Higher end EDC legal for Chicago?

NJBillK said:
The word in Bold is the key term.
You can't carry a concealed knife. HOW much of a knife has to be exposed to not be concealed is the question you should be asking.

Is the butt and clip of a knife enough to keep it from being considered "concealed"?
If your shirt falls over it, is it now "concealed"?

Know the whole law, not just the size requirements.
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right, so that seems like it means 2.5" or smaller if its a pocket knife in your pocket (ie concealed), and then i assume you can carry a 4" or whatever length blade if it were not concealed? why is it so vague?
 
Lord_Balkan said:
I'd like to think that but I really don't want to take any chances.
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I've seen everything from Sebenzas to ZTs clipped inside pockets and on the straps of backpacks of fellow mass transit riders going into the Loop.

I wouldn't worry about it, but the most important thing is for you not to worry about it and to be able to enjoy carrying your knife.

All I'm saying is that if there is a 2.5 or above knife you got the hots for, and you are not waving it around at people in public, you are probably good to go. But if carrying it would make you uncomfortable, then it would. Understandable. Plenty of nice/fancy smaller folders out there.
 
Hackenslash said:
Al Mar Osprey or Hawk?

Good luck!
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Al Mar does have some "classy" smaller one hand opening folders. So does Mcusta, Fallkniven....

And for the record I have at least 3 or 4 knives on or about my person right now...Vic Classic, Opinel, Leatherman Blast, that I can think of, and came into the Loop unmolested by CPD on a "high police presence" day. Rode the train past Wrigley. Go Cubs.
 
if the pocket clip is showing then it is not concealed. meaning there is no limit on size then?
 
Mo2 said:
if the pocket clip is showing then it is not concealed. meaning there is no limit on size then?
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I doubt there's anything that actually spells out what is and isn't considered concealed. Pretty common for knife laws it seems. Silly, but common.

I'm with the OP. I wouldn't risk it. Not worth the trouble.
 
I would contact an attorney that does a "free consultation" and ask him/her. Especially if he/she has represented someone that was facing a weapons charge.

Even if the OP calls a local attorney and asks them a quick question regarding what exactly does and does not constitute a "concealed knife".
 
NJBillK said:
Know the whole law, not just the size requirements.
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I guess. But the only true safe harbor under that set of laws is to carry a sub 2.5" non-"gravity" (i.e., slipjoint) knife. Anything outside that else is going to be up to officer discretion, which depends on whether they want to make trouble for you or not, based on any number of factors. In NY, a visible wire clip on a Spyderco Dragonfly can be, and not infrequently is, treated by police as evidence of open, aggressive carry which is against local ordinance and subject to citation/prosecution. I don't know myself, but my guess would be that Chicago PD would be likely to interpret the clip the other way, as not sufficiently open to avoid being "concealed," whenever it suits them. That degree of discretion/ambiguity may make it a bad law (to me, it does), and 99 times out of 100 or whatever you'd be fine, but none of that helps much when you're faced with the hassle, expense or worse of trying to deal with a ticket or a court case against you over carrying a 3.75" framelock because a cop was having a bad day or didn't like the way you were walking, when a SAK cuts things pretty well as is.
 
Not high end knives, but:

Spyderco Delica Kahr version is 2.5"

spyderco-c11kapdb-kahr-arms-delica-blue.jpg


An inexpensive, light, and useful MT with a thumbstud opening is the LM Crater C33T(x). It's 2.6" but you could easily re-profile the 420 steel. It only weighs 3.4 oz. Don't expect BM style flicking, but I've found it very EDC friendly.

leatherman-crater-c33t-860211.jpg


I heard a lot of good things about the Spyderco Techno... its expensive. However, the blade is listed as 2.55"

C158TI_L.jpg


You might check on the Benchmade forums for opinions on the Megumi Nak-Lock Knife; 2.48"

benchmade-482-megumi-nak-lok.jpg


I've heard good things about the Cold Steel Tuff Lite; 2.5":

20LTb.jpg
 
T.L.E. Sharp said:
I've also heard good things about the Spyderco Dice, but I haven't encountered one personally.
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I have a Dice and absolutely love it. Astonishingly, it actually managed to replace my long-carried (10+ years) and much loved Dragonfly. And I believe it fits the OP's size requirements.
 
three rivers mfg TRM-LTC Nomad is a slipjoint with 2 1/8 blade and many scale options including cf. legal almost anywhere and high quality.
 
Mo2 said:
three rivers mfg TRM-LTC Nomad is a slipjoint with 2 1/8 blade and many scale options including cf. legal almost anywhere and high quality.
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Never heard of that company before. I was expecting something like the Fallkniven LTC. The 3 Rivers is a nice looking knife but a bit overpriced. I'd love to check it out up close though.
 
bt93 said:
Never heard of that company before. I was expecting something like the Fallkniven LTC. The 3 Rivers is a nice looking knife but a bit overpriced. I'd love to check it out up close though.
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its not over priced. its out of your price range rather. notice its a quality product, not a mass produced in China at questionable quality.

the company is pretty well known as they produce knives for companies you might have knives from already. but those brands don't advertise the manufacturer.
 
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Lord_Balkan said:
Yeah its only for a tool. I don't use them often but I like to be prepared.

I am open to suggestions like traditional or even multitools.
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The GEC #14 Boys Knife is a wonderful little folder under 2.5". I like the two blade version. It is very pocket friendly and has the second blade just in case.
 
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