MY C58 JD Smith confiscated!!

J

jdsmith02115

Joined
Aug 5, 2002
Messages
126
Last week in a trip to a federal building in Boston to renew my passport, I tossed all of my pocket's contents, including my Spyderco JD Smith C58G, into the tray, never imaging that the following would happen; It was confiscated with explanation that I was bringing a dangerous weapon onto federal property!!!
All protests fell upon deaf ears, even though I was even tempered, modulated my voice to be calm and rational and generaly deferential and respectful. I have passed through the doors of other official buildings and my EDC's were simply held for me until I'd concluded my business in these places.
Never this kind of outrageous confiscation. We are losing this battle peolple; WRITE THOSE LETTERS!!!
 
At the Richland County Courthouse in Columbia, SC they proudly display the confiscated items that they steal from their patrons. They won't let you return the item to your car since they feel that you have already entered the building with an illegal weapon and are now in their sphere of control. These petty LEOs are power hungry pricks and do not represent the broader cross section of their agency who are out in the field actually doing their job instead of being doormen at public buildings. I try to remember to stick to non-metallic edged tools or titanium when I go in the courthouse. All I am doing in there is research and occasionally like to be able to cut out a section of a sheet of paper containing the info I need.
 
This to me feels especially messed up since the knife I carried in that instance was not actually illegal for me to carry on the street in my pocket. Littlte did I realize that ,as you say, I was entering their sphere of control with a different set of rules and regs and that my property was subject to confiscation. Me; A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN treated as though I were potentially Jack the Ripper!!
 
That particular blade length could be considered illegal in the confines of the City of Boston per their by-laws. I would write a letter to the Security Department of that particular building requesting that they return your property. Send it certified mail. Address it to the Supervisor or the Officer in Charge. Federal Buildings are always tricky, even more since 9/11. I don't agree with it, but you do have to be careful. I don't travel into Boston with a knife I don't mind being confiscated because of the ridiculous length restriction, but its there.
 
Federal building? Downtown Boston?
You did not make an attempt to "check" the knife?
You just emptied the contents of your pockets into a tray pre-metal detector?

Hmmmm......
 
Its a FEDERAL building, hate to say it but you should have known better.
 
And you should KNOW that that blade size IS illegal in Boston. Nothing over 2 1/2 inches. I am sorry you lost your knife.
 
My EDC is something I more or less automaticaly put in a pocket out of habit. I didn't even actually recall it was there until I had to empty pockets. As well, according to the present statutes, I as a knife professional, am exempt from the Boston carry laws as they they now read. And BTW, I did attempt to check it, but thought it wise to put it in the tray first; that's when the confiscation occured, with my freely exposing the knife and offering it for "checking".
 
So you are the designer of the knife? Is that why you are a "knife professional"?
Or is it some other reason you are a knife professional? And, you just use the name jdsmith02115 because you are such a big fan of his work.
 
I know never to enter the fed building here in AK with any kind of cutting tool. Its understood that its forefeit if they "catch" you with it. Is this something that you have done in the past?
 
He probably works at a knife store. I would still write a letter. State that you are a professional and "exempt" from the Boston Statute in the letter as well. See what pans out - be more careful next time.
 
Wow. That's really sad to hear. I actually worked at a federal building for a few months last year. I'm not sure what their policy was regarding knives but they constantly told people to go back to their cars if they tried to enter with a cell phone. I don't see why they couldn't have simply given you your knife back and asked you to leave it in your car. It sounds like the guard wanted your knife.

I am not familiar with the knife you lost. Out of curiosity, how long is the blade and how much does it sell for?
 
jdsmith02115 said:
My EDC is something I more or less automaticaly put in a pocket out of habit. I didn't even actually recall it was there until I had to empty pockets. As well, according to the present statutes, I as a knife professional, am exempt from the Boston carry laws as they they now read. And BTW, I did attempt to check it, but thought it wise to put it in the tray first; that's when the confiscation occured, with my freely exposing the knife and offering it for "checking".
Click to expand...

Knife professional? :confused:

Sucks you got it confiscated, but really you should have known better. :o
 
I wouldn't even try to enter a Federal building with a SAK. It's too bad this happened, but lesson learned.
 
jill jackson said:
So you are the designer of the knife? Is that why you are a "knife professional"?
Or is it some other reason you are a knife professional? And, you just use the name jdsmith02115 because you are such a big fan of his work.
Click to expand...

I am J.D. Smith, designer of that knife.
 
jdsmith02115 said:
I am J.D. Smith, designer of that knife.
Click to expand...

Excellent design, but how does that make you a knife professional and free you of the knife carrying laws?

It's not that I agree with them taking it away, but it is the law.
 
just a side note, J.D.

NIce to see you carry your own design.

Shows you've got faith in it.

In australia I,d get a $4000 fine as well as lose the knife.

Thats the trouble with a good folder, sometimes you forget your carrying.
 
Sad to lose a knife but have you heard about those planes that crashed into those big buildings a few years ago? It caused a major revamping of security measures world wide.

You should have known better.

I lost a Leatherman Micra to the Guatemalan authorities at the Guatemala City airport in 2004. I was in the process of adopting my son. I made it in and out of various federal and state buildings in the process. I made it through a few airport check points on the way South. I was in and out of a couple of Guatemalan and US embassy checkpoints. Then on the last leg of the journey I forgot to put it in my checked luggage.

A bit cheaper of a loss and I have since replaced with a nicer one but after remembering to leave in the car, at home, check it in the luggage I forgot on the home stretch.
 
Federal law allows only knives 2.5" and shorter. For certain types of buildings (like courthouses) knives are totally prohibited. As a general rule I don't carry any knife into any facility with a metal detector and an X-Ray machine. Whenever I got into such building and remembered carrying a knife, I would make up an excuse to go back to my car and stash it BEFORE they see it.

Really, you can't rely on the good grace of a government employee to safekeep your technically illegal item. They might do it if they know you, but there's no way they'd extend the same courtesy to strangers.

Boston law says 2.5" tops. Federal Law says 2.5" tops. You're entering a federal building in Boston with a knife almost 4" long? I'm sorry for your loss, but I think you're lucky that they simply confiscated it. They could have been nasty and pressed charges.
 
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