Help please, Ohio laws

[TGKnife]

Alright guys, so I'm not sure this is the correct sub forum or anything that I'm posting in here, but I hope it is.

I just wanted to ask, could anyone give me a summary of Ohio knife laws? I'm not very good at reading into laws with all the political jargon and everything in there. I'm looking for basically what's legal to carry, what's not. Things such as types of knifes (switches, ballisongs, "assisted opening") and size are more the nature I'm looking for.

Last I heard (or was told by someone) was it can't be even assisted opening or anything, and it has to be under 3 inches, and can not be concealed in any way. If it helps, I live in Cincinnati. (I don't know if there are any additional laws here or not.)

I'm just hoping to know what I can and can't carry, because I don't wanna get in trouble here. If this thread goes well I may have to make another, because I go to school in Indiana and I'm sure the laws are at least somewhat different there.

Thanks for the help anyone.

 

[kirko]

I live in Columbus, and keep up on the laws. In Ohio, you can carry any sized knife, theres is no blade length limit. It is illegal to conceal a weapon, but as far as im concerned, a knife is not a weapon, and this would be up to the police officer to decide wether or not you have/had intent on using the knife as a weapon. The laws are written in a very vague way, which allows them to be open to interpretation to the officer and the situation at hand.

§ 2923.12. Carrying concealed weapons.

(A) No person shall knowingly carry or have, concealed on the person's person or concealed ready at hand, any of the following:
(1) A deadly weapon other than a handgun;
(2) A handgun other than a dangerous ordnance;
(3) A dangerous ordnance.

Basically, if you are a law abiding citizen, you will have no problem with anything. I have 3 friends who are LEO's, 2 of which are in ohio, and they say its no problem to carry anything really. A pocket clip sticking out of your pants would make it not concealed. Now if you get pulled over drunk as crap, and are boligerant to the officer, and have a pocket knife, he could add a weapons charge i guess. I wouldnt worry about it. Carry what you want. Local laws im not sure of though, you may want to call your local sheriffs dept to make sure what the laws are in Cinci.

 

[TGKnife]

I've read some places though that the switches and butterfly knives are illegal, but it was on a 4 year old document and I wasn't sure what's exactly true.

Thanks for all the information though.

 

[AmericanPatriot]

I've read some places though that the switches and butterfly knives are illegal, but it was on a 4 year old document and I wasn't sure what's exactly true.

Thanks for all the information though.

I believe you are allowed to carry balisongs, just not concealed. Not sure about switch blades.

 

[jurisprudence]

If you are seeking an easy, clear-cut answer on this topic, you will be disappointed.

The Ohio Revised Code defines “Deadly weapon” as means any instrument, device, or thing capable of inflicting death, and designed or specially adapted for use as a weapon, or possessed, carried, or used as a weapon.

For a Concealed Weapons conviction, the prosecutor must show that a knife was designed, adapted or used as a weapon. Courts will examine the type of knife. In State v. Cathel, the court found:

The record is devoid of any evidence which demonstrates beyond a reasonable doubt that this knife was designed or adapted for use as a weapon. It was neither a switch or other spring-loaded blade, nor a gravity blade capable of instant one-handed operation, and differs only in its somewhat greater length from the familiar type of clasp knife carried as a useful tool by thousands. The element of design or adaptation has been fulfilled where the knife in question had a large handle curved and grooved in such a way that it could be grasped in the whole hand the way one would grasp a weapon, State v. White, or had a handle with deep finger grips and a knuckle shield, or was a “Rambo-type of knife” or “survival knife” with a serrated edge, or was a “well-honed” steak knife. State v. Thrasher . None of these design elements is present on Cathel's knife. Nothing in the form of Cathel's knife indicates its design or specific adaptation as a weapon. That Cathel's knife is unlike a Swiss Army knife is irrelevant: that a knife is unlike certain nondeadly weapons does not tend to prove that it is a deadly weapon. State v. Cathel, 127 Ohio App.3d 408, 713 N.E.2d 52

The concealed weapons statute does not prohibit knives nor set forth a blade length but blade length is continually cited by Ohio courts, as well as, any means which permits easy opening (especially one-handed operation). A concealed weapons conviction could be based upon adaptation of a folding knife with a four and one half inch blade with a hole incorporated into the blade designed to permit the knife to be opened with one hand. State v. Graham.

You asked about butterfly knives and I found one case on point. Finding that defendant's “butterfly” knife was a deadly weapon was based on insufficient evidence, where no expert testimony concerning the design or special adaptation of the knife as a deadly weapon was heard and where no evidence the defendant planned to use it as a weapon was presented. State v. Wheeler. The case does not stand for the proposition that butterfly knives do not fall under the statute, but that there must be evidence presented showing that it was “designed” or “adapted” for use as a deadly weapon.

Also, to rebut a common misconception regarding “concealment,” a partially concealed weapon is “concealed” within the meaning of the statute. State v. Almalik. Same is true in most other states as well.

 

[TGKnife]

Alright, I think that I figured out the correct dimensions of my knives now.

Wow, thanks so much for the help guys.

This is helping out a lot. Basically what I am getting from this is: Don't be stupid with it, and I won't get in trouble. Correct?

By that I mean don't conceal it in any way (clip it in a visible place,) don't carry too big of a knife, don't use it or show it off in any dangerous manner, and be careful with the butterfly and auto's because they are easy targets if I would be getting in trouble for anything. Does this sound about right?

What I have right now are:
Two pens that turn into knives when opened (blades about 2.25-2.5 inches long)
1 tiny switchblade with a 2.25 inch blade
1 knife with a blade of 3 inches that shoots out the front when a button is pressed (an auto)
1 switchblade with a 3.25 inch blade
1 switchblade with about a 4 inch blade, a corkscrew, and a bottle opener
1 knife with a belt clip so I can hang it from a loop, it has a 1.5 inch blade
3 knives that I can flip open with one hand, but have clips on them that I can hang from a pocket (blades at about 3.25 inches)
1 knife with a clip to carry from my pocket with two blades, that open up to form a double blade looking thing (kinda like a dagger I suppose) blades being almost 4 inches long
1 butterfly knife with about a 4 inch blade
And several others at home of various lengths and sizes that I can't remember at the moment.

Would any of these be legal to carry on my person without risk of a cop harassing me about it? I imagine the small one with a belt loop clip would be completely fine, but I'm not sure about the rest.

Yet again, thanks for any help that you have to give.

 

[NeonLight]

Would any of these be legal to carry on my person without risk of a cop harassing me about it? I imagine the small one with a belt loop clip would be completely fine, but I'm not sure about the rest.

What is technically legal and what you may or may not get harassed for can be all over the board. As it has already been mentioned, the Ohio law is very vague on this, and greatly open to an individual officer's discretion. A specific knife may be a tool to one LEO, but a weapon to another, the reason for any scrutiny may change the context of the officer's view as well.

I've lived in Ohio for the last 35 or so years, and have been carrying a knife on my person for most of that time. I've lived in a large city (Columbus), smallish town, a tiny village, and out in the country, in addition to the farm I grew up on. I've never been harassed for any knife I've carried or used in public, but I always try to be mindful of what kind of knife I'm carrying and what I'll be using it for, and will frequently adjust my carry method and knife choice depending on where I'm going, what I'm doing, and the type of people I'll be around. I sometimes carry with the clip and top of the knife visible in my pocket, but more often than not carry completely inside a pocket, after all, for me a knife is a tool, not a weapon. I do often carry a small Case slipjoint that is more people-friendly instead of whipping out a 3.5" assisted opening evil looking "tactical" knife if I'm using a blade in public.