knife law in philadelphia

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kelhado

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Aug 16, 2006
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sorry if this answer is already available - the search function isn't working for some reason.

I am moving to philadelphia and am interested to find which kinds of knives I can legally own and in what fasion I can legally carry them. I have read the exact law here http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/pa.txt but it is not very specific.

Is anyone from philly who knows, or does anyone know where I can find out the clear answer? The way this law is written makes nearly all knives seem illegal.
 
Welcome to Bladeforums!

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I lived in the Philly 'burbs for much of my life and never had a problem with 3"ish pocket knives. But if by "moving to Philadelphia" you mean somewhere within the city proper, I'd be very cautious. That's entirely different.

PA is essentially a large rural state in-between a medium-sized, blue-collar city (PBG) and the very big, "urbane" Phila. So, the further you get from center city Philly, the more "rural" the mindset.

For example, I used to carry a CRKT M16-12Z, which is considered by many to be an aggressive looking knife. At the time, I was living in a rural part of the state, but dating a woman who lived in a well-heeled section of Philly. While in the city, on two occasions I offered my CRKT to someone who needed a "pocket knife" at a social function. Both times people gasped at the knife.

Back at home in the sticks, however, I attended a talk given by a well-known speaker at a small arena-sized venue. The speaker had received death threats so people were being both screened with metal detectors and patted down. I had the CRKT on me out of habit and it didn't even occur to me until I was next in line to be searched. I stammered something like "oh, crap. I forgot, I'm carrying a knife." The guy looked at me all worried and asked "how big" so I produced it. He took one look at the CRKT and said, "oh, OK, no problem. I thought you meant, like, a big knife" and passed it back to me around the metal detectors.

Because the laws are so poorly defined, the local 'culture' will probably be what matters most. But trust me on this: never, ever tell a Phila police officer what he legally can or can't do. It will not end well for you. :-)
 
I live about a 30 min drive from Philadelphia and iceaxe's advice pretty much sums up my knowledge and experiences.
 
kelhado,

Unfortunately, Philadelphia, like most large cities, has a greater degree of knife regulation than the rest of the state (Ok, Commonwealth), and imposes greater restrictions than those embodied in state law. In fact, Philadelphia has enacted in its municipal code a fairly draconian set of knife restrictions. To wit (quoted from Knife Laws of the Fifty States -- A Guide for the Law-Abiding Traveler, p. 142),

Philadelphia – Carry of switchblades prohibited. See, PHILADELPHIA, PA., CODE § 10-810 (2006). Use or possession on public streets or on public property of any “cutting weapon”, defined as “[a]ny knife or other cutting instrument which can be used as a weapon that has a cutting edge similar to that of a knife” prohibited, with exception for “tool or instrument commonly or ordinarily used in a trade, profession or calling” while “actually being used in the active exercise of that trade, profession or calling.” See, id. at § 10-820. Violation penalty is minimum fine of $300 and minimum ninety day imprisonment. Id. Possession of weapons, the definition of which includes knives and cutting instruments, prohibited on or within 100 feet of any school, or in any conveyance providing transportation to or form school. See, id. at § 10-833.
Click to expand...

Sadly, that's a summary of the state of the knife regulation in Philadelphia as it exists on the books today. Like most places, enforcement is often selective, and I'm sure many people do just fine carrying on a daily basis for many years all sorts of knives that technically violate the above. Just understand that should you be in violation, and get arrested and prosecuted, the penalty upon conviction may be quite harsh.

Knowledge is power, and only you can determine what's right for you and your situation regarding what you choose to carry. Don't shoot the messenger.

Stay sharp, and stay safe,
david.

__________________
"We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the G*d of Nature has placed in our power. ... The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave." Patrick Henry, Virginia Convention, Richmond, March 23, 1775.

Note: Nothing in this post is intended as legal advice. Please consult qualified counsel should you need such advice.
 
Interesting how the laws have 'evolved.' About 15 years ago my sister was in grad school at Penn and living in a pretty sketchy section of W. Phila. One of her roommates was entering their house when a young man approached her and said "I have a gun. Give me your money."

My sister's roommate had had enough of the neighborhood by this point. So, she told her attacker to engage in an impossible sexual act, adding, "I don't believe you," then pulled out her pocket knife and stabbed the guy. He ran off and she called the police, who followed the blood trail and caught and arrested the guy.

In the aftermath, the issue of her knife never came up.
 
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