Justifying a Knife

M

MichaelScarn

Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
1,387
Hey Guys,

I have a pretty interesting question that I've been thinking about lately. Let's say that a cop stops you and sees you have a blade on you, maybe a one-handed opener or something. You're just a pencil-pushing desk jockey and you don't really have a reason to carry, you just carry because you're used to it and it comes in handy, maybe once a day or every other day, or simply because you're a knife enthusiast.

How can you explain to a cop why you have a blade on you? You don't have a real reason to carry it to work, nor is "collecting" really a valid excuse. Even if you conduct yourself well and don't do anything stupid, that's still not a real "reason" to carry a blade.

How would you justify it?
 
Just tell them you always carried a knife ever since you were a kid.

You really don't need a reason. ;)
 
just don't tell them that its for self-defense purposes...that could end up being you just asking for trouble from law enforcement.
 
T. Erdelyi said:
If I'm not breakin' any laws I don't see why I have to justify why I carry a knife.
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+1:thumbup:

But to go along with the question, id say food prep...that could justify the size of a military:confused: but that is what i find myself using it the most for...also mail and boxes and stuff of that nature...
 
I've had this problem, carrying several knives at once, all of which were pretty UNsubtle, one of which was an automatic. I explained to the cops that they are tools, and I use them for just that reason, and blah, blah, blah.

After some deliberation, they returned, gave me back my knives and explained that because the laws on autos flip-flop so much here, that they couldn't keep straight whether or not it was okay to carry them, and because I explained that it was a tool and not for SELF DEFENSE, they would return them to me. One of the only times I've been treated respectfully by the police.:mad:

Just know your local laws and unless they explicitly say that you can't carry what you're carrying, you really don't have to fret it, and you should exude a confidence that says that you know that fact. Just tell them the truth. It's a tool you carry for day to day use, from opening boxes to cleaning your fingernails. Problem solved.
 
so long as its legal for you to have it on you, you dont need a reason.

if its not legal and the officer decides to make it an issue, their isnt a reason you can give to justify it.
 
MichaelScarn said:
Hey Guys,

I have a pretty interesting question that I've been thinking about lately. Let's say that a cop stops you and sees you have a blade on you, maybe a one-handed opener or something. You're just a pencil-pushing desk jockey and you don't really have a reason to carry, you just carry because you're used to it and it comes in handy, maybe once a day or every other day, or simply because you're a knife enthusiast.

How can you explain to a cop why you have a blade on you? You don't have a real reason to carry it to work, nor is "collecting" really a valid excuse. Even if you conduct yourself well and don't do anything stupid, that's still not a real "reason" to carry a blade.

How would you justify it?
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I eat a lot of oysters
 
It would probably help if you posted in what state/country you live in. But assuming the knife is legal to carry where you reside you don't have to say anything. I always say I use it for work. Even if you are a pencil pushing guy, just say you open up a lot of envelopes or packages at your job.
 
James Mattis said:
There are jurisdictions out there, i.e. the UK, and individual authority figures who may ask you for what reason you carry a knife. ("For protection" is the wrong answer!) As if you needed a reason ...

"Good reason?"

My good reason to carry a knife is that God gave me rather weak teeth and rudimentary claws in an evolutionary trade-off. The hairy-armed person who figured out how to put an edge on a suitable rock made it possible for us to be recognizably human in the first place. I wear a wristwatch whether or not I have an appointment to keep, and I carry a pen and/or pencil because I am a literate person whether or not I have a specific writing task ahead of me, and I carry a knife because I am a human and not an ape.

A knife comes in handy for all sorts of random tasks that involve separating matter. Like cutting a string, or making a sandwich, or opening a package. It can also come in handy in an emergency, which need not involve a human assailant, and emergencies are by their nature unforseen, so one should carry a knife all the time.

And in a perfect world where nobody needed a weapon, I'd probaby carry a slightly larger knife, because it wouldn't scare people.

(For some longer thoughts in this direction, visit Daithi's essay at www.knives.com )

------------------
- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001



[This message has been edited by James Mattis (edited 06-18-2000).]
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http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128979
 
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Because its legal to do so officer. Why do you wear tie?

The only time you need to justify carrying a knife, is if you are doing something illegal (like carrying an illegal knife).
 
Hey. I'm a pencil pushing desk jockey myself, and I use my knife all the time. Opening packages, cutting the dang zip ties that the printer paper is held together with and I really hate trying to open anything in one of those sealed "clam shell" type packages without one. It's a tool, plane and simple. :)
 
Unfortunately, in some states the law is not clearly defined, and your ability to persuade an officer that you are a right minded individual is a valuable skill when his discretion is the law of the moment.

In Hawaii, the law in basic terms is defined as "no knives are allowed which have been purposefully built to be weapons."

Dive-knives are the only knives specified by law that are not considered weapons in their own right. This means that any knife that is not a dive knife is fair game to law enforcement. Locking one hand folders could all be construed as weapons and therefore it is up to the carrier to explain that his knife is not meant to be a weapon.

The lack of definition of law is what forces people to explain that their knives are not weapons.

What makes this even more confusing, is that technically, all knives can be used as weapons.
 
If I was unfortunate enough to find myself in such a situation, I would explain to the officer that it is the only knife that I own and I use it for a multitude of everyday tasks. If he/she is going to arrest you regardless, there isn't a whole lot that you can do to prevent it. Just shut up and don't say another word until you lawyer-up. Remember, anything you say can and will be used against you by the prosecutor. It is your right to remain silent. Exercise it. Of course, if you dress well, keep yourself well-groomed, keep a low profile in public (stay out of bars, mind your own business, etc.), it is highly unlikely that your concealed EDC knife will be discovered by a LEO.
 
"Medical Reasons" The Doctor adviced to you to eat a lot of fresh fruits, so you carry your knive to peel oranges and apples! ;-)
 
Any of you guys actually give a smart ass answer to an LEO?

Best way to turn an encounter with an Officer into a ride in the back is give smarta** answers to him.

I like my time and freedom, I've been the bada** mouthin' off too an LEO, that got me locked up and wasted two days of my life.

I've also been nice, listened to the officers instructions and didn't do anything to make him feel like he was in danger, (puttin' my hands in my pocket, facin' away from the LEO while he talked to me, don't yell, curse or threaten the LEO) in short, even if ya don't look like a human act like one and the LEO will respond in kind, you'll most likely even get your knife back, I always did.

If you acted correctly the LEO doesn't even know ya have an EDC and all ya had was a friendly conversation, maybe even made a friend.
 
That conversation should go something like this...

Cop: "Why are you carrying a knife?"
You: "Am I being detained?"
Cop: "Yes, now answer the question."
You: "I'm going to remain silent. I want a lawyer."

Repeat the last line as needed, no matter what the cop says or does.
 
khagler said:
That conversation should go something like this...

Cop: "Why are you carrying a knife?"
You: "Am I being detained?"
Cop: "Yes, now answer the question."
You: "I'm going to remain silent. I want a lawyer."

Repeat the last line as needed, no matter what the cop says or does.
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one could go this route, though invoking a miranda trial right at this point is completely out of context and rather meaningless.
 
What ever happened to showing your permit:
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:D
 
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