Knife laws in BC Canada
- Thread starter Rifter
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Rifter,
Welcome to Bladeforums. I know Calif. knife law pretty well but I'm sorry that I can't answer your question. You might try a parallel post in the Knife Laws Forum. There are also links to some resources with which you could do more of your own research, in the event that nobody has an answer.
Good luck and hope to hear from you again.
Welcome to Bladeforums. I know Calif. knife law pretty well but I'm sorry that I can't answer your question. You might try a parallel post in the Knife Laws Forum. There are also links to some resources with which you could do more of your own research, in the event that nobody has an answer.
Good luck and hope to hear from you again.
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Hello Felow Cannadian!
The laws essentially say you can carry what you want, but you'd better have a reason for carrying what you have. Double edges are not illegal on the books. Gravity knives are, as are balisongs and autos. Don't flock a knife open infront of a police officer, and maybe tighten the pivot so that it is difficult to flick open your knife.
Technically, it is legal to carry around a 12" bowie with a sharpened clip. but, like I said, you'd better have a good reason to tell the LEO that asks you about it. Technically, no knives can be concealed in Canada as well. yes, even that tiny POS Swiss Ar,y knock off in your mom's purse is technically illegal! A knife in your pocket is concealed, and so is illega., technically speaking. Like I said, make usre you have a good reason tot ell the police and'd you should be o.k. Self Defense isn't a good reason though, as far as I know. Yes, i think that is dumb too. Oh well.
The laws essentially say you can carry what you want, but you'd better have a reason for carrying what you have. Double edges are not illegal on the books. Gravity knives are, as are balisongs and autos. Don't flock a knife open infront of a police officer, and maybe tighten the pivot so that it is difficult to flick open your knife.
Technically, it is legal to carry around a 12" bowie with a sharpened clip. but, like I said, you'd better have a good reason to tell the LEO that asks you about it. Technically, no knives can be concealed in Canada as well. yes, even that tiny POS Swiss Ar,y knock off in your mom's purse is technically illegal! A knife in your pocket is concealed, and so is illega., technically speaking. Like I said, make usre you have a good reason tot ell the police and'd you should be o.k. Self Defense isn't a good reason though, as far as I know. Yes, i think that is dumb too. Oh well.
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I live in Victoria BC which is fairly close to Vancouver. Knife laws here are very relaxed in practical terms. You can carry a fixed blade openly (not concealed) though you might get some looks. A folder is no problem, and even though the letter of the law says concealed folders are illegal, there is no way anyone will bother you unless you're making trouble. I carry all manner of fixed blades and folders everyday and have never had a problem at all. Pocket knives are a pretty normal thing here and no cop around here would care one bit about any reasonable folder found on your person even if it wasn't clipped to your pocket. Many of Canada's weapons laws have more to do with 'intent' than the actual weapon itself. The downside of that is that if you attack someone with a potato, you can be charged with assault with a weapon. Just treat your knife like a tool, act with common sense and discretion, and you can carry pretty much anything you want. Just DO NOT tell anyone you carry it for self defense...that is NOT considered to be a valid reason to do ANYTHING around here by the 'authorities'.
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Hi Rifter,
I have asked policemen in Montreal and Toronto this very question...I was told that it is legal to carry a knife...in fact, one policeman told me that I could walk down the street carrying a sword "as long as you don't threaten anyone with it"...while I am not quite ready to put that to the test, it is encouraging
...on the other hand, one police officer in Montreal told me that I could get nailed with a fine (of $50-$100) for carrying a knife...
Crayola makes some very good points...I have heard rumours of policemen "flicking" open knives and subsequently confiscating them (or worse) if they are too easy to open...
Incidentally, my inquiries were made prior to Sept 11...I am not sure if policemen are still as "open" to knife carry
RL
I have asked policemen in Montreal and Toronto this very question...I was told that it is legal to carry a knife...in fact, one policeman told me that I could walk down the street carrying a sword "as long as you don't threaten anyone with it"...while I am not quite ready to put that to the test, it is encouraging
...on the other hand, one police officer in Montreal told me that I could get nailed with a fine (of $50-$100) for carrying a knife...Crayola makes some very good points...I have heard rumours of policemen "flicking" open knives and subsequently confiscating them (or worse) if they are too easy to open...
Incidentally, my inquiries were made prior to Sept 11...I am not sure if policemen are still as "open" to knife carry
RL
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Every time I see a police officer I check their pockets for clips. Spydies are popular here, as well as cheaper Gerbers. It makes me feel good to see a cop with a pocket knife. 
When i get around to it, I'd like to make a knife and give it to my local Police Department to give to an officer who does a good job, or whatever. heck, it could be a raffle for all I care. I think it would do good to help educate the non-knife nut LEOs about how cool knives are!
When i get around to it, I'd like to make a knife and give it to my local Police Department to give to an officer who does a good job, or whatever. heck, it could be a raffle for all I care. I think it would do good to help educate the non-knife nut LEOs about how cool knives are!
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As other posters have replied, almost all knives are legal - balisongs, autos, and any knife disguised as something else (knife comb etc), although a sword cane is legal (there is an inverse length restriction). Unlike the other posters, I don't know how any pocket knife could be considered to be illegal if it's concealed. Under Canadian law it is only illegal to conceal *weapons*, and most knives are not weapons by the definition given by the law; a weapon must be an object whose *primary purpose* is to harm another - most folding knives do not fit this description. AFAIK you don't need any excuse to carry a folding knife concealed. Also, as other posters have pointed out, you can carry any other kind of non-restricted, unprohibited weapon unconcealed, providing you don't end up at a "public meeting" (no definition available) or use it illegally (assault, threaten, brandish, etc).
Other than firearms, our weapon carry laws are pretty liberal.
Use (as a weapon) is an entirely different question though.
Pierre
Other than firearms, our weapon carry laws are pretty liberal.
Use (as a weapon) is an entirely different question though.
Pierre
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here's the real deal: http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/knives/canada.html
note that autos ARE illegal, as are many other types of knife related items.
The reason one might have a pocket knife deemed as a concealed weapon is that the police officer on the scene is allowed to use his discretion as to whether he considers it a weapon or not. Sure you can fight that in court later but who can afford that?
note that autos ARE illegal, as are many other types of knife related items.
The reason one might have a pocket knife deemed as a concealed weapon is that the police officer on the scene is allowed to use his discretion as to whether he considers it a weapon or not. Sure you can fight that in court later but who can afford that?
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Whoa, what a typo. I meant to include in here that bali's, auto's and "disguised" (rather than concealed) knives are *illegal*. I meant to contrast this to sword canes, which are legal. This is the relevant statute:
Prohibited Weapon includes the following:
"Any device having a length of less than 30 cm and resembling an innocuous object but designed to conceal a knife or blade, including the device commonly known as the "knife-comb", being a comb with the handle of the comb forming a handle for the knife, and any similar device."
I highly recommend the following site:
http://www.cfc-ccaf.gc.ca/cfm/ENGLISH.HTM
for information on weapons laws in Canada.
Pierre
Ok, After reading the laws for carry i think i should be ok carrying a CS SRK as long as i dont conceal it. I wil either have it on my belt or on the outside of my boot, in either spot it should be fully visible. The reason i dont want a folder is that a few years ago a friend of mine nearly cut off all his finger(he did cut one clean off) with one when he fell down and snaped the lock(he tripped while running with one in his hand, landed with the point facing the ground and all his weight was on the lock, it snapped and cut into his fingers), granted it was some pretty cheap one but ever since then i have never carried any kind of folder, not even a SAK. so thats why i want a fixed blade, i know it aint going to break on me.
As a Former Police Officer in the Greater Victoria area, as well as Alberta I will give you the following information.
A Prohibited weapon is one specifically named, or a category specifically noted in the definition of Prohibited Weapon in the Criminal Code of Canada, or as proclaimed by Order in Council. Most of you will not be running afoul of this as most of the categories of prohibited weapons that pertain to knives are not readily available for purchase in Canada. This said, switch blades, balisongs and the like are in the prohibited category.
Where you are more likely to have a problem is in the area of a Concealed weapon. For knife purposes, the maximum blade length that can be carried "Concealed" is 4". So any folder or standard pocket knife, boot knife or the like that has a 4" blade or less is not a Concealed Weapon by virtue of it's blade length. However, under the definitions of Concealed weapon, anything that you conceal and use as or threaten to use as a weapon is a Concealed Weapon under the criminal code, be it a knife, a screwdriver, a roll of quaters or your favorite toothbrush.
You can carry any size knife or sword you wish, so long as it is not concealed. You will get looks and you may be stopped by the police and asked why you are carrying it around. But it is not illegal to do so and unless you use it in a threatening manner, or in a manner that would fall under the other definitions I will mention, they have no right to confiscate it.
Where we run into problems at times, is in the individual officers definition of "Concealed". I often carry a Cold Steel VGrande 6" folder, in my pocket with the clip showing. I do not define this as concealed and the few officers I see regularly do not consider this concealed. However, if the clip were covered by my coat...it's concealed.
The other place we can have problems is the charge of "Possession of a Weapon Dangerous to the Public Peace". This is most often the charge that is brought into play when the police wish to remove a knife or sword or the like that would otherwise not be considered illegal under the Prohibited or Concealed definitions. A Weapon Dangerous to the Public Peace, can again include anything, baseball bat, hockey stick, or even your boots. For this the officer must have "Reasonable Grounds to Believe" that you have some intent to use the item as a weapon. This does not mean that you have used it, or even threatened to use it, but where the surrounding circumstances would lead one to reasonably believe you "may" use it as a weapon. This is where basically keeping it out of sight and not "playing" with it in public will cover your butt.
In truth, the weapons laws in Canada are very vague, and actually quite loose, so long as you don't get flashy. The thing to remember about the Criminal Code and Orders in Council and any other laws of prohibition is this. If it does not say it is illegal, it is legal. Just keep in mind the other laws that can come into play such as the definition of Weapon and the Dangerous to the Public Peace.
I know this is long, but I hope it helps.
A Prohibited weapon is one specifically named, or a category specifically noted in the definition of Prohibited Weapon in the Criminal Code of Canada, or as proclaimed by Order in Council. Most of you will not be running afoul of this as most of the categories of prohibited weapons that pertain to knives are not readily available for purchase in Canada. This said, switch blades, balisongs and the like are in the prohibited category.
Where you are more likely to have a problem is in the area of a Concealed weapon. For knife purposes, the maximum blade length that can be carried "Concealed" is 4". So any folder or standard pocket knife, boot knife or the like that has a 4" blade or less is not a Concealed Weapon by virtue of it's blade length. However, under the definitions of Concealed weapon, anything that you conceal and use as or threaten to use as a weapon is a Concealed Weapon under the criminal code, be it a knife, a screwdriver, a roll of quaters or your favorite toothbrush.
You can carry any size knife or sword you wish, so long as it is not concealed. You will get looks and you may be stopped by the police and asked why you are carrying it around. But it is not illegal to do so and unless you use it in a threatening manner, or in a manner that would fall under the other definitions I will mention, they have no right to confiscate it.
Where we run into problems at times, is in the individual officers definition of "Concealed". I often carry a Cold Steel VGrande 6" folder, in my pocket with the clip showing. I do not define this as concealed and the few officers I see regularly do not consider this concealed. However, if the clip were covered by my coat...it's concealed.
The other place we can have problems is the charge of "Possession of a Weapon Dangerous to the Public Peace". This is most often the charge that is brought into play when the police wish to remove a knife or sword or the like that would otherwise not be considered illegal under the Prohibited or Concealed definitions. A Weapon Dangerous to the Public Peace, can again include anything, baseball bat, hockey stick, or even your boots. For this the officer must have "Reasonable Grounds to Believe" that you have some intent to use the item as a weapon. This does not mean that you have used it, or even threatened to use it, but where the surrounding circumstances would lead one to reasonably believe you "may" use it as a weapon. This is where basically keeping it out of sight and not "playing" with it in public will cover your butt.
In truth, the weapons laws in Canada are very vague, and actually quite loose, so long as you don't get flashy. The thing to remember about the Criminal Code and Orders in Council and any other laws of prohibition is this. If it does not say it is illegal, it is legal. Just keep in mind the other laws that can come into play such as the definition of Weapon and the Dangerous to the Public Peace.
I know this is long, but I hope it helps.
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Thank you very much for the great explanation that you provided, Big One. As far as it being long is concerned, it was only as long as it had to be to pass on the vital information that it included. I certainly learned things that I did not know in the past, and that is a good thing.
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Big One:
Excellent post, thanks.
I have one question, though:
How could a knife clipped to a pocket be considered "unconcealed" whereas that same knife covered by a shirt or a jacket be considered concealed? Some lawyers I've e-mailed have said that the case law seems to indicate that clothing such as a jacket or a shirt that is untucked covering a weapon is not considered concealment. Having that same knife up under the shirt, in a neck sheath for example, would be concealment - a deliberate attempt to hide the knife from view.
Also, with regards to the blade length for "weapon" vs. "non-weapon", is this just a judgement call for the cops or is there actual precedent for this, because I've looked for length limits in Canadian law and I haven't found any. I'm always nervous when we leave stuff like that up to the judgement of the cops; we never know if we're "violating" a law or not then.
Pierre
Excellent post, thanks.
I have one question, though:
How could a knife clipped to a pocket be considered "unconcealed" whereas that same knife covered by a shirt or a jacket be considered concealed? Some lawyers I've e-mailed have said that the case law seems to indicate that clothing such as a jacket or a shirt that is untucked covering a weapon is not considered concealment. Having that same knife up under the shirt, in a neck sheath for example, would be concealment - a deliberate attempt to hide the knife from view.
Also, with regards to the blade length for "weapon" vs. "non-weapon", is this just a judgement call for the cops or is there actual precedent for this, because I've looked for length limits in Canadian law and I haven't found any. I'm always nervous when we leave stuff like that up to the judgement of the cops; we never know if we're "violating" a law or not then.
Pierre
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Guess that was two questions
Pierre
Pierre
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Those are two good questions! I'm curiosu what you ahve to say about them too, Big One.
I have a question too Big One. Are Sword Canes legal then? I read an article about them in Tac Knives but I always get sad reading articles about balisongs and such. I don't want to get interested because I'm not allowed to play witht hem in Canada! So, I didn't want to get too excited about sword canes. but I think they are beautiful object. It would be great to get one.
Welcome to the forums Big One. Enjoy your stay.
I have a question too Big One. Are Sword Canes legal then? I read an article about them in Tac Knives but I always get sad reading articles about balisongs and such. I don't want to get interested because I'm not allowed to play witht hem in Canada! So, I didn't want to get too excited about sword canes. but I think they are beautiful object. It would be great to get one.
Welcome to the forums Big One. Enjoy your stay.
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Does carrying say a large khukri in a backpack constitute a concealed weapon as it isn't easily accessable as a weapon?
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From what I can tell of the legislation (see my previous posts) sword canes are legal as long as they are longer than 30cm.
Pierre