In trouble over knives?

fulloflead

fulloflead

Joined
May 3, 2002
Messages
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I have a feeling this may have been covered on this forum but I don't know if it's ever had it's own thread. (Excuse me if it has.) Maybe it'd be OK to start a new one?

Has anyone gotten in trouble or KNOWN someone who has gotten in trouble for carrying an automatic knife?

In trouble for a knife that was simply too long?

A neck knife?

There are a lot of wives tales out there. Let's talk ACTUAL stories. Let's not do the, "I heard that...", or, "I read a story where...", thing.

I, personally, have never been in trouble for carrying a folding knife that would be considered illegal and I usually carry what ever folder or neck knife I feel like. I've never heard of any friends ever having a proplem either.

Once, at a DUI checkpoint, I had a double-edge fixed-blade knife with a 5" blade shoved between the driver's seat and the console. I SERIOUSLY REALLY just got back from camping the day before, unpacked the car and had totally forgotten about it. I was told to pull aside and got my whole car searched by the Colorado Springs police department. I was asked to explain why I had the knife there. I told them about camping etc. and they let me go with a STERN warning.
 
My father and I got the 3rd degree by some idiot cop in Ft Myers Florida years ago. I was about 13 and wearing a W49 Western Bowie with a 9" blade, my dad was wearing a Hibben Rambo 3 bowie with 10" blade. We were at an outdoor picnic.

This cop ordered us away from what we were doing, walked us over to his cop car, frisked us, took our knives away and asked us why on earth were we carrying "swords" like this. He told us it was illegal and we were in deep crap. My father told him we were carrying the knves for "self defense".

Here's where it get's interesting. My father was a police oficer in Ft. Myers and Tampa Florida for 11 years, he knew the law. There was no law saying that we could not carry knives. We had the knives in plain sight, so there was no problem with our carrying them. My father told the cop, "Don't put your foot in your mouth, you're wrong, I was a cop for 11 years and I'm telling you you're wrong."

The young cop called for another officer, and soon a female officer showed up. My dad said to her "We are not doing anything illegal, tell this guy." The women looked us up and down, turned to the young cop and said, "These guys weren't doing anything wrong."

This young cop could not believe that there was no law prohibiting us from carrying knives. He got all red in the face, shook his head, and told us to go home and that even if we could carry knives we shouldn't. I guess we threatened his authority and you can't have that. Just like a cop to not enforce the law, but bust those who abide by it.

That same year we got ourselves kicked out of the mall by the rent-a-cops for carrying the same knives. We were bringing them to Cutlery Shoppe. They didn't care, we were escorted out like criminals. You can buy a knife at the cutlery store and carry it out, but you can't carry one in. Makes no sense.
 
Well, some of you who've been here for a while have probably seen my NYC knife experience. Long story short, security didn't like my "illegal gravity knives" and almost confiscated them before I walked out and stowed them in a tree. This being the day after I had taken the exact same knives through the exact same security checkpoint (Battery Park, for the Liberty/Ellis ferry). :rolleyes: Full thread is here.

Ash
 
Placeknives...

A bowie with a 9" blade.....a Rambo with a 10" blade....You guys were carrying some pretty classy hardware, huh? At an outdoor picnic?...where, in Iraq, the dark rain forests of the Congo?

IMO, this is the crazy stuff that is very detrimental to knives and knife carry. Incidents like this, if seen and documented by anti knife activists, are just another justification for banning all carrying of knives.

Regardless of the laws regarding open carry, we have to be prudent with the use of our knives. Organizations such as the AKTI are trying to keep this country knife friendly. We should do our part to help them.

IMO your father, a LEO for 11 years, should have known better.

Personally, I wouldn't tell this tale to anyone.

AL P.
 
My girlfriend and her mom went to London last year and my girlfriend was busted carrying an Al Mar SLB into one of the tourist attractions (British Museum?). The SLB is illegal because the blade locks. The constable gave her the option of donating the knife to charity (whatever that means) or mailing it home and gave her a stern lecture. Since I gave her the knife she didn't want to part with it so she was escorted to the post office and she mailed it home. A week later I got a note that something was waiting for me at the PO. I couldn't remember ordering anything, so I waited in line, baffled, until I got to the counter and picked up the SLB in a plain brown wrapper. What a disappointment. When she got home I gave her another stern lecture about not carrying knives if you don't know the rules.
 
In GA you can carry any size knife except a dagger (double edged) for any reason EXCEPT self defense or offense. It is not illegal to use it in defense of self, only illegal to carry it FOR self defense. In other words, as always, keep your mouth shut. There are a few ordinances in certain areas that supercede state law, the only rediculous one I know of being Cobb county which has a 2.5" limit. Concealed, open, sheathed in your nose, it doesn't matter. Yep, Duncan McCloud is legal as long as he carries to open a slim jim, and not slim Jim.

Edit to add this doesn't apply to schools, federal buildings, etc.
 
About my story, that happened about 14 years ago, I was a naive kid and my dad probably shouldn't have let us out of the house like that. But he is the coolest dad on earth. He figured what the hell, let's try it, and that's what happened.

The last time I wore a knife in open carry was last year. I just got back from 2 days hiking and camping, I was tired, dirty and hungry so I stopped at Burger King on the way home. I'm standing in line and everyone's staring at me, I look down and realize that I forgot to take my knife off my belt. It was only a Chris Reeve Shadow 4 with 5" blade, but everybody stopped eating to stare at me. That's sad when here in Vermont you can carry guns openly, and people do. You can carry a gun and get hassled less than carrying a knife. Most hillbilly's here have gun racks in their pick-up trucks year round, but a knife, watch out! I've seen guys walking down the street with rifles slung over their shoulders. Anyway, I was afraid someone was going to call a SWAT team on me, so I went out to my car and left the knife inside.

You can't do what you want even if it's within the law as long as there are other people in this world who don't agree with you.
 
SC has a 2" blade limit for concealed carry (as I read the law, at least). My teenaged son borrowed my Emerson Commander a couple of years ago, as he thought the "wave" feature was fascinating, and wanted to show a couple of his friends. Long story short, one of his friends had some unpaid traffic tickets, and guess who was driving when a deputy sheriff made a traffic stop? Yep, and the computer spit out an outstanding warrant, and the vehicle had to be towed, etc., etc., etc.

My son and the other teenaged passenger were just standing there (looking pretty lost & pitiful, I imagine), and the deputy didn't want to leave them stranded on the highway (darned nice of him, I think). He asked where they needed to be transported, and my son told him where his car was parked, a few miles away at the other guy's house. The officer asked if either lad had any "guns, knives or grenades," and my son pointed out the Commander clipped to his pocket. The deputy said, "Let me get it, and I'll hold it until I drop you off." Perfectly common-sense precaution! When he drew it from my son's right front pocket, the "wave" performed perfectly, snapping the blade into battery. The deputy simply said, "Hey, I read about this knife." He examined it, closed it, took the kids back to my son's car, handed the Commander back, and said, "Y'all stay out of trouble."

Second incident: Back during my LEO days, a rookie officer arrested a guy for "unlawful weapon, knife;" a lockback knife found in the guy's pocket during a Terry search. No other charges; no other problems, or reason to arrest. Just the simple charge, "unlawful weapon, knife." The other officers and I who were in court that morning were stupefied. None of us had ever heard of, let alone witnessed, such idiocy (and we expressed ourselves to the rookie, after court). Bad news; the poor guy was convicted and had to pay a fine!

Bottom line: Keep your nose clean, don't act like trouble, and don't pack into courthouses, federal buildings, etc., and you're EXTREMELY unlikely to run afoul of the law because you're packing an unlawfully large folder in your pocket.

Switchblades? Daggers? Hmmm... Probably a different story. I don't think I wanna push my luck in today's environment.
 
I personally have not been in trouble with regards to an auto. I don't carry them as I don't really have a preference for them.

Some of my local LEO friends have told me they generally don't do anything when they find a switchblade/auto. It depends on why and who they are stopping. If it's someone they want to get off the street for a while, they will go with a CCW charge. If it is someone that hasn't done anything serious and they are basically clean, they will either destroy the knife or even give it back to the person.

I will say we are in sad times when as Americans we have to be careful not to exercise our rights within the law for fear of offending someone. Al, I know what you are saying and agree with it to a point. I must say this, who's business is it if someone wants to carry a bowie knife for any legal reason. That's like saying why do you want to carry a Glock with a 15 round magazine or why do you need an AR-15. Hey, why do we need to drive cars that can easily double the legal speed limit. How we decide to exercise our rights to leaglly defend ourselves is our own business. As long as we are within the law, it isn't anyones business but our own.

We are in a Catch 22 on something like this. It's legal to carry a large bowie knife on the belt. However, don't do it because someone who opposes knives/guns will get a hold of this and make knife owners look bad. On the other side, if we don't exercise our rights within the law, there is a good chance those same people might come along and say, No one even carries big knives anymore, so why not make it illegal?

My opinion, if you are within your legal rights to do something, then go ahead and do it. Just be prepared for any flak you may receive.
 
I see something in common with these stories.

It seems like when the government can´t protect the citizens from people that commit ACTS of crime they decide to go for the TOOLS. Even if you are a law abiding, tax paying citizen you have to pay for the criminals actions.

It´s so stupid.

/Colinz
 
People are rightfully nervous about one flaunting a big bada$$ bowie/hunting knife in a Burger joint.

They have no idea of your intentions, and fear the unknown intentions.
Lots of nuts out there who do the same thing [ carry openly ] and will eventually be a problem.

We know who we are, the others around us don't. As an ex LE, I'd tend to watch the guy walking into the place as well. The only difference is I wouldn't be worried about his potential actions having many such items to protect myself and others on me as well.

Brownie
 
brownie0486,

Good point, I can´t disagree with your logic. I just find it sad that sheeple go the easy way by not knowing how to defend yourself or taking proper precautions (I´m not talking about paranoia - just some healthy suspicion when someone behaves out of pattern.)

I hope that I one day will understand the people who say no to any kind of violence. It must be a nice world living there high, high up in the clouds.

/Colinz :)
 
People are rightfully nervous about one flaunting a big bada$$ bowie/hunting knife in a Burger joint
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Sorry Brownie I gotta disagree. If someone wanders into a resteraunt I'm in wearing a bowie on his belt I'm gonna give it the once over and think to myself "oh cool a Randall# what ever" or "Oh look another piece of crap" In my book a guy with a knife on his belt warrents little more than a glance.

it's the guy with the bowie in his hand I'm going to pay attention to.

I'd be willing to bet 9 out of 10 times if someone wants to start something he's not going to stand patiently in line with the knife in his sheath on his belt. It's the guy who's drooling and pushing his way through the crowd and possibly screaming that I'm interested in.

Now I'll admit I'm still paying attention to anybody wearing a blade on their belt but it's much more casual of an observation. "Oh look pakistani pos knife guy is sitting there in the corner"

It's not "how close is he to me, where should I be standing, could I use this burger as distraction?" Maybe that's just me.

We know who we are, the others around us don't. As an ex LE, I'd tend to watch the guy walking into the place as well. The only difference is I wouldn't be worried about his potential actions having many such items to protect myself and others on me as well.
Click to expand...



Remind me to read your ENTIRE post before responding. Thanks man good post. :)
 
I've only gotten in trouble once for having a knife on me, out of ignorance. In grade 10, I failed to look over our school handbook, with the rules... assumed it would be the same as grade 9, where we were allowed a pocket knife... about april, a guy called me on for a fight, got within range, and spent about 10-15min taunting me to try and get the knife out. kept my hand in my jacket pocket, far enough away from the knife that it looked like I had no intent to draw... he eventualy went inside, burst into tears(remember, he was calling ME on). I got called inside, they asked and I handed my delica over. Got an interview with a cop on monday in the vice principals office, suspended tuesday(4 day weekend), and spent wednesday AM in the counsilors office talking... no problems after that, not even in my school record.

Grade 12 rolls around, mid march(grad on may 31st)... I get called to office, and told that there was a nice story going around about me... something along the lines of: carries a sword every day to school, handgun in my locker, slip throats as a pastime, and was going to kill 3 kids in my machining class... Well, I only had my multitool on me. For a couple weeks, I wasn't allowed to have tools at school(I biked every day, so I carried 5lbs+/- of tools to fix my POS bike)... fixed that when my brake pad got stuck and I called the principal for a ride. Me and the bike in his sprint! Either that or I miss first and most of 2nd for a 9km walk. Got my tools back.
Still had to put up with daily locker searches(none of them with me there), backpack searches whenever they wanted...
and thats for not having anything there, but having a story spread.

Now, I stop into the copshop, show them my toys, introduce locks and such to them... Everything I carry is legal, even according to every cop I've asked(and that's a pair of 4", multi, neck(folder in rig), slipjoint, and keys). Even had a frisk search for the hell of it, as they wanted to show a cop how easy it was to slip stuff in. Missed 2 of 8 that day(I carried 6-8 at that time). IWB/right, snugged right up to my pelvis, 3" folder... and the left boot(3" folder, clipped to laces and dropped inside).
 
A friend of mine visited Europe in the late 70's. I begged (double dog dared) him to bring me back a stiletto.

Day after day and country after country, he failed to find my stiletto, and it began to worry him that he would fail in his quest. Then, one day strolling a street in Rome he passed a trendy foo foo beauty salon and the window display, of all things, featured lots of studded leather, whips, and . . . a stiletto! Even though he knew no Italian, and was himself as fashionable as a slug, he went in and negotiated his purchase.

He buried the knife in the bottom of his backpack and sweated each subsequent border crossing until busted entering West Germany. An efficient guard (undoubtedly sensitive to my friend's bohemian appearance) searched clear to the bottom of the backpack and found the stiletto. He pulled it out, cycled it a few times, then stared at my friend for an eternity. When my friend reached the point of melting jello, the guard waved a dramatic no-no finger in his face, and with an evil grin, returned the knife to the bottom of the backpack.

I still have that friend, and that knife.
 
Originally posted by Al Polkowski
Placeknives...

A bowie with a 9" blade.....a Rambo with a 10" blade....You guys were carrying some pretty classy hardware, huh? At an outdoor picnic?...where, in Iraq, the dark rain forests of the Congo?

IMO, this is the crazy stuff that is very detrimental to knives and knife carry. Incidents like this, if seen and documented by anti knife activists, are just another justification for banning all carrying of knives.

Regardless of the laws regarding open carry, we have to be prudent with the use of our knives. Organizations such as the AKTI are trying to keep this country knife friendly. We should do our part to help them.

IMO your father, a LEO for 11 years, should have known better.

Personally, I wouldn't tell this tale to anyone.
AL P.
Click to expand...

I also wouldn't necessarily tell the story far and wide, but I sure disagree with what else you said.

This is NOT "another justification for banning all carrying of knives." I think it would take commission of a crime with the knife to warrant that. Ooops, scratch that. Commission of a crime with a particular implement STILL is not something that warrants banning carry of that type of item.

What Placeknives recounted is actually reason against banning knife carry: they were truly not doing any harm or menace to anyone. Why is it that you seem to think like an anti, suggesting that antis would somehow be right to scream for a knife ban because some guys were actually *gasp* carrying knives?! Good people doing something harmlessly -- but possibly being prepared with tools to act in their own defense in an emergency is not cause to argue for a ban on anything.

---Jeffrey
 
They took my SnG away from me at Six Flags over Texas a couple of weeks ago.

Luckily (for them) I got a claim check and it was waiting for me upon departure.

Otherwise I'd have had to get medieval on their buttocks...

(or at least whined a lot...)

:)
 

You can't do what you want even if it's within the law as long as there are other people in this world who don't agree with you.
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That's for sure. It's why I was escorted out of a friggin' WALMART today for being BAREFOOT. It's a common theme. It happens to me now and then because, well, I simply don't like wearing shoes, and since I'm more comfortable being barefoot, that's how I go about my day.

There is a reason people use "Walmart employment" as stereotypical of people of low intelligence. The morons I dealt with (something like six of them) just could not offer me a rational explanation for banning bare feet in the store. There IS no health regulation against it; there IS no law against it; there IS no store policy posted on a sign at the entrance. I requested several times to be shown a store policy on paper somewhere -- or even a sign at the door -- and these intransigent, obstinate, comtemptible boobs (women, all of them, and one was so dykey looking it was all I could do to not rip on her for that) refused. The dyke one said over and over that she doesn't have to argue it or discuss it or give me a reason. I left, after calling her irrational. No sense in leaving with the last thing she remembers being me descending to profanity. At least now, she has to remember the incident as the one in which the customer was asking questions and making statements in good faith, and she refused to do likewise.

But yes, you're right. It does not matter much that I KNOW there is no health code or law against being in a store barefoot -- as long as some pissant store manager thinks he or she knows what's what, that's the rule you have to accede to.

---Jeffrey
 
Originally posted by brownie0486
People are rightfully nervous about one flaunting a big bada$$ bowie/hunting knife in a Burger joint.

They have no idea of your intentions, and fear the unknown intentions.
Lots of nuts out there who do the same thing [ carry openly ] and will eventually be a problem.

We know who we are, the others around us don't. As an ex LE, I'd tend to watch the guy walking into the place as well. The only difference is I wouldn't be worried about his potential actions having many such items to protect myself and others on me as well.

Brownie
Click to expand...

So what if they don't know your intentions? Being prejudiced against a person who carries a knife just because you don't know his intentions -- even though he's not doing anything menacing -- is no better than being prejudiced against a person who is big and muscular and black walking into a burger joint just like the person with the knife. Are you going to just assume the worst regarding what he's going to do with those muscles, or maybe regarding the fact that he's black?...

I don't give a damn what people are afraid of. And they don't have a right to judge me negatively when I haven't given them an actual objective reason to fear that I'm going to do them harm. All I should be judged by is what I DO, not what some pansy-ass sheeple worry I might do. What would we be free to do if we were restricted based on what the lowest common denominator among society feared of us?

That said, I still do not carry a large fixed-blade knife in open carry. It is asking for trouble. If it's not from a cop or from sheeple who think you're a bad guy, it could be from someone who wishes to be an idiot and challenge you.

---Jeffrey
 
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