Looking for recommendations for EDC in NYC

T

thegoldenrod

Joined
Dec 10, 2011
Messages
27
Hi,

I live in New York city and recently realized I can't legally carry even my teeny Kershaw chive.

Can anyone recommend some knives that would be legal to carry, but don't require a thumb nail to open?

Seems to me it would need to meet the following requirements:

1. under 4 inches
2. non-locking
3. no spring assist; can't be opened with a flick of the wrist/centrifugal force; not automatic.

Thanks so much!

Goldenrod
 
Spyderco has several knives that will work for you, Spyderco Urban-non locking blade & the Spyderco UKPK. Then there are some of the traditional knives that will work.
 
Thanks. I just ordered the spyderco grasshopper to have something but am concerned it won't feel very satisfying. Mostly I use knives to open letters and packages and boxes. Light office and household duties. But I like quality.
 
Well, you didn't say 1 hand openers so how about a new GEC #85 with the Easy Open notch. You don't need the nail nick to open it at all, you can just pinch it open. I should be getting mine tomorrow.
image-1871_4F37027D.jpg


Besides that, I can recommend the Urban or UKPK as one hand opening slip joints. I believe there are slip joint Kiwi models and the Squeak is new too. I carry a small pen knife every myself instead of these as it isn't threatening at all and plenty useful.

Edit: Some more pics and discussions on the #85 here
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/925177-Thoughts-on-new-GEC-models
 
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Thanks glistam and 2dead. Multitools, though useful, are too big for my pocket. I'm a woman and wear suits to work everyday and ideally would like to keep it in my jacket pocket. I also work in a courthouse and don't want to lose my license to practice law over a technicality in case I ever need to go through the detectors/screening devices. If these laws must exist, there should be a way for law abiding citizens to get a permit or something. I know I'd never use a knife to commit a crime. I am neither motivated to do so nor would ever risk going to jail or losing my license.

That said, I do like one-handed openers, and good quality. But not high prices...

Thanks, everyone!
 
I think the Squeak would be the closest to your Chive as it has a 2" blade. Seems to be priced in the mid 40s and pink version on the way too. To be honest, I wasn't aware that you could bring a knife into a courthouse so I'd keep anything that might get me in trouble at home. I wouldn't risk a Vic Classic.
http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=674
 
A lot of ladies I know carry the leatherman micra. It's very small, and has scissors instead of pliers but it does have a non-locking knife blade too. By far one of highest quality multitools I know, without a huge price tag. It would definitely be legal, however, it is not a one-hander.

I too was not aware that you could take any kind of knife into a court house. I take it your are an employee and exempt from searches? Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that still prohibited even if you don't get searched on the way in?
 
As an Officer of the Court ( I assume you are a lawyer and therefore hold that title in NY), you most likely would not have an issue with a legal knife, but the Unifed court system in NYS bans any knife legal or not carried by anyone not a LEO or using the said knife as a tool for repair service, while on a property under their control. This includes rented locations where off site hearings are held too. As useful as a knife can be, I suggest you either get a small Swiss Army Knife or not carry one ( even the SAK is not authorized on site). You know how the law lives in the details sometimes.....
 
Tom19176,
I was thinking about what glistam wrote and was going to post that he's right, and you're right, I should just drop the whole thing at work. I really don't have to open too much mail at work, and am so busy, I don't have time to use one much anyway. I've only very recently even gotten interested in pocket knives, and got a few small Kershaws and thought they were pretty and fun and useful. It didn't even occur to me that they would be illegal until I did more reading on this website. Anything can be a weapon (hasn't anyone played "Clue" or watched Law and Order?) So, to criminalize a common tool seems like casting too broad a net. But, don't get me started...

Thank you so much for your insight. I was feeling reluctant to ask anyone at work, because it seems like the thing to do generally is fly under the radar, so now I don't have to ask anyone. Are you an LEO who works in the Unified Court System? I asked a criminal defense attorney the other day, and he didn't know of any license one could get to carry a knife, like there are licenses to carry a gun. That seems odd. I certainly don't want to carry a gun. I just want to open mail and reduce the number of paper cuts I get...

Oh well.

But, I am interested in what the options are for when I'm not at work. I couldn't figure out how to search for knives with so many restrictions: length, non-locking, non-assist, not able to be opened with centrifugal force...

Thanks, everyone, for your sage input.

thegoldenrod
 
I am a former NYC LEO but not from the court system, I just spent endless days there waiting to give statements to ADA's and on rare occasions testify at Grand Jury and trials. There is no license for knives since the NYS law feels they are either tools or weapons and the intent or design is what determines which they are. The assisted openers have been wrongfully labelled switchblades by the NYPD even though they are not. There are those in law enforcement ( NRA member types) that feel a fishing/hunting/trapping license allows you to carry a gravity knife or switchblade at any time since the wording indicates you possess for use while doing those activites but does not dictate you must be going to and from them (the NYC Admin Code limit on a 4" blade does say it must be to and from), and a hook and line are fishing equipment so you comply...I would not suggest that would work, and at best it MAY allow you to win at trail but some officers would not agree it is a right to carry the knife at any time for potential use for fishing. The best action in NYC is not to carry anything that is even close to illegal.
 
Tom, thanks so much for your experienced insight. My impression was what you described: it's basically up to the officer whether to arrest, and even if in the end I could win on a technicality, maybe, I never want to be arrested, anywhere, especially not here. I did the criminal defense clinic inlaw school because it was the only way to get trial experience and we got tours of central booking and interviewed clients in jail and they treat people like animals. There's no privacy, even to use a bathroom. There's a seatless toilet bowl made of metal smack dab in the middle of the holding pen. If you're not tough enough to get a seat on one of the few metal benches, you're on the floor. And this is for women, too. At least in 1990. Then they could hold you there like that for 72 hours before you're even arraigned. It was mostly prostitutes and drug addicts, many of whom were both. Anyway, I won't even go near a protest anymore.

But back to knives, I ordered a blue Spyderco UK PK (penknife) for not too much money. Can anyone tell me the difference between the spyderco ukpk frn leaf blade like I got for $38 on amazon and the spyderco urban g-10, s30v for $104 or so? Just different materials? I think there's also carbon fiber for $120+ or so. Is it worth the price differential?

2dead: don't really like the looks of the gec #85 plus it's pricey and feel the same about the kiwi. The squeak also looks weird and has such different proportions from what I'm used to, it looks awkward. Do you have personal experience with them?

Shockjock- you mean like regular old Swiss army knives? My only real problem w traditional folders is that I can't get them open w my thumbnail and don't want to carry an extra tool just for that.

Thanks, fellas. I really appreciate your help. I don't have too many people I can discuss knives with.
 
I have a few multi blade #85s but my single blade just arrived today. Very easy open just by pinching the blade. The price difference comes in having people in front of the machines shaping and finishing the knife. I don't have experience with the Kiwi or Squeak. I understand the Kiwi looks funky but its supposed to be comfortable in hand. The thin wharncliffe blade is actually very useful for light edc. I plan on getting a pink Squeak for my sister when its available. It 1/4" shorter closed than my Urban and the blade is only 2". The awkward shape is due to it having a short blade but still the Spyderco leaf shape.

I snapped a couple quick pics for you. Below is a UKPK similar to the one you bought (but with a drop point blade instead of leaf blade), an Urban with the leaf blade (ignore the glue), the #85 EO, and my normal EDC, a GEC #33. The difference between a FRN UKPK and the G10/CF S30V ones is the steel (S30V is keeps an edge longer but is harder to sharpen), blade grinds (S30V one is full flat tapered grind as opposed to the hollow saber grind), handle material, and back spring strength. The FRN one is much easier to open as the back spring doesn't take up the whole back. It only goes half way on the FRN one which you can kinda see in my pic. I think its a great knife and will handle anything you throw at it. I have a G10 S30V version of my drop point UKPK and I don't use it as the FRN one works just fine for me.

One other thing I would recommend is to remove the pocket clip when you get it. You can't clip the knife to your pocket or whatever as the knife would no longer be considered concealed which it must be by law. Having the knife completely concealed, besides the law, is your first line of defense from being stopped.

IMG_2044.jpg

IMG_2045.jpg
 
2dead: thank you do much for your thorough, informative reply! Love the photos, too! I'm frustrated because I chose a seller from amazon that used prime shipping (2 day-already paid for w yearly fee) but they didn't send it yet. I'm used to "kershawguy" who sends things the same day you place the order...
Oh well. I'm also frustrated because I have a bunch of beautiful, cool knives I can't take out of my house. I really like the kershaw scallion- I have an olive green one w a black blade. It's just the perfect size and is fun to open.

There's a German guy on YouTube who did a pretty thorough comparison of the ukpk's. It's called something like knives legal in Europe: spyderco ukpk.

Although he discussed the difference about spring length, or how the metal is the full length on the blade of the higher end ones, not half, he didn't mention the practical translation of the shorter one's being easier to open.

Are you a dealer or just a collector. You really seem to know your stuff.

Thanks again so much. It's kind of hard to figure out what to get without being able to touch or see them and tools are kind of personal.
 
goldenrod, there are dealers in Nassau and Suffolk that sell knives and have a wide selection. If you are as interested as you seem you may want to check them out. On a side not, NYS deems possession to mean in your house also, so if you are in the City, I would start fishing and get a license and tackle....
 
thegoldenrod- I meant more like a mike snody economist, I believe JK makes a friction folder too. They dont have a nail nick, the rear of the tang (near the pivot) is extended when closed, so it can be opened with one hand if necessary. Like a svord peasant folder, which are mora cheap by the way, I got mine for $12 or so.
SJ24
 
No problem goldenrod. I'm not a dealer. I just found myself in the same situation a few years ago as you are in today. I now mostly collect traditional slip joints now.
 
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Hi all. Anyone know where I can buy a boker subcom plus 42, not in pink? It looks like it fits the bill for NYC legal carry. I think it was designed for the German or some European market with "42" a reference to the law there. It seems just like the F, except it doesn't lock. Saw a pink one on eBay from a Canadian dealer with $16 shipping. Seemed steep and would prefer black on black. Thanks, guys!

Oh, I ran into an old friend last night who recently retired as a criminal defense attorney. He agreed that cops will try very hard to flick open any knife to say it's a gravity knife. And it can't lock.
 
Well...There is no law saying it can't lock, but most lockable knives can be flicked open....
 
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