is this knife legal to carry in new york?

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spyro11

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Sep 3, 2013
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I bought the thing at a shop here, and its a nice knife, for a chinese job. Its a very big knife though, I havent measured it, but the blade alone must be at least 5 or 6"... definitely larger than my palm. from hilt to tip must be about 11 or 12" or so.

its a stiletto style blade, and im not sure if its considered a switchblade or not, because it has a pushbutton on the side and a locking mechanism to keep the blade still.
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is there some distinction between the way these knives open and a switchblade, or is this straight up just an illegal knife here?
 
Alright a) the whole palm-measuring thing is unmitigated BS. There is no such law anywhere. And besides that, NY's state law doesn't use blade measurements, just knife types. b) Switchblades have a spring-loaded blade that is released by pressing some sort of button or switch located in the handle. I'm looking at this picture and I'm not totally clear if this is one of those. Is the black circle on the handle a button or just the blade hinge? And is it spring-loaded or do you just push it open with one hand? Merely being a stiletto-style knife (long narrow blade, little guards and that handle shape) has no effect on whether it is a switchblade. There are plenty of autos that look nothing like that.

Of greater concern is if this counts as a "gravity knife" which unfortunately due to the boneheaded way the NY courts interpreted it, applies to any knife that locks and can be opened by "flicking" which include grasping the blade and swinging it through the air. This pretty much includes all locking knives that don't have super-tight pivots.
 
In NYC illegal all the way. Over 4" blade ( NYC Admin code 10-133), and either a gravity knife or switchblade ( The NYPD has stated they deemed Assisted openers to be switchblades) and it is a weapon by design as some officers might see it ( NYS PL 265.00 and .01) ...Else where in NYS it is hit and miss on wheter or not it is legal.
 
Unfortunately, here in the "People's Republic of New York" the Penal Law has a clause that reads "...any dangerous dirk, dagger or knife." Leaving the interpretation wide open for the police to confiscate just about anything they want. There is an exemption for possession of switchblades and gravity knives buried in the Penal code for a person to which the DEC has issued a license to hunt trap or fish. But, unless you have a relative that's a good criminal lawyer, I wouldn't try to push it.
 
The only part of NY that has a blade length law is NYC ( unless there are some small counties with local laws) and that is under 4" for normal carry. There are exceptions for certain uses look at NYC Admin Code 10-133 ..
 
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There are a few precedents that would allow a DA to prosecute you for possession of a "dagger" even though it is a single edged folder. They examine the overall design and determine whether it is more of a utility knife or a weapon. The acute point, false edge, hilt, and AO would make them say it was "suitable for stabbing" with limited utilitarian use. But as long as it stays in your pocket and you aren't frisked, who's to know?
 
spyro11 said:
I bought the thing at a shop here, and its a nice knife, for a chinese job. Its a very big knife though, I havent measured it, but the blade alone must be at least 5 or 6"... definitely larger than my palm. from hilt to tip must be about 11 or 12" or so.

its a stiletto style blade, and im not sure if its considered a switchblade or not, because it has a pushbutton on the side and a locking mechanism to keep the blade still.
z_dk0036gn-dr.jpg
z_dk0036gn-sp.jpg


is there some distinction between the way these knives open and a switchblade, or is this straight up just an illegal knife here?
Click to expand...

100% illegal. Even if it can't flick open (and it probably can) it looks like a weapon. You can still be busted for possession of a "dangerous knife".
 
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