PA knife law?

L

LoboLvr

Joined
Jun 7, 2008
Messages
4
Howdy all,

My first post. Does anyone know what you can't carry in PA. I recently got a Lone Wolf LOBO auto..black palm wood/black blade. I wanted a decent knife for carry as i work in some nasty places in Philadelphia and this little brother makes me feel a little safer.

However, I don't want to get arrested or have my blade taken away.

I'm new to this stuff and the legal sites are found are very confusing.

Thanks in advance for any information.

David
 
Hi Dave - That Lone Wolf Lobo sounds like a beautiful knife , but it's best to carry it where it's legal.

Quoted from Bernard Levine's site:

Pennsylvania - Pa. C.S.A. 18.908. Prohibited offensive
weapons. (a) Offense defined.--A person commits a
misdemeanor of the first degree if, except as authorized
by law, he makes, repairs, sells, or otherwise deals in,
uses, or possesses any offensive weapon. (b) Exception.--
It is a defense under this section for the defendant to
prove by a preponderance of evidence that he possessed of
dealt with the weapon solely as a curio or in a dramatic
performance, or that he possessed it briefly in
consequence of having found it or taken it from an
aggressor, or under circumstances similarly negativing any
intent or likelihood that the would be used unlawfully.
(c) Definition.--As used in this section "offensive
weapon" means... any... dagger, knife, razor or cutting
instrument, the blade of which is exposed in an automatic
way by switch, push-button, spring mechanism, or
otherwise...
- also see 24 P.S. 13-1317.2. re: students bringing weapons
on to school property.]

Pennsylvania case law:
Where opening knife required lock to be released, and
once lock was released blade could be exposed by flip of
wrist, knife did not have blade which could be "exposed in
an automatic way"... by "otherwise" legislature referred
to knives that were opened by some sort of mechanism which
is not a "switch," "push-button," or "spring" mechanism
but still a mechanism... (1979)

As a former Doylestown PA resident I know that a automatic knife is legal to own as a curio, but can't be carried.

Best of luck.

Dave
 
Check Philadelphia metro city & county laws too. They may be more restrictive than state law. Autos are a no-no for carry in PA. (exceptions being Police, active Military, or having only one arm under federal law) and will most likely land you in legal hot water even if an incident is ruled in your favor as self defense in a court of law. I have several in my collection but I NEVER carry them here. If you are worried about working in several areas in Philly, I'd suggest obtaining a CCW and carrying a pistol. You can also list knives on the CCW for concealed carry in PA. but still no automatic knives.

I live in the western 'burbs of Philadelphia. (Lower Merion Twp.)
 
I agree they are a no no in PA and Philly for sure. I manage shopping centers now and am a former NYC LEO. I meet with the Captain of the Philly Precient my mall is in every few weeks, and as a fellow knife nut, I asked him about the knife and gun laws. It seems Philly PD do not like any knives, and he said unless used for work or sports, they will make an arrest for carrying one....
 
Well thats a little dissapointing.

I've carried my little SOG Blink for 3 years now (a mini-tank of a knife). I can't believe because of the "assist" it's illegal.

I can open the Lobo manually as bout as fast as the auto. I don't get the big deal. I can get a CCW and carry a concealed, high-powered semi-auto but I can't carry my LOBO!

Seem's lawmakers love absurdity.

But I'm sure this is all old news for you good folks.:confused:
 
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