Knife Life - New York City

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rwjnyc

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Hello All,

I wanted to take a moment to share my "Knife Life" in NYC. Some quick background, I am 47 years old and grew up on Manhattan, IMO the only real NYC that matters. Sorry BK hipsters and BX bombers. As for Queens thank you for the airports when I travel. As of SI, sorry, only been there once to meet the famous Sloth at the zoo.....

Growing up in NYC as an adolescent in the 70's, coming to age as a teen in the 80's, becoming an adult in the 90's and becoming a working family man, I have always carried a pocket knife as long as I can remember, but for different reasons over the years. At first it was for a cool factor as an adolescent, then for protection purposes, then for true EDC utilitarian purposes and now as gentlemen carry. Now, I find myself crossing the line into higher end production and looking towards mid-tech and custom knives.

Due to very tough knife laws in NYC, I generally acquire and keep most of my collection out of state, but am always very worried about carrying anything. When I was a teenager, if you were caught with a "cool" knife by the police, the cop would usually send you on your way and add the knife to their personal collection! Nowadays, it's all about arresting you, if for no other purpose but to get you into the system, even if you charges are later dropped or dismissed.

As of now, my collection has grown to about 30 folders and a half a dozen fixed. Ranging from the skyline, which IMO really sucks, to CRK Sebenza, Limited Edition ZT, Hinderer XM-18, with all of the Spyderco, Benchmade, Cold Steele, CRKT etc. in between. Like most, over the last few years, the investment in my collection is increasing every year, with this years spending pushing into the 4K range. Now, I have no delusions of grandeur in thinking my collection will provide any significant return on my investment, nor do I wish to sell/trade. I am just a regular Joe, no appreciates quality folders an enjoy getting the next 'grail' knife.

Through this process, I am finally starting to 'zone' in on my particular style. I tend to go for more modern, large (3.5 or longer) assisted flippers or full auto type of knives. All of which would be considered illegal to carry or own in the big city. So for my EDU, I generally settle for either my LM wave and/or an Opinel #8, both, I believe, are legal to carry. If I am feeling particularly rebellious, I may pocket a leek from time to time.

I just wanted to take this moment and introduce myself to the community at large and to give those in highly regulated areas a shout out!

RWJNYC
 
I was not aware that you could not "own" the auto knives in NYC. I thought it was only carry. The owning of things like switch blades pretty much fall into that for most states (own vs carry).

By the way, you can keep NYC. I don't even want to travel there or NJ for that matter.
 
Another NYC carrier here. I carry a small GEC boy knife. I find that this size knife and price range fits my lifestyle great. I'm also pretty comfortable whipping it out in public or sitting at my desk to cut something for lunch.

It's tough for the fellas that like the big knives. My brother is an armed driver for a CEO and he carries an auto. But he does so at his own risk. Sad.

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Hi, and welcome to the forums, RWJNYC.

I've only been to NYC once, back in 1979. It was part of an annual 2-week long east coast trip sponsored by San Diego-area high schools for interested students. I was 15 at the time. In fact, I think the 3-Mile Island accident happened around the time we were there, or right before. I'm not sure, but I think the schools stopped having those trips some years ago. Anyway, as a kid, I found NYC the most interesting part of the trip, which started from Virginia (Williamsburg), to Washington DC, Philadelphia, NYC, and ending in Boston. During that trip, I didn't bring any knife with me, though at the time a typical small pocketknife would probably have been legal pretty much everywhere.

I have no plans to ever return there, but if I did and thought about bringing a pocketknife, I would probably only carry a small SAK. And even then, I would probably leave it in the hotel room if I was planning on visiting any landmarks requiring admission.

Jim
 
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You're probably right.... maybe I just err on the side of caution, especially posting on a forum....;)
 
cchu518 said:
Another NYC carrier here. I carry a small GEC boy knife. I find that this size knife and price range fits my lifestyle great. I'm also pretty comfortable whipping it out in public or sitting at my desk to cut something for lunch.

It's tough for the fellas that like the big knives. My brother is an armed driver for a CEO and he carries an auto. But he does so at his own risk. Sad.

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Isn't that insane!!! Licensed to carry a firearm, but will get pinched for an auto knife.... SMH
 
Bro, I feel sorry for you, Manhattan - traffic, no free parking, tourist and diplomats everywhere, also douchebag DA Vance and "Lurch" DiBlasio who hates all knives and wants to make them all illegal, including all kitchen knives, they are refusing to get rid of "gravity knife" laws that had 60k/yr people locked up for nothing!. Worst of all five boroughs, I try to avoid it like a plague!

If you carry manual under 4" in pocket that doesn't show through pocket you are reasonably safe for the most part. Never carry it clipped to pocket, considered open carry which is illegal!

Assisted and balisongs under 4" are legal BUT depends on cop you run into, you will get hassled.
Make sure it has very strong detent biased toward keeping it closed, can't be flicked open easy, no matter how many tries!

PS carried for over 10yrs BM CQC-7 not good choice when pivot screw is loose it flies open with flick of the wrist. Current carry BM-710 Axis -Lock or SOG Tomcat Arc-Lock, can't flick them open unless you pull on lock when flicking, takes practice to be smooth.
 
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As a guy born and raised in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, I stopped reading at the second sentence. Ha. I generally carry a Spyderco PITS, a Spy-DK or a UKPK. Or a traditional. If I know I'm just going to be going to someone's house, I'll carry one of my Benchmades.
 
rwjnyc said:
Isn't that insane!!! Licensed to carry a firearm, but will get pinched for an auto knife.... SMH
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Yeah he's currently carrying a Boker ak 47, I want to upgrade him to a protech godson.

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Salutations Mr. Manhattan from a Brooklyn hipster!

Anyways, welcome and nice to know there are a few NY'ers here on BF. That Leatherman Wave is technically illegal since it has a locking knife blade so make sure you carry it in its sheath and not with the optional pocket clip if you're worried about legality.

Living inside of the 5 boroughs is tricky for a knife enthusiast and just depends how far one wants to take it. Personally, I carry whatever I want. My ZT0452 is just as illegal as a Kershaw DWO depending on the arresting officer and how they want to interpret the law so I'm not gonna try to figure it out. Probably has to do with that whole Manhattan crown jewel, outer boroughs are outlands thing you alluded to in your first paragraph...I'm living as an outlaw and such I guess.

It's unfortunate, but such is the city we live in and I need a knife daily, both in my line of work and outside of it and I will continue to do so, fully knowing the ramifications. That method of thinking is definitely not for everyone, so please do as you're comfortable doing.

In any case, nice to have you here and hope to see you around BF often.

[emoji4]
 
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Bk "hipster" here, I work in Manhattan. I carry a folder everyday and no one harassed me yet. What I hate though is several big knife retailers are not shipping to NYC.
 
Welcome rwjnyc ! I've never been to NYC. I've been all through Florida and met a lot of folks that made the big bucks in NYC, retired and moved to Florida.
 
skyhorse said:
Welcome rwjnyc ! I've never been to NYC. I've been all through Florida and met a lot of folks that made the big bucks in NYC, retired and moved to Florida.
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Well that's the trade off...no knives but plenty of guap

[emoji41] [emoji383]
 
Work in manhattan almost everyday. I carry whatever I want. Luckily I am not into autos.
 
Welcome to the forums. Checking in from Staten Island, whose claim to fame was the largest landfill in the world. God it used to stink here. Same age here as well. I tend to carry whatever I want. Usually a lone wolf lobo d/a, Al Mar sere 2000 d/a along with a Fallkniven juni as a necker. I tend to use it around some of the more timid people as it's a small knife..
I've been a knife guy since childhood. I'd spend summers upstate at lake George area. Spent countless hours traipsing around the woods. Guns and knives have been a must for me since I can remember.
My time now is split between the city n the lake.
Most of my time in Manhattan is at nite since I drive a tractor trailer moving heavy equipment. Excavators, dozers, cranes and the like. Can only enter Manhattan after ten pm. In doing so I deal with cops every night. Port authority and city as well. If you've crossed the GWB, I'm sure you've seen all the oversized trucks lined up at some point in your travels. Countless hrs spent hanging around with other drivers n cops shooting the shit n showing off our toys(knives). I have family in family in federal and local law enforcement so I have a get out of jail free card for certain indiscretions, so as long as I don't rob a bank or do something supremely stupid I don't t have to worry about my edc rotation.
Most people are ignorant about knives in and around NYC. I'm always willing g to educate a curious newbie when I can. Have created a few fans over the yrs. The double action autos always get a smile, when showing them off.
Anyway, welcome. Lots of good peeps & info here. Enjoy. James
 
ridnovir said:
Bk "hipster" here, I work in Manhattan. I carry a folder everyday and no one harassed me yet. What I hate though is several big knife retailers are not shipping to NYC.
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Yeah, having to have things from BladeHQ shipped to my mother's in New Brunswick is more than a little annoying.
 
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