How To Possible to shorten a blade to meet State law?

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Mchad65

Mchad65

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I love Microtech Socom Elites, both autos and manuals (I have a couple of each). We are buying a "summer" house in CT to get out of the inferno that is SW Florida summers. I have a FL CWP that allows carrying of pretty much anything short of a Javelin anti-tank. Unfortunately CT doesn't have reciprocity with FL (unlike 42 other states) so I'll have to get a CT non-res pistol permit. All that said, auto's (larger then 1.5") are not permitted even with the permit, so I'll be limited to my (or, “a”) manual Socom. Now the rub. The Socoms blade is 3.98" long, and the CT statute prohibits knives of 4" or longer "cutting edge". I know, as long as I don't do anything stupid I'll likely have no problems as-is, but I like to "hope for the best, but prepare for the worst" and avoid having to get hauled in for an illegal knife, even if later proven to be innocent after spending on a legal defense...

So I'm thinking about either grinding down the OAL of the blade by 1/4" or something easily measurable w/o a micrometer, or possibly simply removing (flattening) the same amount of cutting edge closest to the handle.

I'm leaning towards shortening the OAL because that would be the definitive solution. So I have two questions. 1) Has anyone ever heard of this being done, and 2) any thoughts on a good place to get this done professionally?

This is my Tanto, but I'd pick up a stonewashed (not black) clip point blade version which would be easier to reshape I expect. I’m thinking a simple grind down of the tip and sharpening (obviously). And like i said, not on a tanto. Kind of cutting where the red line is. Forgive my pathetic iPad finger painting… But you get the idea.

I wonder if this is something Microtech would do (for a fee)

7443D1DF-4E11-49B4-A5AE-FC6B3F24D59D.jpeg
 
I've been in CT for 20 years and have never been questioned or hauled for anything...granted I don't own firearms. I had a DEEP fishing guy ask about my dagger once, but he just said it looked "wicked" lol.

I have 2 socoms and have carried them without trouble. You can maybe try a deep carry pocket clip to lessen the attraction?

All this of course leads back to your initial point of grinding the blade down (really the last option for me lol). Sad to see it happen on such a beast of a knife! Can you also try making a large finger choil where your index finger is? Like a XM18/24.

Edit: I think I'd rather lost a tiny bit of serration than a good tip...getting rid of the tip will make that part super chunky lol
 
Dergyll said:
I've been in CT for 20 years and have never been questioned or hauled for anything...granted I don't own firearms. I had a DEEP fishing guy ask about my dagger once, but he just said it looked "wicked" lol.

I have 2 socoms and have carried them without trouble. You can maybe try a deep carry pocket clip to lessen the attraction?

All this of course leads back to your initial point of grinding the blade down (really the last option for me lol). Sad to see it happen on such a beast of a knife! Can you also try making a large finger choil where your index finger is? Like a XM18/24.

Edit: I think I'd rather lost a tiny bit of serration than a good tip...getting rid of the tip will make that part super chunky lol
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Adding a choil is a great idea to solve this. I just had a choil added to a knife by a well known shop. Cheap painless and done in a week.
 
I would leave it alone and IF you are stopped and the knife is examined by LE (highly unlikely if you are over 20 and don't have a ton of tattoos), just explain that you thought the law meant cutting edge. I can't imagine he'll pull out a ruler and measure it, and even so, he would have to reject your explanation, again unlikely.
 
Dergyll said:
I've been in CT for 20 years and have never been questioned or hauled for anything...granted I don't own firearms. I had a DEEP fishing guy ask about my dagger once, but he just said it looked "wicked" lol.

I have 2 socoms and have carried them without trouble. You can maybe try a deep carry pocket clip to lessen the attraction?

All this of course leads back to your initial point of grinding the blade down (really the last option for me lol). Sad to see it happen on such a beast of a knife! Can you also try making a large finger choil where your index finger is? Like a XM18/24.
Click to expand...

I get that It’s highly unlikely, I really do. But I’m just one of those people that won‘t ever feel “right” carrying a felony in my pocket. I’m sure a skilled bladesmith could form the blade so the 1/4” will never be noticed or missed.

I get what your saying about the choil, I get that but I could just as easily file the back end of the blade flat with the same result. My strong preference would be reducing the OAL. That way there’s no chance of any issue, especially in other jurisdictions where OAL is the measurement, not just cutting edge.

I guess I’m looking at a $300 experiment…
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
I would leave it alone and IF you are stopped and the knife is examined by LE (highly unlikely if you are over 20 and don't have a ton of tattoos), just explain that you thought the law meant cutting edge. I can't imagine he'll pull out a ruler and measure it, and even so, he would have to reject your explanation, again unlikely.
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Well, I’m definitely over 20, but I could very easily be on my Harley and do have a little ink… I don‘t trust “unlikely” ;-)
 
Actually I think your Florida plate would be more of a red flag, we get alot of "your type" up here.

That's what you really want
ImaginaryFemaleGhostshrimp-max-1mb.gif

Anyway, good luck with the knife, let us know how it turns out! Shoot me a message if you want a beer, we got a few bros up this way.
 
a pro could do it, but have to likely remove spine down also,, to keep the point in the handle possibly when closed...I dont have that knife so can't tell if it would require that.

better to just buy a safe in your mind for ct knife....leave your fl stuff in fl.......or in your CT house.
 
I don't know what the cops are like in CT, or how strict they are, but I don't blame you for being concerned. If it's a felony, you definitely want to avoid that. Get a felony conviction, for anything, and say goodbye to your 2nd amendment rights FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. And that aint no exaggeration.

And if it's a misdemeanor, and you get the typical 3 years probation, you would be prohibited from possessing any firearms, or "unapproved" knives for those three years. Get caught with any, and you go to jail.

To us, it's just a harmless pocket knife, but to those in the DA's office, it's a chance for a conviction, and career advancement.

Back on topic- You might be able to find someone to do the blade modification in the Service Provider sub-forum, here's a link- https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/the-custom-shop-services-offered.870/
 
Dergyll said:
Actually I think your Florida plate would be more of a red flag, we get alot of "your type" up here.

That's what you really want
View attachment 1826577

Anyway, good luck with the knife, let us know how it turns out! Shoot me a message if you want a beer, we got a few bros up this way.
Click to expand...

I’ll need a DB5 for that plate holder!

I’ll do that - when it happens. Thank you Sir.
 
killgar said:
I don't know what the cops are like in CT, or how strict they are, but I don't blame you for being concerned. If it's a felony, you definitely want to avoid that. Get a felony conviction, for anything, and say goodbye to your 2nd amendment rights FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. And that aint no exaggeration.

And if it's a misdemeanor, and you get the typical 3 years probation, you would be prohibited from possessing any firearms, or "unapproved" knives for those three years. Get caught with any, and you go to jail.

To us, it's just a harmless pocket knife, but to those in the DA's office, it's a chance for a conviction, and career advancement.

Back on topic- You might be able to find someone to do the blade modification in the Service Provider sub-forum, here's a link- https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/the-custom-shop-services-offered.870/
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Yep, not worth the risk to me. And thanks for the link, helpful!
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
I would leave it alone and IF you are stopped and the knife is examined by LE (highly unlikely if you are over 20 and don't have a ton of tattoos), just explain that you thought the law meant cutting edge. I can't imagine he'll pull out a ruler and measure it, and even so, he would have to reject your explanation, again unlikely.
Click to expand...
Yeah, honestly... in my experience, if you're a decent person and not getting into encounters with cops on the reg, you'll be straight. A cop is more likely to think an Espada XL is illegal in all honesty, and jack it from you, and nobody for the most part will do the legwork to get it back. But, you act decent, abide by the law, and your knife should be fine.

I have a Microtech UTX-70 just over 2" and honestly, I'm not worried. They make a version under 2", but I don't want it. I don't go stupid places with stupid people, at stupid times to do stupid things, so I am alright. So long as I have followed that rule, I've never been harassed by police. As a younger teen, doing stupid things, I saw friends (I did not carry a knife) have their knives confiscated by police as switchblades. In reality, they didn't want who they saw as "some punk" running around with a knife, of any sort. I saw that stupid palm test.

I cannot deny the wisdom of the folks erring on the side of safety, and do not begrudge them, nor do I say to follow my advice over theirs. But, I'm speaking in terms of what's likely and what's real on the street, not scientifically. Ierno. It really is an individual choice, now that I'm thinking about it.
 
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Hashishiin said:
Yeah, honestly... in my experience, if you're a decent person and not getting into encounters with cops on the reg, you'll be straight. A cop is more likely to think an Espada XL is illegal in all honesty, and jack it from you, and nobody for the most part will do the legwork to get it back. But, you act decent, abide by the law, and your knife should be fine.

I have a Microtech UTX-70 just over 2" and honestly, I'm not worried. They make a version under 2", but I don't want it. I don't go stupid places with stupid people, at stupid times to do stupid things, so I am alright. So long as I have followed that rule, I've never been harassed by police. As a younger teen, doing stupid things, I saw friends (I did not carry a knife) have their knives confiscated by police as switchblades. In reality, they didn't want who they saw as "some punk" running around with a knife, of any sort. I saw that stupid palm test.

I cannot deny the wisdom of the folks erring on the side of safety, and do not begrudge them, nor do I say to follow my advice over theirs. But, I'm speaking in terms of what's likely and statistics. Ierno. It really is an individual choice, now that I'm thinking about it.
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I get everything you said. I too had a UTX-70 on my keychain while in NY from time to time, and was always a little paranoid about it, until two cop friends of mine both said basically If I (the cop) ever brought you in front of a judge with that thing they would toss me (the cop) out of the courtroom.
 
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