Suggestion: Print length on blade

B

bls

Joined
Jun 24, 2004
Messages
128
I would like to suggest a new manufacturing convention that would make life easier for many of us. This has no more to do with Spyderco than any other knife manufacturer, but I am raising this here because Sal is an innovater who pays attention to his customers' suggestions.

Perhaps it would make sense to print the blade length on the blade itself, just like many knives currently have the type of steel printed on the blade. That would make it more difficult for cops to hassle someone over blade length when the blade is actually legal length.

For example, in some jursdictions cops follow the "four finger rule" to determine if a knife is 4 inches long. I don't think I know anyone who's 4 fingers measure 4 inches accross. It's a shame that people have to forfeit their knives or sit in jail because cops don't carry rulers.

Anyone else think this is a good idea?

I should probably raise this on the AKTI forum and see if they would be interested in getting manufacturers on board with this idea.

Regards,
bls
 
Why don't YOU carry the ruler,I carry a Zippo tape measure all the time and actually use it as much as my knife. :D
 
Actually, this is a really good, really simple idea. I can't see any reason not to do it!
 
Sounds good to me to, I really like that idea. I've used my knife in front of police officers on various occasions and with some of the stares that I've gotten it has made me feel pretty uncomfortable and having that on the blade would make me feel better just in case one of the officers ever decided to come up and confront me about it.
 
I like the idea.

Back when we could still carry a 4" blade on an airliner, one had to worry about how the security people would measure the blade.
Some measured from the beginning of the sharpened edge; some measured from where blade emerged from the scales; and, some measured from the pivot.

It would help if a few of the major manufacturers would agree on an industry standard and then stamp the blade length with the manufacturer's logo on the choil.
 
Putting blade length on the blade by the maker is a greatr idea. Other manufacturers do it. Most auto engines say their displacement. You never have to guess if it's 1.8 or 2 liters or 350 or a 283 cubic inch Mustang. Putting blade size makes more sense than carrying a ruler because then you get into an argument over how to measure the blade. You know, only the sharp edge, does the choil count, should it measured at the pivot?

I think all makers should do this, it would give cover to all carriers or ELUs and it would come in handly in court if an officer disputred what the blade said.

I say the maker should engrave the length on the blade and put it by their trademark. ;)
 
Ken Cox said:
...It would help if a few of the major manufacturers would agree on an industry standard and then stamp the blade length with the manufacturer's logo on the choil.
Click to expand...

The AKTI has a proposed standard that they are working on implementing with the manufacturers. I believe their recommendation is to measure from the outermost point of the handle to the tip of the blade.

Regards,
bls
 
Bls wrote:

"I believe their recommendation is to measure from the outermost point of the handle to the tip of the blade."

I think that makes the most sense to most people.
It might not work with fixed-blades, though, since some of them have an ambiguous beginning and end to the handle.
 
The AKTI home page has a link to a pdf document which contains the details of their proposed length spec, including visual diagrams.

Quoting from their document:
"Where a statute, regulation or ordinance refers to knife blade length, the measurement shall be the straight line extending from the tip of the blade to the forward-most aspect of the hilt or handle."

The pdf file can be found at:
http://www.akti.org/Articles/AKTIProto.pdf

Regards,
bls
 
Printing it on the blade would be nice, right next to where it specifies what steel the knife is. (CPMS30V 4")
 
Here are several problems I can forsee..
First of all, a choil should not be a blade... if I made a knife with a three inch choil and a three inch cutting edge, is the blade 6 inches? Also, you mark a blade 5 inches, and I, due to some accident or on purpose take a few inches off. Is it still a 5 inch blade?
 
MelancholyMutt said:
Here are several problems I can forsee..
First of all, a choil should not be a blade... if I made a knife with a three inch choil and a three inch cutting edge, is the blade 6 inches?
Click to expand...
From the standpoint of a law, the logic (and I use that term very loosely) of which is based on the knife's potential usefullness as a weapon, yes. The combination of blade and choil extends your reach the same six inches for slashing that an all blade design would, and assuming (as they will) penetration "to the hilt", the same potential wound depth for stabbing.
MelancholyMutt said:
Also, you mark a blade 5 inches, and I, due to some accident or on purpose take a few inches off. Is it still a 5 inch blade?
Click to expand...
No, but if you do this then it would obviously be in your interest to carry a ruler.

Mind you, I'm not in favor of the idea. In order to be of any real value it would require that, at a minimum, all US jurisdictions agree to that uniform definition for the term "blade length". Picture that. I think I stand a better chance of playing ice hockey in hell some day than of ever seeing that happen.
 
I like the idea! make it a small stamp-like note, next to blade steel etc... regarding which length to measure, I'd say the same 'blade length' that is listed in Spyderco's catalogs.

Wouter
 
MelancholyMutt said:
Here are several problems I can forsee...Also, you mark a blade 5 inches, and I, due to some accident or on purpose take a few inches off. Is it still a 5 inch blade?
Click to expand...

If you shorten the blade, file off the blade length marking. ;)
 
MelancholyMutt said:
Here are several problems I can forsee..
First of all, a choil should not be a blade... if I made a knife with a three inch choil and a three inch cutting edge, is the blade 6 inches? Also, you mark a blade 5 inches, and I, due to some accident or on purpose take a few inches off. Is it still a 5 inch blade?
Click to expand...
It would not matter.If it is legal to carry a 5 in blade and it is marked 5 in but it has been shortened to 4 in it would still be legal.
 
I'm not aware of how the laws are defined other than the UK, but here the law says about the 'cutting edge' exceeding 3".
From the posts here I assume other laws state blade length, or many other length measurements from different points. Great idea, but which would be the figure used? Or would each be put on?
 
I think there is plenty enough writing on blades as it is.

Also there is no universal way of measuring blade length.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top