Spring Break in NYC... What CAN I Carry?

Texas Slim · Mar 15, 2008

I'll be spending a few days in NYC next week. With all the talk of the NYPD's tough stand on knives, I'm wondering what I can legally carry while there? Is my Case mini trapper ok or would I have to stick to something like a medium stockman? How about my Mcusta Take? I'd love to take my T.A. Davison but I'm afraid they'd take it just to get their hands on it.

I know this has been beaten to death but I don't recall an specifics and didn't have a lot of luck with searching the topic.

BTW, we'll be staying near Times Square. Any good eats we shouldn't miss while there????

ziptrickhead · Mar 15, 2008

I would think that the mini trapper would be fine. I would think any non one handed opening slipjoint would be fine as long as it doesnt have a huge blade. Just keep it out of sight unless you really need it I guess.

As for food, check out Chat N Chew and as well as Pauls Burgers. Both are near Union Square so its not too far off from Times Square.

tom19176 · Mar 15, 2008

Texas, must have under a 4" blade, not be visible when carried, not able to be flicked open if it locks....I manage the property my company owns in Times Square that includes the Wax Museum, Ripleys Believe it or not, Dave and Busters, Applebee's , the Hilton Hotel, The AMC 25 screen movies, Models, and a few small stores...so eat and shop at all of them of course...lol...enjoy the city it is safe these days but noty very knife friendly.

PV29 · Mar 23, 2008

tom19176 said:
Texas, must have under a 4" blade, not be visible when carried, not able to be flicked open if it locks....I manage the property my company owns in Times Square that includes the Wax Museum, Ripleys Believe it or not, Dave and Busters, Applebee's , the Hilton Hotel, The AMC 25 screen movies, Models, and a few small stores...so eat and shop at all of them of course...lol...enjoy the city it is safe these days but not very knife friendly.

Tom,

Do you think that these two things in this statement are related or mutually exclusive? I've seen tons of data to suggest that bans on firearms in cities actually increases crime. Not so with knives? Or is this perception of safety unrelated to the policy regarding pocket knives?

tom19176 · Mar 23, 2008

PV29, I would suggest that any answer to this question leads more towards opinion than fact as all statisics can be made to go in any direction you want. I am 48, and worked in NYC Law enforcement for ten years in the 1980s till ealry 90s. There were alot of knives carried by everyone back then, and no one was arrested for simple knife possession. Knives were used in robberies and in fights all the time. I do feel that if a knife wasn't present at some fights than there would have been a simple fist fight instead of a murder or serious assault. In the inner city, people tend to be far less polite and understand, and weapons in this enviorment can come into play all too often when they were not need for true self defense. People also don't respect a knife as much as a gun, so when a knife is displayed in self defense it is far more often not the end of the situation but it may in fact casue the situation to become worse quickly.

The strict enforcement of all laws has helped control the crime in the city for sure, but everything has its down side in that the knife laws have been over enforced. A person with a pistol, who has leagally obtained a permit and has some training is a help in crime control, but a teen with a gravity knife and no training is a problem even if he has only good intent.

PV29 · Mar 25, 2008

Interesting points. Thank you.

However, it seems to me that strict enforcement of the law would accomplish the REAL goal, which is to keep criminals off the street. Therefore, perverting the knife laws into some draconian ban is unnecessary since it only punishes the law-abiding citizen. This is an example of government going too far, and a demonstration of what can happen when there are no checks and balances simply because the judiciary is in cahoots with the executive branch. A microcosm of what can happen on a national scale if we let it.

duller · Apr 4, 2008

hi tom19176. would you further define "not able to be flicked open if it locks?"

are you speaking strictly of various spring and mechanical opening devices and auto assist?

does a spyderco w/ a big thumb hole where one handed opening is easily done also count? what about a waved spyderco?

tom19176 · Apr 4, 2008

duller, the law is being enforced where any knife that can be flicked open ( even holding the blade and flicking the handle open !) has been deemed to be a gravity knife as long as it locks open. A waved knife or a AO are not illegal by their opening design, by the NYPD feels that if they can open on the flick test, then they are an illegal gravity knife reguardless of how they were truly designed to open. This is wrong, but it is current day enforcement....