looking person!
Matt
 
I'm jst an average looking white college student, and I've never had any sort of run in with the law. I did, however, lose a Leatherman Micra to a security guard.

A few months ago (a week of two after 9-11) I had to go to the city records office to have some papers signed. This is part of city hall. They had metal detectors and NO KNIVES signs set up at the doors. I had remembered to leave my EDC folder in the car, but still had my Micra on my keychain.

When the dude at the door said he had to hold my Micra while I was inside for "seccurity reasons" I got mad and told him to keep it. I know I said it was because since he had touched it I would be ashamed to own it. Obviously I wan't in a good mood at the time.
 
Never had a knife confisctaed, and never been searched by the police. I am a student, and dress casually, but make sure that what I carry is legal. I also give the police no reason to search me, so I doubt that I will ever have a LEO confiscate a knife from me. As long as the knife I am carrying is legal, and I am not doing anything stupid, I can always fall back on the law, the police would have no reason to take it.


Erik
 
No confiscations here either!

I choose my knife according to the area I am going as well. Often I carry my custom fixed blade. It is only 4" ling and the sheath si great, so it is sort of inconspicuous. But when I'm at the Unviersity, I don't wear it. The fixed blade stays in my bag. My SAK fills in any cutting duties while my fixed blade is taking a nap!

I agree toot hat as logn as you don't give an Officer a reason to take your knife, it won't be taken. I went on a ride-along with a cop once when I was... hmm.. in grade 10! WOW! That logn ago... Anyways, the cop had stopped this one young punk and was in the process of arresting him when the punk's friend started yelling at the cop and saying "if you're gonna take my friend, you can take me too!" At which point the cop spun the punk's friend around and had him cuffed in a couple of seconds! I was a little too scared to get too excited, as the cop was a k-9 Officer and his very excited dog was beside me and wantign to bite someone! I wasn't going to move an inch. The point of the story is that the punk gave the cop a reason to arrest him. if you flick your knife out at a cop (a young kid who works in a famous Calgary knife store, and who posts at the Benchmade forum, told me he has doen this often), or yell at a cop, you are giving them many reasons to take your knife away. Be reasonable, and you should be fine.
 
Every state has it's own list of "illegal or Prohibited weapons

Texas is as follows

The definition of a knife is
Any bladed hand instrument that is capable of inflicting serious bodily injury or death by cutting or stabbing a person with the instrument.


In Texas an illegal knife is

(A)Knife with a blade over 5 1/2 inches
(B) hand instrument designed to cut or stab another by being thrown
(C)dagger, including but not limited to a dirk, stiletto, and poinard
(D)bowie knife
(E) sword or
(E) spear

Now for those who notice that a switchblade is not listed

section 46.05 lists prohibited weapons
(5) a switchblade knife


The definition of a switchblade is
"switchblade knife" means any knife that has a blade that folds, closes or retracts into the handle or sheath, and that:
(A) opens automatically by pressure applied to a button or other device on the handle; or
(B) opens or releases a blade from the handle or sheath by the force of gravity or by the application of centrifugal force.



So, RH you can see that there is a definition of an illegal knife.Some states may vary. I have arrested people with a 1"switchbladethat was made by some guy named "CHINA" because it was an illegal knife. It was so dull I don't think it would spread butter. I was a trainee with a new department and really had no choice in the matter. I really would have rather confiscated this POS and let the guy go.


The above was taken from the Texas penal code section 46.01 DEFINITIONS (weapons)
and section 46.05 prohibited weapons

Now a bowie knife is listed as "illegal" .The law does allow for collecting, also private property is another matter. Hunting is a private sport.

Since I have never run into a subject carrying a bowie knife I'll pass on that aspect.
my interpretation of the law is that the illegal or prohibited aspects apply to carry in public of the items listed.

Please don't start an argument over the laws. This is straight from my current copy of the penal code.

I am a gun and knife collector. I am also a gun and knife dealer. agree or disagree with the law, I don't care.It's in print for you to view.
 
I've never even been pulled over, or had any contact with the cops other than friendly conversation, but I stay legal with my EDC and don't look like a stoppable guy. :) Obviously, never confiscated.

Asha'man
 
As a younger man, I made many mistakes in my life, and ended up on probation. While on probation, they came in a nd did a home search, and of course my knife collection brought themn all runing. They took (because I was too stupid to realize they were illegal) 2 switchblades, a stilletto, and my bali-song butterfly. They left, however, about 10 double edged blades that I would have certainly thought were illegal...
 
Never had one taken away, thank God, and I worry about carrying my customs, which I do.

I've taken to carrying fixed blades and will eventually have some in view or partially in view, with the idea that it's legal if not concealed. That being said, since this may invite an "interview" with an eagle-eyed LEO, I will consequently be carrying an inexpensive folder as backup. If stuff gets taken away, I've only lost one custom fixed blade and one replaceable folder.

If I am just carrying a folders only, one will be a custom and one will be a production model.

I like my knives and have been selecting stuff that fits within confines of the law. All autos stay at home, period. My nice stuff is too nice to me to always leave home in the knife box.
 
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