Measuring knife blades

R

ragsbo

Joined
Aug 31, 2004
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We got in an interesting "discussion" at work tonight. How do you measure the legal length of a knife blade? Many places limits the length of a blade you can carry, so how do you measure it? I said it was from the blade comes out of the handle to the tip of the blade. Another guy says it was the cutting edge only. So does anyone have any idea? I am thinking it could be different in different jurisdictions. I have looked at some of the laws, but can't find where it says what to measure.
 
Been wondering about this one myself - particularly under FL law. If it's from the handle to the tip, some designs like spydercos in particular with large finger grooves in the blade would be considered to have much longer blades than what is actually usable as a blade.
 
It is rare that any jurisdiction states where to measure the blade from point to point. In NYC this question was raised in a court case as there is a under four inch limit. The defendant claimed only cutting edge should be measured, but the DA claimed it was the entire blade lenght, and that the manufactor and ads for the knives all posted the blade lenght as 4 1/2 " which was the measurement of the entire blade. This was a non jury trial. The judge deemed the blade to be 4 1/2 " as per both the ads for the product and the manufactors specs......I think it would be viewed the same elsewhere.....
 
Gollnick...Thanks for that post...it seems to agree with the Judge above and most knife company's policies....
 
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In CT the Dangerous Weapons statutes refer to the length of the cutting edge; "...any knife the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or over in length..." Most of the Officers in my Dept. simply hold a ruler to a blade an see how long it is from the point to the end of the cutting edge. The pricks (who are actually more correct) put the ruler on a table, place the point at zero, and then roll the belly of the blade in an arc so that they can measure the entire length of the cutting edge. They get the actual length of the cutting edge with their method but somehow it just seems a little unsportsmanlike to me. I don't know how they handle a recurve, but they probably use a measuring tape or something. In any event, in CT it's the length of the cutting edge that matters. I don't know how other states do it.
 
I always thought the whole notion of limiting blade lengths was all about said length of a blade not being long enough to stab someone in the heart.
Logically such a measure would be of the full length of steel up to a 'stopping point' such as the bolster or crossguard. Once the hole is started, the rest follows deeply as it can.
If they want to measure by the business edge, have at it. It is shorter and allows a longer blade. If that makes sense.....
 
platinummatt said:
its measured by the cutting edge isnt it? So can you have a 3 inch sharp edge, but a 7 inch blade?
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In CT, yes you could carry a knife like that. Just make sure it's still recognizable as a knife. CT General Statute 53-206 also prohibits the carrying of "any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument" but the statute includes the following case cite; "Cited. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 313. Knife not coming within description of statute cannot be included as 'any other dangerous or deadly weapon' and is not with prohibition of this section. Id., 551." Therefore, as long as it's a knife, with a 7" blade but only 3" of actual cutting edge (not double edged), it's legal and can't be considered to be "any other dangerous or deadly weapon".
 
Here in RI it is measured by the end where the handle meets the blade to the tip of the knife. So you could have a 3" cutting surface with a 3 1/2" total blade which would be illegal here. 3" inches and under :(
 
Shooter45 said:
Here in RI it is measured by the end where the handle meets the blade to the tip of the knife. So you could have a 3" cutting surface with a 3 1/2" total blade which would be illegal here. 3" inches and under :(
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Shooter45, I'll add that to my list of reasons why I decided not to move to RI when I retire. Another would be that your state wouldn't let me keep my H&K 91, .308 cal (so called) assault rifle. As screwed up as CT is, it seems that a lot of the surrounding states are even worse. You do have nicer beaches though, particularly Watch Hill.
 
Yes the beaches are rather nice. I am glad I still can keep my Hi-Cap mags so far.. :) oh wait what Hi-cap mags ;)
 
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