Perception and needs

[BD_01]

A shady character on Main Street with a pocket clip knife showing above the pocket will/could be arrested. It IS concealed carry, and it IS illegal.

Serious question here:
What about a Yank that ascends the 49th parallel to go mountain biking in SE BC? Is the RCMP going to become alarmed if I’ve got a Delica clipped to my pocket while walking through Fernie? (I’m smart enough to leave my Ultratech at home. )

WE farmers are more urbane than the most refined (lol) resident of Missoula.

That right there is FUNNY!

 

[shane45-1911]

Serious question here:
What about a Yank that ascends the 49th parallel to go mountain biking in SW BC? Is the RCMP going to become alarmed if I’ve got a Delica clipped to my pocket while walking through Fernie? (I’m smart enough to leave my Ultratech at home. )

Are you a "shady character"?

Seriously, if CBSA (Canadian Border Services Agency) has no issues with you entering Canada, then you're fine. Maybe....

Can your knife be flicked open with wrist action? CBSA might have an issue with that. I would suggest NOT having the knife on your person when entering Canada. Pack it in your luggage, without trying to make it look like you're hiding it should you or your vehicle be searched at the land crossing for any reason. So don't give them a reason to search.

Once in Canada, be smart and don't do anything that would give anyone any reason to know you have a knife and you're fine. Again, walking down Main Street and rural activities are 2 different things, and Western Canada definitely has a more favorable acceptance of knives in general.

 

[Sonnydaze]

Has anyone else experienced this feeling that they are somehow restrained in what to carry because of society and also realize that there is not much need for anything but a small knife because of the life you're living?

In the paper today, two folks were shot, one died, (apparent robbery) at a Pilot gas station about 3 air-miles from my home. We live in the middle of "civilized" people, and that gas station is just across the street from a large Walmart.
The excellent sheriff of our county, Billy Woods, has stated and written that the "only way to stop a bad guy with a gun...is a good guy with a gun.."
Yes, this is not original, and not put forth as such.
He did say, publicly, that ALL legal Florida residents of our Marion County, Florida, should apply for, receive proper training for, and purchase a Concealed Carry Permit, and we should carry that handgun any time we leave our home.
Now, I live in North-Central Florida,,,,a long ways north of Orlando which is a hotbed of "wrongful activity" such as robbery, murder, gangs, drive-bys, etc.
Bad guys are NOT unique to any particular geographic region and with our societal woes, one should always have an "awareness" of where you are in public areas, who is around you, are you all alone in a parking lot, a gas station, a Stop-and-Rob convenience store...and so forth..
My son-in-law is a 30-year Chief of Police in Michigan. He told me wife to also carry a handgun.
As he stated, when cops are called, they arrive just in time to help mop up the blood.
Good luck to you in our civilized society...just be mindful of where you are walking...

 

[Danke42]

Serious question here:
What about a Yank that ascends the 49th parallel to go mountain biking in SE BC? Is the RCMP going to become alarmed if I’ve got a Delica clipped to my pocket while walking through Fernie? (I’m smart enough to leave my Ultratech at home. )

Any time you cross an international boundary there are concerns. I'm the opposite; a Canadian going to spots in WA state to ride but more than once I've been asking if I"m carrying weapons. If asked I state I have a pocketknife. When crossing borders I usually just carry a slipjoint as it's non-threatening going South or coming back up North.

I've also been asked many times about fruit, sausages, drugs, and gifts for my friends. Sausages and gifts have been the most asked about items. I must look fun.

I've found the guards at the smaller crossing to be much less stressed than if you go through a larger crossing like the I5 further West but make no mistakes they're still very serious and they all use different methods to size you up. A lot of them I've interacted with use the good cop but I've come across a few that use the bad cop play. They're trying to provoke a reaction and all I do is stay relaxed and answer the questions honestly.

 

[Mister Coffee]

D Danke42 : I crossed into Canada on I-5 once. The Canadian border officials are as you say. I spent twenty minutes talking with them about books that I had in my car and what I intended to do with them. Yeah, books.

 

[Blues]

Well, I have to share a (humorous) Canadian border crossing story.

Sometime back in the 80's I was going with five buddies up to Algonquin Park for ten days of canoeing and backpacking. (It was early in my career in law enforcement here in the States.)

So, we flew into Toronto and the very pretty gal in front of me on line gets caught with a jar or two of marijuana buds in honey. She gets chatted up by the border official, (who could blame him?), and she gets sent on her way.

My backpack and gear gets searched from top to bottom as if I were an international smuggler, even though they knew who I was.

As I was getting ready to leave I told the border official, "I guess my ass wasn't as nice as hers." I don't think he realized I had see him give her a pass for the contraband she had in her bag. The conversation ended at that point and I was sent on my way.

True story.

 

[Danke42]

D Danke42 : I crossed into Canada on I-5 once. The Canadian border officials are as you say. I spent twenty minutes talking with them about books that I had in my car and what I intended to do with them. Yeah, books.

Not fans of books up here. We're more TV folks.

But seriously they were problably trying to figure out if you were coming up to teach some kind of course or if you were moving up on the sly.

 

[Danke42]

Well, I have to share a (humorous) Canadian border crossing story.

Sometime back in the 80's I was going with five buddies up to Algonquin Park for ten days of canoeing and backpacking. (It was early in my career in law enforcement here in the States.)

So, we flew into Toronto and the very pretty gal in front of me on line gets caught with a jar or two of marijuana buds in honey. She gets chatted up by the border official, (who could blame him?), and she gets sent on her way.

My backpack and gear gets searched from top to bottom as if I were an international smuggler, even though they knew who I was.

As I was getting ready to leave I told the border official, "I guess my ass wasn't as nice as hers." I don't think he realized I had see him give her a pass for the contraband she had in her bag. The conversation ended at that point and I was sent on my way.

True story.

They have a lot of discretionary power.

It used to be way less hassle for me to visit the USA; they'd almost wave you past the booth with a checkered flag vs. coming home to Canada and getting the 3rd degree.

 

[Blues]

They have a lot of discretionary power.

It used to be way less hassle for me to visit the USA; they'd almost wave you past the booth with a checkered flag vs. coming home to Canada and getting the 3rd degree.

All border agencies have to have some level of discretionary authority. I worked cases related to the border and international matters for 20 plus years.
But it was comical, back in the 80's, to let the pot walk...and give the federal agent going canoeing a going over.

I've worked with lots of Canadian law enforcement over the years...and they were excellent colleagues (and drinking buddies).

 

[Danke42]

All border agencies have to have some level of discretionary authority. I worked cases related to the border and international matters for 20 plus years.
But it was comical, back in the 80's, to let the pot walk...and give the federal agent going canoeing a going over.

I've worked with lots of Canadian law enforcement over the years...and they were excellent colleagues (and drinking buddies).

Your number was just up. You know how that works.

Or that guy got a speeding ticket in the USA years ago.

 

[Mister Coffee]

Not fans of books up here. We're more TV folks.

But seriously they were problably trying to figure out if you were coming up to teach some kind of course or if you were moving up on the sly.

Actually, I love Canada. Always have. I would move to Vancouver or Montreal or Québec City in a second. Trouble is, you guys won't have me. Must be the books.

 

[Danke42]

Actually, I love Canada. Always have. I would move to Vancouver or Montreal or Québec City in a second. Trouble is, you guys won't have me. Must be the books.

Meet us halfway. Bring comic books.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Well, I have to share a (humorous) Canadian border crossing story.

Sometime back in the 80's I was going with five buddies up to Algonquin Park for ten days of canoeing and backpacking. (It was early in my career in law enforcement here in the States.)

So, we flew into Toronto and the very pretty gal in front of me on line gets caught with a jar or two of marijuana buds in honey. She gets chatted up by the border official, (who could blame him?), and she gets sent on her way.

My backpack and gear gets searched from top to bottom as if I were an international smuggler, even though they knew who I was.

As I was getting ready to leave I told the border official, "I guess my ass wasn't as nice as hers." I don't think he realized I had see him give her a pass for the contraband she had in her bag. The conversation ended at that point and I was sent on my way.

True story.

Had a friend that was a bit older than me who frequently tells the story of the time he went to a concert in Canada and got extremely high without thinking about the fact that he had to cross the border back into the states. Apparently, that fact dawned on him as he approached the border and he started sweating bullets, and when he pulled up the guard looked at him and yelled, "Hey! Who's President Carter's favorite musician?" and he, very confused, said, "well, I think it's Willie Nelson, Sir." and the guard turned to his partner and said, "I TOLD you!" turned to my friend and said, "You're free to go."

 

[Mister Coffee]

Meet us halfway. Bring comic books.

I've got a better idea. Let's go to Gordon Lightfoot's house and chill. He's probably best friends with the P.M. Gordon could set me up.

Okay, this is totally OT. I fully expect to be banned.

 

[K.O.D.]

A Buck 110 is as small as I’m willing to go for actual edc.

If they have a problem it’s their problem not mine.

If an actual LEO got involved he would find I’m also legally carrying a .357 or .45 too. So the question of my knife being a weapon is moot.

@ferider makes good points about being non chalant about it. The way you are dressed and act give a first impression that will be hard to overcome.

Exactly. I live in the suburbs of Chicago, 45 miles from downtown. I occasionally go visit my cousin on the north side and it's always a long walk from the car to his place. I completely disregard 2 Chicago laws. 2.5" blade limit. Nope, I carry my 3.4" Kershaw launch 8. 10 round magazine limit? Nope, SIG P365 SAS with 12 round mag and 15 round mag. I have my permit.

I figure if I have to defend myself, I'll already be in enough trouble. no one is really gonna care about the extra length or rounds. At least that's what my cook county sheriff deputy (friend) told me.

 

[DangerZone98]

I’m curious. For the folks who read this, would something like a PM2, Griptillian, or Sebenza freak people out? They’re quite sizable, but they don’t look like bad guy knives.

 

[BD_01]

It used to be way less hassle for me to visit the USA; they'd almost wave you past the booth with a checkered flag vs. coming home to Canada and getting the 3rd degree.

Last time I made a crossing it was at the itty-bitty station by Waterton NP (Chief Mountain), about 5 years ago.

CBSA was ”smile & wave.”

The US agent on the way back in was a complete d**k-hole. A guy with his wife, three school aged kids, and camping gear. Man, we must’ve looked suspicious....

 

[Blues]

Last time I made a crossing it was at the itty-bitty station by Waterton NP (Chief Mountain), about 5 years ago.

CBSA was ”smile & wave.”

The US agent on the way back in was a complete d**k-hole. A guy with his wife, three school aged kids, and camping gear. Man, we must’ve looked suspicious....

The sad thing is you wouldn't believe the methods utilized for smuggling across borders using families, children, invalids, prosthetic limbs, even corpses.

Not saying the guy wasn't a dick...but...I've seen enough to know that you really can't take anything for granted.

I came back from a scuba trip to the Turks & Caicos with a buddy who had a private pilot's license, and our wives. When we got back the Customs inspectors planned to search the plane but when they recognized me they held off. I told them to conduct the search the way they planned upon seeing the aircraft coming in from the islands. I think it was the right call and I believe it earned their respect.