Yep. You have just discovered the classic Liberal Catch -22 here in Mass.
Sure you can carry a knife openely any size. and you actually have to as concealing it is a crime . which is a felony? But as you said when you do openly carry you run the risk of someone being mentally assualted. Thats right in Massacusetts you can be arrested and charged for someone "feeling" threatened by what is attached to your body. You dont have to actually DO anything . just your appearance is enough for them to call 911 and have you arrested. Got a knife clipped to your pocket? thats all it takes. and believe me there is an endless supply of neurotic Progressive liberals just waiting to nail your ass to the wall on this. I have been harrassed twice over a folding knife clipped to my pocket but was lucky enough to deal with a police officer who wasnt a goddamn Nazi. But some fat ass liberal bitch actually called the police on me. Know what I was doing? FOOD SHOPPING!!!!! I was buying eggs and hamburger. and I had my spyderco clipped to my pocket.
So whats the conclusion they want you to reach? ITS not worth the risk of criminal prosecution to even bother carrying a knife. Isnt that a wonderfully simple solution? Same as carrying a handgun . Its just so much easier for you to just not even think about it. This is all part of the pacification of the masses and you all better wake the hell up cause its coming to a town near you very very soon. If you think the supposed victories of the past are the end of it your sadly mistaken