3.5 Colorado limit and the definition of "knife"

[falcogriot]

The state where I live limits blade length to "less than 3.5" and defines what is and isn't a knife in the most confusing legal language I've seen. I have a couple of folders that are legal for me to edc, but I would like to hear some suggestions for a legal folding knife for all purposes.

 

[tyr_shadowblade]

Hi.

Denver law differs from Colorado law, in that they are far more strict. Denver measures the entire cutting edge, so a double edged 3" knife (legal under state law) would be considered an illegal 6" knife and you would be arrested. Typically, if you had a clean record, the DA would reduce or drop the charge, but you would forfeit the knife, spend at least overnight in lockup, and the arrest would stay on your record. Denver police will sometimes stop people with knives clipped to their pockets, and if the cutting edge is a fraction of an inch over 3.5 you will be arrested. Mind you, this only applies to "concealed" knives (knife clipped to pocket and visible is considered "concealed"). What some Denverites do to legally carry a 4" folder is either clip it to their pocket with the handle on the outside, or clip it over their belt. This looks really stupid, and Denver is the only place I've ever seen it done.

Colorado law says you can have a dagger or dirk with up to a 3.5" blade legally concealed on your person, but if it is longer that is a misdemeanor. Open carry of large fixed knives is fine (outside of Denver, where they'll arrest you for open carry of knives over 3.5", even though it is technically legal).

My advice is to stick with a single-edged lockblade with under a 3.5" cutting edge, don't clip it to your pocket where it is visible, and avoid going into Denver.

 

[tinwiskers]

good information Shadowblade. I live in the suburbs of Denver and never fully understood the laws Denver vs. Colorado. Lucky I haven't had to find out the hard way

 

[Chris_L13]

Hi.

Typically, if you had a clean record, the DA would reduce or drop the charge, but you would forfeit the knife, spend at least overnight in lockup, and the arrest would stay on your record. Denver police will sometimes stop people with knives clipped to their pockets, and if the cutting edge is a fraction of an inch over 3.5 you will be arrested. Mind you, this only applies to "concealed" knives (knife clipped to pocket and visible is considered "concealed"). What some Denverites do to legally carry a 4" folder is either clip it to their pocket with the handle on the outside, or clip it over their belt. This looks really stupid, and Denver is the only place I've ever seen it done.

Hi. I'm just curious, where did you hear about all these things you mentioned in the comment above? I recently moved to Denver a couple months ago, but for the 3 years before that, I was living in Aurora; during that entire time, I had to travel to downtown Denver (in areas where there is a heavy police presence) on a daily basis, via public transit, and always carried a pocket knife on me, clip out in my back pocket, clearly visible. I've walked by hundreds of police officers, and NEVER had a police officer ask to see my knife, nor have I ever seen or heard of them doing so to someone else. I'm not saying I don't believe the things you mentioned have ever happened, but I'm just curious if these are things that have happened to you or someone you know, or just rumors you've heard. I constantly hear about how Denver is such a bad place, and how the police are always out to get people and are super-strict, but I've never experienced that in the 4 years I've lived in CO. Furthermore, I dress in an "urban" style, rather than businessman, outdoor enthusiast, or anything else, so I imagine if police were profiling or looking harder at people due to their style of dress, I'd probably qualify more than most of you guys (although I am Asian, so maybe that helps).

Hopefully I'm not jinxing myself and don't end up getting harassed now. Either way, my Kershaw Blur and Benchmade Mini-Grip are both safely under 3.5", so I should be fine.