What do you carry legally?

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Angelus1781

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Feb 22, 2003
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Talking to LEO last night, about the knive laws here. He admited they even have a hard time trying to understand what method of carry is legal. The way its worded, it sounds like its okay to carry, and conceal mace, and hunting/fishing knives. He did admit that it was legal to carry a fixed blade in the open. However, it will startle some people pending where you carry. Its a toss up to either conceal when you're in a store so not to frighten people, or open so you don't run into legal problems.


Just curious for other people. What are the laws, and What and how do you carry?
 
from what I've been able to interpret of the Iowa knife laws I can carry any knife with a blade of less then 5" as long as it is not an auto or double edged, concealed or unconcealed. So, I basically just still to knives below that length and I'm fine. I carry a balisong a lot of the time since it is legal in this state, usually concealed in a G2 belt sheath.
 
i carry a utility knife i made (small blade, razor edge, shor handle) but the only problem is all knives here are banned to carry, kinda sad i think considering you always need something to use with an edge...we have since stone tools were invented ;).
 
three slip-joints in my pockets. A small 2blade congress, a 2blade trapper and a large sodbuster. All legal and not too likely to raise any eyebrows.

Frank
 
I carry a Glock model 23 pistol and at least one knife, usually a Spyderco Endura when I am not going to , at or coming from work. Sometimes, I will carry my small ka-bar instead of the Spyderco depending on the type of clothing I am wearing, where I am going and the weather outside. I also carry a SureFire C2 light and a Leatherman Super Tool all of the time. I make a best effort to conceal my pistol whenever I can.
 
slide,
I thought that Iowa laws allow only folders <3 in in length. I would double check that if I were you.

As for myself, the MO laws dicate any blade <4 in in length. I usually stick with a folder about 3-3.5 in or less. I don't really have a need for a 4 in folder so I don't go that big.
Matt
 
NJ has a "dangerous knife" clause, which could mean anything. In the hands of Janich or Hock or Keating, I would consider a pencil to be a "dangerous knife".
 
chicago Illinois, 2.5" limit. Illinois itself is 3 inch ... i carry a spyderco SS Cricket (AWESEOME knife!), an Al Mar Osprey on the keychain (again, simply amazin), and i occasionally fudge by carrying a small sebbie or a Mnandi ...
 
Originally posted by vactor
and i occasionally fudge by carrying a small sebbie or a Mnandi ...
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I've wondered about carrying an expensive knife like that, which I usually do myself. We've all heard that getting into trouble with an obviously tactical, combat style knife can leave the court thinking you were looking for trouble. Shouldn't an expensive knife give the opposite impression? "Your honor, can you seriously believe I was going to damage this fine piece of craftsmanship in a street fight? It's practically jewelry!" :D

I personally don't think it pays to mock local laws too openly. If the law says 4", don't carry 6" and wave it around in the street. But "the law" isn't looking over everyone's shoulder every minute, either (yet!) and carrying a larger knife on a hike has got to be OK -- or it's time to move to where it is.

I do feel much less pressured in the country or suburbia. Not living in NYC anymore, I would be careful what I carried there now.
 
Texas allows up to 5-1/2" blades. It doesn't matter whether they are folders or fixed, open or concealed.

I always carry either a Camillus Aftermath or Maxx Bowie, which are both 5-1/2" blades. I also carry a Darrel Ralph Madd Maxx 4" on the other side. Most of the time I have a Rob Simonich Mid-Tech Bitteroot around my neck or a Spyderco Micarta SPOT worn horizontally on my belt.

The only knife I ever carry illegally is my Camillus Fisk Southwest Bowie (11" blade) which I sometimes carry concealed (under a vest in a back sheath) when out in the woods.

One of my justifications for keeping the other blades in my collection is for when I travel. I select blades that are within the local limits for wherever I am.

--Bob Q
 
I'm based in Denmark. Legally, I carry a LM Micra and sometimes a SAK recruit.
It's (for now) legal to carry a folding knife with a sub 2,7" blade that cannot be opened with one hand/gravity/spring, etc.
There's a new law coming soon that will outlaw the carrying of any kind and size of knives in public places.
When that happens, I'll be carrying my house and car keys....legally!:rolleyes:
Obviously, I would never even think about breaking the law and carry anything else!:D
Why on earth would a person carry a deadly knife anyway?:rolleyes:
 
Pretty much any folding knife is legal to carry in California. There's no blade length limit in the state's law, but in Los Angeles County, there's a 3" limit for open carry; anything over that and it has to be concealed (that has to be one of the weirdest laws I've heard of; you have to show the smaller knives, but you can hide the larger ones... then again, it's California, so go figure :rolleyes: ). If that sounds weird to anybody else, I started a thread in the knife laws forum a while back about that law because it sounded weird to me and the general consensus was that I read it right. Fixed blades MUST be openly carried no matter how small the blade/knife is.

Of course, no balisongs, switchblades with a blade over 2", gravity knives, etc...
 
Jazzman,
Last I checked Iowa still had the 5 inch limit for concealed folders. If anyone knows of a recent change to 3 inches please let us know the source.
Thanks,
Lloyd
 
Originally posted by The Porcupine
I'm based in Denmark. Legally, I carry a LM Micra and sometimes a SAK recruit.
It's (for now) legal to carry a folding knife with a sub 2,7" blade that cannot be opened with one hand/gravity/spring, etc.
There's a new law coming soon that will outlaw the carrying of any kind and size of knives in public places.
Click to expand...

What the hell is wrong with people -- particularly people in governments?! Are they saying, essentially, that no one will be allowed to have a knife at his disposal except in the privacy of his home?! What is next, banning any device capable of starting FIRE?!

Who is behind this asinine law? What mandate do they claim to have for outlawing the most basic tool there is, short of a club? Knives belong to HUMANITY. To take away the ability to have a cutting edge is to strip away a huge hunk of our common human heritage. This is sickening.

Is this law sure to be enacted?

---Jeffrey
 
Originally posted by Esav Benyamin
..."Your honor, can you seriously believe I was going to damage this fine piece of craftsmanship in a street fight? It's practically jewelry!"...
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LOL! :D

Outstanding response! I'm going to remember that one when I carry one of my BIG Bud Weston customs!
 
I am not as concerned about legal carry as I used to be. If I want to carry a big Bowie IWB under a coat or loose fitting shirt, then I will do just that. I am not concerned about the possible consequences, but am fully willing to live with them.
 
Originally posted by Robert.B
but the only problem is all knives here are banned to carry, kinda sad i think considering you always need something to use with an edge...we have since stone tools were invented ;).
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All knives are banned to carry in Australia? I'm never going there, as much as I love platypus. And what was that fellow saying about New Jersey? I understand under 4 inches is ok, heck my LEO cousin gave me the 3.96 CRKT m16 to carry. It's all messed up. Just keep a low profile and carry what you want. I'm totally pro law enforcement, but give me a break here.
 
The Leek is the only "legal" knife i own, all the rest are misdemeanors.:cool:
 
Here in Indy I carry anything except switchies:p Usually I carry my BM43A and a Spydie Police or Sifu and buck 110. Just always some sort of pair of tactical and practical. Stopped carrying my knives in the open. Just to much of a hassle to deal with scaring people.
 
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