Hey, I am going on vacation to deep creek maryland next week, and was curious if anyone could tell me if it is against the law to carry my blade there. I would be carrying one of my 3 normal carry blades which are: CRKT urban shark, spyderco harpy, and the ol trusty SAK. I live in PA, and am a bit spoiled with the lack of any known knife carry laws. (I first found this out when taking my act 235 training, and my instructor took us out to a mall for lunch wearing his USMC k-bar!) So far all I could find was the typical ststute definitions all written in lawyereze which I understand about as well as arabic, so ANY help would be most appriciated. Thanks
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Maryland anyone?
- Thread starter tkbill
- Start date
http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/md.txt
First: I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV.
Generally, MD law is fairly permissive as to carry of folding knives. I believe fixed blades are entirely forbidden for concealed or open carry.
Don't use it to attack anyone.
Folders tend to count as "pen knives", which do not count as a "deadly weapon" for the sake of pure concealed carry.
I've carried any number of folders of varying lengths in both Baltimore and the more... liberal... areas (Potomac, Chevy Chase, etc.) without getting a second glance from law enforcment.
Washington, DC, however... that's a WHOLE 'nother story.
-j
First: I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV.
Generally, MD law is fairly permissive as to carry of folding knives. I believe fixed blades are entirely forbidden for concealed or open carry.
Don't use it to attack anyone.
Folders tend to count as "pen knives", which do not count as a "deadly weapon" for the sake of pure concealed carry.
I've carried any number of folders of varying lengths in both Baltimore and the more... liberal... areas (Potomac, Chevy Chase, etc.) without getting a second glance from law enforcment.
Washington, DC, however... that's a WHOLE 'nother story.
-j
silenthunterstudios
Slipjoint Addict
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- Feb 2, 2005
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Autos are a no no. AO's will be frowned upon, probably, but everybody and their brother has one. Smaller folders will not catch as many eyes as a big folder will. Basically, as long as you don't do anything that would warrant a search from an officer, you'll be fine. Most of the LEO's in MD are good people. FB's, in my experience, have been okay if you are hunting, camping or fishing, but an FB on your belt will arouse suspicion. Things are much more conservative the farther west you get in MD, and Deep Creek is about as west as you can get. Of the three you mentioned, and you said you're going to be vacationing at DPL, you should be fine.
Here's a link with the statute and some case law. http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/md.txt
What the other folks have said is correct. No blade length limit for folders, no switchblades (but some assisted openers), and generally no fixed blades BUT it's ok if you are doing outdoorsy stuff. Keep then in your car trunk when driving.
Oddly enough according to case law, nobody's been convicted for carrying a knife in Maryland in decades who was not already doing something illegal (selling drugs, killing people, that sort of thing).
What the other folks have said is correct. No blade length limit for folders, no switchblades (but some assisted openers), and generally no fixed blades BUT it's ok if you are doing outdoorsy stuff. Keep then in your car trunk when driving.
Oddly enough according to case law, nobody's been convicted for carrying a knife in Maryland in decades who was not already doing something illegal (selling drugs, killing people, that sort of thing).
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2004
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- 6,997
I have always interpreted the laws (Baltimore native here) to say this:
No automatics
No gravity knives
No double-edged blades
No ballistic knives
Fixed blades must be carried openly
Balisongs are in the grey area, even thought they're not specifically mentioned in any of the statutes. LEOs think of old movies with James Dean and usually haul you in when they see your butterfly, but unless you have other charges against you, it won't stick. They'll also have a difficult time figuring out what to book you for, since they won't be able to find any mention of a butterfly knife in any of their books. Heh.
There's no actual blade length restriction on the books in MD.
Over all, you'll be fine, especially in Western MD, far from most metropolitan areas.
Edit: Automatics are defined as being activated by a mechanism, such as a button.
No automatics
No gravity knives
No double-edged blades
No ballistic knives
Fixed blades must be carried openly
Balisongs are in the grey area, even thought they're not specifically mentioned in any of the statutes. LEOs think of old movies with James Dean and usually haul you in when they see your butterfly, but unless you have other charges against you, it won't stick. They'll also have a difficult time figuring out what to book you for, since they won't be able to find any mention of a butterfly knife in any of their books. Heh.
There's no actual blade length restriction on the books in MD.
Over all, you'll be fine, especially in Western MD, far from most metropolitan areas.
Edit: Automatics are defined as being activated by a mechanism, such as a button.
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2005
- Messages
- 8,167
I carry a Spyderco Mili and have never had any problems, and I have used it in malls and what not. I was just out to deepcreek and Swallow Falls state park(GO! if you can....not far) I carried my dozier whittler and rat-3 in public(not at same time) with no issue or even looks, and it was open. I dont think you should have any issue with those knives mentioned unless you draw attention to yourself.
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2005
- Messages
- 2,826
There's a festering stigma rising about knives that is fueled by anti-knife regulations in the U.K. Unless it's caught early on, it will spread throughout states like Maryland very quickly. The only reason Maryland hasn't changed its laws is because it hasn't gotten around to it. Now that "tactical knives" is becoming a derogatory term (like Saturday Night Specials), I predict things will rapidly change.
See article here:
http://www.freecapitalist.com/columnists/guest_archives.php?id=159
See article here:
http://www.freecapitalist.com/columnists/guest_archives.php?id=159
