-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
laws
- Thread starter Hermie
- Start date
The problem is with these kind of things, there is no simple answer.
http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/ma.txt
This is the Mass law. Also important is if balisongs are considered switch knives. This would probably be determined by case law. Also there are local laws to deal with. Definitely check those out if you live in a large city.
http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/ma.txt
This is the Mass law. Also important is if balisongs are considered switch knives. This would probably be determined by case law. Also there are local laws to deal with. Definitely check those out if you live in a large city.
- Joined
- May 6, 2001
- Messages
- 458
From what I was told at one of my favorite knife shops, it's legal to carry in a belt sheath, but not otherwise. Granted, he may have just been trying to sell me the knife, but the shop has been there for years, so I'm thinking they know what they're selling... and they carried a full line of both regular BM balis and customs when they were around.
I'll have to get back to him to ask where he gets his info from.
My concern is this: If it IS legal to belt carry, but not pocket carry a bali, what will the deal be on the BM31, with a pocket clip?
I'll have to get back to him to ask where he gets his info from.
My concern is this: If it IS legal to belt carry, but not pocket carry a bali, what will the deal be on the BM31, with a pocket clip?
it would be great if the info could come to light in a format that does not require a degree in rocket science. The Bali's sure are awesome knives, and i would love to add some to my collection. However i do not want to get into a can of worms if they are not allowed in the state of Mass.
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2000
- Messages
- 5,811
Everyone is right...-including Hermie-...there is certainly a great deal of "subjectivity" in legal definitions about what can/can't be carried, and in what manner.
As a very general statement (and I'm not from your area Hermie)...the Balisong knife brings with it a sinister history with Law Enforcement folks.., and also has been cast as a "Bad-Guy" tool by the media at large, and certainly by the entertainment industry.
If you go back through archival anecdotes from this Forum you will see many discussions related to this, but when you look for "concrete" answers, it would take looking into "Case Law"...which obviously varies depending on circumstance, presiding judicial folks, etc. There isn't going to be an easy answer that just makes common sense because in most cases involving felony possession (or lesser charges).., the circumstances involved do play a roll.
A "safe" assumption.., is that most people involved in the Justice Department do have a philosphical (if not pragmatic) problem with this type knife. Of course this is not because of anyone that hangs out with us in here.., it's mostly because of histrionic (and very vocal) advocates of disarming the entire populus, and this particular style of knife obviously garners a considerable amount of attention because of the "Flash & Funk" nature of various openings, and an overwhelmingly solid spot as "The Choice of Bad-Boys" in bladed weaponry.
Checking your local laws and how they are enforced is always a good idea, but I still believe anyone using a Balisong knife (even in the most critical defensive situation), will be scrutinized differently than someone who simply yanked a baseball bat out of the car.
"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
As a very general statement (and I'm not from your area Hermie)...the Balisong knife brings with it a sinister history with Law Enforcement folks.., and also has been cast as a "Bad-Guy" tool by the media at large, and certainly by the entertainment industry.
If you go back through archival anecdotes from this Forum you will see many discussions related to this, but when you look for "concrete" answers, it would take looking into "Case Law"...which obviously varies depending on circumstance, presiding judicial folks, etc. There isn't going to be an easy answer that just makes common sense because in most cases involving felony possession (or lesser charges).., the circumstances involved do play a roll.
A "safe" assumption.., is that most people involved in the Justice Department do have a philosphical (if not pragmatic) problem with this type knife. Of course this is not because of anyone that hangs out with us in here.., it's mostly because of histrionic (and very vocal) advocates of disarming the entire populus, and this particular style of knife obviously garners a considerable amount of attention because of the "Flash & Funk" nature of various openings, and an overwhelmingly solid spot as "The Choice of Bad-Boys" in bladed weaponry.
Checking your local laws and how they are enforced is always a good idea, but I still believe anyone using a Balisong knife (even in the most critical defensive situation), will be scrutinized differently than someone who simply yanked a baseball bat out of the car.
"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2001
- Messages
- 8,276
Mass State Law is one thing, but it does come down to where in Mass do you live. Not all laws will be the same across the State. For example, Boston may be more restrictive than Springfield in what can be carried legally, or vice versa. Best way to tell is go to your local police precinct and ask them for the criminal code regarding carrying knives. Just don't carry anything until you know for sure.
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2001
- Messages
- 8,276
Don't quote me on this, and you should still check with your local police precinct, but there a vast difference between collecting and keeping the bali at home, and possession, where the bali is on you while you are in a public place (typically anywhere outside the boundries of your house). Most states allow you to "collect" knives, and thus permit the sale of those knives. So if you are not planning on carrying them in public, I don't see how you are violating the laws as they stand.
I was hobbling around on my crutches at the mall today and went into the knife store. I looked in the cases and i saw that there was a very inexpensive Bali in the case for $ 25.00. When i asked the saleman about it, he told me that they could only legaly sell the bali if it was sharpened on only one side. Does anyone know if this is accurate ?
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2001
- Messages
- 8,276
Yes. Mass is one of those States that totally outlaws all double edged knifes (listed as "daggers" in the criminal codes). However, this still does not address the issue of wether the bali would be legal for you to carry. At least you know it is legal for sale. You're getting closer to your answer.
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2001
- Messages
- 128
Well I don't know myself whats legal in mass. or anywgere else for that matter.
I hope you find your anwser, I have tried to find that out myself for ontario, canada. This is what I've found both laws and opinions are subjective. This means that everybody has a dif. opinion largely bassed on heresay. From police off. to private detective, to lawyer, blade nut etc. For every individual that responded I got quite a dif. view of the law.
My cunclusion is that it is more important to find out how the law is enforced. The homicide division of your police dept. will deal with deadly weapons, there they can tell you how the law is acted out. This after all is what is important. Although bali's may or may not be illegal in ontario (I never found out for sure), there is one thing to note. Police are not out looking for people with bali's, it only becomes important once you have broken the law or showing it of in pub. etc...
Knives are for the responsable.
Bali's are sweet & safe.
I hope you find your anwser, I have tried to find that out myself for ontario, canada. This is what I've found both laws and opinions are subjective. This means that everybody has a dif. opinion largely bassed on heresay. From police off. to private detective, to lawyer, blade nut etc. For every individual that responded I got quite a dif. view of the law.
My cunclusion is that it is more important to find out how the law is enforced. The homicide division of your police dept. will deal with deadly weapons, there they can tell you how the law is acted out. This after all is what is important. Although bali's may or may not be illegal in ontario (I never found out for sure), there is one thing to note. Police are not out looking for people with bali's, it only becomes important once you have broken the law or showing it of in pub. etc...
Knives are for the responsable.
Bali's are sweet & safe.
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2001
- Messages
- 8,276
I agree in that in practise, chances of being stopped and frisk to see if you are carrying a bali is very slim to none if you don't act outrageously in public. But that does not mean you should not learn, know and understand the law as it is written. Those examples you've mentioned results from various degrees of application of the laws from those people's experience. The law is written vague to allow for interpertation based on the sitaution. The only way to really find out for sure, is if you are standing before a judge, and by then it's too late. You should learn the laws and then decide if you want to break them. And if you choose to break them, be willing to pay the penalty.
FYI, balisong are a banned weapon in Canada. Period. No sale. No possession. No uses allowed. No exception.
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2001
- Messages
- 8,276
No misleading, just never heard of Chris Reeves making a Double Edges Sebenza. Unless you have another knife made by another maker also calling it the Sebenza.
In either case, in Mass. per State law, no double-edges knives can be legally sold. It doesn't matter if it's a fixed blade or a folder. But if you believe the store clerk, you can legally buy single edged bali's, and for you, that's a good thing. Because it means you can legally own them. The only thing not clear is if you can legally carry a balisong on you, in public.
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2001
- Messages
- 8,276
.
I guess I'm not getting through. According to this question, you are saying you have a double edged Sebenza. Because the only way the law applies to your Sebenza is if it has two edges on the same blade, one on either side of the blade. If it's a regular Sebenza, as Chris Reeves makes them, they only come with a SINGLE EDGE blade, and the law does not apply. I can't answer your question until you clairfy if your Sebenza is a double edged knife or not, or if you confusing another knife with the Sebenza name. The facts aren't adding up here.
The Sebenza is a folder, that's a given, and does not apply
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2001
- Messages
- 8,276
Ahhhh, I think I figured it out (and tell me if I'm mistakened). The difference is that you are confusing Double EDGED (which is a knife with 2 cutting edges, like the CRK Kathathu's), with Double GRINDS (like the way the Sebenza's are made, with a grind on each side). Doesn't matter if the blade is Chiseled ground or double ground, it still results in the blade having only one edge. The law restricts any DOUBLE EDGED knives. Hope this finally clears things up.