Legal Measurement of Blade Length

S

spidyman

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Missoui Law states that the max legal length of a Folder is not to exceede a 4" blade and there is no max legnth limt for a fixed blade provided it is sheathed.

Question is: How is the lenght of the blade deterimed, is it measure from the center of the pivot to the tip, is it measure form the tip to the swadge, or is it a measure of the edge length (the sharpened area of the blade)?
 
A lot of laws are poorly crafted , there is no simple answer , depends on the Officer , the Jurisdiction and the Judge .

Chris
 
spidyman said:
Missoui Law states that the max legal length of a Folder is not to exceede a 4" blade and there is no max legnth limt for a fixed blade provided it is sheathed.

Question is: How is the lenght of the blade deterimed, is it measure from the center of the pivot to the tip, is it measure form the tip to the swadge, or is it a measure of the edge length (the sharpened area of the blade)?
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The blade on a folder is measured from the start of the handle to the tip,On a fixed blade is measured from the guard to the tip.
 
thanks, thats what I had suspected, but was wondering if any one had actually read all of the Mo code, as I have not.
 
A good defensive argument is supported with the manufacturer/maker's own specifications. For example, if Benchmade states in its literature a model has a 3.5" blade, that documentation would be used as evidence or justification.
Sharpened edge length can be different (less than) stated blade length. Know EXACTLY what your jurisdictional laws state.
 
I agree with you les,but a good defensive argument is only good if the leo is willing to listen to that.Which in a lot of situations the officer is going to measure the blade starting from the handle to point of the blade which will show a longer measurment.Sure if you measure the cutting edge only it will give a shorter measurment but the leo is going to measure it from the handle to the tip to win his argument.The end result will be a conviscated knife and a misdimeaner charge and possible arrest and jail time if you stand there and argue the point of law with him. Definitely the law has a different view sepparate from the MFGs view in measuring blade length.
 
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