Help with AO laws in CT/NY

[b88]

I recently bought an inexpensive Gerber 3" AO for general use, and I've spent the last few hours trying to figure out the legality in CT/NY. I'm not much for reading the laws, and I've tried to decipher the laws for CT and NY here (http://home.netcom.com/~brlevine/sta-law.htm), and I think I'm okay, but I would really appreciate a little clarification.

Can I carry this knife concealed in my pocket in NY and CT without fear of any kind of charge if for whatever reason I was searched? Again, its a 3in AO (thumb stub on the handle).

Thanks!

 

[tom19176]

this is what I posted on another thread....Assited Openers walk a thin line of the law in how they work. Since you push a thumb stud or flipper on the blade you are not "pushing a button in the handle" and since you have to overcome some resistance when opening the they are not "automatic". That all said, the Flash 1 and 2 models can be flicked open and therefore are gravity knives in NY wheter or not they are designed to open any other way. The Blink is hard to flick open, but the "right" officer could still charge you with a "dangerous" knife......A NYC judge will not look at a A/O as a nice friendly knife to cut strings with.....

 

[Chris Meyer]

In CT, as long as you are not doing something illegal with the knife (such as threatening, assaulting, or robbing someone) you should not have a problem. The operative statutes in CT are Connecticut General Statute 53-206 Carrying of dangerous weapons prohibited and CGS 29-38 Weapons in Vehicles.

The statutes prohibit most people from carrying "...any dirk knife, or any switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which a blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length, or stiletto, or any knife the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or over in length..."

The operative section for you would be "having an automatic spring release by which a blade is released from the handle". Your knife is Assisted Opening and forces you to release the blade from the handle, specifically to avoid having it classified as "automatic" by statutes such as 53-206. Although your knife is not considered an automatic in CT, it would behoove you to know how it operates in case you need to explain why it's NOT a switchblade to some less informed Police Officer.

As an aside, I choose not to carry assisted opening knives because people are stupid/ignorant. Everyone who sees you open the blade thinks it's a switchblade, and they are likely to freak out and report you to the nearest Police Officer. Even though you are unlikely to have much of a problem with the Police, it's just not worth the aggrivation to me. That said, and although I'm not recommending it, I do sometimes carry an actual switchblade.

 

[mp510]

That said, and although I'm not recommending it, I do sometimes carry an actual switchblade.

Chris, Aren't you allowed to carry a switchblade (or other dangerous weapon) on duty as an "officer charged with the preservation of the public peace while engaged in the pursuit of such officer's official duties".

having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length

If one looks hard, every now and then sub-1.5" switchblade turns-up. I have one in my collection. Not something I carry (it's not practical), and I assume most folks (LEO included() don't know the sub1.5 inch exemption.

As an aside, I choose not to carry assisted opening knives because people are stupid/ignorant. Everyone who sees you open the blade thinks it's a switchblade, and they are likely to freak out and report you to the nearest Police Officer.

From a BTDT standpoint (I live in CT), my Camillus AO tags along every know and then. I have never gotten any freaky sheeple reactions from it, but I don't go aound flicking it unnecesarily or showing it off either.

 

[Chris Meyer]

Chris, Aren't you allowed to carry a switchblade (or other dangerous weapon) on duty as an "officer charged with the preservation of the public peace while engaged in the pursuit of such officer's official duties".

Yes, the law allows me to carry a switchblade (or most anything else) while on duty, but a Police Department can certainly make a rule prohibiting them. My Department does not currently have any rules at all regarding knives, so switchblades are tacitly allowed at the moment. When I said that I sometimes carry a switchblade, I meant off-duty. (I'm not going to risk losing my nice switchblade at work.) When I carrying a switchblade off-duty I don't consider myself to be engaged in any official duties, so I actually lose the statutory protection to carry one. (There have been some recent court ruling in lawsuits where they have found against the cops by claiming that they are always on duty.) While it's not really lawful for me to carry a switchblade off-duty, the reality is that another Police Officer is unlikely to arrest me for doing so unless I'm a real @$$----. Anyway, to avoid this long explanation, I just skipped the subject in my original post. You caught me...

...I assume most folks (LEO included) don't know the sub 1.5 inch exemption.

I would hope that the Police would know the statutes but, unfortunately, you are probably correct. However, switchblades that small are rarely encountered, so I've never seen it become an issue.

I have never gotten any freaky sheeple reactions from it, but I don't go around flicking it unnecessarily or showing it off either.

That's because you're smart. I seems like the people I know who have them like to sit there flicking them open, over and over. I hadn't really though about it, but perhaps they're just trying to impressing me.