Do You Worry About "Legal" Blade Length??

C

clockman

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Jan 14, 2009
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I'm from Michigan where the blade length is not a problem. Edit: Unless the knife is used for illegal intent.

To those of you that have a 'legal' balde length do you worry about carrying

a blade 1/4 to 1/2 inches longer than 'legal'?

I think as long as you look presentable and are not unsmart(stupid) about

what you do with your knife once its out of your pocket you shouldn't have a

problem.

As one of my daughters used to say do you "give a care" about being 'legal'?
 
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Actually, I do believe there is a 3 inch restriction in MI.
But to answer your question, it depends on what I'm doing. If I'm gonna be in a place where police contact is possible I carry legal. In the woods, anything goes.
 
I do not worry about it, but I also do not carry knives of length that exceed the law.

I can not speak for all LEOs, but I think the length law is just one of the many tools at their disposal. If you are in the wrong with any knife, you have problems...and if you are doing nothing wrong, there is little reason to initiate a search.
 
Yeah, I keep my mind on it, but I've been told by some officers that they simply put the blade up to their palm, and if it's bigger than the width of their palm then they consider it dangerous. So that's how I test my knives, see how much of my palm they cover.

I only really do that to justify carrying a knife that's 3.5" though. That extra half inch usually does shine through with the palm test. Though I guess if I ran into an officer with small hands I'd be in trouble.
 
Where are you measuring the length of the blade from -- the end of the tang to the tip of the blade or the end of the bolster to the tip of the blade? The tang is part of the blade. Some states I believe measure the length of the blade from the end of the tang to the tip of the blade.

I will sometimes carry a knife with a blade that measures 3 1/2" from the bolster but generally carry a knife that measures 2 3/4" to 3" from the bolster.
 
Yes I do as I frequently travel to baltimore city for my job. I was pulled over once in a bad neighborhood (we have a warehouse in a crappy part of the west side...but the state wants to save cash) by a police officer. I was pulled over for because as he put it "you dont belong in this part of town". After explaining to him about my job etc he asked if I had any weapons on me. I said yes and he asked me to step out of the car and show him. I showed him my small kershaw shallot and he measured it...deemed it fine and let me go. Had I been carrying my Spyderco military or any number of blades over 3 inches it could have been bad news bears.

I try to keep in mind where I am and what the laws are as you never know. When I work in annapolis I carry whatever folder I want. However in B-more I keep the rules. Doesnt mean I dont carry mase though ;)

also the width of the palm rule is tough. If you are a large guy with big hands like me...that a 4 inch blade. If a female officer pulls you over, the width of the palm rules just dont apply.
 
I live in Boston, and the legal limit here is 2.5 inches. That is just too short for me, so I carry whatever I want, usually my BM630BK which is 4.3 inches. The cops here disregard pocket clips, but if they do search you, and catch you with a knife over the limit they just confiscate it, usually with no charges. It would suck to lose my BM630BK but I have a back-up BM630. I've had knives confiscated in the past and I actually started collecting to make sure that if my knife was taken I would have others at home.
 
The palm rule is BS that is used on people who don't know the law.

I carry whatever blade length I want. The only good thing about CA is the lack of blade length in state law.
 
I don't realy worry about it.

A lot depends on what I'm doing.

If I'm going to be in town and around people I will carry (on my belt) a "legal" knife.

If spending the day on the job site or in the woods I don't shy away from a bigger knife, somthing in the 4" to 5" range.

When out working to keep the local trail system open I have no worries carrying a 10" chopper or machete.




Big Mike
 
I could never carry a knife big enough to be illegal in Texas (at least not in my area.) 5.5 inches (State limit) just seems excessive for my purposes. If the limit was 3 inches, I would probably push it to carry some of my favorite Kershaws occasionally. I do not have frequent contact with officers and I stay out of trouble, so I wouldn't be too worried.
 
At the end of the day you have to be fluent in the laws of land that you are in. Interestingly one often has to educate the police. Holding up a blade to ones palm is ridiculous depending on whether the officer is Hulk Hogan or the vertically challenged. You can insist that it be measured. That not withstanding in FL you can carry around a CS Rajah I if you want.
 
Why would a 4 inch blade be more dangerous than a 3 inch blade? Every blade over 1 inch can kill a human being. The law about bladelenght is quite stupid. Why is a BM 710 more dangerous tha a SAK? In my country (Sweden) it´s forbidden to carry any type of knife in public (if you haven´t got a very good reason to carry it). And by the way... I always carry a BM Nitrous Stryker Mini in my pocket...
 
barrabas74 said:
...a police officer...asked if I had any weapons on me. I said yes...
Click to expand...



Never tell a police officer the knife you're carrying is a weapon, :eek:

...a knife is just a tool,

...once you admit it's a weapon any knife can be an issue.





Big Mike
 
Yes, I try to keep it legal. However, legal where I live is 2.5". Drive 20 minutes in any direction and it's "just don't be stupid." So, in town, I try to keep it close to the 2.5, but I'll go larger if I know that I'll be out of town. In the woods, I might even carry a small fixed pocket knife...a no-no in town.

And I avoid tactical looking knives like the plague. Got the blue mini-grip just because it's people friendly in appearance.

At home, I like the waved Delica or Tenascious or Native.
 
Your lucky barabas74. You said:

he asked if I had any weapons on me. I said yes and he asked me to step out of the car

Many places your knife is only illegal if you intent to use it as a weapon. I'd suggest answering "NO" if asked if you have any weapons. Your knife is a tool, not a weapon...just like your screwdriver, hammer, etc. is a tool not a weapon. If you are going to be searched and asked if you have any weapons...say "NO, but I do have a pocket knife."
 
I do when I go into chicago or other non-knife friendly municipality. Otherwise not to much.
 
i don't worry about it but i also rarely carry whats over the legal limit. As for the cop asking if u had any weapons , i would have said no as i don't carry a knife with the intent of using it for anything other than a tool. That being said i don't think you have to worry about getting in any trouble if you are not doing something else stupid to get yourself searched.
 
I don't worry about it in Fl. as CWFL covers it. If I travel out of state then I comply with their laws.
 
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