Has exposed clip ever gotten you unwelcome attention from police?

S

sharpenit

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Apr 14, 2011
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Reading "Blade" magazine stories about knife rights, you see tales of people being stopped by a cop after the cop spots a tell-tale clip outside somebody's pocket. Hassles often follow.

I'm wondering how common such incidents are. Reading about such incidents has made me reluctant to clip a knife in my pocket.

And if we have law enforcement folks on here, I'd be interested in hearing how you regard someone you see with a knife-clip showing.

Also, a point of etiquette. If you're out and about and you spot somebody with a clip on their pocket, would you figure they're a fellow knife enthusiast and feel comfortable asking them what they're carrying? Or would you figure they would want you to mind your own damn business?
 
I have never been stopped or asked about a visible clip, but I'm a middle aged guy with a family so I look relatively harmless.

If the situation warrants, I will drop the knife completely in the pocket to avoid a possible problem. During the week I carry a large Sebenza in a calfskin pouch in my pocket - so no knife is visible.

I see so few people carrying knives in their pocket but I will approach them if they are and ask. Last guy I approached ended up having one of those inexpensive folding razor knives in his pocket, and wasn't a knife nut at all.
 
I haven't had a problem walking by cops and them noticing my knife clipped to my pants, but I have been in other "run-ins" with police when I get pulled over, and they do their DUI check and they have seen it clipped to my pants. No problems though...

As for seeing people have knives clipped to their pocket, I have approched a few and most people had Kershaws, although I have seen one Spyderco Police and an Emerson.
 
Yes. On just a couple of occasions, I've had police officers stop and ask me to take my knife out and I've had to demonstrate why I'm carrying it (ie: I use it at work) and that it's not an illegal item. That said, that's as far as it's gone thus far - generally they've been pretty knowledgeable about differentiating my knives from prohibited stuff, so no problem there.
 
Nope I've walked around with fixed blades showing and I have never had a problem with the police. Even the campus police dont mind.
 
It would depend on the laws in your area. If the statutes are worded along the lines of "must be concealed" then I would say a exposed clip would get you a summons almost instantly. If its more of a conservative state like Nebraska, an exposed clip is common; knifes are a basic tool for alot of folks here. I myself almost always go concealed just because I personally don't want people to know I'm carrying. People act different if they know you have a knife, regardless even if you're a true, honest boyscout; its just ignorance but whatever I guess.As far as I'm concerned, Nebraska has excellent knife laws. Anything 3.5" and under can be concealed and everything over 3.5" can be carried on your person in public, but must be non-concealed. The state statue doesn't go by design, only by blade length. Here, brass knuckles and alot of other stuff can be carried as long as they are also non-concealed. I don't even think pepper spray and tasers are on the books here yet either. The city I live in goes by 4" and under can be concealed, but I"ve never understood as its in conflict withe the state statue.

I'm ranting here, but in Nebraska, No...a clip is harmless.

sf
 
Nternal said:
Nope, I don't think most people even think it's a knife.
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Yeah - i'm amazed that more folks don't recognize it. Had a woman ask to borrow my pen at a meeting and I was confused why she was indicating i had one in my pocket. She seemed a bit put-off when i revealed it was a knife and wasn't much good for writing ... brother.

Never had an issue with police. As for asking others whats in their pockets... socially, sure; but generally i don't ask strangers that question :)
 
SplittinHairs said:
Yeah - i'm amazed that more folks don't recognize it. Had a woman ask to borrow my pen at a meeting and I was confused why she was indicating i had one in my pocket. She seemed a bit put-off when i revealed it was a knife and wasn't much good for writing ... brother.

Never had an issue with police. As for asking others whats in their pockets... socially, sure; but generally i don't ask strangers that question :)
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Yeah and even if they did recognize it they probably wouldn't initially say anything about it or question it. I don't think they would be comfortable enough to say anything about it.
 
I wouldn't say unwelcome attention beacuse I was already brought to their attention. Got pulled over for speeding 6 years ago, and the cop asked for my license I told him it was in my back pocket. He told me it was ok to get as long as I didn't touch my knife in my pocket. I thought he had a good eye, as it was clippped to my RFP and he was standing to the left of my car.
 
No problems- but I like approaching some about what their carrying, and hassling my buds for having Chinese crap:D
 
Never once have I ever had an issue. I've actually been detained before and had an officer pat me down, obviously identifying a knife or two and never even making it an issue. I've walked in to court houses armed, handed my knife to the officer running the metal detector and gotten it back on the way out. I guess it depends on location a lot, as well as other issues. I am blessed, blessed, blessed! to live in Dixie!

I don't recall ever asking a stranger about a knife.
 
Ive never been stopped on the street, but I grew up and have always lived im military towns where most people at least carry a folder and a lot of times a fixed blade. I myself typically carry a 4" folder and a 5" fixed.

I ask other people about their knives all the time, and I get asked a lot as well.

-Josiah
 
I have a lot of friends in the local Police Department, so no. They usually ask me what I am carrying now......
 
Not around Reno. I really think it depends on the cop and how they profile.

I see clips around town all day, on cops and civilians. I've even had a couple occasions where cops asked me what knife I was carrying just out of general interest when I was out having lunch during a work day. And don't think I don't LOVE pulling out some of my nice knives to show them off :D
 
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