Upcoming Trip

[perdicea]

I'll be heading up the the Baltimore DC area and have a couple of questions.

1) What is the legal lenght blade limit of knife carry up there?

2) I'll probably be doing some tourist stuff meaning the Smithsonian and wondered if there were any rules about brining knives in there?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated so I'll know what I can bring and what to leave home.

 

[puukkoman]

Here in MD there is no blade length limit on the books. In fact, there's a particular bit of case law (precedent set following a court ruling) that says something to the effect of "if a knife blade measures over 3" in length, this alone is not enough to qualify it as a deadly weapon."
There are several items, however, which qualify as "deadly weapons," including autos, double-edged blades, fixed blades carried in a concealed manner, gravity knives.
However, if you are searched and found to have a balisong, you will most likely be arrested (even though they're not specifically prohibited) due to the unfortunate stigma. You'll probably be cleared in court, but who needs that hassle?
If you're carrying a CS Ti-Lite 6", I'm sure it'll be considered a deadly weapon due to its design (obviously, a 6" stiletto blade on a folder is not a utility tool).
Just use common sense.
In DC, however, the neo-con propaganda machine is alive and well. I've heard they have some different restrictions there, so parhaps someone else can better inform you in that regard.

Disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer, cop, or judge, so my advice isn't official. Whatever you decide to do is up to you, and ain't my fault, dammit!

 

[Cougar Allen]

 

[perdicea]

Thanks for the responses. I was planning to bring if Frank allowed the Manix passaround knives. I'll wait to see what his thoughts are. If not then the Leatherman Wave will have to do.