kentucky's common knife rule

M

mblackfu

Joined
Jul 30, 2007
Messages
406
what the heck is a common knife in ky----what can we do to get this defined so that there is no confusion on what we can carry?:jerkit:
 
I live in KY and I think its up to the judge. I carry an ESEE 3 every day and my brother carries a Sabozafly and we haven't had any problems yet. I wish KRS would better define a common knife but in some ways its good because a "common pocket knife or hunting knife" covers a wide range of blades. I am going to ask an officer soon about what they consider to be a common knife.
 
i just hate the "interpretation" factor here... i carry a byrd cara cara alot and have never had any problem either. i just hate not knowing for certain
 
Yeah, it's pretty open to the police, judge, lawyer, individual, and maybe that's a good thing? I carry a Bark River Highland Special everyday, with no problem either. I do live out in the county, but I can go to stores in town, nobody seems to mind. If I went onto the UK campus, that might be another story, I don't know.
Don't you go to UK KalEl, or am I mistake on that?
 
Where you live in Kentucky will make a difference..Ive seen plnety of people wearing Buck 119's and shrade sharpfingers around town with no problems..Ive never known a cop that will look twice at a knife in your pocket..
 
mblackfu said:
what the heck is a common knife in ky
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That phrase is not used in KRS 500.080, so it doesn't really matter what a "common knife" is. :)

The statute to which I think you refer defines what is - and is not - a deadly weapon. It characterizes as a deadly weapon "any knife other than an ordinary pocket knife or hunting knife".

So the real question is what constitutes an "ordinary" pocket knife. Its true that this definition is somewhat subjective, but the legislature cannot address every possible knife of every possible configuration. So they use generalities.

Its like the U.S. Supreme Court decision in which a Justice sought to define pornography. Paraphrasing, he said he could not define it but he knew it when he saw it. Same thing with what constitutes an "ordinary pocket knife".

I don't think this is anything to sweat over. If it concerns you, get a concealed deadly weapons license like Powernoodle, and you can carry a machete or a chainsaw under your trenchcoat if you want. :thumbup:


This is not legal advice. :)
 
It does say ordinary and not common... heck i dont know what either is.... i have never had a problem carrying anything... i just dont believe in BIG government.. i do believe if a law is not clearly written it is wrong...i am just a simple country man who wants to know for certain what is right or wrong.
 
foxx said:
Yeah, it's pretty open to the police, judge, lawyer, individual, and maybe that's a good thing? I carry a Bark River Highland Special everyday, with no problem either. I do live out in the county, but I can go to stores in town, nobody seems to mind. If I went onto the UK campus, that might be another story, I don't know.
Don't you go to UK KalEl, or am I mistake on that?
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Yep I go to UK and live in Lex and thankfully haven't had any problems so far. I even busted out my Moonglow Manix 2 in my Judicial Politics class last year when my teacher said she needed a knife.

I just try to carry knives that are non threatening. I go for classy with my folders, (BM 710 is my main EDC folder currently) and I go for old timey with my fixed blades. I gave my ESEE 3 a really, really heavy patina and allow it to rust some so it doesn't look harmful. I used it in a restaurant the other day without issue.

Hopefully this guy won't be scaring anyone off.
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Hey guys I have an update-

I talked to an LEO and while not explicitly prohibited in the Kentucky Revised Statues he told me that a Butterfly knife is illegal.

Im still not sure about switch blades- they sell them here but I guess they would fall under the same category as a butterfly knife.

Anyways I don't think kentucky is cracking down on blades and I don't usually carry auto's or Bailsongs as they draw alot of attention.

I do want to buy a auto BM Bedlam though.
 
Kentucky said:
Get yourself a CCW permit and carry a chainsaw if you want:D
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Is it a concealed weapons permit or a concealed firearms permit in KY? Be carefull because in many states a CCW just covers you for guns, not knives.
 
Im almost certain CCW in kentucky covers all dangerous weapons but the problem is you can't whip out your Balisong in public and use it if you are carrying it concealed because its then considered a weapon.
 
i have a ccw permit... i just like the laws to be one's that cant be interpreded differently
 
KY has the concealed deadly weapons permit which covers knives and guns. It allows you to carry any legally owned weapon in KY concealed. The thing is what you are carrying has to be legal to begin with. If it isn't legal to begin with then it's not legal to carry in KY even with a concealed weapons permit.
 
KalEl said:
Im almost certain CCW in kentucky covers all dangerous weapons but the problem is you can't whip out your Balisong in public and use it if you are carrying it concealed because its then considered a weapon.
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I may be mistaken, but I don't think Kentucky has a law where it states that it's illegal to open carry any weapon. Just like, I believe, it's legal to open carry a firearm without a CCDW, I could carry a balisong openly as long as it's in plain view. Now I'm not saying it would be smart to whip out a balisong in public, but I do believe it is technically legal.



Also, yes Kentucky's CCDW does cover weapons, taken exactly from Ketuckystatepolice.org:

"What weapons are covered under the CCDW license? Click here for answer

Any weapon from which a shot, readily capable of producing death or serious physical injury, may be discharged.
Any knife other than an ordinary pocket knife or hunting knife.
Billy, nightstick, or club.
Blackjack or slapjack.
Nunchaku karate sticks.
Shiriken or death star.
Artificial knuckles made from plastic, or other similar hard material."
 
West Kentucky here. I carry a 7in~ (overall) fixed blade on my belt every day, never had a complaint. It's an invaluable tool that I couldn't live without, and I think that utilitarian way of thinking is still widespread enough in a lot of areas that people accept knives as an everyday thing. It's usually not an issue unless you draw attention. Just ask yourself, was it made to be a weapon or a tool... I think the definition will make a lot of difference in how the law views your blade.

On that note.. that's the reason you see all those cheap asian import knives with 'hunting knife' on the box, even though they look like something from a bad scifi movie. Some places aren't allowed to export any weapons, so they just call everything a hunting knife.
 
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