Headed to New York City

amroc

amroc

Joined
Jan 4, 2009
Messages
433
I'm headed to NYC for about a week, and possibly Maryland first. I was wondering what sort of laws are out there. I am used to Colorado law and I carry two larger folders. A Benchmade 930 Kulgera, and a Spyderco Endura 4 Waved. I was wondering what the legal limit is and what sort of restricitons are in New York.

I might be landing in Maryland and spending a few days there first, and then traveling up to NYC via train. I was also wondering what laws pertain in those states as well.

Thank you!
Greg
 
It's too bad that you can't do searches any more, because there's a lot of material on NYC. I will paraphrase what I know from those posts, but you MUST get your own info.

Effectively, ANY folder that can be opened with one had can potentially be considered an illegal gravity knife. If you can hold the blade and flick it open - you might have trouble.

Personally, when I go to NYC, I carry a small 3" fixed blade like the Cold Steel Mini Pendleton: http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=61312

I did a review of this little fixed blade in the review section last year.
 
NYC has the worst knife laws in the nation, not by wording, but by enforcement. NYC, knife must NOT be visible, this includes a pocket clip that can be seen. Blade must be under 4". Those are the two NYC special regs. The entire state bans Gravity knives and there in lies the issue. NYC enforces this to mean any knife that can be flicked open, even by holding the blade !! The police will arrest you and it will be almost two days before you get out of the system, assuming you have no record. I suggest a SAK.
 
tom19176 said:
NYC has the worst knife laws in the nation, not by wording, but by enforcement. NYC, knife must NOT be visible, this includes a pocket clip that can be seen. Blade must be under 4". Those are the two NYC special regs. The entire state bans Gravity knives and there in lies the issue. NYC enforces this to mean any knife that can be flicked open, even by holding the blade !! The police will arrest you and it will be almost two days before you get out of the system, assuming you have no record. I suggest a SAK.
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Tom - the 3" CS fixed blade linked above carried concealed in a pocket should be OK - do you agree? Thanks!
 
NYC is not like most places in the US. As Tom suggests, a SAK is usually safe. Keep it small and non-locking to be safe. I personally avoid carrying a fixed blade as it could be considered a "dangerous instrument" under the weapons law. Also, a number of locations throughout NYC have metal detectors and will confiscate any thing with an edge. If you are used to carrying a knife only for utility,the SAK should be fine. Anything else, you will find NYC to be a very unfriendly place for knife carry.
 
The CS above looks legal by definition, however dirk and dagger are not defined and any knife carried as a weapon is a dangerous knife. There was a self defense stabbing about a year ago by NYC transit worker who was carrying a similar knife. He killed two of the three guys guys trying to rob him and was not charged for any crime. Under normal conditions it should be legal when not visible.
 
I was thinking my Buck 503 Prince that I have. It's a two hand open with a locking blade, but it's fairly small. Any issues forseen with that one?

I'm in the group of people who feels naked without their knife. Just like my pen, or my cell phone, or my wallet, I just don't feel right without something.
 
It also depends on where you go. Keep in mind that the city was, and still probably is, a target for terrorists. Security is taken for real there, more like Israel than any other place in this country. Any building that is high priority will do a metal screening before you can go in, and probably confiscate any blade. That includes all government buildings, and high profile/tourist places like the Stock Exchange or the Empire State Building. The last time I visited the latter, it was like going through airport security. A friend of mine had to deliver something to a municipal office building, and lost his small SAK that way.
 
amroc said:
I was thinking my Buck 503 Prince that I have. It's a two hand open with a locking blade, but it's fairly small. Any issues forseen with that one?

I'm in the group of people who feels naked without their knife. Just like my pen, or my cell phone, or my wallet, I just don't feel right without something.
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I would advise against even a docile locking knife like the Prince. Get something, even if its cheap, that doesn't lock. That is your safest bet.
 
Hmmm, I may just skip most knives and stick to the Utili-key I carry anyway. Has a knife on it if I need to open a package whilst out there. Thank you guys for being so helpful and so quick on the reply too!

Greg
 
A Utilikey,in the wrong place at the wrong time,with an LEO/Security person that isn't blade-friendly,might be mis-construed as a concealed weapon. It tries very hard to look like a normal key. A small SAK is just what it is. Keep it concealed in the pocket. If circumstances require revealing it to the Police,remember it is carried for utility purposes. Cutting small things thruout the day,like packages,food,etc. Use the scissors to trim things etc. If you fail to articulate in such a manner,you may end up arrested and charged. A Vic Classic or Leatherman Micra or Squirt is usually very safe. So should most SAKs that have non-locking blades.
 
I think that you will do fine with the Buck. There is no way it can be construed as a gravity knife. As long as it is under 4" and concealed (including any pocket clip) you should not have any problems. I live in NY (Long Island) and I am familiar with the laws. NY city laws are slightly stricter but they follow the same general guidelines. Just my 2 cents, as someone who has carried similar knives in NYC.
 
I'll be in and around Columbia College area and the MoMA. The girlfriend is an intern there. I could pick up a SAK classic no problem, but I also just realized I'm not going to do a checked bag, so I'll be without something for a week unless I can find a knife shop out there. Which forum on here should I ask about good blade shops in NYC?
 
You can do a search via google by putting in site:bladeforums.com after your search terms. There have been a couple threads on the subject. The consensus is that most of them are quite overpriced.

p.s. what are you doing at Columbia? Are you a prospective student? If so I highly recommend going there. Since you are going to be in Morningside Heights there is a stationery store on Broadway that sells Victorinox knives. It's called Janoff's and it is located btw 112th and 111th streets.
 
davide said:
You can do a search via google by putting in site:bladeforums.com after your search terms. There have been a couple threads on the subject. The consensus is that most of them are quite overpriced.

p.s. what are you doing at Columbia? Are you a prospective student? If so I highly recommend going there. Since you are going to be in Morningside Heights there is a stationery store on Broadway that sells Victorinox knives. It's called Janoff's and it is located btw 112th and 111th streets.
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I'm going to visit my girlfriend who is an intern at the Museum of Modern Art. Thank you very much, I'll do a Google map search of that place. I've heard Columbia is a good school, but I'm enrolled out here in Colorado already.

It's still fun to look at the knives in different stores. I'm working at one out here. That's how I met some of the people on here, and how I found this place. I'm hoping to see some knives and play with them first hand before buying.

Thank you all so much again!
Greg
 
Most hardware stores in the city will have a Leatherman display. I carry a LM squirt on my keychain every day in NYC, nobody's going to notice it & it's not going to be a problem if it is noticed. And you can give it to your girlfriend when you head back home.
 
If you want to just window shop then Three Little Indians Cigar Shop should be a good place to look at custom knives. It's in Little Italy. Paragon Sports downtown also has knives. I've never been to either of those shops, but both have been mentioned on these forums.
 
Target carries Leatherman and Victorinox,think there's one in the city. Sports Authority carries Wenger and Leatherman,few of these in the city. Paragon around 18th and Broadway has a nice selection of production and custom knives. But it is pricey. Figure you can pick up a Vic Classic for around 10-12 bucks,carry around the week,then give it to your friend or mail it to yourself. Have fun.
 
Almost forgot,there's the Victorinox store in Soho around Prince St and West Broadway. Worth the trip if you like SAKs
 
amroc said:
I'll be in and around Columbia College area and the MoMA. The girlfriend is an intern there. I could pick up a SAK classic no problem, but I also just realized I'm not going to do a checked bag, so I'll be without something for a week unless I can find a knife shop out there. Which forum on here should I ask about good blade shops in NYC?
Click to expand...

Your girlfriend's got a good thing going, interning at MoMA!

This is as good a place as any for NYC knife shops. Here's my old list:

Mastersmiths - Bill Malloy
403 East 58th Street
New York NY 10022

(Toll Free) 1-877-8KNIVES
(1-877-856-4837)
Local Calls 1-212-752-4045
Fax 1-212-752-4037

http://www.beautifulblades.com/
bill@beautifulblades.com

1200 -1700 (noon to 5pm)
closes for chow
then 1900-2100 (7pm -9pm)


Paragon Sports
867 Broadway at 18th Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 255-8036

Store Hours
Monday thru Saturday 10:00am - 8:00pm.
Sunday 11:30am - 7:00pm.


Swiss Army Soho
136 Prince Street
New York NY

Victorinox Heaven. Here you will find every Victorinox model available, including Classics in every color imaginable. There are Vic watches galore and Vic clothing as well. Don't miss the display of vintage Vics.


Henry Westpfal
105 W. 30th Street off Broadway
New York NY 10001

Buck and Victorinox. Their specialty is high-end kitchen knives.
They sharpen any and all knives.


Native Leather
203 Bleecker Street
New York NY

Buck, Opinels, and Sante Fe Stoneworks Buck and Spyderco models.


Tent & Trails
21 Park Place
New York NY 10007
1-212-227-1760

Normally they open at 9:30.
Take the number 2 or 3 train downtown, and get off at Park Place.
Spyderco and Victorinox SAKs. Some Cold Steel and CRKT.


... Add these:
... ICEBERG on broadway and Grand ... about 3 blocks above Canal.
... Three Little Indians Custom Knives in Little Italy, 192 Grand St.
 
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