Spyderco Folders in Oregon

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gapster46

Joined
Mar 8, 2010
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Until very recently, I’ve never carried a knife. I recently purchased a Spyderco Stretch, and have two more Spydercos on order. A Delica and a Dragonfly. I’m aware of gun laws, but I never in my wildest imagination thought that there would be knife laws as strict or stricter than gun laws. Since I got my Stretch a couple of weeks ago, it has only left my pocket to be used, or to change pants. Now, I’m wondering if I’m breaking the law. I do on occasion have a reason to go to the high school. Until now, I probably would never have considered the fact that I was entering a school with a “weapon”. I just don’t think of knives as weapons, even tho they could be used as such. I’m starting to wonder if this train of thought could get me in trouble. Think about all the hoopla about fingernail clippers, and fingernail files piled high in airports. Millions carry these items along with pocket knives, and never once think of them as weapons.

How do you interpret the following as related to Spyderco knives, well, not just Spyderco, but any knife that opens like the Spyderco knives I mentioned?

Oregon Public Order Offense 166.240 Carrying of concealed weapons. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, any person who carries concealed upon the person any knife having a blade that projects or swings into position by force of a spring or by centrifugal force, any dirk, dagger, ice pick, slungshot, metal knuckles, or any similar instrument by the use of which injury could be inflicted upon the person or property of any other person, commits a Class B misdemeanor.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section applies to any peace officer as defined in ORS 133.005, whose duty it is to serve process or make arrests. Justice courts have concurrent jurisdiction to try any person charged with violating any of the provisions of subsection (1) of this section. [Amended by 1977 c.454 §1; 1985 c.543 §2; 1989 c.839 §21; 1999 c.1040 §15]
 
i read it as don't carry it concealed, don't carry a switch blade or balisong. no double edged blades.

i wouldn't carry anything into a public school.
 
also no gravity knives, if you can hold the handle of the knife and flick your wrist WITHOUT touching the blade it is illegal, but you shouldnt have a problem with a stertch doing that. also use it as a tool and dont be stupid you should be fine, if you brandish it and intend to use it as a weapon chances are you are going to get in some hot water.
 
It’s a pocket knife. For me to think I’m carrying a concealed weapon is absurd. You’re right tho, I shouldn’t carry it into a public school, but the possibility of doing it is pretty good with me, as I probably wouldn’t think about it being in my pocket, and walk in unaware that I even had it on me. Since it’s clipped to my pocket, I’m more aware of my keys in the pocket than the knife. For me to pull a knife on someone would be like signing my own death warrant. I’d run like the wind first.

There is no way to just flick the Stretch open. It can be opened with one hand, but to partially open it with a thumb and finish with a flick of the wrist doesn’t work. Have to push is all the way thru.

I’m poor at reading legal documents, and just asking for help in interpreting this law. Until the last week or two, I never knew there were knife laws that seem more restrictive than gun laws. Heck, I could do a lot of damage with a concealed screwdriver if I wanted to, and be perfectly legal carrying it.
 
Sounds to me that the key word there is "concealed".

Let's take a Leek for example... it does open by means of a spring, but if it's carried in the pocket with the clip exposed, that's not considered "concealed" AFAIK... so a spring assisted Leek would be legal to carry in the pocket in Oregon as long as the clip is visible (not concealed).

Am I reading that right?

But if the knife doesn't use a spring, nor does it open by flicking the wrist, you can carry it buried deep in your pocket withOUT the clip being visible outside the pocket. So the Stretch, meeting that definition, would be legal if carried buried in the pocket (concealed) as well as carried with the clip exposed outside the pocket (not concealed). Right?
 
ZDHart said:
Sounds to me that the key word there is "concealed".

Let's take a Leek for example... it does open by means of a spring, but if it's carried in the pocket with the clip exposed, that's not considered "concealed" AFAIK... so a spring assisted Leek would be legal to carry in the pocket in Oregon as long as the clip is visible (not concealed).

Am I reading that right?

But if the knife doesn't use a spring, nor does it open by flicking the wrist, you can carry it buried deep in your pocket withOUT the clip being visible outside the pocket. So the Stretch, meeting that definition, would be legal if carried buried in the pocket (concealed) as well as carried with the clip exposed outside the pocket (not concealed). Right?
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I believe they're talking about switchblade law which assisted openers are exempt from.
 
As long as the clip is visible it is legal to carry any knife in oregon except OTF and autos all other knives can be carried JUST NOT CONCEALED ANY KNIFE CARRIED CONCEALED IN OREGON IS ILLEGAL (my guess is theese laws will change depending on how well the LEO knows the laws).
 
theamazingdrew said:
As long as the clip is visible it is legal to carry any knife in oregon except OTF and autos all other knives can be carried JUST NOT CONCEALED ANY KNIFE CARRIED CONCEALED IN OREGON IS ILLEGAL (my guess is theese laws will change depending on how well the LEO knows the laws).
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Well, I always wear my t-shirts hanging out, and they cover the clip. Plain old pocket knives have been around a lot longer than todays clipit knives, and there is no way to clip those knives so that they are visible. I've never carried a knife till I got my first Spyderco a couple of months ago. Now, I have my Spyderco, currently a Delica, clipped to my front pocket all the time. I'm more aware of my keys than I am of the knife. I'm just paranoid of carrying illegally and having no idea that I am.

I must be having some brain gas, but what is OTF?
 
Avoid switchblades, butterfly knives, automatic openers, or anything that can be considered a dagger or dirk (unless you can somehow carry them without concealing them). If you have any sort of "gravity" knife, assisted open, spring assist, etc. make sure it has a clip and is carried clipped so that the clip (at the very least) is clearly visible. Anything else is just fine however you wish to carry it, concealed or not.

That should keep you out of trouble for the most part. I've carried Kershaw, Benchmade, and CRKT assisted openers, always clipped in my back pocket, and have yet to run into any issues. Word is, though, that legal cases regarding pocket knives and concealed carry tend to go either way, depending on the officer, the court, and the jury.

Image and perception is a big part of it, too. It's all up to the LEO and what he/she thinks of the situation. I don't see any of the local police around my area being the kind to press the issue. I wouldn't necessarily say the same for any other area, especially getting into an area like Portland where there's more crime, more anti-knife sentiment, and thus LEO's more likely to react to a perceived threat or infraction.
 
Scott Neelan said:
Avoid switchblades, butterfly knives, automatic openers, or anything that can be considered a dagger or dirk (unless you can somehow carry them without concealing them). If you have any sort of "gravity" knife, assisted open, spring assist, etc. make sure it has a clip and is carried clipped so that the clip (at the very least) is clearly visible. Anything else is just fine however you wish to carry it, concealed or not.

That should keep you out of trouble for the most part. I've carried Kershaw, Benchmade, and CRKT assisted openers, always clipped in my back pocket, and have yet to run into any issues. Word is, though, that legal cases regarding pocket knives and concealed carry tend to go either way, depending on the officer, the court, and the jury.

Image and perception is a big part of it, too. It's all up to the LEO and what he/she thinks of the situation. I don't see any of the local police around my area being the kind to press the issue. I wouldn't necessarily say the same for any other area, especially getting into an area like Portland where there's more crime, more anti-knife sentiment, and thus LEO's more likely to react to a perceived threat or infraction.
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Interesting advice, but I have always taken the completely opposite approach. I have carried 4" folders completely concealed for over 33 years now and have never been arrested or even questioned. My first folder was a Gerber FS II and I had a friend's brother purchase it for me in the mid-1970s. I was underage and local cutlery retailers wouldn't sell to me. I gave him the money and he purchased it for me. Like all folders of the period, it did not have a thumb stud, assisted-opening mechanism or hole/notch in blade to assist in opening. You could easily thumb it open, where it would open to about 35 degrees, then snap it open the rest of the way with a wrist flick. It would be considered a "gravity knife" today in NYC and perhaps other anti-knife jurisdictions. I carried it pivot-down in my right front trouser pocket, completely concealed, for over ten years (including four years of college) completely without incident. I used it to open boxes at the supermarket, where I worked part time while attending high school and college. My current EDC is a 4" Cold Steel "Voyager". I removed the clip and carry it completely concealed in my right front pocket. Keep your blade completely concealed and you will not have to worry about attracting attention from LEOs.
 
TOM1960 said:
Interesting advice, but I have always taken the completely opposite approach. I have carried 4" folders completely concealed for over 33 years now and have never been arrested or even questioned. My first folder was a Gerber FS II and I had a friend's brother purchase it for me in the mid-1970s. I was underage and local cutlery retailers wouldn't sell to me. I gave him the money and he purchased it for me. Like all folders of the period, it did not have a thumb stud, assisted-opening mechanism or hole/notch in blade to assist in opening. You could easily thumb it open, where it would open to about 35 degrees, then snap it open the rest of the way with a wrist flick. It would be considered a "gravity knife" today in NYC and perhaps other anti-knife jurisdictions. I carried it pivot-down in my right front trouser pocket, completely concealed, for over ten years (including four years of college) completely without incident. I used it to open boxes at the supermarket, where I worked part time while attending high school and college. My current EDC is a 4" Cold Steel "Voyager". I removed the clip and carry it completely concealed in my right front pocket. Keep your blade completely concealed and you will not have to worry about attracting attention from LEOs.
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Honestly, I'd agree that complete concealment is less likely to draw the initial attention, and based on MOST state's laws is the best way to go. In Oregon, however, that could lead to serious trouble if the knife is any sort of assisted open or anything that could be considered a "gravity" knife. Your Gerber FS II, as an example, would depend on where you were and the opinion of the officer involved whether or not it was considered illegal to conceal. Generally speaking, it wouldn't be, but there are some hardcore anti-"weapon" people in the northern part of the state.

Best part? Oregon law doesn't care at all about the length of the blade, just how quickly you can open it.
 
Scott Neelan said:
Avoid switchblades, butterfly knives, automatic openers, or anything that can be considered a dagger or dirk (unless you can somehow carry them without concealing them). If you have any sort of "gravity" knife, assisted open, spring assist, etc. make sure it has a clip and is carried clipped so that the clip (at the very least) is clearly visible. Anything else is just fine however you wish to carry it, concealed or not.
Click to expand...

I don’t own any switchblades, butterfly knives, or automatic openers. My EDC is a Spyderco Delica clipped to my front pocket. It is nearly impossible to tell it is there, hence the possibility of taking it somewhere I should not is pretty good. To color that point a little, I put my Delica thru the washing machine yesterday. It’s easy to forgetabout. :D
 
I think the knife laws, also the gun laws, should only penalize you if you use the weapon to commit a crime. I am 53, have used knives all my life, and never commited a crime with them (or a gun).
I am returning to Oregon (my home state) after 30 years, so I am checking up on the laws. It seems you are more likely to get in trouble for something you "MIGHT" do, than for what you actually do, nowadays (God, I feel old saying that, lol).
The laws that restrict locking blades (in some states) are of particular contempt to me. I learned along time ago that a non-locking blade could fold on your hand and cut you, so all my knives are lock backs.
 
Jraptor said:
I think the knife laws, also the gun laws, should only penalize you if you use the weapon to commit a crime. I am 53, have used knives all my life, and never commited a crime with them (or a gun).
I am returning to Oregon (my home state) after 30 years, so I am checking up on the laws. It seems you are more likely to get in trouble for something you "MIGHT" do, than for what you actually do, nowadays (God, I feel old saying that, lol).
The laws that restrict locking blades (in some states) are of particular contempt to me. I learned along time ago that a non-locking blade could fold on your hand and cut you, so all my knives are lock backs.
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Your feeling echos that of most knife and gun enthusiasts. Weapon carry laws are sort of a misguided attempt to prevent crimes, crimes that are already illegal by themselves. One fellow I know is particularly fond of saying "There is absolutely nothing that you can do with a firearm [or knife] to harm other people or their property that is not already covered by an existing law."

After so many years of this BS, it's looking like we are finally starting to push back. Nearly all states are Shall Issue now, and I have seen many great laws passed over the past 5 years that have repealed knife carry laws or altered them in more knife-friendly ways. I hope you and I live to see the day when the federal switchblade law is finally repealed (while almost toothless now, it set a bad example for the states who passed their own even worse laws).


http://weaponlaws.wikidot.com
 
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