Spyderco knives illegal in New York City?

[Rat Finkenstein]

The less they know about me the better.

That is a good policy.

I agree that ones social standing should have no bearing on whether or not you get the shaft or a pass. But let's face reality...if you look like skell and act like a skell chances are the cops are going to see a skell.

I don't disagree with profiling disreputable characters. . . and we agree on the level playing field idea. The fact that they can arrest you for no reason based on their blatant misinterpretation of the law, should they choose to do so, is total BS. There was a fairly heated thread on this subject a while back, and IIRC, this policy is widespread. The one ex NYC cop was bragging about how he could flick open most any knife.

So, say you refuse to let a cop search you or your car? (as is your right) They snatch your knife clipped to your pocket, flick it open, and throw you in cuffs. "Probable cause" obtained- then court costs, weapons charges that can screw you over forever. Total corruption. If you luck out, they will just steal your knife.

 

[Lycosa]

Carry a prySTR. It's a Titanium multi-use mini pry bar AND it's legal!

 

[Grey Mullet]

Here is a good news \ bad news story from AKTI (American Knife and Tool Institute).

http://www.akti.org/news-updates/NY-utility.html

The good news is that a one handed utility knife was ruled not to be a gravity knife by a Federal Court Judge in New York.

This quote gives the bad news:

"AKTI cautions that this case result does not guarantee you will not be arrested in New York for carrying a one-hand opening knife. In fact, the new test cleverly developed is to grab the suspect knife by the blade and flip the handle open (which is much easier than grabbing the handle and flipping the blade open). So if you get stopped with a one-hand opener, you are very likely to be arrested."

 

[auspx]

Did you read the whole thread? Do you understand the situation as it was presented to you? This was a case of a cop being an a-hole. GB got jacked for his knife. I know GarageBoy personally and he is a good kid. He did nothing wrong. This was a case of an a-hole cop who needed a new knife.

At any given time there are thousands of people walking the streets of NYC with a knife clipped to their pocket...the NYPD themselves even. I've seen cowboys, bikers, truckers, the average citizen...you name it wearing a Buck 110 in a sheath on their belts out in the open. A knife clipped to your pocket does not make it exposed. It can be a pen for the cop knows. And unless your acting a suspicious manner what do you have to worry about?

So I will tell you this...if you want to be paranoid go right ahead. I will continue to carry...clipped and or otherwise. I'm sorry about GB's situation but one person's misfortune is not going to sway me to not carry. Hell, 10 people's stories are not going to sway me!

You need to be doing something that gives the cop a reason to search you. How old are you BTW? I'm betting you're under 18.

I'm 23, white, middle-class guy and I certainly don't look like a gangbanger or any "suspicious" person.

That said, most of the information in your reply is wrong. It's illegal for a civilian to carry any knife openly in NYC. In NYC people can be, and are being arrested for having a knife clip exposed. If the cops can flip it open even by holding the thumbhole or thumbstud on the blade, and the blade locks, it's a "gravity knife". This seems to be happening more and more often. This isn't paranoia. Just the facts.

We all love our knives but it's no good to keep pretending that there isn't a problem. If you want to carry whatever you want and risk arrest, fine. The point of this thread was to warn owners of Spyderco knives about the situation in NYC and to find out if Spyderco makes "NYC-legal" one-hand opening knives.

 

[lambertiana]

The point of this thread was to warn owners of Spyderco knives about the situation in NYC and to find out if Spyderco makes "NYC-legal" one-hand opening knives.

Try a UKPK. It would be pretty tough to flick one open. And it's a great knife, to boot.

 

[gunfiter]

I have not nor will I ever announce to a cop that I am a firefighter unless it is in an emergency situation. The less they know about me the better. I don't wear anything outside of work that shows anyone I'm a firefighter. I do not make it a point of flashing my badge either.
QUOTE]

I find it so odd that in NYC cops and firemen don't get along. In LA, firemen get a pass from cops for just about anything, short of murder. When I was a motor cop I never wrote cops, firemen, ER personnel, priests/ nuns, or military. Mostly because I either already owed them, or might someday owe them, a debt of gratitude.

 

[eyeeatingfish]

I would think the knife would fall under a closed container that cannot be searched. Because how, unless the cop is a knife expert, is he going to know you have a "gravity knife" without testing it, and who here is going to let the LEO test it?

Technically Hawaii law is pretty similar with respect to momentum opening the blade. If the blade is opened with inertia it is considered a fix blade.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol03_Ch0121-0200D/HRS0134/HRS_0134-0052.htm
Though I would say that I havent heard of anyone get prosecuted for it and I think most LEOs wouldnt bother unless they needed an excuse to detain the person.
Im a LEO here and I know I wouldnt bother someone about it.
Though on the flip side there is no length law. You can walk around with a machete hanging on your belt without it being illegal. Just dont be an idiot with it though of course.

 

[anthonyc]

i work in NYC, and i make it a point to make sure my knives are deep in my pockets. even though i have family in the NYPD, and probably wouldnt have a problem after i let them know this, theres nothing wrong with avoiding a possible conflict.

 

[Lucky Bob]

NYCer, born and bred. I hate to agree with y'all, but I've resorted to carrying any folder (especially AO! ) IWB. Just easier not having to worry about it.