Knife law in NYC

Twisted Bits, good story.....up to four inches and not a gravity or switchblade IS legal....I did the gun and badge thing in NYC for years.....there is no Admin code or PL code that prohibits lock backs per say........
 
I swear I read in the code that a locking device was prohibited.
NYC Administrative Code 10-133 and 134:

§ 10-134 Prohibition on sale of certain knives.
a. Legislative findings. It is hereby declared and found that the possession in public places, streets and parks of the city, of folding knives which lock upon opening, is a menace to the public health, peace, safety and welfare of the people of the city......It has been found that folding knives with a blade of four (4) inches or more that locks in an open position are designed and used almost exclusively for the purpose of stabbing or the threat thereof. (How'd they figure that?) Therefore for the safety of the city, such weapons should be prohibited from sale within the jurisdiction of the city of New York.
b. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, or offer for sale within the jurisdiction of the city of New York, any folding knife with a blade length of four or more inches which is so constructed that when it is opened it is locked in an open position and cannot be closed without depressing or moving a release mechanism.

This covers alot of knives used and carried by construction workers where the locking mechanism is actually a safety measure, but I think the bulk carried are 3+- inches and under.
 
yes....BUT ONLY OVER 4 "........as stated .....it does not apply to those knives under 4 ".....or any size out of the city......
 
Regarding the illegality of a "hammer or even a twig" -- that is a fact. Under the NYS Penal Law, ANY item that can be utilized as an improvised weapon becomes a prohibited "dangerous instrument" if "intent to use unlawfully" is suspected. Carying the item concealed, stating that the item is carried for the purpose of self-defence, or brandishing the item (seperate crime: "menacing") is conclusive "proof" of criminal intent. Consider that on several occasions, a "shod foot" (shoe or boot) has been ruled a "dangerous instrument" after someone was kicked in a fight! Most of the bikers I knew carried ballpeen hammers, either stuck in their back pocket or bungied to their handlebars. If a cop asked them, "is that a weapon?", they'd say it was for working on their bike . . . if you've got a legitimate and verifiable reason for possessing a dangerous tool, it is permissible to do so.

As for pepperspray, until about 5 years ago it was considered a "noxious substance" unlawful to possess by any except police or mail carriers in the performance of their official duties. Recently it became legal for civilians to carry, but you actually need to REGISTER it!!! The last I knew, one could only purchase it from either a gun shop or a pharmacy, and they logged your driver license information! It is also unlawful to have pepperspray shipped to a NY address.
 
Never heard of a law banning thumb studs in NYC being passed on knives. Gravity knives have been illegal for 40 years...perhaps the NYPD has given that store an issue over them ? Where is the store you heard this?
 
I spent sometime today and checked the NYC Admin code updates and NYS Penal law updates.....no new (or old) bans on thumb studs....Called two friends ( A Captain in Queens and a Chief in Manhattan....they both did not know of any new ban)
 
Smasher666, I would comment the following way: having been a LEO in NYC, most officers do not know the knife laws very well. He may have had an officer visit the shop for some reason and be able to flick open a few knives he had ( that makes them a gravity knife), or the officer simply felt that a thumb stud some how makes them a "dangerous knife" a term with no real definition.That part of Queens had several stores raided a few years ago for switchblades and gravity knives, so it maybe that they are being very creative in their interpatation of the law. I checked the laws yesterday and could not find any new ban listed. Feel free to check yourself under the NYC Adminisration Code section 10-133+134 ( City only additional laws), also the NYS Penal Law section 265.00......I can only offer what I check and was told.
 
All things considered, I think NYC has a very reasonable knife law.

It's clearly written and defined.

You can carry up to 4 inches of locking blade, legally.
But not gravity knives or switchblades.
And the knife can't be showing, in other words it's got to be (fully)
concealed in your pocket, wherever.

To me, that's fairly lenient for a big city and of course
I give them lots of credit for being so fair minded on the subject!!
:thumbup:
 
Uh, yeah, until they grab your Buck 110 by the blade, snap it open, and charge you with possession of a gravity knife.

You knew your Buck was a gravity knife? No? Too bad.

Not to be too cyncical here, but I am not thrilled with the wording of the statute.

Seth
 
If I am reading this correctly, for the rest of New York State you can own a switchblade if it is for hunting or fishing.

"Possession of a switchblade or gravity knife for use while hunting,
trapping or fishing by a person carrying a valid license issued to him
pursuant to section 11-0713 of the environmental conservation law..."
 
I am a student at NYU and wanted to get a knife that would be legal to carry on me, but do not know where to start on knives. This would be my first purchase and so I would prefer something simple. I am going to receive officer training this summer with the Marines so I will eventually be trained with combat with a knife, so dont worry I dont think Ill lose any fingers. I also have a budget constraint so what suggestions do you guys have?
 
Swiss Army Knife "Compact" model is a great knife -- not too expensive, and a lot of useful tools in a small package.
 
ok im back and i am thinking about purchasing knives and i wanted to make sure they are legal to carry in NYC before I drop my limited money on them...

1) Are all the opening mechanisms legal

2)
this one is a tanto blade and i wanted to know if that was legal in nyc...
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=CRM1604

Opinel OP #7, i dont know if this knife has a 4" blade or less since it doesnt say anywhere on the description for the blade length
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=OP7

I am assuming this is since the Cara Cara G10 i bought was...
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=KA4065

3) Whats your general opinion on these 3 knives to supplement my cara cara and is the price good?

Thanks in advance
 
I can't comment about the other two, but my EDC in NYC is the Opinel. The way I see it is:

1) the blade is under 4";
2) it can't be swung open with a flick of the wrist (no thumb stud);
3) you have to unlock it, by turning the drum - to open it;
4) again, you need to turn the drum to lock it in place;
5) it also does not look menacing.

I happen to love the Opinel line, I think it is a pretty good knife for the money. Of course, I would rather carry my Spyderco - but I try to live my life as trouble free as possible.

I would love to know if NYC law allowed me to carry a single edge fixed blade, concealed of course - just like the AG Russel Woods Walker.

Good luck.
 
Okay, legal issues aside, here is what will happen.

If you are walking down the street with a knife on your belt, and the cop sees it, he will very likely stop you and ask you about it, unless it is fairly obvious you have it for work (like you are dressed up as an electrician toting tools and such). If you don't have a qualifying answer, such as going to work and this is what I do and I use a knife like this for my job, or he doesn't believe what you tell him, then he will probably tell you it illegal to have it and will seek to confiscate it from you. If you resist, you will likely get hauled into the precinct, where depending on your demeanor at the time, you could still lose your knife or you could get cited or even charged with a felony. It may not be on the up and up, but now look at the hassle you are in. If it looks like it could be used to inflict injury, then you are going to be in a tough battle convincing the judge otherwise. Yeah, you can appeal his decision, to what avail?

Prudence would say that you ought not carry a knife, or any other potential weapon, out where the cops can see it. I can and have walked around Manhattan with a loaded semi auto that no one but me knew about. I don't do it all the time. I darned sure don't advertise it, and I wouldn't a knife either. You are just asking for trouble that ain't worth it. If you want to pack something for self defense, then do what you must, but be discreet.

Laws are great in a courtroom, but the practicality of streets preclude due process up to the point that you are in custody and the offending item is removed. It does no good for yourself, and usually a lot of harm, to argue with a NYPD that you think your rights are being violated. You may eventually get your day in court, but they will get a whole lot of other days you would otherwise have enjoyed being somewhere else.

The point is, legal or not, why carry it out in the open if you don't have to? They don't want to see it, but I'll be damned if I am going to put my safety in their hands. I may go to jail if I have to use it, but at least I have a chance of surviving. If I am going to pack a knife for work and I can't keep it put away, then I will make sure I look the part and my line is believable. If it is for self defense, then the only person that will need to know I have it is me and the guy I have to use it on. Most of the time the cops are only there to clean up the mess after the fact, but if you are stupid about it or act the fool, then they will do their best to act pre-emptively.
 
benjammin, I understand your logic, but can't agree with all of it. First it is a Class A Misd not a felony to possess a gravity or dangerous knife or switchblade ( it is only a felony if you have been convicted of a past crime). The semi auto you claim to carry ( I assume unlawfully by NY law) will get you a few years making license plates for NYS. Knives by themselves rarely end up in a arrest, and if it is only for wearing the knife in plain view then it is only a violation and not a true crime by NYS defintion. A unlicensed handgun in NYC is something most officers will arrest their Mom for.
I am 47 and lived all my life in NYC. I did a few years as a LEO here and am now in a private sector job. I had a similar attitude to you years back, but the NYPD has greatly cleaned up the city, and I don't condone someone breaking the law. You may very well never get caught with a illegal firearm, but there is no going home soon in NYC if you do. The city use to have 2200 murders a year, we now average, 600 of which almost 550 are drug related or committed by a relative of the victim. I would be more fearful these days of losing a few years of my life in jail then having it taken on the city streets......Hey you title says your in Bagdad.....now theres a place I would not go with anything in my pocket.....lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top