Suggestions for a DC legal folder?

T

ThePatriot29

Joined
Feb 9, 2002
Messages
69
Having come to the conclusion that I'm probably not in the market for a fixed blade right now due to legality of carrying concealed in VA, I'm considering getting another folder. Thanks to all who gave advice. I want to get a folder that is DC legal, I believe the reqs are under 3 inch blade. Can anyone suggest any quality folders capable for self defense that fit this blade length requirement, one hand open, pocket clip, in the 60 and under price range? I'm also open to suggestions outside this range, but thought this might help focus the discussion. Thanks so much for your advice, I'm learning quite a bit here.
 
Patriot, where will you be in DC that you will need a self defense folder. The reason I ask is that if you are a suburban person, the places that you will going to in DC are probably some of the more heavily patrolled and secure parts of the city. If you have business in some of DC's rough areas, I do not know if a small folder will do much good because of the heavy use of guns from what I hear. I therefore suggest that you look at a smaller one hander primarily for utility and that you really on your good judgement for your defense.
 
You might also want to consider pepper spray if it's
legal. The Key Defender by ASP products is an excellent
non lethal self defense option. As far as blades go for
under 60.00 bucks I'd look at the medium cold steel voyager.
 
Generally nicer areas. If faced with a gun, I'd employ the receding foot kata and much prayer. Anyway, like in the Godfather restaurant assassination scene, I'd rather have something if the crap hits the fan rather than just my bare hands.
 
You might also look at the Spyderco Delica. And I agree with the pepper spray suggestion. You may be able to get both for around $60.
 
Hi I work in DC. Another foumite who works in DC also says he carries a Spyderco Gunting because it is street legal in DC. It is 3" but has a longer handle giving you more reach, or the same reach as perhaps a 4" folder. For defense I favor a 4" blade myself and often discreetly carry one. But, beware, you cant even get into a couple of the eatery's without having to go through a metal detector, the guards calim they can't "hold" your item till you return, some will claim they are confiscating it (they can't, legaly)and if it looks tactical you're probably in more trouble too. I'm trying to limit myself to carrying a mini stryker or Spyderco Viele the latter being 3.25 on me, and a larger folder in a knapsack...
 
I live in NoVa and find myself in DC from time to time. AFAIK, the legal limit is under 3" for a folder. I've never worried about a folder with a bit more than 3" though. I've also never been stopped or questioned even though, at the time, my knives were tac types clipped inside my pocket (clip and part of knife showing). These days, I'm into more traditional types, so it's not as obvious.

Chris
 
Hi, I guess that I am that "another forumite" to whom Quiet Priest refers. I used to carry a Gunting as my EDC in the city, but I gave it up after 9/11, as I work in a federal government building and it was simply attracting too much unwanted attention. Understand, I was NOT carrying it as a self-defense knife, but as a utility knife, since I have rather arthritic hands. Think of the Gunting as an argonomic tool, like the ones that you see in fancy catalogues. I have since replaced it with a Li'l Temperance in spear point. I love this little knife. It is a much less "obvious" knife than the Gunting and it is still very ergonomic. It has a 2 15/16" blade and it's hilt isn 4" long by an average of 1' to 1 3/8" wide and 1/2" thick. It is a dandy knife, but it costs about $130, if and when you find one, as does the Gunting. Within the price range that you have given, I would look at the Delica or the CPM440V version of the Native, as mine has a blade 2 31/32" long rather than the stated 3 1/8". I gave one of the Natives to a good friend and he carries it everywhere but on airplanes and has had not a lick of trouble over it. But it is a consideration to be made, that Spyderco advertizes it as having a 3 1/8" blade.

Good Luck!
 
You have received a number of good suggestions. Among the knives already mentioned I have carried and can endorse the gunting, native, and delica. If the blade is slightly longer than 3”, you may wish to file, grind, or abrade the blade to get it down to your required specifications.

Of as much concern as legality is visibility. You may attract unwanted attention by clipping these knives to your pockets. As well as police and security personnel, those who wish to do you harm will be attentive to a visible knife. You may wish to consider carrying the knife invisibly, either in a pocket sheath, in a custom interior pants pocket, or on your waistband with the clip concealed. There is a sacrifice in accessibility when concealing the knife in any of these ways. For some people the tradeoff between visibility and access time is a good one. Think about it.

In addition, you may wish to consider carrying two knives so you can easily reach one with either hand, or lend one to a friend.
 
Having come to the conclusion that I'm probably not in the market for a fixed blade right now due to legality of carrying concealed in VA

Where did you get info that concealed fixed blades were illegal in VA? State law only prohibits a few specific items, none of them fixed blade knives, unless you demonstrate "intent to do harm" or verbage to that effect. VA also has permitted concealed handgun carry, I don't know many LEO's that will bust you for a 5" Nimravus when you're legally packing a Glock 19 IWB.

There may be some counties or municipalities that have additional regulations, but statewide I'm not convinced VA law prohibits concealed knives.

:cool:
 
Well, according to the way the courts have interpreted the terms dirk and bowie, as dirk being a knife with two edges and a point, and a bowie as a knife with one edge, a point and a dull or serated edge, this would seem to rule out the carrying of a concealed sheath knife. This is only my understanding of the law, and would love to be proven wrong on this. See the post on legality I posted in the knife forum for the indepth details of this question
[link]http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=206263[/link]

I'd love some more info on this.
 
In the size and price range that you mentioned, you should probably consider the Camillus EDC and the Benchmade Mini Griptilian. If you are willing to spend a little more (or if you find a good deal on a used one) you should also look at the Benchmade 705 Mini Axis.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top