Illinois knife laws?

[SubaruSTi]

Would it be legal to carry my Spyderco CF Military cliped in my pocket and a Randall model 1 with a 6 inch blade on my hip? the sheath knife not in full view but a good part of the hone pocket and sheath showing?

 

[Watchful]

For general purpose wear, the Spyderco's 4" blade is pushing it, but the average law enforcement officer won't even notice it if you're "behaving" yourself.

The 6" blade on the Randall is definitely asking for trouble... I'd wear it only when doing work, hunting, fishing, camping, etc., when it's clear you're wearing it as a tool and not as an intimidator.

 

[Slvgx]

I stopped by the Police station in Naperville (suburb of Chicago) and they confirmed what I read online, that there is no folder blade length law for the state. Bali's and autos are illegal, but something like the CF Milie is legal. Now in Chicago that is a different story, 2.5" and below only.

 

[adobetheosophic]

I stopped by the Police station in Naperville (suburb of Chicago) and they confirmed what I read online, that there is no folder blade length law for the state. Bali's and autos are illegal, but something like the CF Milie is legal. Now in Chicago that is a different story, 2.5" and below only.

Can I legally carry any length of fixed blade knife?

 

[OilMan]

I stopped by the Police station in Naperville (suburb of Chicago) and they confirmed what I read online, that there is no folder blade length law for the state. Bali's and autos are illegal, but something like the CF Milie is legal. Now in Chicago that is a different story, 2.5" and below only.

I've also confirmed this with various State Police in Illinois prior to showing them whichever Strider I had on me that day. Then they show me their cool Smith and Wesson knife that they think is awesome. (Other than cheapies one local Detective had a cheap auto and one Trooper had a BM of some type and said he had a Kershaw Blur in his cruiser. When I showed the Trooper my Sebbie he tried to flick it open to no avail.I think he thought it was junk cuz it wouldn't flip. ) None have ever given me any guff about my knives but then again I'm usually dressed like an office employee too so YMMV.
As far as a big fixed blade I think it would depend on what you were doing when they saw it. One of the State Troopers that I was talking to said he didn't care one way or the other, if he did he'd have to hang out at camp grounds and arrest everybody that had the HUGE $5 bowies.

oil

On a side note I was in a Mobil station yesterday in Madison WI and a guy came in with what looked like a Buck FB hunting knife hanging from the front of his pants. (In a sheath) I asked him if the cops ever blew him guff for it and he said not yet. He was a construction worker and could most likely have come up with a good reason to need one though so I doubt if it would have mattered either way. (As long as he didn't do something too stupid with it.)

 

[jasonsquarepants]

I stopped by the Police station in Naperville (suburb of Chicago) and they confirmed what I read online, that there is no folder blade length law for the state. Bali's and autos are illegal, but something like the CF Milie is legal. Now in Chicago that is a different story, 2.5" and below only.

Is greater than 2.5" legal in chicago if it is not concealed, ie, on a belt or clipped and exposed in a pocket?

 

[Watchful]

No-- 2.5" is the maximum blade length regardless.

In reality, though, the Chicago police tend to be extremely lenient if you're behaving yourself, and not carrying some whopping monster.