Minnesotans, what do you EDC?

It's frustrating when the laws are so vague that even the police are not sure what exactly is legal to carry. Personally I don't mind 3 inch blades, but prefer larger handles. I think Emerson has the right idea with their cqc14 which has a full sized handle and a sub three inch blade. I'd like to see other top manufactures follow suite.
 
The following link is for the applicable Minnesota statute as of 2008. I didn't see any limitation on blade length for knives. There is a prohibition against possessing any switchblade knife.

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=609.66&year=2008

However, individual cities such as Minneapolis and St. Paul are likely to have their own, more restrictive, statutes affecting the carry/possession of knives within those jurisdictions.

J.Mattson said:
the last thing you want is a concealed weapon violation on your record.
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A felony conviction on any charge is far worse to have on your record than any misdemeanor concealed weapon violation.
 
I did not read the link. As far as I know,there is no max on blade length.How ever,in Mpls. and Saint Paul if the blade is over 4" they will take it,and you have to go before a judge to get it back. Been a few years since I have talked to any St. Paul LEOs about it. But I will Monday.
 
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Some quick legal research - which shouldn't be taken as conclusive on the matter - indicates the following:

Minneapolis has a City Ordinance which limits the length of a folding knife's blade to a four (4) inches or less in length, measured in a straight line from the point to the handle - except if it's used as a weapon.
(More than 4" is automatically considered a "weapon".)

[Article 393.10 (f) of CODE OF ORDINANCES
City of MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA]

enacted March 6, 2009.


And Minnesota state law prohibits the unlawful possession, transportation, sale or use of a "weapon".

(Did not check St. Paul, or fixed blade knives.)

Hope this info is helpful. :cool:
 
Been a few years since I have talked to any St. Paul LEOs about it. But I will Monday.
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Thanks, be sure to get back to us on that Eric. What I also noticed to was that the statues refer to "folding" knives not fixed. I would also like to know that.
 
St.Paul has no limits other than Auto's, and they can be purchased and owned for collecting purposes, just not carried. So as long as you keep you nose clean, go for whatever in St.Paul, except for the obvious Government buildings, and Airports. Although... I wouldn't carry a machete around in the city, if you know what I'm saying. ;)
 
heavy_-j said:
this is also new info to me....i live in west minneapolis, and go to school in st.cloud,MN....

I've personally asked multiple cops what exactly the legal length is to conceal and carry a knife.....and none of them could give me an answer! most cops dont even know in my experience.....but they did tell me (after I showed them my knife) that whatever you're carrying is usually just fine....as long as its not some pocket sword or a switchblade, it doesnt matter to them until it ends up stuck inside someone!

I carry a gerber harsey air ranger, or a large griptilian in blaze orange....police officers have looked at both when i ask this question (or they had a different reason to talk to me haha) and have never had a problem with either.....

in other words....ive never been able to find a straight answer to what the legal length is....just use common sense....

unless you plan on using it for self defense, then it shouldnt be a big deal....hope that helps....
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This has been exactly my experience as well. Most cops just shrug and say, "Nobody is going to say anything."
 
I was raised in Illinois, which has a state-wide three inch limit unless you're out hunting or the like. Except for my Moras, the biggest knife I carried was a Leatherman Wave multitool which barely went under the limit. Got quite used to using knives that are practically half the size of the average folder, which eventually led to me switching to fixed blades for the simplicity of it.

I did run into a few people who were probably the reason Illinois got so paranoid. One moron carried a four inch folder with a guthook...then on the other side a very obvious-looking throwing knife which he explained was for ranged self defense. Then, I kid you not, a Ka-bar knockoff behind his back with an eight inch blade. He actually had a bit of a God complex in that he really did believe the police and law system could not tell him what to do, and was the type to brandish whatever he had at parties or to scare people. Supposedly a genius as he explained, he'd lecture you about natural selection and survival of the fittest. He played volleyball at our high school, worked for his mom at Pizza Hut, and his knives were reason 47 of 356 that he graduated without any friends left.
 
Seriously, folks....I can`t believe how worked up some of you get over this issue....when`s the last time you were ordered to "assume the position", and summarily searched by the police? When out in public, I don`t look or act like the authorities would have any reason to fu@k with me, so I pretty much carry what I want and don`t worry about it....
 
waterdogs said:
Seriously, folks....I can`t believe how worked up some of you get over this issue....when`s the last time you were ordered to "assume the position", and summarily searched by the police? When out in public, I don`t look or act like the authorities would have any reason to fu@k with me, so I pretty much carry what I want and don`t worry about it....
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It's not that big of a deal, really, because I don't know of a knife nut having only 1 knife. Most knife nuts have one knife that's perfect for any occasion and satisfies all legal requirements of the area. It just feels stupid if for some reason I got in trouble for carrying my Stryker, knowing full well I could have avoided it completely by carrying my Mini Griptilian instead. It feels even stupider since I know I could have avoided it by spending 30 seconds to post a question here.
 
waterdogs said:
when`s the last time you were ordered to "assume the position", and summarily searched by the police?
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I can't remember the exact date, but it was in June 2008. Why? The actual words spoken by the officer weren't "assume the position" but language which I refuse to quote on a public forum.

waterdogs said:
When out in public, I don`t look or act like the authorities would have any reason to fu@k with me
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Neither do I. At the time I was stopped, threatened, lied to, cursed and groped, I was engaged in my daily 6-mile run on a municipal jogging/bicycle path. I don't think that was "any reason to fu@k with me" but some BF members might disagree.

waterdogs said:
I pretty much carry what I want and don`t worry about it....
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If "carry what I want" is illegal in your jurisdiction, then I wish you continued good fortune in avoiding contact with the authorities. For persons unwilling to rely on blind luck, it's not unreasonable for them to be aware of the anti-knife statutes where they live.
 
I get worked up because, I like to carry legally. I like knowing that as long as it's this or that, it's alright to carry, and it affects alot of my knife buying desicions.
 
I live west of the Twin Cities. I've never heard of any 3" max knife length laws. Of course I never carry one with a blade over 3" so it really doesn't matter to me.
 
Well,I talked the to the boys in Saint Paul homicide. Any thing over 4" is going to be taken away. The fixed,or the folder and NOT returned. Then you will(might) be charged with a misdemeanor. I think we can put this under Selective Enforcement, if they want to,they will. You can call them at 651-266-5650 if you like.
 
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