Making a dagger legal?

N

Navyblu

Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Messages
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I'm looking to pick up a Microtech Ultratech with a D/E dagger blade shape. However, it wouldn't be legal here due to the double edge. So I raise the question, is there any way to convert a double edged blade to legal status? Hypothetically, if I were to dull the ever living **** out of the top edge, would it still technically be a dagger? Or, are there any other ways to go about it.

I 'd appreciate some feedback. Many thanks, happy Easter.
 
Technically if the edge were ground flat it would no longer be a dagger, just as a knife with a broken blade would no longer be X inches long in a jurisdiction with a length limit.

There are a few risks though. Grinding has a chance to damage the temper of the blade and weaken it due to the heat and stress. Done wrong you could even snap the blade clean off and then you're out $250.
 
Technically, by rendering the top edge dull, this would change the knife from the "classic" Texas case law definition of a dagger, although in reality, Texas law has NEVER specifically defined what constitutes a dagger, dirk, poniard or bowie knife.

That being specified, it may come down to what the LEO involved decides. Many (not all, by any means) LEOs will look at ANY symmetrically shaped blade and declare it to be a dagger, regardless of whether it has two sharp edges or not.

I occasionally open carry an Ontario Shiv (discontinued FB) that is dagger shaped (symmetrical spear point) but only has one sharp edge. Only 2 LEOs have ever asked about it, one, because of the homemade sheath I made for it, and the other one was just curious about it because of the scales I had on it at the time (They came para-wrapped from Ontario).

ETA - woulda beat Glistam but I had to take a In-House break. :D
 
I had the worry too about LEO interpreting general blade shape instead of two full-sharpened edges, but I was not able to find a single case where an arrest was made for a knife and the defendant raised a defensed based on the grounds that the knife was "not a dagger" because of it's design or number of edges. Closest I could fine was a Virginia case where they term "dirk" was debated if it was similar enough to a butterfly knife based on what it says in the dictionary. The defendant was acquitted in that case on appeal.

This seems a good time to bring up my usual observation about knife-carry: It's more about why the cop is looking at your knife than the knife itself. Texas has held that a common kitchen knife is a bowie knife if it's intended purpose is to commit a crime. But it's not if it's for cooking.

LOL zyzzogeton, maybe I should give day or two to give others a chance once in a while. :D
 
I don't know of any case law on a dagger, it's something that's pretty archaic, albeit still in the PC. It's very rare for the prohibited weapon charge to be brought by itself, even in places like San Antonio; it is almost always a charge that is added later when seeking an indictment. Carrying a prohibited weapon is a helpful charge in developing an overall picture that the defendant acted with willful intent to commit a crime by arming his/herself with a weapon prior to the overt criminal act.
 
Relying on law enforcement to exercise proper judgement in determining what is and isn't a dagger is hazardous. They operate on a basis of "arrest anyone for whatever we can and let the courts decide it later" and you have to spend thousands of dollars to clear your name.
 
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