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

I understand the deadly or dangerous aspect. The reason I asked was that you specified 4.5" blade concealed is facing a felony conviction. Without a length stipulated in the ORC (municipalities aside) that number could easily be 2" or 10" depending on the LEO and if he wants to take you in. Some rural county deputies I have spoken to don't even consider a knife a weapon unless it's at least 8". As I mentioned with one of my LEO friends, 4" in the city is what they look at. Don't give the police a reason to stop you and there is a good chance you will go through your life without anyone knowing or caring if you are carrying a knife or gun for self defense.

This is the good and bad part of Ohio. Here, you might get in trouble for a 6" blade. In a state like Texas, a 6" blade IS against the law. No question.

I think it comes down to this. If you decide you are going to carry a knife for self defense, make sure you get training with it, make sure you understand all of the ramifications of your choice. I think those two things are of utmost importance. Not taking care of either of those can get you in a lot of trouble.
 
Originally posted by Dirk
I understand the deadly or dangerous aspect. The reason I asked was that you specified 4.5" blade concealed is facing a felony conviction. Without a length stipulated in the ORC (municipalities aside) that number could easily be 2" or 10" depending on the LEO and if he wants to take you in.
Click to expand...

Dirk, I agree totally. 4.5" was just an example. One could say 3" or 3.5" just as well. The problem is that there is no standard. Therefore, except for a small slip joint, I would advise never to carry concealed in Ohio. Have that pocket clip or belt pouch showing. It would be pretty sad to get a felony record and possibly spend time and $$ when there is an easy way to eliminate the risk.
 
Got ya. I thought you were saying there was a length listed in the ORC. My bad. You are correct!

Didn't mean to turn this into a self defense issue on my last post. I was thinking about another topic else where. Although, part of it does apply to just general carry of a knife.
 
Mr Linton,watch my back?Please give me a break.If the LEO's here in my community want to track me down to arrest me for carrying an auto knife then they are more than welcome.And by the way If you take my advice on an "anonymous"forum and get in trouble for carrying your $200 dollar auto then its your fault and not mine.Its a ridiculous irony that a man can carry a high powered pistol of his choice with a CCW(which I have)and not be able to carry his(very illegal)auto:barf:
 
Hey,

Well I talked to my cousin (Police officer) and he said carrying my Native is no problem. I said what about 4" Spyderco Military - said don't worry about it. He said next time I see him, he show me the ORC and show me there is nothing to worry about.


I'm getting a little confused here.

Tom said: " Therefore, except for a small slip joint, I would advise never to carry concealed in Ohio. Have that pocket clip or belt pouch showing. It would be pretty sad to get a felony record and possibly spend time and $$ when there is an easy way to eliminate the risk."

and

"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."

According to Tom, you can get a felony for carrying concealed - yet for breaking an ordinance, it really isn't anything.

How can ANYONE in the legal system (LEO, Judge, Lawyer, etc), expect anyone to know what the laws really are regarding knives. Sounds like it can vary from LEO to LEO etc. Someone just tell me what the solid hard laws are, and I'll stay in them. Sad thing is, no one know what they are! Because no one thought "Hey! It may be good to actually define what is to big!" ugh! :(

So you could say, "Well, if it's not concealed or it's small slipjoint it's fine... Otherwise, you could be OK or you could be in serious damn trouble." Look, I don't like the tuck in my shirt all the time, which means if it's clipped to me jeans, you can't see it.

Right now: I have jeans on, with my Native and Flash I clipped. However, I have a t-shirt generally covering it up - I also have a sweatshirt on, as it is still winter. Even though it's clipped, it's generally covered, which could mean: felony! ugh!!!

Every time I think about this, I get more and more and MORE upset! I'm not out to hurt people or scare people by carrying a knife. I like knives, they're a hobby of mine, I like to carry them as they can be very fun and handy. Yet, I could be arrested and charged a felony. How lovely eh?

I don't know if I mentioned this or not here, my friend's father is a lawyer. And I asked him to check and get back to me what kind of knife laws he can find. I'll also ask him what to say, if I have to explain to a Police officer why I might have a Spydie Military or Civie or Emerson Commander or something on me. Or heck - on what to say about carrying any knife, of any size.

:grumpy:

Thanks guys!
 
Originally posted by marsupial
If the LEO's here in my community want to track me down to arrest me for carrying an auto knife then they are more than welcome.

No comment required.

And by the way If you take my advice on an "anonymous"forum and get in trouble for carrying your $200 dollar auto then its your fault and not mine.

No chance of that.

Yes, the law is not logical. It is the product of imperfect human beings selected, moreover, not for merit but due to political clout. Many other examples of legal - human - irrationality could be cited.

ajnova, it all depends on the LEO, the judge, and (if it comes to that) the jury. So why take that risk?
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Originally posted by Thomas Linton
ajnova, it all depends on the LEO, the judge, and (if it comes to that) the jury. So why take that risk?
Click to expand...

I must ask, do carry a knife outside on a daily basis? If so, what kind? I'm going to go out on a limb here - I bet it's either in a case on your belt.. or um clipped and visible in your pocket? ;-)


BTW What the heck do you do if you are wearing a coat? This isn't Florida after all.


This knife laws stuff is really getting me disgusted. ugh
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Rest assured, that if you really get into trouble, that because the laws are so unclear you should be able to get off if you Appeal. Higher courts really hate unclear laws. However, this probably won't help you get out of the slammer right away, NOR will it save your wallet from lots of Lawyer bills.......
BTW, I'm not a lawyer or anything like that.
 
Originally posted by ajnova
I must ask, do carry a knife outside on a daily basis? If so, what kind? I'm going to go out on a limb here - I bet it's either in a case on your belt.. or um clipped and visible in your pocket? ;-)


BTW What the heck do you do if you are wearing a coat? This isn't Florida after all.


This knife laws stuff is really getting me disgusted. ugh
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"do carry" = "do you carry"? If so, yes I do. But I hate long coats when driving and wear a jacket that does not cover my pants pockets.

If I were to wear a long coat -- and I thought about it -- I could clip the knife in an outside pocket. But I live in the country and look "respectable." Plus my son is "on the job." All the intangibles are in my favor.

Look, man, it's your life and your choice.

You want to get disgusted? Consider that, if you're an average guy, all you earn well into May goes for taxes of one kind or another: income, sales, excise, property -- not to mention the tax expense built into the cost of goods and service you buy. Now that is disgusting.
 
You would honestly think either a law maker would realize, or police departments would request that it is set in stone what the legal limit is. Rather then just "Depends on how I feel and how I like you" with LEO with what he does. It like they were making the knife laws, lunch time came around and they forgot all about it when they came back!

It's like getting pulled over for speeding, and having nothing set in stone what the LEO should do.

Option A: I'll let you go

Option B: I'll yell at you

Option C: I'll kick your butt for going 40 in a 25!
 
Originally posted by Phalanx7.62
In my state, Michigan, I have a CCW, but I cannot carry a knife larger than 3".
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When did that change? When I researched Michigan knife laws a couple years back there was no length limit on the books. Double-edges and assisted-opening seemed to be the only issues at that time.

--Bob Q
 
ajnova - Do you really want so many things set in stone? If you think about it, on the surface it looks nice as it makes it easier for you. However, many of these laws were written far enough back that there was a belief that individuals could determine what was right from wrong and you were judged more by your actions, not what was in your pocket. The police were also trusted to make sound decisions based on their judgement of a given situation. By spelling things out, it takes that discretion away from the officer. He/She is now in a situation where he has almost no choice but to enforce a law where before, he may have had more options on how to address the issue. He/She has a lot less room to help out the average guy who doesn't really deserve to be arrested. That doesn't mean the officer is unable to do this, it just makes it harder for him/her.
 
Originally posted by Dirk
ajnova - Do you really want so many things set in stone? If you think about it, on the surface it looks nice as it makes it easier for you. However, many of these laws were written far enough back that there was a belief that individuals could determine what was right from wrong and you were judged more by your actions, not what was in your pocket. The police were also trusted to make sound decisions based on their judgement of a given situation. By spelling things out, it takes that discretion away from the officer. He/She is now in a situation where he has almost no choice but to enforce a law where before, he may have had more options on how to address the issue. He/She has a lot less room to help out the average guy who doesn't really deserve to be arrested. That doesn't mean the officer is unable to do this, it just makes it harder for him/her.
Click to expand...

Well, it's just that if the laws said under 5" or 8" or whatever was OK. Then I'd would feel fine carrying anything I have or will get. With there being no limit law, you could then get in trouble for a 4" knife or even a 3" knife or whatever.
 
Sounds like high time to tell cuz that it's illegal for a cop to give legal advice.

Then ask him which section it violates.

If that doesn't send him back to the academy with a different attitude, maybe he's just one of the lamentable "new breed" of cop who thinks the only requirements are a buzz-cut, biceps and a mustache.

:D
 
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