How long does the blade has to be?

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
Messages
4,453

Folders apparently have been limited by the law to 4 inches. Fixed blades probably slightly longer.

What I want to know is how long does a folder has to be, to be adjudged as a folder?

Then, what about a fixed blade? What is the limit before it is called a machete or a sword?

Are there any specifications with regard to folders and fixed blades? For example, some may say foldier blades are normally 2 to 4 inches, with some tactical blades exceeding the 4inch rule by a very slight margin.

Then fixed blades are up to 9 inches. Am I right? Just curious. I remember that movie some years ago called Crocodile Dundee. I thought the hero of that movie was carrying something close to a machete. It was that big!

Perhaps this is one area, knifemakers can provide some good answers and clear the air.



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Make Love your strongest weapon. Compassion your shield and forgiveness your armour.
 
Size doesn't matter.
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Folders fold, fixed blades don't. The use and style decide if it is a machete or not.
 
Actually, Mick "Croc" Dundee was carrying a knife. Bowie shaped, about 9"-12" long blade. And if you liked his last 2 movies, be sure to catch the latest offering when it comes out. He goes to LA or something. Check out the size of the folder he uses in this film.
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And it looks like a classic Buck knife too.

But anyway, BFM gave a good answer. The Sifu is a 5"-blade folder. A search of forum archive 1 might throw up the thread where someone posted a picture of a folding Italian Stilleto styled blade that was about 5 feet long in total. I think there some other monsters there, even an auto that was longer than my arm.

But on the other hand, the knife is limited by its use. The job performed by a machete cannot usually be effectively done by a blade less than 15", so you would not see someone designing a machete styled blade any shorter than that. Similarly, a folder has to have it's blade covered by the handle. As a result, the handle starts to look grotesquely long after a certain length. So practical folders are usually kept below 5".
 
Where I live, there is no blade-length limit on folders. As soon as I receive the Cold Steel Vaquero Grande (6 inch blade) that I traded for a couple of days ago,
I'll be carrying that monster as my
"defensive/offensive" knife.

(...It's fun to watch the "sheeple" run in fear & panic.).
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.
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.

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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663
 
I'm confused, Dann. More than a year ago, I called Kitsap County Sheriff's office. Asked about concealed knife length, told the county had no statutes of its own, but just went with the state length of "under 4 inches." Does Grays Harbor have their own statute? Or do I have the state law wrong?
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I know somebody has provided before a link to state laws. Would I find it in the law forum?


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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
in texas the blade cant be over 5 1/2" long and cant be a 'dirk or dagger'nor double edge - they let ya slide (usually) with hunting knives over the limit when you are hunting, etc - but i dont think i would really need a plus 5 1/2" blade for much really............just my .02

vet
 
Section 46.01 Texas Penal Code defines an illegal knife as (1) a knife having over 5 1/2" blade,(2)Hand instrument designed to cut or stab another by being thrown,(3)Dagger, incluuding but not limited to a dirk, stiletto, and poinard (4)Sword or (5)Spear. "Double Edge", I have seen this argued in law enforcement classes and there is nothing in the penal code that defines the dirk, stiletto, or poinard as being double edged. This gets down to departmental and individual interpertation of what their policy will be.
 
Bugs3x,

I contacted the City of Aberdeen Police Chief (Bob Maxwell), and the "City Attorney" a few months back, and was told by both that Aberdeen has no max legal limit for "pocket knives", and that indeed (at least IN ABERDEEN, and Grays Harbor County), it is completly legal to carry a folder with a 6 inch blade.

Outside of the County of GH, I don't know, but I DO know that alot has to do with how you comport yourself with that knife. If you wave it around, or threaten someone with it, you WILL be "in trouble".

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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663
 
Bugs- - For state laws, try www.findlaw.com

It's primarily for the legal professional field, but anyone can use it. There are parts of it designed for the lay community.

Dick
 
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