New York knife laws

A

alexhayn

Joined
Mar 3, 2013
Messages
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I will be traveling to New York here shortly and my concern is what I can carry? I generally carry a Benchmade Griptilian or a Spyderco Manix 2, would I be able to get away with either of them.
 
Tough call. I've no idea if NYC's laws affect Long Island. I would say, when in doubt, put them inside your pocket so the clip isn't visible. I carry a disposable folder in a kydex neck sheath in those situations.
 
Upstate has more lax knife laws than Texas. But when you start getting down state you realize why upstate wants to be their own state.
 
alexhayn said:
Does anyone have any definite yes or no answers?
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"Definite yes or no answers" are a nonexistent in regards to most knife laws (which the except of a few states), because they are too vague and have a multitude of influences, including rulings by the high courts, police training, popular biases and the circumstances of each individual encounter with police (i.e. suspicious behavior vs. mind your own business).

Currently state law and case law suggests that any knife that has a lock can be considered a "gravity knife" due to a supremely inept ruling by the courts that any knife that can be grasped by its blade and swung open, and locks in the open position, can be a gravity knife. This more or less includes all folders that lock, including the Griptillian. Enforcement is much more "rabid" in NYC with people often being frisked with little or no cause, combined with the city law that any knife that is visible is illegal. Areas upstate don't have this prohibition on visible knives, and tend to simply not care about the gravity knife law, but it's hit or miss.
 
When in doubt going to socialist, occupied states, I DO NOT carry a knife beyond a SAK. I can not afford the hassles in the event of illegal search.
 
The answer is NO! The STATE law has been upheld to mean any "flickable" locking knife is a gravity knife. Is this less enforced upstate? Yes. Do you wnat to take a chance? I don't know I am not you. I will tell you that NYS Troopers have used the gravity knife charge many times also. If you're asking here, it means your concerned, so the only safe advise is to say follow the law as written, and don't carry any locking knife that can be flicked open. The ones you listed clearly can be and both have passed the test in court in NYC enforcing the NYS law.....Why take the chance?
 
why not carry a pocket sized fix blade? if the blade is less than 4 inches, it is legal to be carried concealed.
 
I live in Long Island, the knives youve mentioned are fine. Just dont go into the city with them, cops there will say they are gravity knives.
 
I put together a post on knife law in NY a while back.

http://tgace.com/2012/04/12/ny-knife-law/

Just remember this is the law how I understand it and how it's applied in my part of the State. I'm not saying that the law is just/unjust...right or wrong here. This is just how I have understood it and on occasion applied it.
 
tgrace, interesting read. NYC is different than most of the rest of the state for sure. Don't over look NYPL 265.20#6 which allows for the carry of most folders under certain conditions and NYC admin code 10-133 also allows for the carry of most knives under certain conditions. General carry in most of NYS is best suited by choosing a non tactical style knife. Certain sod buster styles are reliable and can't be flicked open ( even the liner lock ones) and tend to non weapon like by design. NYS does not prohibit concealed carry and NYC actually demands it to be concealed. Having the knife not visible adds a defense benefit as the entire question of reasonable search enters the court case if you were to be arrested. Never stated anything is carried as a weapon.
 
NYPL 265.20-6

6. Possession of a switchblade or gravity knife for use while hunting,
trapping or fishing by a person carrying a valid license issued to him
pursuant to section 11-0713 of the environmental conservation law.
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Unless you are hunting or fishing at the time I wouldn't put much stock in that section to insure you against arrest.
 
tgrace, that is the law. It allows for possession under certain conditions. I will tell you it has caused the DA to DP the case when presented as a defense. False arrests occur all the time. If you inform the officer of the law ( carry a copy) and you are in compliance, he is at risk if he moves forward with a false arrests.
 
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