knives at college

[RissyQuicks]

I am going to be a freshman at PSU this fall and am planning on bringing some of my knife collection. None of the knives I'm bringing have blades over 3.2 inches (they're all folders) but I just wanted to check with my fellow knife guys/girls. I looked up the campus rules on knives and they are extremely vague:

1. Weapons -- For the purposes of this policy, weapons are defined as any instruments or implements which are capable of inflicting serious bodily injury, and shall include but not be limited to:


Any knife with a blade larger than that of a folding pocket knife; dagger; razor or other cutting instrument, the blade of which is exposed in an automatic way by switch, push-button, spring mechanism, or otherwise.


I should be okay to keep/carry my knives, right?

 

[SpookStrickland]

PSU is pretty Commie so you will probably be limited to a plastic butter knife.

 

[Ernie1980]

I carried one in college, as did a lot of the people around me. However, I went in a little different era than you unfortunality. Make sure you know the laws in your area, and the school rules. (You seem to have covered that but your rules sure are vague!!) beyond that, don't make the knife look like a weapon! IE Don't carry an assisted opening knife and open it loud and proud in front of your classmates. I always have a knife on me, but in public I open with two hands and don't wave it around.

 

[22-rimfire]

Make sure you know the laws in your area, and the school rules. (You seem to have covered that but your rules sure are vague!!) beyond that, don't make the knife look like a weapon! IE Don't carry an assisted opening knife and open it loud and proud in front of your classmates. I always have a knife on me, but in public I open with two hands and don't wave it around.

Vague rules are good as long as you don't get on the wrong side of law enforcement. PSU rules seem to follow PA rules where carrying a switchblade is illegal as well as daggers. You might want to look up the state rules.

I would give the same advice as Ernie above. Don't make your knife an issue on campus. It's a tool and use it that way. Study and get through this very important phase of your life successfully.

 

[ASBOB]

My guess==nothing more--is that with that kind of vague statement, much is left to the discretion of the officer.

Use your knives in a careful manner. Don't flash them around and whip them open. I would not be caught getting drunk and carrying a knife. If you mind your business, most likely the cops will never notice.

Again, "most likely".

 

[P_Meticulous]

I went to a very liberal University in Cali, and carried knives in between 3.5"-4.0" in length.. As long as you are conscientious of who you are around (and you don't pull it out for stupid reasons) you'll be fine.. I carried two then - one clipped to my right pocket, and one deep in back pocket.. No one noticed or cared..

If you start showing off, and/or pulling one out in front of sheeple, expect some issues.. Just be cautious and you'll be good!

Good luck with school

 

[Ichop]

I carry them at college too; I just don't make a habit of flashing them around like crazy. Any where that's got drugs/alcohol involved, I only carry a SAK just in case. Should be interesting once September 1st rolls around though, hope I can make use of some autos

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Sounds like they'd be fine with letting you carry a folder. Just don't carry around a fixed blade and be mindful, prudent, and polite when using your folder.

 

[Bob6794]

I carry a knife in college but their multi-tools on a keychain and whatever knife I am usually carrying, but I am in the fire science program where this is quite common. And a small sharpened tool is pretty low on the radar considering most people carry a knife in that program, and considering the tools they teach us to handle and let us handle (chainsaws, pike poles, etc) this isn't out of place. I don't go around pulling out my knife and showing it off and neither do any of my classmates, in fact for the most part you won't know anyone is carrying a knife except for a few people with a visible pocket clip and you have to look for that. But one of the biggest differences between my school and yours is that the local knife laws and my school rules concerning knives are almost identical and are both very clearly defined.

My advice find out the local laws and give your school security a call and ask for them to define it more for you. If they won't, ask them if you can get them to write a signed note saying "X" knife is ok to carry by security when you start school. "X" being a SAK or something along those lines as it's one of the least threatening. When they ask why just say that you view knives as a tool that you use often and you don't want to jeopardize your education by carrying a knife that you thought the school would be fine with you carrying. Though I would do this in person and chat with them so they can get a feel for your character, they may be reluctant to do so which I understand but something that just say "X knife is not considered a weapon by security unless used for that purpose, misused, etc". You will be surprised at how friendly security will be if your friendly and don't BS them, especially if this is your concern.

If I were security at a school with a rule like that I wouldn't write you the note just in case you do something stupid like show off the knife in class and than try to use the note saying it's OK as it's approved by security. But I tell you if you have any problems have the security office track me down and as long it's a reasonable knife to carry and you weren't doing anything wrong I try to keep you out of trouble. So don't be too surprised if you get an answer like this as well. Though no matter how it turns out be respectful and respect their answer.