"Well, that's a little illegal there."

A

ajnova

Joined
Jan 25, 2004
Messages
192
Last night I was at my uncle & aunts for dinner with my parents. So we eat and then it's time for dessert.

My aunt it trying to open this box, and I say do you need a knife? So she hands me the box and I take out my Spyderco Native and open it up. Then proceed to open the box.


My soon-to-be 22 year old cousin says to me "Well, that's a little illegal there." I reply with "No, it's not" "Yes it is" etc. I was have a VERY bad night - and this didn't help me. Then my aunt said to my cousin "No no, up to 6" is legal" Wonder what he would have said if I used my assisted opening Flash I instead? haha Funny thing is, he is supposedly going to Police academy this fall. His older brother is ALREADY a Police officer - sadly he was working last night.

I was going to go ask him, why he thought my Native was illegal. However, before I could do so - he said he was going out.

It does getting bothersome "Why do you carry a knife?" "That is so sharp! Be careful!" "That looks so mean!"

According to my research and info from Blade Forums... In Ohio - any size folder is OK - fixed blade up to 4.5 inch concealed.
 
From what I've heard.... I could be WAY wrong here,
I thought that individual townships/cities/whatever
are allowed to restrict to individual areas.
Does any one know?
 
Neither the Ohio Revised Code nor any reported decision by any Ohio Court has defined how long a knife can be and still fall outside the prohibition on concealed carry of a "dangerous weapon" under the Ohio statute. Moreover, many municipal ordinances make it a criminal act to carry a concealed knife with a blade longer than 2.5" Some of these ordinances have withstood court appeals.
 
Originally posted by ajnova

According to my research and info from Blade Forums... In Ohio - any size folder is OK - fixed blade up to 4.5 inch concealed.
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Thats what I've found too, but Ohio is an odd state. Some areas carring a gun out in the open will get attention from the cops because they like the gun and want to try it out, in other areas it will get the SWAT team called.

I hope you can find time to educate your cop family about knives. Two more cops out there that understand why we carry and what we carry, means we can continue with our hobby and they have less paperwork to fill out.
 
Originally posted by Thomas Linton
Moreover, many municipal ordinances make it a criminal act to carry a concealed knife with a blade longer than 2.5" Some of these ordinances have withstood court appeals.
Click to expand...

Thomas, I sent you an e-mail fyi.

Thanks!
 
Originally posted by nevarmore
Thats what I've found too, but Ohio is an odd state. Some areas carring a gun out in the open will get attention from the cops because they like the gun and want to try it out, in other areas it will get the SWAT team called.

I hope you can find time to educate your cop family about knives. Two more cops out there that understand why we carry and what we carry, means we can continue with our hobby and they have less paperwork to fill out.
Click to expand...


Let me be more clear. You are wrong.

Carry a 4.5" concealed knife of any kind in Ohio and you are facing a felony conviction. There are affirmative defences, like the need for self-defence, but the burden of proof is on you, not the State.

The present statute simply says "dangerous weapon" and the new statute (effective 90 days after 1/8/04) says "deadly weapon." No court has said exactly what that means. Some cities say it's anything over 2.5"

Carry a Buck 110 in a leather case? Then it's not "concealed." Carry Spyderco Military clipped in your pocket? You can argue it's not "concealed." In the woods or on a city street? In Cuyahoga County or Morrow County? It all depends, and the discretion of the LEO on the scene will tell whether you have a "nice day" or remember the day for the rest of your lucid life.
 
Originally posted by Thomas Linton
No court has said exactly what that means. Some cities say it's anything over 2.5"
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What kind of laws are these?! There is a BIG hole in the laws, with "No court has said exactly what that means."

Plus 2.5" is nothing!!!

Plus how can it vary from city to city? Because of that, it be like impossible to know if what you are carrying is legal or not!

ugh this sucks!

this really burns me up!
 
Originally posted by ajnova
What kind of laws are these?! There is a BIG hole in the laws, with "No court has said exactly what that means."

Plus 2.5" is nothing!!!

Plus how can it vary from city to city? Because of that, it be like impossible to know if what you are carrying is legal or not!

ugh this sucks!
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And this surprises you why? :D
 
Originally posted by Thomas Linton
And this surprises you why? :D
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heh yeah.

Gosh, some stupid laws! And the chances of them getting "better" anytime soon, probably aren't good at all. Since it deals with knives...


BTW Tom: I replied to your reply.

:-)

Thanks!
 
According to the Revised Codes of my state, Benchmade Axis Locks and Kershaw assisted openers are all pretty much illegal. Not to mention SOG and many other knives out there. That doesn't include local restrictions that may exist. Welcome to the new millenium... :rolleyes:

I was out to dinner with my parents and aunt and we were having trouble getting a loaf of sourdough bread to 'co-operate'. I produced my Leek and popped open the blade only to get some eye-popping as well. Soon after came the 'airport' comments and such. Sheesh...

I don't take it upon myself to make a case for knife carrying legitimacy. In my family, it's utterly pointless clinging to any illusions that arguments I may produce will spur any miraculous epiphanies. I am comfortable with it despite their views.
 
I was wondering: A sporting goods store near me, sells Spydie Endura (with almost 4" blade if I remember correctly). Does that mean in that city Endura is legal?

I can't see it's legal to sell - illegal to carry. Well... I can't believe some of these dumb knife laws either ugh.
 
"A sporting goods store near me, sells Spydie Endura (with almost 4" blade if I remember correctly). Does that mean in that city Endura is legal?"

Maybe and maybe not. In my state, it had been illegal to possess OR offer for sale a switchblade for many years. That law was recently modified slightly (but not enough).

Many examples of legally-owned items cannot be carried. You can legally purchase a handgun and have it in your home (but not carry outside your property in many places). You can purchase all manner of trick-lights and aftermarket parts for automobiles, but they most definitely are not all street-legal. The rationale is pretty universal that things can be owned for special purposes or "novelty" which aren't appropriate for street-carry/use.

Sorry to hear that a 2.5" local law is even entertained, though...that's a small knife by our standards.
 
Well, if it is legal to own - yet illegal to carry. You would think, they would tell you or have a sign or something.

However, nothing is starting to surprise me anymore when it comes to knife laws! :mad: :(
 
Your cousin is a dumb ass and asking the brother may not have been any help to you either. LEO's can not know every single law out ther e and that is understnadable. The good ones will check on something they are not familiar with the lousy ones will make it up as they go. I wonder if the younger cousin will be one that makes it up as he goes?

I have had similar reactions to the native at work. Is that legal? LOL The thing that freaks peole out is how broad the blade is as they are not used to seeing a blade that size. If you were to pull out a Swiss Army Knife of the same length no one would raise an eyebrow.
 
Be like me and say "screw em",I will carry what I want,and where I want to carry it,exceptions would be airports of course.If they take it or confiscate so what?I have 50 more at home just like it.In town I either carry my Victornox lockback adventureror or my MT UMS auto(very illegal),When out camping I will carry a 5-7 in blade and always a large chopper.I have had my knives looked at at arena events and handed back and have never had anything said about my sheath knives when in "official"company,although someday I might.Knife laws are ridiculous as are most gun laws and make absolutely no difference in their effectiveness.
 
Originally posted by marsupial
Be like me and say "screw em",I will carry what I want,and where I want to carry it,exceptions would be airports of course.
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Yeah, well, you must have more guts then i do! I really rather not get charged a felony for carrying a Spydie Military.

FYI I'm suppose to see my Cop cousin tomorrow morning. Going to ask him what the laws are.

BTW Any Police officers here at BladeForums like to chime in? Would you arrest a nice looking person, in a nice area for carrying a 3 or 4" knife, if the laws in that city up to 2.5?
 
Let's think about this a minute...Just because someone sells a knife doesn't make it leagal to carry there. You can purchase pistols in darn near every city in US, yet they are amost always illegal to carry concealed without a permit. Don't rely on the retailer to provide legality.

I once had a link to a site that listed all current knife carry laws for every state. Anyone know it? I lost it.

In my state, Michigan, I have a CCW, but I cannot carry a knife larger than 3". No gravity knives, butterfly, double edged, nada. BTW: a BM with a loose pivot is condsidered a gravity knife. :(

I carry anyway. My philosophy is if I get in trouble for carrying a large knife, I got bigger issues to worry about. That wouldn't be the primary reason for the trouble.

Robb
 
Thomas, where in the ORC does it specify a length on any knife? Is this a new addition as I have never been able to find a length listed. Many of my LEO buddies swear 4" is the limit, but they are unable to site ordinance or code. The ORC pretty much gives the officer a lot of descretion in this area.

If you have a knife clipped to your pocket and the LEO sees it, it won't be considered concealed. Unless your lawyer isn't very good. That happened to a friend of mine. He was at a party that was getting a little noisy. A deputy shows up, my buddy made the mistake of going up to the deputy to tell him thngs were OK. The deputy decided someone needed to be arrested and got my buddy on a couple of various things, including CCW because of the knife clipped to his pocket. The judge asked when and how the deputy found the knife, the deputy saiod he saw it clipped to his pocket, the judge said it can't be concealed if you can see it.

Ohio's law is one that "cuts" both ways. :D Leaving a lot of descretion with the LEO. Most of the LEO'S I know around the Columbus area won't do anything about a knife, unless you give them a reason. ie. attitude towards them, reason they had to stop you, whats on your record etc.
 
Originally posted by Dirk
If you have a knife clipped to your pocket and the LEO sees it, it won't be considered concealed. Unless your lawyer isn't very good. That happened to a friend of mine. He was at a party that was getting a little noisy. A deputy shows up, my buddy made the mistake of going up to the deputy to tell him thngs were OK. The deputy decided someone needed to be arrested and got my buddy on a couple of various things, including CCW because of the knife clipped to his pocket. The judge asked when and how the deputy found the knife, the deputy saiod he saw it clipped to his pocket, the judge said it can't be concealed if you can see it.

Ohio's law is one that "cuts" both ways. :D Leaving a lot of descretion with the LEO. Most of the LEO'S I know around the Columbus area won't do anything about a knife, unless you give them a reason. ie. attitude towards them, reason they had to stop you, whats on your record etc.
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Dirk hit that one out of the park. Attitude will decide if you walk or be bent over a sink in the cell. Most judges do NOT share the enlightened attitude of the judge mentioned. Discretion is the better part of valor, just carry wisely, be polite and you should be fine. I know in Colorado, a 3.5" blade is the maximum length for concealed carry, however, talking to peers, there is such a discrepancy in measuring the blade length you could get popped for carrying a Native by a Denver PD guy who measures the sharpened (and false) edge.
 
Originally posted by Dirk
Thomas, where in the ORC does it specify a length on any knife? Is this a new addition as I have never been able to find a length listed. Many of my LEO buddies swear 4" is the limit, but they are unable to site ordinance or code. The ORC pretty much gives the officer a lot of descretion in this area.
Click to expand...

As I posted above, the Revised Code does not define "deadly" or "dangerous" in terms of length -- or by any other criteria. Nor has any Ohio Court cleared up the issue. Therefore, as you say (and I said above) muc depends on the LEO -- and therefore on the impression you make.

Some Ohio municipal ordinances, however, set the legal limit for concealed carry at 2.5". Violation of an ordinance is not a felony, but would usually result in a fine and probable confiscation of your concealed knife.

Openly carrying a whopping big knife outside a hunting/camping venue (like on a city strret) might result in a charge of Creating Panic.

And Marsupial, you might consider that it's one thing to take a foolish risk and another to advise others to engage in risky behavior.

And Marsupial, you took another risk ["MT UMS auto (very illegal")] on a public forum that lists your e-mail address. :footinmou !! We are not anonymous here. Watch your back.
 
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