What "is" legal in your neck of the woods?

Yeah I would not trust things on the internet. If you are worried then I would call the local authority AND a local lawyer, maybe two. I live in MD and you can carry almost any folding knife. I think in my county it is illegal to carry over 3.5, but I really do not care. I have carried butterfly knives since I was 14 years old, but I also have good judgment. I think it depends on the attitude in your state. I was going to my PO last year and forgot to take my fully serrrated sypderco endura ss out of my pocket before going into the courthouse. I said I forgot and before I could say anything else the officer was smiling, putting the knife in a bag. I just signed for it and got it back as I left.

The main thing to do is think like a reasonable person, know your self, your local authorities attitude, and be cautious. I do not carry my balisongs like I used to, but I remember once when I could have legally pulled my knife, but I did not. It was at a lake front, with some resteraunts, a grass area where families were hangin out and this thirteen year old on rollerblades started beating up a 9 year old boy. So me and my two friends who were each like 15-16 at the time ran over to him and surrounded him. We would not let him go and shoved him around, trying to keep him surrounded until some cops or security could come. The kids mom was screaming the whole time for security and help. The kid went in his backpack and pulled this little buck knife out. It was a plastic handle one with a 2.75 inch blade, but it was enough to scare my buddies away. I put my hands up and told him to bring it, but he just skated away, I do not think I have been more ready in my life. I wish I would have tried to follow the kid, but he skated down this dark path that lead to some neigborhoods, so I just stood there. My friends asked me why I did not pull my knife, and I just told them there was no need to, there were a bunch of families watching. I knew that I would not cut some kid even if he did have a knife in my face, he was just a kid. I remember walking away and seeing an old security guard on the upper level who had been watching the entire time, what a p#ssy!

Anyways, the kid got away, and I got out of there cause I knew that talking to the police would be a waste of my time by then. At least the kid did not get beaten too bad, I think we only saw him receive a couple blows before we got to him.
 
PILOT1,
What makes you think you can't buy knives through mail order in CO. I have done it dozens of times. The manufacturers have certain prohibitions against shipping some items to CA,NY, and MA, but I have never seen anything about Colorado.

Mikey - Littleton, CO
 
SlimWhitman said:
keep in mind that if your balisong is sharpened on both edges it could be considered a dagger.
Click to expand...

I think that a balisong sharpened on both edges might be more hazardous to its user than to anyone else. :eek:

I'm in SE Minnesota, and it seems to vary somewhat widely, mostly by local institutions. My university (Winona State University), for example, apparently forbids knives with blades longer than 3" except for kitchen cutlery or if you need a larger knife for classes or work at the university. State law just says that you can't carry any dangerous weapon- something designed as a weapon and capable of producing great harm or death- with the intent to unlawfully use it as a weapon against another person. Kind of vague.

Bernard Levine's Summary of MN knife law

Oh, and of course there are the usual injunctions against automatic and gravity knives. :rolleyes:
 
In California you may not conceal a folder which is: automatic; assisted opening; able to be deployed with a "wrist flick"...what the law says in so many words is there must be at least some slight resistance to manually deploying the blade of a folding knife.

Comply with that restriction and there is no size limit for concealed folders.

Fixed blades cannot be concealed under any circumstances...no matter what size.

Some counties, cities, municipalities have local ordinances which differ. What you need to know is...and this applies to California; I have no idea how it would work in any other state...when local ordinances collide with state law, the state law trumps the local "laws"...always.
 
According to NC law it appears a butterfly knife would fall under the catagory
of regular knife. It folds up and has to be opened. Question---If I went to school with a butterfly knife in NC would it be considered a weapon or regular knife?
 
From what I've heard you're allowed to carry a 4" and under folder concealed, but fixed blades must be worn visibly.
 
Mikey said:
PILOT1,
What makes you think you can't buy knives through mail order in CO. I have done it dozens of times. The manufacturers have certain prohibitions against shipping some items to CA,NY, and MA, but I have never seen anything about Colorado.
Click to expand...


Mikey,

I ordered a Russian survival knife from Sportmen's Guide and they indicated it was illegal to ship it to Colorado. I have since ordered knives from several others inlcuding New Graham with no problems, so yes, it must be legal. One of the municipalites here in CO must prohibit it, and that's why Sportsmens Guide won't ship anywhere in CO. I do not order from them anymore. I'm in Lone Tree.
 
Here in Arkansas the law is as follows:

5-73-121. Carrying a knife as a weapon.

(a) A person who carries a knife as a weapon, except when upon a journey or upon his own premises, shall be punished as provided by § 5-73-123(b).
(b) If a person carries a knife with a blade three and one-half inches (31/2") long or longer, this fact shall be prima facie proof that the knife is carried as a weapon.

(c) This section does not apply to officers whose duties include making arrests or keeping and guarding prisoners, nor to persons summoned by the officers to aid in the discharge of their duties while actually engaged in the discharge of their duties.


The law makes no distinction between fixed blade, folder, auto, etc.

Hope this helps.
 
Here in the great metropolis of BFE Indiana there is only one knife law. Switch blades are illegal, other than that you can carry a Brave Heart sword if you so desire!
 
I live in Maine. The following is our Criminal code...
§1055. Trafficking in dangerous knives

1. A person is guilty of trafficking in dangerous knives, if providing he has no right to do so, he knowingly manufactures or causes to be manufactured, or knowingly possesses, displays, offers, sells, lends, gives away or purchases any knife which has a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle of the knife, or any knife having a blade which opens or falls or is ejected into position by the force of gravity, or by an outward, downward or centrifugal thrust or movement. [1975, c. 499, § 1 (new).]

2. Trafficking in dangerous knives is a Class D crime. [1975, c. 499, § 1 (new).]
In talking with a ADA last year, she further advised me that people in Maine can carry Bowies, Daggers, Dirks etc., concealed IF they are hunting, fishing, or Trapping etc. Otherwise, the knife cannot be concealed. However one may own and carry a Bowie, Dirk, Dagger etc. as long as it is in plain view.
The above (1055) law bans the ownership of Butterfly knives as well. I notice you can still order these via most mail order/Internet companys. I also see quite a few folks selling these items at Gunshows. So if you live in Maine, don't buy the Butterfly knives. And make sure your Buck knife blade doesn't get loose enough to be flicked open with a flip of your wrist.

But this is Maine, everyone carrys guns, so almost no one cares about knives, except perhaps the Judge...LOL!!!!
 
Well, in Milwaukee, you can't carry a blade longer than three inches, and fixed blades are a grey issue. (It looks as if they are not technically illegal, but you'd get in trouble for carrying one. Leftism.:barf: )

And of course there are the regular restrictions against bowies, switchblades, gravity knives, knives you can flick open, etc.
 
Here in Northern Idaho, everything is cool to carry as long as you have a concealed weapons permit. Knives, big or small. You can even buy switchblades of various sizes. Something about if the knife is made in Idaho it's OK to sell in Idaho. What ever the rule is we have switchblades coming out the ying yang, for all to enjoy. But don't get caught in Washington State with one, jail time there.
 
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, it is unlawful to carry concealed a: "switchblade, Bowie knife, dagger, dirk . . . or any weapon of like kind". Concealed carry permits used to cover edged weapons as well, but that was repealed in '97 for some unknown reason. Balisongs and some medium-sized fixed-blade knives have erroneously been ruled "daggers" in a few court cases, as per Webster's definition (i.e., "suitable for stabbing"). Folders, of ANY length, are considered "penknives" (although I think they might revise that if presented with a 6" Ti-Lite or Cuda MAXX stilletto). Switchblades are sold openly, and if they have a pocket clip might not be considered "concealed" (open to interpretation). Daggers, Bowies, and even swords may lawfully be worn openly (if you feel like acting like a cartoon character).

In Upstate NY, switchblades are technically unlawful to possess even in one's home. Balisongs are considered "lockblades" (provide they're not latchless). A lotta confusion about what constitutes a "gravity knife" -- folks occasionally get charged for carrying balisongs or folders with loose blades, but unless the defendant either is a known felon or was committing a crime the charge is usually tossed (provided one has competant council). A "dangerous knife" may not be carried, but the term is not defined, and blade length is not mentioned, and NY has no CCW statute, per se, although carrying concealed seems to prove "intent" to use such unlawfully. I've seen sheath knives of all sizes and configurations carried openly, on many occasions.

In Vermont, you are allowed to carry anything you want (firearms, daggers, etc.) concealed, and no permit is required.

Under Federal Law, the "pilum ballistic knife" (shoots across the room and sticks in the wall) is illegal in all 50 states.
 
FloridaCentral said:
Resrictions on fixed blades (concealed) but all goes away with easily obtained CCW permit
Click to expand...

True, but it's nice to not have to try and keep a good fixed blade concealed.

I guess I shouldn't be, but I was surprised at how lenient Florida is with knife carry.

I might be wrong, but it seems the only prohibition in state law is that you can't carry anything but a "common pocketknife (assuming a folder that you have to open with both hands here)" concealed without a CWP. Other than that it seems one can carry daggers, dirks, bowies, even a sword if you're so inclined (although one has to look out for local ordinances), as long as they aren't concealed (without a CWP).
 
TYR....NY can possess Swithchblades or gravity knives with Fishing, hunting license, but you can buy, sell, trade etc, them.....There are no pistol permits in Vermont????
 
You're correct about switchblades or gravity knives being lawful to possess in Upstate NY, provided: 1.) one has a valid hunting, fishing, or trapping license on their person, 2.) one is actually in the process of hunting, trapping, or fishing -- or en route to lawfully hunt, trap, or fish (within season). This is Conservation Law rather than Penal Law, but an exemption is found somewhere in the Penal Law's small print -- most cops are unaware of the particulars of knife law, however. If I recall correctly, the blade length permitted under this statute must be less than 3.75". Violation of this law is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail, UNLESS one has a prior conviction for ANY crime (misdemeanors and DWIs included), wherupon the charge is upgraded to a Class D felony (up to 7 years in prison -- usually much less). With the few exceptions of: 1.) the Conservation Law, 2.) the Federal "One Armed Man" law, 3.) and certain specified professions (including Warden, mail carrier, and Harbormaster), switchblades and gravity knives are specifically prohibited as "deadly weapons" and you can be arrested for selling, trading, giving, or "disposing of" them under the "Public Order -- Weapons Possession" section of the Penal Law.

Not only are there no pistol permits in Vermont, but guess what the State imposed penalty is for unauthorized possession of a sawed-off shotgun or firearm silencer? Confiscation and a FIVE DOLLAR fine! (Under Federal law, however, probably closer to 10 years). Don't be too eager to move to Vermont, though! The State law applies only to residents, and it gets COLD in the winter . . . quite often, the upper 2/3 of the state is buried under several feet of snow during the blizzards, making the roads impassible -- sometimes for weeks. Locals stock up on canned goods, firewood, and gas for the generators and snowmobiles. If it weren't for the winters, it'd be a great place to live.
 
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