Michigan

[andrew_cc]

Hey all, cant seem to find much information on this, (probably just looking in the wrong places...) except on knife laws of the 50 states, and its a little sketchy...



What is a suitable EDC for complying with Mi laws? 3 inch lockable folder.... seems to be a consensus as a stay on the safe side approach, but does anyone know specifically?


Best regards,

Andrew

 

[json77]

Hey all, cant seem to find much information on this, (probably just looking in the wrong places...) except on knife laws of the 50 states, and its a little sketchy...



What is a suitable EDC for complying with Mi laws? 3 inch lockable folder.... seems to be a consensus as a stay on the safe side approach, but does anyone know specifically?


Best regards,

Andrew

Whatever you want so long as it is not an automatic, not bigger than 3 inches, and is not double edged.

 

[BigDG]

"Michigan -750.226... Carrying with unlawful intent
Any person who, with intent to use the same unlawfully
against the person of another, goes armed with a pistol
or other firearm or dagger, dirk, razor, stiletto, or
knife having a blade over 3 inches in length, or any
other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument, shall
be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in
the state prison for not more than 5 years or by a fine
of not more than 2,500 dollars."

and goes on to say

"- 750.227. (1) A person shall not carry a dagger, dirk,
stiletto, a double-edged nonfolding stabbing instrument of
any length, or any dangerous weapon, except a hunting
knife adapted and carried as such, concealed on or about
his or her person, or whether concealed or otherwise in
any vehicle... except in his or her dwelling house [or]
place of business... (3) A person who violates this
section is guilty of a felony..."

i'm not a lawyer, but it looks to me it has to do with intent and concealment and you may technically be able to carry an over 3" blade unconcealed, but like you said its best to be on the safe side so there's no disputing which side of the law your on.

 

[CBGB fan]

I know a person that had just bought nice knife, Stag/brass fittings/hand made.
The blade length was close to 6" he carried it in a sheath on his belt. The police harrassed him on a daily basis, threatening to prosecute, etc.
For help he phoned a lawyer and was told the MCL # 750.226. law concerning knives. He then carried a copy of the law with him and showed it to the next LEO that harrassed him, and to the Chief of Police. He was never bothered again.

Carrying with unlawful intent
Any person who, with intent to use the same unlawfully
against the person of another, goes armed with a pistol
or other firearm or dagger, dirk, razor, stiletto, or
knife having a blade over 3 inches in length, or any
other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument, shall
be guilty of a felony.

 

[warhawke]

Michigan has determined that Balisongs and Gravity knives are considered switchblades under the UCC. Sorry, that is one of the reasons I moved the heck out.

 

[cmdionne]

Not a lawyer, but I do live in Michigan, and this is how I see the law.

As long as you don't have unlawful intent you can carry whatever the hell you want. However I feel that what you're carrying could probably be used to prove your "intent" in court, so I try to keep things pretty conservative. I often carry folders over 3" and when I'm out in the woods or whatever I usually have a 4-5" fixed blade. Never had a problem.

Be sure to check to see if there are any local knife ordinances. I work and go to school in Detroit proper, and they have an explicit 3" rule, which I follow when I'm in Detroit.

I never refer to my knife as a weapon or state or infer that I carry it for self defense.

 

[seanv1]

I've lived in Michigan for years. The case law is really intent-based. Carrying a pocket-clipped 3" or over folder is totally okay; most cops or other LEO's won't really give you trouble. Any folder over 3" in blade length is legal, except when you show intent to used it as a weapon. Fixed blades are still regarded as illegal, unless carried in a camping/hunting/fishing/hiking/etc. capacity. Be careful here, because although Michigan law changed allowing for Open Carry of firearms, the knife laws, which should allow open carry of fixed blades, have yet to be revised to coincide, and cops ARE NOT cognizant of the law here in the greater metropolitan Detroit area- I level that criticism, even as I am in school for Criminology/Law Enforcement. If a cop ever stops you, tell him your EDC/tactical folder is for work or utility- never call it a weapon, or infer it's for self defense. Michigan has a great deal of municipal ordinances covering blade length; usually the 3" and under variety. Be wary too, as some judges consider 3" to be the entire blade assembly length, not just the cutting edge length, as actually defined per state case law precedent.

MCL 750.226 and MCL 750.227 cover the applicable sections, along with minor references in the other MCL750 firearms sections. There's a whole body of precedent-setting case law here in Michigan too, generally siding in favor of the carrier. There's talk of revising MI knife laws to coincide with the changes in MI firearm carry laws, but who knows if they'll ever actually reconcile the two similar policy groups....

 

[Gollum]

Fixed blades are still regarded as illegal, unless carried in a camping/hunting/fishing/hiking/etc. capacity.

So is carrying an IZULA under your shirt illegal?
The law doesn't say specifically, it just talks about "dangerous weapons"
Also the way I read it, I can't have a 4-5" fixed blade in an inaccessible part of my car. (in the back of my SUV)?