District of Columbia - 22-3214. (a) No person shall within
the District of Columbia possess any... switchblade
knife...
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Maryland - Article 27, Section 36 (a)...(1) Every person who
shall wear or carry any dirk knife, bowie knife,
switchblade knife, star knife... razor... or any other dangerous or deadly weapon of any kind whatsoever (penknives without switchblades and handguns, excepted) concealed upon or about his person... and every such person who shall wear or carry such weapon... openly with the intent or purpose of injuring any person in any unlawful manner, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor...
(3) In [listed urban] Counties it shall also be unlawful... for any person under 18 years of age to carry any dangerous or deadly weapon, other than a handgun [covered by another section], between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise, whether concealed or not, except while on a bona fide hunting trip...
(c) ...a "star knife" is a device used as a throwing weapon, consisting of several sharp or pointed blades arrayed as radially disposed arms about a central disk...
(f) Exceptions. [officials, railway agents, permit holders] (4) Any person who shall carry such weapon as a reasonable
precaution against apprehended danger, but the tribunal... shall have the right to judge the reasonableness of the carrying of any such weapon...
- Article 27, Section 36A (a) No person [except officials] shall carry or possess any rifle, gun, knife, or deadly weapon of any kind on any public school property in this State.
- Article 27, Section 339. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation or the agent of either, whether a licensed dealer or not, to sell, barter, display or offer to sell or barter: (1) Any knife having a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle thereof, commonly called "switchblade" knives, or any switchblade penknife operating in a similar manner...
- Article 27, Section 36... Every person who shall wear or carry any dirk knife, bowie knife, switchblade knife, star knife... razor... or any other dangerous or deadly weapon of any kind whatsoever (penknives without switchblades and handguns, excepted) concealed upon or about his person...
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor...
Maryland Case Law:
- "'Gravity knife' constituted a dangerous or deadly weapon." (1964)
- "Pocketknife with the blade already open did not require any time to open the knife, as one would with a penknife, contained all the offensive qualities of a switchblade or gravity knife because it was instantly available for violent use, and was not a penknife within the statutory exception." (1990)
- "On the face of the statute, there is no indication
contradicting the view that a penknife is a penknife whether small or large, whether the blade is closed or open, whether the blade is locked open or unlocked, and whether it is carried concealed or openly." (1991)
- "A folding knife without switchblade but with a locking device... falls within the exception for 'penknives without switchblade" in this section." (1986)
- " A buck [sic] knife (a knife having a blade which folds into the handle and which locks into place when open) carried with the blade open was 'penknife without switchblade' within statutory exception, and this status was not altered by knife's blade-locking device or fact that it was carried with its blade open." (1991)
- "Where defendant's conviction was on the basis that the utility knife was a dangerous and deadly weapon per se, but the Court did not consider defendant's intent, the Court of Appeals reversed the conviction and remanded for a new trial." (1992)
- "Location of the defendant, including whether he or she is in a public place or on private property, is simply one factor for the trier of fact to consider..." (1995)
- "For objects not legislatively classified as dangerous and deadly per se, the State must prove that the object is within the class described as any other dangerous or deadly weapon of any kind." (1992)
- "Where the only evidence presented was that the object appellant was carrying was a knife over three inches long, this evidence was insufficient to meet the statutory requirements of this section." (1992)
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Virginia - 18.2-308. Carrying concealed weapons... A. If any
person carries about his person, hidden from common
observation... (ii) any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, razor... he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, and such weapon shall be forfeited to the Commonwealth... B. This section shall not apply to: 1. Any person while in his own place of abode or the curtilage thereof... 4. Any regularly enrolled member of a weapons collecting organization who is at, or going to or
from, a bona fide weapons exhibition, provided that the weapons are... securely wrapped while being transported.
5. Any person carrying such weapons between his place of abode and a place of purchase or repair, provided the weapons are.. securely wrapped while being transported...
D. Any person may apply in writing... for a two-year permit to carry a specific type of concealed weapon...
- 18.2-309. Furnishing certain weapons to minors.--If any person sell, barter, give or furnish... to any minor a... dirk, switchblade knife or bowie knife... such person shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.
The above is taken from,
http://www.knife-expert.com
Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
Knives, Weapons and equipment. Best prices anywhere.
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"only the paranoid will survive"
[This message has been edited by TheMartialWay (edited 07-11-2000).]
[This message has been edited by TheMartialWay (edited 07-11-2000).]