Has exposed clip ever gotten you unwelcome attention from police?

There are lots of stories of people in NYC getting knives confiscated and then fined for having it clipped to their pocket. Some even get arrested if a particularly intrepid cop wants to prove the knife is of a "gravity" or "switchblade" variety by flicking it open without touching the blade. A Gerber Gator qualified for one arrest of a young guy on Staten Island in the past couple years. It wasn't even clipped to the kid's pocket -- it was a bulge that the cop asked about.

Lesson = Never have any part of a pocket knife visible when in NYC.
 
So if just the clip is showing.. It's not considered concealed and therefore is illegal? But if it was just in your pocket deep down than it would be legal? Why would they make a openly carried folder illegal?
 
Nternal said:
So if just the clip is showing.. It's not considered concealed and therefore is illegal? But if it was just in your pocket deep down than it would be legal?
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Correct.

Nternal said:
Why would they make a openly carried folder illegal?
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I don't know.

But I suspect it's because most people freak out when they see knives. And there are lots of people in NYC. Lots of freaked out people = bad.

That's a guess.
 
NeoClassic said:
Correct.



I don't know.

But I suspect it's because most people freak out when they see knives. And there are lots of people in NYC. Lots of freaked out people = bad.

That's a guess.
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But open carried fixed blades are ok? Or no? Because in cali they are.
 
CA actually has some decent knife laws --- considering its CA. Just stay out of San Francisco with your longer sharpies.
 
It's never happened to me, but nearly everyone in my profession (film/tv crew) carries a folder clipped in a pocket, and many of my friends and colleagues have been stopped by police in and around NYC, especially Port Authority. Since it's pretty well established that knives are a necessary tool for rigging, usually it's just a question of showing them a union card.
 
No problems here thus far. It's a military town & I'm over 40 & fairly clean-cut.
 
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Many times... But I look like this...

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Typically don't get bothered in my area (ct).
clip on a
Though quick story.
While in NYC (times square) to be correct, had a issue with a officer there. Group of 9 of us went down for a day/night. While watching one of them people who do the shows on sidewalks, officer spotted a clip on a friend. Came over pulled him to the side and asked to see. (now I had no clue you can't carry a nail file in this city). He showed, officer took and gave a riot act. Well the rest of us asked what the issue was. Officer went on about knives.
Well we all had one. I had my S&W swat.
Uh, kicker was the friend who had his Sig (oops). Officer didn't like that one. Called for back up.
I the end nothing happen. I don't but the other 5 guys with me carry tin. The one with the Glock is Fed.

All went well, but now when I go to the city I carry small and concealed. FYI
 
Knock on wood.......but I've NEVER been harassed by the police about carrying a knife clipped in my pocket. I've been to nearly every state in the U.S., including NY, carry everywhere I go.....never had a problem.
 
As best I can recall I've never had a cop pay attention to me at all, never mind worry about what's in my pockets.

I do sometimes unclip a folder and drop it all teh way into the pocket just out of general slight paranoia.
 
James0723 said:
Hm, something tells me you're not black.
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Correct I'm a full blooded ginger. But I think the fact I go to school in relatively rural NM has more to do with it than my skin tone does. We have a knife and tomahawk throwing club funded by the club and I've walked through campus with 3 tomahawks and barely got a strange look from anyone and a wave from a police officer. I've compared knives with friends in the middle of parking lots, the library and even during down time in calc class without any problems at all. The only time I was stopped was when my RA caught sight of my clips and said "you have two knives today can i see?" he then complimented me and walked away. The only negative comment I got there was my one friend saying she would never carry one because she'd end up cutting herself by accident.

Back home in PA, I get weird looks and the occasional "why do you carry that", but nothing from police. When i asked my local police officer what the law was he said that anything without a spring is legal, but assisted openers are still fine.
 
I gave a SOG Flash II to a buddy, and he took it to his local carryout, and was showing it to all of the patrons. It was getting passed around, and made it's way into the hands of a city cop who happened to be in there. He played with it, commented that he wanted one, asked what it was, and that was it.
 
My cousin was recently pulled over and the officer asked if he had any weapons on him. He told the officer that he had a pocket knife(Benchmade Heckler & Koch AXIS Folder) on him, and a sword behind his seat(Cas Hanwei Tactical Wakizashi). My cousin then asked the officer if he'd like to see the sword and he said sure. The officer looked it over, said it was a nice sword, and handed it back telling him to drive safe.

We live in Montana.
 
SplittinHairs said:
CA actually has some decent knife laws --- considering its CA. Just stay out of San Francisco with your longer sharpies.
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Or Los Angeles/LA County for that matter. One day I need to find a few and get an initiative going. Could also do away with some of the silly gun laws in this state.
 
So far no one has ever seemed to notice the clip. I believe that the clip showing is good where I live since it is not being concealed.
 
I carry my Izula on my belt under my shirt but you could notice the handle sticking out if the shirt slipps up and a policeman asked me what that is. Thought he wants to pull me aside and question me but we ended with drinking a coffee and talking 45 minutes about our knife preferences :) was pretty cool
 
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