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Texas Balisong Laws
- Thread starter mathnerdm
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2013
- Messages
- 6,174
As far as Texas law is concerned a balisong is just another knife. Either it meets the requirements to be a "legal" knife or not.
To be legal, it just needs to be single edged and less than 5-1/2 inches from the tip of the knife to the front of the handle in a straight line distance.
If it's illegal, you can still own it, you just can't carry it in public/
To be legal, it just needs to be single edged and less than 5-1/2 inches from the tip of the knife to the front of the handle in a straight line distance.
If it's illegal, you can still own it, you just can't carry it in public/
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2013
- Messages
- 6,174
Another thing, with San Antonio and Corpus Christi, it's a little foggy.
San Antonio bans locking folders. The balisong is kinda both. It folds and the blade is held firmly in place. When open it's almost like a hybrid locking folder fixed blade. Probably take a court case to clear that one up.
Corpus, with their ban on all fixed blades and a 3 inch limit on folders, presents a similar but different challenge. A 3 inch single edge balisong meets the length and folder specs, but since it functionally acts like a fixed blade when open, again we have limbo-land on how LEOs and judges will perceive it. Again, a court case will have to clear that up.
Now, if we end up getting a pre=emption bill passed in the Legislature this year (knock on wood). These issues will become moot. Here's hoping.
San Antonio bans locking folders. The balisong is kinda both. It folds and the blade is held firmly in place. When open it's almost like a hybrid locking folder fixed blade. Probably take a court case to clear that one up.
Corpus, with their ban on all fixed blades and a 3 inch limit on folders, presents a similar but different challenge. A 3 inch single edge balisong meets the length and folder specs, but since it functionally acts like a fixed blade when open, again we have limbo-land on how LEOs and judges will perceive it. Again, a court case will have to clear that up.
Now, if we end up getting a pre=emption bill passed in the Legislature this year (knock on wood). These issues will become moot. Here's hoping.
A
Appreciate all your help! Yeah, I had heard about the fixed blade/locking knife law in SA, but from what I've heard from local law enforcement, they're really going to enforce it if it's on top of another more sever charge. Maybe you've heard differently, what do you think?
Appreciate all your help! Yeah, I had heard about the fixed blade/locking knife law in SA, but from what I've heard from local law enforcement, they're really going to enforce it if it's on top of another more sever charge. Maybe you've heard differently, what do you think?
Honestly that is the case almost everywhere in the United States, with the exception of New York City. A person who is not doing anything illegal and not acting in a suspicious or aggressive manner is unlikely to have police contact at all, much less be searched. Not being searched = not being charged with a weapon offense. Even when you get an uppity rookie looking for an excuse, if the knife is the sole charge on the docket, the judge or prosecutor tends to throw it out as a waste of time.