Knife laws in NY

Scott3670

Scott3670

Joined
Sep 13, 2008
Messages
281
I'm going to New York in a couple of weeks and would like to know what the knife laws for both fixed blade and folders. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
We have a forum for knife laws.

The situation in New York just now is unstable. City and State laws are enforced differently. I wouldn't take any locking or one-hand opening knife into New York City now.
 
All depends where you're going.

Up here by me, you can carry just about whatever you want. Really.

NYC on the other hand.... I go down all the time for work...

I carry a SAK

IN my pocket.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
No, it hasn't.
It's a function of the current mayor's control-freak policies.
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Two words for you: Eliot Spitzer. It's not just the current Mayor, it's the mentality. Same as where I live, just not as bad. But it will eventually get there.
 
I'll be in Brooklyn for a couple of days. I'll probably play it safe and tuck my ZT inside my pocket and leave the HEST at home.
 
Scott3670 said:
I'll be in Brooklyn for a couple of days. I'll probably play it safe and tuck my ZT inside my pocket and leave the HEST at home.
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A ZT in Brooklyn? You better keep that thing outta site...really.
One LEO gets a glimpse of that thing and its "his".
 
If he sees it print -- bulge inside your pocket -- he can investigate, and you will have a major problem.
 
Yeah, you might want to bring something less beefy. I have a spyderco dragonfly and a couple of Case knives that i use as my "i need to make sure i'm within the law" knives.
 
Yeah, the HEST might actually be better - the law doesn't really say anything about fixed blades other than "dangerous weapon" and under 4", so as long as you stay out of trouble and "look" ok, that might be the wiser way to go. I'm currently looking for a cheap, slender 3" fixed blade to carry in NYC - I figure they'll probably take it from me, but probably won't take me to jail since I'm fairly clean cut. Also, if you ride the trains, the police/army sometime search bags, so keep it in your pocket.

Jordan
 
Something without a liner lock, under 3 inches, and harmless looking would be ideal. A SAK for instance. A HEST, while the right legal length, looks aggressive and you may have some explaining to do. If you must have a fixed blade, an Izula would be a much better choice.

If you are searched and found to have a folder you may be in trouble. There are confirmed stories of LEOs holding onto the edge of a closed folding knife and flicking the knife to open it. They deem these to be "gravity knives" since they have a locking blade which can be flicked open.
 
freedoom said:
I have a spyderco dragonfly and a couple of Case knives that i use as my "i need to make sure i'm within the law" knives.
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They catch you with that Spydie in NYC, they will charge you for a gravity knife. Big trouble.
 
Greyswandir said:
Something without a liner lock, under 3 inches, and harmless looking would be ideal. A SAK for instance. A HEST, while the right legal length, looks aggressive and you may have some explaining to do. If you must have a fixed blade, an Izula would be a much better choice.

So if I took my Izula with the official ATF Seal on it I would be OK? Just kidding - not a chance in hell that I'd risk losing that baby! It'll be really strange walking around town with absolutely no weapons of any type. Oh well... I'd rather do that than be a jailhouse bride.
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Esav Benyamin said:
They catch you with that Spydie in NYC, they will charge you for a gravity knife. Big trouble.
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yeah, that's why i've got the Cases. although my g-10 dragonfly's pivot is tighter than any knife i've used. i don't think even NYC can prove it's a gravity knife.
 
Good to know. I was planning a road trip to NYC with friends for the weekend of Aug 21-22 but due to the length of drive we changed our minds and are going to Montreal instead since it's closer. I'd still like to make a trip to NYC sometime though, never been there. I'll feel naked without my regular EDC blades though.
How does something small like a Spyderco Ladybug hold up? If that's a no no too then I'll probably have to stick to a SAK and maybe my Spyderco Grasshopper.
 
As everyone has pretty much said, DON'T go to NYC with a knife. Period. They will find a way to slam out your folder and say it's a "gravity knife." I live in the boonies of NY state and I see a lot of knives clipped to people's pockets. But if I went a couple of counties away I'd carry it IN pocket, not clipped to my pocket.

You're pretty much safe if you're hunting or fishing, but you've got to have a permit for those things. If you do, carry what you need. If you want to walk around with something, safest thing is--outside of NYC--carry it in pocket. Carry a slipjoint to be sure there won't be any trouble. Outside of the god forsaken city I'd say that you're probably okay with a 3" blade if you don't go waving it around and don't run into an officer of the law who wants to make some trouble for you. Outside of the city they'll usually just take your knife. Inside the city you'll most likely be looking at some time in jail.
 
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