illegal to carry a knife.

[JCK]

As for carrying a knife it is pretty much illegal to do so, no reason you can give a cop will be legitimate and I have seen this to be true in my experience here....

This can depend on your occupation, for example Paramedics are allowed to carry pocket knives, if they wish so, e.g. in the case of a hanging, cutting the rope quickly is important, as there may be a chance to save them...
Electricians are allowed pocket knives, to help them strip wire if they want to use a knife to do that, or cut tubing or other stuff that they may need to cut. But they are meant to leave it at their 'office', which is hard as if they are contracted out to a site, well they can't exactly leave it there until the next day of work.

I also know that you can carry one whilst camping or hiking, but you have to be in the area you are camping/hiking at. You can't carry one on your persons whilst driving to the campsite. Meant to be in your pack.

Also as you said you are leaving, I guess you won't have to worry about silly Oz knife laws, who knows it may change?

Can I also ask, you said you used to do security, did you try to carry a knife then - I can see why weapon laws would not allow you to carry a knife, becuase by their reasoning, you are not using it to perform a job, even though security was your job, I'm not sure you would be using it to cut an apple up?
Plus I guess there is the chance that someone who is angry at you, comes back with some mates, and your knife gets used against you.

But otherwise I totally agree with you, I still carry a small spydie dragonfly, even though I may not have a legal reason to do so, however SD with it is at the back of my mind, as even if it saved my life, in a court trial, it would be pretty messy I'd imagine.

 

[Robert.B]

even as an electrician or tradey they can use the reasoning of "why don't you use a Stanley knife?" so it really it a matter of being at police discretion and the situation/location you are confronted by police, I'm a fitter/turner and on site I had a Leather-man wave on my belt. I just came to a point seeing the laws constantly changing and my granddad carrying the same knife for 40 years not really giving a damn what the government dictated as being anti-social/dangerous behavior.

As for me leaving, since I was a kid i've told my parents i'd live in America one day (and i also ended up married to a US citizen)...so the laws realistically were not the driving force behind me leaving the country permanently, but sure made it easy for me to make the choice. I dont see it changing, in fact I see it getting dramatically worse based on the law making trends of the past 10 years.

When I did security I did carry a Wenger SI but kept it under my wallet so it wouldnt fall out in any incident, that was a utility purpose though and not self defense, I used it a bit when setting up venues before a big night (like roping off an area that was restricted and cutting it, basic stuff). It was illegal for me to have an ASP baton as well but a friend of mine had his neck and face slashed in the venue we were working so I took my own measures to protect myself and others if I encountered a similar circumstance (granted he was disarmed by being hit with a bar stool by another guard).

If I protect my life with a knife I will be alive to deal with legal ramifications, if I didn't I'd be dead and that really doesn't do me any good.

 

[JCK]

I guess your right about the stanley knife and tradies thing, I think only paramedics are safe then when it comes to carrying knives, as the trauma shears that many carry aren't meant for rope, and are not serrated.

Also I got nothing against you leaving oz, if thats what you were thinking (you probably don't, I'm just saying it as I was a little unsure). Hopefully australia won't go down the same way as Norway, in which they have (I think) banned camping or put extreme limits on outdoor activities.

Was carrying the wenger prohibited? I think that a SAK should not be a prohibited item, unless your working in a jail environment as a correctional officer, well I see the point then, but everyone that I know who has a SAK, certainly didn't buy it to kill people with, they used it for the utility purpose they were designed for.

I guess what I meant in the last thing I said, was the same as you said, I would rather be alive, and have a massive legal storm to deal with, then be dead, I was just making a point about the laws. But then again, if more and more cases where people lived from gang attacks due to them carrying knives, do you think the government would change their knife laws?

Anyway, be sure to let us know how America is.

 

[nightsirk]

Hopefully australia won't go down the same way as Norway, in which they have (I think) banned camping or put extreme limits on outdoor activities.

Hold on just a second. I'm not sure what others have told you, but whenever hiking in the woods you can pretty much carry as many knives as you want. Theres a strong out-doors culture here and a long tradition of using knives for bushcraft. Especially popular is the "samekniv", which somewhat like a machete.

 

[Robert.B]

Also I got nothing against you leaving oz, if thats what you were thinking (you probably don't, I'm just saying it as I was a little unsure). Hopefully australia won't go down the same way as Norway, in which they have (I think) banned camping or put extreme limits on outdoor activities.

I was unsure so just reiterated my position, I have had several friendships of over 7 years break down because of my choice and their resent at me for marrying an American...I have been there a few times and actually only got back here like 4 months ago. Since a Norwegian has already addressed that point I don't need to go into it, but the Australian government (more so the liberal front) run on a one strike basis then its gone. Look at rifles after Port Arthur, look at pistols after Monash university, and then with knives you got that guy who slashed a mans Achilles tendons with a $10 Chinese sword from a thrift shop which led to knife and sword restrictions in Victoria (cant remember the incidents media title)...over one incident with no thought into stopping crime, they just banned/heavily restricted them thinking criminals would stop acquiring them.

Was carrying the wenger prohibited? I think that a SAK should not be a prohibited item, unless your working in a jail environment as a correctional officer, well I see the point then, but everyone that I know who has a SAK, certainly didn't buy it to kill people with, they used it for the utility purpose they were designed for.

Yes, its illegal to carry a edged tool while working as a security guard...I think for city carry the Wenger SI and the Victorinox Soldier is perfect, has all the tools you would need in a sub 4" frame.

I guess what I meant in the last thing I said, was the same as you said, I would rather be alive, and have a massive legal storm to deal with, then be dead, I was just making a point about the laws. But then again, if more and more cases where people lived from gang attacks due to them carrying knives, do you think the government would change their knife laws?

I doubt it would change their position much if at all...a knife at the end of the day is a deterrent, I have pulled twice but never had to use as they figured it wasn't worth the effort. Both incidents I was out numbered otherwise I wouldn't feel the need, and in those incidents they just wanted my wallet.

Anyway, be sure to let us know how America is.

America is awesome I know how it is.

 

[JCK]

Hold on just a second. I'm not sure what others have told you, but whenever hiking in the woods you can pretty much carry as many knives as you want. Theres a strong out-doors culture here and a long tradition of using knives for bushcraft. Especially popular is the "samekniv", which somewhat like a machete.

Yeah I think I have got it wrong. All I know is reading about another member here who was in norway, or it could be sweden, and I'm totally confused, but he was saying how there were lots of restrictions. Then again I am probably confusing carrying knives in the city vs carrying knives out bush

 

[powernoodle]

how important is the edc knife for you here in usa

For me, and for many Americans, carrying a knife is not just about being able to cut things. It represents what remains of our diminishing freedom, and that The People tell the central bureaucracy how to behave and not the other way around.

 

[CheepSteal]

As for carrying a knife it is pretty much illegal to do so, no reason you can give a cop will be legitimate and I have seen this to be true in my experience here...that said I have been carrying since i was in primary school, and do not intend to stop, I edc 2 knives because I am alert to possible dangers with areas I have to goto and its my birth right to do what I must to survive (no government will tell me I cannot defend myself). End of the year I leave this country permanently, I wont raise children in a socialist environment where police are judge, jury, and executioner.

Dude, right on. I'm moving out of Aus as soon as I can too, I can't stand the ridiculous laws. I gotta pay twice or triple the cost to buy and collect the knives I want and I can't even use them. They stay in my house waiting for a gardening duty or to open a package at home. Just yesterday I was trying to open a tightly sealed plastic packaging for a flashlight. I had to use my blunt keys to shred it and rip it by hand, in turn, cutting my thumb. Thanks Australian Government. :thumbup: