Questions about Connecticut...

H

hexenjaeger

Joined
Jan 29, 2006
Messages
6
Hello all, I just happened to find these forums and thought they would be able to help me with a few questions. I live in connecticut, and was wondering, if anyone knew a good site that outlined the knife laws of ct (hopefully in layman's terms). But more importantly, I'd like to know the legal age to buy knives, and carry them. I'm 17, and have been stopped by the cops while carrying what I considered to be a pretty Illegal knife, and was given it back without a word. Also, a store told me the legal age to buy knives is 16, but I was positive it was 18. Sorry for rambling, any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Thanks for your help, I'm mainly just wondering about the age for buying knives, but I'm interested in learning as much as I can to keep myself from getting into trouble by accident. :)
 
I have been a Police Officer in CT for nearly 22yrs. I am unaware of any statute that sets an age requirement for the purchase of knives. Individual stores can and do set their own policies on whom they will sell knives to and, while it is legitimate for them to do so, these policies are not law. The store tells you that their policy is "the law" so that you will not give them a hard time. Another example of this practice that you have probably encountered is that most stores post signs saying customers are required by law to wear shirts and shoes. The stores may choose not to serve you if you do not comply but there is no actual law mandating the shirts and shoes.

There are two main Connecticut General Statutes that deal with knives; Sec. 53-206. "Carrying of dangerous weapons prohibited" 53-206, and Sec. 29-38. "Weapons in vehicles" 29-38. There is supposedly another statute that mandates the expulsion of students who bring knives with blades over a certain length into a school. However, this would not be a criminal statute, and I have been unable to find it.

53-206 used to state that, within 24hrs of a sale, the seller of any such deadly weapon or dangerous instrument was to give written notice of such sale to the chief of police of the city, warden of the borough or first selectman of the town where such weapon or instrument was sold or delivered , with a $100 fine for every day that the seller was not in compliance. This statute was so broad that anytime K-Mart sold a set of kitchen knives, for example, they should have reporting the sale and the buyer's information. I have never heard of this statute actually being enforced, and they did away with this provision when the statute was revised in 1999.

Interestingly, when 53-206 was revised in 1999 they made an exception to the prohibition on carrying a knife with a blade 4" or over in length. The law currently says that persons with hunting or fishing licenses are exempt from this length restriction. Note that it does not say that you have to be actively hunting or fishing. I contend that the statutory exemption applies at all times but other, less enlightened, Police Officers may disagree.

I should point out that the statutes prohibit knives where the "edged portion" of the blade is four inches or over in length. Most Police Officers measure the blade by placing it next to a ruler and counting the inches between the tip and the end of the cutting edge. However, a growing number of Officers are measuring the actual cutting edge, which on a curved or recurved blade may be longer than what would normally be considered the overall length of the blade. I have to admit they are correct, but that's not how most people would think to measure a knife. I recommend checking the actual cutting edge of your knife, as you may find that that knife that you thought was just under 4 inches really has a cutting edge 4 inches or longer. Also, the statute prohibits "dirk" knives but the definition of a dirk knife is not in the statutes (I have looked.) In my search for an official definition I have found that dirk knives are generally considered to be any dagger or other knife designed primarily for stabbing. At the CT Municipal Police Academy (POSTC) they usually teach that a dirk is any double edged blade. Since the statute prohibits all dirk knives, no matter the length, you should consider any double edged blade to be illegal in CT. Of course, you can keep any edged weapon you want in your house. Just be sure to leave it there.

As liberal as CT is, I find that our general statutes dealing with knives are remarkably reasonable compared to other states. We don't have any prohibitions on concealed carry and the laws allow for knives used by sportsmen. The statutes are less concerned with the fact that you have a knife and instead concentrate on what you do with it. The Police are usually on the same wave length. If you have an illegal knife but are not doing anything else wrong they will probably just warn you to leave the knife at home. However, if you are obnoxious to the Police and/or are up to no good, you can expect to get arrested and charged with either 53-206 or 29-38. Attitude counts a great deal!

If you tell me what kind of knife you were carrying (a picture of the knife next to a ruler would help) I will give you my opinion on whether or not the knife is "legal" in CT.

samurai.gif
 
Jeeze, we couldn't ask for a much better response than that...Thanks, Chris Meyer;)
 
Here is the image he was linking to;
523lg7qj.jpg


Unless that top edge is sharpened, I don't see a problem with it. If the top edge is sharpened and you want to carry it, take some sandpaper and carefully (without cutting yourself) sand off the edge. Make it clear to anyone who looks at it that that top edge is not sharp.

I think my opinion would be shared by any reasonable Police Officer. However, keep in mind that if you tick one off, he may decide to measure the entire length of that cutting edge, including going up and down those saw teeth. That would really be busting your stones and be more effort than most Officers would be willing to expend, unless of course you pissed them off. I can't imagine that you would ever be convicted, but getting arrested would suck none-the-less. By the way, violations of CGS 53-206 and 29-38 are each felonies.

You should also be aware that the Police might decide to confiscate your knife, deeming it contraband. Whether or not they decide to arrest you is a seperate issue. If the knife is judged to be contraband, then you would not get it back. 53-206 includes the language, "Whenever any person is found guilty of a violation of this section, any weapon or other instrument within the provisions of this section, found upon the body of such person, shall be forfeited to the municipality wherein such person was apprehended, notwithstanding any failure of the judgment of conviction to expressly impose such forfeiture." Technically, you have to be arrested and convicted before you lose the knife, but if you made a stink and insisted on getting the knife back the Police would either have to arrest you or return the knife. You can guess which option they would probably choose. Unless you can politely convince the Officer or his supervisor that they were mistaken, you are better off forgetting about the knife. It's not always a lost cause however. I have, in fact, directed Officers working for me to return knives that they confiscated in error, thinking that they were illegal. Understand though that I am considered a "knife nut" at work.

Lest you think that a Police Officer would confiscated your knife to keep it for himself, I can assure you that such a circumstance would be highly unlikely. Only a complete idiot would risk getting arrested and losing his job just so he could keep your knife. What usually happens is that someone from the evidence room grinds or snaps off the blade, then throws the remains away.

No offense intended, and to each his own, but that does not look like a very practical knife. I can't imagine what you could actually cut with those teeth. I would recommend that you get a more practical and sedate looking knife. If the Police in your town are pricks, I would avoid the black bladed knives all together. Something like a SpyderCo, a Gerber, or a Swiss Army knife (even better) would doubtlessly cut better and wouldn't attract any attention. I'll grant you that they don't really look "cool", but they might be a viable alternative for you. Incidently, although I am exempt from those statutes, I carry a Gerber AR 3.50 off duty. It's a great little knife that cuts well, is easily under the legal length, and is inexpensive enough that I won't cry if I lose it.
5868.jpg


behead.gif
 
Well, I had just bought it earlier that day at a flee market and hadn't had a chance to drop it off at home, I usually carry a much erm... Tamer, blade. I actually had a variation of that Gerber, though the blade was black and it was half serrated. The top edge is not sharpened and the blade isn't black, I just thought it would be a nice addition to my collection. Though I will say this, I've actually completely filleted a trout with this knife as an experiment, and it performed beautifully, much to my surprise. Thank you again for your help and if you don't mind, what town do you police?
 
I'm a Sergeant for the Town of Vernon, CT. I am currently the shift commander for the 3rd shift.

By the way, I forgot to mention for all you balisong fans, the before mentioned statutes used to specifically ban "butterfly knives", among other "weapons", but the latest revision left those knives out. I don't know whether this was an oversight or intentional, but it is good news for knife lovers. Unless your butterfly knife is double edged or has a 4" blade, you are all set. Unfortunately, many Police Officers are not aware of this change. (At the time the change was made the statute explanation was approx. 23 pages long, so I'm probably the only one who actually read it. If you get stopped for a balisong and the Police have a problem with it, politely explain that the statute no longer prohibits them. Although it is not the individual's responsibility, it wouldn't hurt to carry a copy of the relevant statute with you. You can never have too much support for your side of a disagreement.

One last point, lest some enterprising Police Officer try to claim that your otherwise legal knife falls under the umbrella of "any other dangerous or deadly weapon", the courts have already decided that this is foul play. In the fine print of 53-206 you will find the following information and case citation;
Cited. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 313. Knife not coming within description of statute cannot be included as "any other dangerous or deadly weapon" and is not with prohibition of this section. Id., 551.
(Of course if you illegally use you knife, or a pencil for that matter, as a weapon, your screwed.)
 
Chris, I have to ask you a question. My friend goes to a knife show each year at a hotel in your state where they openly sell automatic knives ( switchblades) at almost all the tables in the show. Is this legal?? I am in NY and a former LEO and I know the NY laws as well as you know your state laws and was also considered a knife nut....but all that being said, I was surprised to hear that switchblades are openly sold at a major show in your state. So what is the law???

Thanks Tom
 
Tom,

That is an interesting question. As long as the sellers have the proper CT sales and tax permits (the State always has to get its money) I think they would be all right. 53-206 contains language that says, in part;

(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to... (3) the carrying of a knife, the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or over in length, by... (C) any person while transporting such knife as merchandise or for display at an authorized gun or knife show... ​

Note that these exceptions don't specifically mention switchblades. However, since switchblades are legal to own (but not necessarily to carry) in CT, it seems reasonable to assume that you can purchase them somewhere. (Switchblades with blades 1.5" long or under are legal to carry on your person in CT.)

Of course the seller may have a problem with the Federal Switchblade laws if they are crossing state lines with their wares. I am not an expert on the Federal laws, so I will give you the link and let you read it for yourself. Bernard Levine's Link to the Federal Switchblade Act

The buyers of switchblades, however, might have a problem trying to get their knives home. CGS 53-206 and 29-38 allow for the transport of knives that are normally illegal to carry if the possessor is transporting the knife in the process of moving, or while bringing the knife to or from a place for repair. The CT statutes concerned with purchasing handguns contain a provision for transporting a handgun home from the place of purchase by a person who does not have a permit to carry;
Sec. 29-35. Carrying of pistol or revolver without permit prohibited. Exceptions... or to any person transporting any pistol or revolver while contained in the package in which it was originally wrapped at the time of sale and while transporting the same from the place of sale to the purchaser's residence or place of business...​
I could swear that the knife statutes used to carry this same provision, but they currently do not. Someone who buys a switchblade at a CT knife show should probably keep the knife in the original box and have the receipt handy. If necessary they could alway claim that they brought the knife to the show for display or repair. It's worth a shot anyway... Of course, if you keep the knife in the trunk of your car, deny having any weapons, and don't give anyone consent to search your vehicle, your chances of getting caught are pretty slim. Never voluntarily waive your rights, unless of course you are a sleazy criminal, then I suggest you spill your guts to the nearest cop. :D
______________________________________

P.S. I assume that you were referring to the NCCA shows. While it's hard to consider any knife show in CT a "major show", we try to make the best them. I once rented a table at one of these shows and dutifully displayed my sales tax permit as the law requires. I was promptly taken aside by one of the other sellers and told that I was committing a major faux pas. Apparently, I was the only one with a permit and no one else wanted that to be so obvious. Oh well, fortunately for them the show never got raided.
 
Fascinating discussion and interesting to get a LEO's perspective on things. As long as I've been interested in knives and read different threads here, it seems that the bottom line with knives is, if you don't make a spectacle of yourself and/or what you're carrying, there isn't much to worry about. I would also point to an experience I had on the job where I carry a Leatherman daily. Everyone has seen it and ask me when they need a quick tool. One day I happened to have a Spyderco Endura and used it to open a box...the response was, "Where's your tool?, thats a weapon!" Funny how one can be considered a tool and the other a weapon. At any rate, I agree that the Gerber AR 3.5 is a great utility carry, I think it can handle many jobs without looking like a dangerous weapon.:thumbup: :)
 
Chris,

Thanks for the update on your laws. I did not realize that the knife laws were so lax in Conn. They seem to be fairly well defined also. I had never met a fellow officer or ADA who knew the law well when it came to knife possession. I won several lunch bets on NYS PL 265.20 #6 which dictates you can lawfully possess a switchblade or gravity knife while hunting, fishing or trapping, and that the Conservation law defines fishing equipment as a hook and line...therefore a section of line and a hook in your wallet is fishing equipment. I would not want to make that arguement in a bar at 2 a m but it would hold up under normal conditions.....never met anyone who knew this section exisited.
 
I want to thank you both (Chris and Tom) for such a detailed and lucid discussion of CT and NY knife laws from the LEO perspective. Living in NY and working in CT and being a knifeknut, it has been very enlightening. Although I have a fairly large collection, and am mature (meaning old) and have never had an interaction with the police except for an occasional traffic ticket, I am always concerned that the knife I am carrying might be considered illegal. There are documented examples of problems with assisted openers and knives that can be flicked open having caused serious problems for ordinary citizens who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It concerns me enough to have decided to carry only a small, non-threatening slipjoint as my EDC. In all honesty, that is all I need, and I am happy with the Camillus Granpa I use, but I do like carrying different styles of knives. I am reluctant to carry my chive, SOG Flash, or other assisted openers I have. Even my William Henry can be flicked open, and I can't tighten the pivot screw any further. What I do is use them around the house, but out and about, it is something "tame". When going into NYC, I usually carry a Benchmite or Pocket Paul II which are both small and lock closed open.

Anyway, thanks a lot.
 
Dave,
As you have noticed, other than when they commit minor traffic offenses, average people rarely draw the attention of the Police, and any encounters are usually amicable (unless you get the ticket that you actually deserved in about 99.9% of all cases). Even if you were carrying a knife on your person during the stop the Officer would be unlikely to notice it unless you gave him cause for concern. "What the fuck are you stopping me for!" is always a bad opening line, but actually fairly common from a certain segment of the society (i.e., the dregs.)

By the way, your New York City carry tool/weapon is tame. If I have to go to that place I carry this; :D
[
hk_usp_45_web2.jpg
 
Chris,

Actually, I have deserved 100% of all the traffic tickets I've gotten.

I don't have a permit for a pistol, and have never felt the need for one. I grew up in NYC (Bronx and Brooklyn) and lived there until my mid 20's. I am now about 1 hour north but visit very often and have never had a problem. But then again, I don't frequent dangerous neighborhoods or walk late at night by myself when I am there.

My knife carrying is strictly utilitarian: opening envelopes and boxes, plastic bags, etc.

Once again, great info. Thanks.

David
 
Jsut watned to say thanks to Chris Meyer, as I now know it is perfectly legal to carry my Spyderfly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top