Knife Laws in VA and MD

A

awaters

Joined
Oct 23, 2002
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As a westerner, I have no idea of the carry laws or airport baggage search practices in the East. I have to fly to the Baltimore/DC airport and travel in VA and MD. Anyone have experience/knowledge of the checked baggage practices when I fly out of Baltimore, or the carry laws in these states? Plan to take a Benchmade 550 and 556.

Thanks.
 
You should be good in VA, I carry balisongs relatively regularly... less sheeple friendly than your griptilians. :D

Can't say for MD though. And I'm pretty sure carry of anything with over a 3" blade is illegal in DC.

As for the airport, put knives in checked luggage. I just arrived back in town last week and I saw at least one other person grab a knife out of their checked baggage first thing right there at the carousel and stick it on their belt! Warmed my heart it did... :)
 
awaters, if you are going to be using BWI, leave the knives at home. BWI is rather paranoid about their security, on top of the fact that they are one of the premier testing grounds for all of the new gadgets for making us safer in the friendly skies. Even with checked bags, I would be hesitant to leave a knife in for fear that it would be lost upon being checked over by security. In these times they've been given broad powers to do searches and, as they are private property (at least I believe BWI to be), they are given even MORE power to act on their own property. Best to think of the airports in the Baltimore/Washington area as hostile knife territory. The laws outside the gates of the airport mean exactly squat INSIDE the gates. Not that I advocate such paranoia, but just letting you know. The last time I went to BWI (which was about 2 months or so ago), they were really hardcore about the security thing. If you're going to take a knife, take something you don't mind losing.

I believe the VA blade limit is 4", and the MD is probably 3.5" (with city ordinances being somewhat more restrictive). The BM Grip should be within the limits, but NOT at the airports.

Just my .02

Sincerely,
Anthony
 
Last I checked, MD has no length limits on blades, but basically anything can be interpreted as a deadly weapon. So you're really taking chances if you're carrying around a bowie (when not going hunting/camping/etc.).

I just got back from BWI 2 hours ago, and I didn't have any problems there with knives in my luggage both to and from Los Angeles. Security there, in my opinion, is just the same as that at other airports. Call me dumb, but I couldn't stand being knifeless and I pocketed my AFCK right after I picked up my bag off the carousel. I didn't get forced to the ground. :)
 
Thanks for all the input guys. Got into the BWI allright from Phoenix, no problem. Now I'm gonna see how getting back works, especially this week! Thanks again.
 
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