Las Vegas edc carry

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6leafdom

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May 14, 2009
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So i am going to las vegas for a few days next week...and i start to wonder what edc knife i should bring with me.

i am not familiar with the laws in las vegas...but i do want to carry something big enough (within legal limit) for self defense


any suggestions??
 
I'm glad you made this thread because I'm interested to see what other people from LV have to say, but I have done a decent bit of homework and am fairly certain about the laws in general. All I can do is tell you what I've found and heard from talking to other people (and from the interpretations of many other people based on the actual written statutes), but ultimately you have to decide for yourself and obviously I can't be held responsible for anything.

It's a little bit tricky because you have to first follow State law, then city/county ordinances, and on top of that, you have to follow the ordinances of an establishment. Obviously it's a bad idea to bring your knife into a bank, maybe a mall, and definitely events like concerts and any place where you know it's not allowed. But you have a pocket knife clipped to your pocket, you probably won't be harassed for bring it into a grocery store or whatever. As long as you're following State and County ordinances, I'm fairly certain that all an establishment can do is ask you to leave or "remove" you.

Anyway, here's what I've basically determined, but again, it's your responsibility to decide what you want to carry and I'm not a cop or a lawyer or anything like that:
-the big thing seems to be automatics. They are illegal to even own, and especially to carry.
-I'm not positive whether or not "assisted", like a Kershaw Speed Assist flipper knife, counts as automatic, but I'm fairly sure they don't count because you manually initiate the opening of the knife by pressing the on the blade (the flipper) or the thumb studs and the spring only carries the blade to some extent if you've put enough force into it. They aren't actually automatic because they aren't actuated with a button and either way, the assist won't carry the blade open entirely if you haven't initiated enough centrifugal force.
-I know it's illegal to sell actual automatics in LV, but I see assisted knives sold all over the place and I bought an assisted opener recently at Bass Pro Shop and the salesman was certain they were legal.
-It's illegal to conceal a knife with a blade 3 inches or longer.
-Other than not being able to conceal a knife 3 inches or longer, I haven't heard anything about a blade size limit for knives that aren't concealed. I would think a big fixed blade would be illegal, but I don't know. I just generally won't carry a folder that's much over 4 inches, personally. I feel pretty comfortable as long as it's on a clip and not covered up.

That basically seems to be the gist of it. Don't carry anything 3 inches or larger unless it's visible. Don't carry anything automatic. Assisted is probably okay but you'll have to decide for yourself. I haven't been EDC'ing in Las Vegas for a very long time, but I basically just carry manual (or sometimes Kershaw Speed Assist) folders on a pocket clip with blades between 3 and 4 inches and use some common sense and I believe I'm within the law. However, I don't know how comfortable I'd feel taking a knife down on the strip. It may be perfectly legal, but ultimately it's the cop on the street that will decide.
 
all of the above it true, if you are not an ass the police will let you get a way with a 3.5 inch blade off the strip. spring assisted knives are fine, do not "play with" in public and you will be fine.
 
6leafdom said:
So i am going to las vegas for a few days next week...and i start to wonder what edc knife i should bring with me.

i am not familiar with the laws in las vegas...but i do want to carry something big enough (within legal limit) for self defense


any suggestions??
Click to expand...
I have been to Vegas twice (1987 and 2008). Both times, I carried a 4" lockblade folder. Never had a problem. My girlfriend and I will be going to Vegas again in October. My 4" folder will be making the trip with me also (checked luggage of course!). I don't anticipate any problems. Carry your folder completely concealed (no pocket clip showing) and you should be fine. Enjoy your trip!
 
I take my BM mini grip with me -

Are you going as a tourist?

best

mqqn
 
I've lived in Vegas since I was 4 years old so 47 years now and carried a pocket knife since I was about 8. I usually will have either a spyderco native, persistence or tenacious with me or a BM mini grip. Plus a traditional slipjoint of some flavor pretty much everyday. Never had an issue and only once did I have to go back to the car and leave my knives there, that was at Hoover Dam the wife and I were going on the tour with some friends who were visiting and no knives allowed. Funny thing was they sold some inexpensive knives in the gift shop there, just a couple small tourist type knives but still :) As others have mentioned no automatic knives, no belt buckle knives and I would imagine nothing excessively large and you should be fine.
 
TOM1960 said:
I have been to Vegas twice (1987 and 2008). Both times, I carried a 4" lockblade folder. Never had a problem. My girlfriend and I will be going to Vegas again in October. My 4" folder will be making the trip with me also (checked luggage of course!). I don't anticipate any problems. Carry your folder completely concealed (no pocket clip showing) and you should be fine. Enjoy your trip!
Click to expand...

I wouldn't advise concealing it. That's when it definitely does become illegal. You shouldn't have any trouble with it clipped to your pocket and visible, but if you do somehow get caught with it concealed, you will most likely be in some trouble. Possibly pretty big trouble.
 
I went to Vegas in March, after reviewing knife laws I ended up confused enough that I stowed my knife at the border. Oddly enough I was able to carry a gun the whole trip.

From what I remember I think the city of North Las Vegas has banned anything over 3"... ...it's questionable weather or not their law is legal but they enforce it anyway. Since we were staying in Henderson and everything is interconnected I wasn't comfortable with risking charges for an illegal knife. From what I read a <3" blade is legal but I didn't have one at the time. For next years trip I've bought a Benchmade MPR, 2.9" blade.

I'd be interested in hearing a clear explanation of the Las Vegas laws from somebody who actually knows.
 
A.Dragg said:
I wouldn't advise concealing it. That's when it definitely does become illegal. You shouldn't have any trouble with it clipped to your pocket and visible, but if you do somehow get caught with it concealed, you will most likely be in some trouble. Possibly pretty big trouble.
Click to expand...
True. But there is a trade-off here. If you carry the knife exposed (pocket clip), it is in plain view and is subject to inspection by a LEO if he/she thinks that it might be illegal. Now that they have a reason to stop you, they can do a complete Terry search (frisk), ask for ID, etc. If they don't like the looks of the knife or they think that it is illegal, an arrest can be made. Sure, the charges may eventually be dropped, but in the meantime, you are detained with a court case, legal fees, etc. Can't think of a better way to ruin a vacation. Don't know about Nevada, but here in MA, there are a number of jurisdictions with 2.5" blade length limits for knives carried in public. Within a 30 minute or less drive of my home, I can easily pass through at least four such cities. MA allows these local ordinances under the "home rule" doctrine. Penalty is arrest and up to a $300 fine, plus a lifelong criminal record. That is why I recommend complete concealment of any EDC knife. Why give LEOs probable cause and set up a chain of events that leads to an arrest?
 
some years ago I was looking at tv and cops was one.I saw the cops put a person in jail for just having a butterfly in there back pocket.
 
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