ohio knife laws (summit county) A bit of info

[novaflare]

Well after along time searching and a few dozen calls and transfers later i got some good information. Other than mechanical knives (such as any thing but the smallest of switch blades like the schrade button knive for example) Any knife fix blade or folder with a 4 inch or shorter blade length is legal to carry in summit county ohio. Unless your paticular city has a more restrictive law. Unfortunatly in this case the old county law trumps and invalidates city law etc rules it does not apply. simply put higher government will see this as a law designed to protect you better than county or state.

Where i got this information was from the summit county sheriff dept. basically its the old story of blade no longer than your palm is wide. Sure it varies but with out a tape mesure its at least a well this one i can most likly carry or a no way in hell can i carry mesurement.
So again 4 inch or shorter blade you can carry longer than 4 you can't. Balisongs are unfortunatly considered a mechanical knife or gravity knife.

 

[Vivi]

I've talked to a few police officers from different areas in Stark Country and the most common response I had was that any concealed knife could be considered illegal under state law, but that anything that's visible shouldn't be a problem. They said that was the by the book definition, enforcement of it will vary. A fixed blade hidden in a pant leg or jacket would get you a more questionable look than a SAK in the pocket for instance, though both could be considered concealed. I asked if there were any specific laws aside from this and he said nothing about blade length, opening mechanisms etc. It seems the departments I talked to were acting under the state law.

I've only been searched once since living here and I didn't have a knife on me, so I don't have any personal experience as far as that goes. But thanks for sharing what you found out, I go through summit county often.

 

[novaflare]

I've talked to a few police officers from different areas in Stark Country and the most common response I had was that any concealed knife could be considered illegal under state law, but that anything that's visible shouldn't be a problem. They said that was the by the book definition, enforcement of it will vary. A fixed blade hidden in a pant leg or jacket would get you a more questionable look than a SAK in the pocket for instance, though both could be considered concealed. I asked if there were any specific laws aside from this and he said nothing about blade length, opening mechanisms etc. It seems the departments I talked to were acting under the state law.

I've only been searched once since living here and I didn't have a knife on me, so I don't have any personal experience as far as that goes. But thanks for sharing what you found out, I go through summit county often.

Yeh for me it is a true pain. I do alot of bike riding and i mean alot. I essentially cover this entire county and a large large part of surrounding counties. I never leave home with out a knife. I currently carry one of a few diffrent one hand liner locks my gerber apple gate mini covert or my master knife made tanto liner lock or any of a dozen other knives. I have had a few comments on the gerber from cops in various cities. Generally with a bit of a chuckle. I mean realy open the knife is a whopping 6.5 with a 3.25 inch blade.

So many cops have asked to check it out and are amazed at how heavy it feels esp when i tell them its only 2.2oz lol.

Im still sending out emails and makign calls to other surrounding counties clerk of courts sherrif depts etc. Should have some more info tonight with some luck.