Hey. I live in Harrison, near Cincinnati. I was down in the city for the Reds game just last night. Nice post game fireworks show, lousy game...
Anyway... Ohio knife laws are wacky and convoluted, but in a very strange way, I can see the reasoning behind them. Not that I support them. Ohio has no blade length laws whatsoever. Ohio's laws are all intent based. You can "legally" open carry any knife, fixed or folder. Don't know about "switchblades", ie autos and balisongs. I wouldn't recommend those for Ohio. As for conceal carry of knives, the law says you cannot conceal a weapon other than a licensed handgun. Meaning you can't carry a knife to use it as a weapon. Whether a visible clip counts as concealed or open, I don't even know.
What does this mean for us Buckeye Knifenuts? I'd avoid any really big or scary folders, giant hawkbills, any karambit, or knives thoroughly marketed as a weapon like say, a full size Emerson or an XL Cold Steel. Get knives that look like tools, use them as tools, and just be comfortable and confident with it, that's very important. Satin/not coated blades and colorful handles might be a good thing. I carry a Spyderco Endura every day, even if I am headed into the city, and have never once had a problem. One of my co workers at my grocery store is an LEO, as is my neighbor across the street. I also once had an officer from Springdale in my house for awhile getting job applicant information on a fire Department applicant who used to live on our street. I had a Cold Steel American Lawman knife and a 4 oz Sabre OC spray on me, and an AK rifle in the corner of my living room the officer complimented. My Mom was worried about it and he gave her a whole speech about the greatness of the 2nd Amendment. It was great.
As far as I can tell, Ohio laws are made so that whether your knife is a simple full size cutting tool that "they" are happy for you to have (My Endura), or a deadly gravity knife assault dagger from the online black market (...my Endura) is completely up to the LEO you are interacting with. So just be comfortable and confident, and don't EVER resist the police in any way or do anything stupid, and you're just fine. I wouldn't sweat it. If me as an evil teenager has never had any trouble, your chances of getting into trouble just go down and down however old you are. There are people that walk into my grocery store with 8" fixed blades on there belt, and a 3.5-4" folder in each pocket, and I don't see them being Tased from a SWAT helicopter.
I have never once paid any attention to any of the local or city laws on blade length. Most of those are in the more liberal Northern/lake cities anyway. At least in rural southwest Ohio here, no one really cares, until it's a way for them to get you IF you are being stupid or breaking the law.
Another aspect is using your folder in a self defense situation. I know knives are horrible for that, blah, blah, blah. Well as an 18 y/o in Ohio, I cannot carry a handgun, cannot carry a taser, stun gun, or a baton, or a (concealed) fixed blade knife. I can and do carry OC spray. If I ever had to, I'd have no reservations about using my knife to defend myself or someone else, because that means the OC spray didn't work, and they are still trying to hurt me or someone else. But I don't carry a folder to rob fast food chains. As long as you don't either, you're fine.
