Traveling Knives for 10/15

And I thought Ca had screwed up laws. When it comes to knives and swords pretty much anything goes as far as ownership. Just don't carry a fixed blade of any size concealed.
 
Jens Schuetz said:
Kronckew
Wow and I thought German laws were confusing. ...
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i was only discussing the import rules. the EDC rules are also complex. under 3 in. EDGE*, no lock is OK under most circumstances. you can carry a larger or locking knife - even a fixed blade - if you are required to use it at work or certain activities (like hunting or fishing, camping etc.) but you must go directly from home to the activity/work. if you stop for petrol, or to take a wee, get a knockwurst, you have 'broken' your journey & are then illegal. carrying it in the passenger compartment is a no-no. should be in the boot (trunk). all subject to interpreta5tion by nthe cops. if you carry a knife legally and 'scare' someone who reports you, you can be arrested for brandishing an offensive weapon. i once used a sub 3in. UK legal knife to open a box for someone at work who couldn't get thru the tape. she said i scared her that i had a knife. 'what do you carry that for? i had of course just justified carrying it. luckily it was not escalated.

a man was stopped by the cops for speeding and arrested by the cops when they noted a ONE inch long 'switch-blade with a 3/4 inch unsharpened blade as a key-chain fob, he'd picked it up as a souvenir in italy. he was arrested. he was lucky. the judge confirmed it was illegal as it had a locking blade and was opened by a spring via a button. he was fined, had to pay court costs and got a three year sentence, magnanimously suspended to community service. he is also now a known felon with the restrictions imposed on felons, and is ineligible for many jobs. the man was a soldier recently back from the sand pit. he was drummed out and now is on welfare. at our expense of course.

push dagger knives and 'butterfly' knives are illegal. period. as are gravity and 'flick' knives (aka 'switch blades) but if you had one when the law was passed, you are OK. can't ever sell or trade it or carry it outside. can't ever use it inside either - or scare someone. assisted opening knives are OK -f you find one without a locking blade under 3 in. edge, you can eve carry it EDC. swords are OK if you are going to/from an event - ie. a historical re-enactment. just carry it hidden in a bag. don't scare anyone. EDC legal knives must not be taken into schools, trains, underground (subways) or court buildings. airport another no-no. aword canes are another no-no. yet you see them for sale at dealers. they just describe it as something else. just don't get caughgt outside with one.

the cops themselves have trouble understanding the ins and outs of the law. some measure not just the edge, but the blade length from pivot pin to point. no matter, they will still arrest you and let the judge sort it out. and confiscate your knife, which you might not get back even if the judge exonerates you.

knives and swords are by definition and public opinion always an 'offensive' weapon. so if you 'offend' someone by carrying it, you are a criminal, even if you never used or carried it or displayed it illegally.

canes, bats, table legs, rolled up newspapers, sticks, hammers, screwdrivers, can also become 'offensive weapons' if you pick one up and use it to defend yourself from some punk trying to beat you to death you are the bad guy. heaven forbid you ever actually wound or kill a burglar in your own home with an offensive weapon like a steak knife or a baker's rolling pin. you could get years in jail and a large legal bill.
 
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kronckew
looks like Australian law is very similar to German law in respect to its many details but without being very clear at the same time. I also wondered if legal blade length = edge or does the blade start right where the metal exits the handle? What if a blade is curved? Would it make it longer? For example I have a Seal Pup which has officially a blade length of 12cm and should be legal to carry in Germany (under certain circumstances of course). The edge is indeed 12cm long but below it is 1cm of what I would classify a part of the tang which is not covered by the plastic handle. Now if a cop doesn't know what a tang is he would most likely measure the blade as 13cm long. Now cops are usually nice and not out to get anybody, but still too risky for my taste. Would I make it more legal if I wrap a plastic ring around the lower 1cm of tang? No idea. Its just not very clear even with so many rules.

Dirtbiker.
I'm living in California. A fixed knife of one inch concealed would be illegal but I could have a 10 inch folder opened (!) and concealed?
Also what is not concealed? Is it enough if a small part of the handle or even just a lanyard shows out of my front pocket?
 
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You can carry a folder of any length concealed as long as its closed. Open and locked its a fixed blade and illegal. Yes, even a 1" fixed blade concealed is illegal.

And concealed means hidden from view, even if not entirely hidden. A fixed blade can be worn on a belt, in a sheath but cannot be covered by a jacket, or a shirt. It must be fully exposed.
 
Ah. Good to know. Thank you.
Just one more thing, would having a Kukri in the front door compartment of a car be legal? I mean it's kind of concealed in there but then it's not really carrying it until drawn.
I plan to have my kvluk in there.
 
Originally from German but now in California.
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Did some reading.
If the knife is close enough to be readily accessible it should not be concealed. So in the car door is probably not good. Unconcealed / open on the passenger seat should be fine then(?) even if some people think open carry means only on a belt on the hip. Or is on the seat still concealed and a LEO would prefer to see it on the dashboard?

Btw an axe or tomahawk would be legal in the car door or otherwise concealed since they don't classify as dirk or dagger (any stabbing device which can cause injury)
 
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Jens Schuetz said:
Originally from German but now in California.
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ach, du lieber...

you have my condolences... i was stationed in los beach for a year. (my son lives in san fransisco). the beaches are nice tho. there was a nice german bar north on the freeway i recall.... (my grandfather ran a german beer garden in new york city (brooklyn) - fond memories of oktoberfest.)
 
come on kronckew, no condolences just yet.
I like California. Just moved to a more rural area in this state. People are similar to rural people in Indiana (had lived there for quite some time) though both of them would probably insist on proving me wrong :D
Climate here is better and I'm not sitting on a fault line.
True, gas and other stuff is more expensive but other than that I don't feel any disadvantage yet.
 
How long have you been in California?

When I drove to Nevada this summer we had to drive through the NE corner of California. If you didn't know where you were and just looked out the window you'd not know your were in California or Kansas or anyplace else, people appeared completely normal, pretty country side, but I knew and I was happy to get out.
 
Bawanna said:
When I drove to Nevada this summer we had to drive through the NE corner of California. If you didn't know where you were and just looked out the window you'd not know your were in California or Kansas or anyplace else, people appeared completely normal, pretty country side, but I knew and I was happy to get out.
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I don't know if I would trust someone who appeared completely normal. Must be hiding something.
 
Knife laws are a confusing lot... Gun laws are (slightly) less twisted. Here, most towns come up with their own rules on legal length, carry etc. which annoys me to no end. It's not like I wanna do something illegal, the damn laws are so obfuscated!
 
Obfuscated he says. This old Missouri farm boy is gonna have to go look that one up. Hope I can use it sometime in the future and impress people with my intelligent demeanor, like that's gonna happen.

Well I looked it up and now I couldn't agree more. Knife laws and gun laws are really obfuscated for sure.
 
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