Travelling to Seattle in September.

BluegrassBrian · Jul 21, 2015

So here at home in Louisville it's pretty much a free for all when it comes to carrying a knife.
I'm travelling to Seattle in September. I have yet to look up the specific laws in Washington and Seattle but I was hoping someone from there or who travels there frequently can give me an overview.

Roger Huynh · Jul 22, 2015

Washington Laws: RCW 9.41.250
Washington Laws In short, anything that's not a automatic
Seattle Laws basically says you can't carry a fixed blade or a folder with a blade that's longer than 3 1/2 inches

zzyzzogeton · Jul 22, 2015

Roger Huynh said:
Washington Laws: RCW 9.41.250
Washington Laws In short, anything that's not a automatic
Seattle Laws basically says you can't carry a fixed blade or a folder with a blade that's longer than 3 1/2 inches

Is that no fixed blade at all or no fixed blade longer than 3.5"??? I know, being picky, but the meaning of your sentence changes depending on how you mentally read it with pauses for commas which may or may not be implied.

Seattle Laws basically says you can't carry a fixed blade or a folder with a blade that's longer than 3 1/2 inches - means either can be carried if length criteria met.
Seattle Laws basically says you can't carry a fixed blade, or a folder with a blade that's longer than 3 1/2 inches - means no fixed blades at all, folder must be less than 3.5".

The mental addition of a comma while reading changes the overall meaning. Again, just being picky, as we have a city in Texas that bans all fixed blades and another that bans only locking folders. Thankfully, those both become history on 01 September, when our recently passed pre-emption bill goes into effect.

Roger Huynh · Jul 22, 2015

Oh, sorry for not being supper clear . So its no fixed blades at all, and only a folder with less than a 3 1/2 inch blade

eisman · Jul 22, 2015

Unless you're planning on doing something stupid I doubt anyone will notice. I've carried a lot of different knives around, including downtown, and never had a problem. Judging by the number of pocket clips you'll see it's not unusual to carry a knife.

BluegrassBrian · Jul 23, 2015

eisman said:
Unless you're planning on doing something stupid I doubt anyone will notice. I've carried a lot of different knives around, including downtown, and never had a problem. Judging by the number of pocket clips you'll see it's not unusual to carry a knife.

Well I do have a penchant for carrying fixed blades but I understand there may be some social acceptance differences between Kentucky and Seattle.
I have plenty of fun folders too. As long as it's kept in my checked luggage it's all good right?

Roger Huynh · Jul 23, 2015

eisman said:
Unless you're planning on doing something stupid I doubt anyone will notice. I've carried a lot of different knives around, including downtown, and never had a problem. Judging by the number of pocket clips you'll see it's not unusual to carry a knife.

Really? I don't ever see any pocket clips at all in Seattle, it feels like I'm the only person that clips my knife onto my pocket.

bladeninja · Jul 23, 2015

3.5" blade or less. Fixed or folder. Keep it in your pocket and if questioned about it (other than being stupid) it's a tool. Not a knife.

Sidehill Gouger · Jul 27, 2015

Nobody is going to bother you for having a fixed blade in your gear if you are on your way out of town hunting, fishing, camping etc. Its the people that feel the need to wear a large sheath knife on their belt while walking around Pike Place the cops take a second look at. Like the others said, no folders over 3.5-inches. A pistol permit doesn't cover knives and no you don't have a 2nd Adm. right to a knife. Both have already been to the state supreme court.