Maryland Knife Law Question

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Nick Ballec

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Jan 14, 2018
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Hello i was wondering if it is legal for me the carry automatic knives in Maryland. For example I specifically want to carry the MicroTech halo 5 (i'll put a image bellow) can someone please let me know if it is legal to conceal carry or open carry thank you
MT1501nnn.jpg
 
With respect to switchblade ownership, sales and carry in Maryland (MD) --

Legal to own.
Legal to carry openly,
Illegal to conceal carry.
Illegal to sell in MD.

Aside - is a balisong considered to be the same as a switchblade - No.

Per one of the best switchblade laws compilations ---

http://weaponlaws.wikidot.com/us-switchblade-laws
 
Nick Ballec said:
Hello i was wondering if it is legal for me the carry automatic knives in Maryland. For example I specifically want to carry the MicroTech halo 5 (i'll put a image bellow) can someone please let me know if it is legal to conceal carry or open carry thank you
MT1501nnn.jpg
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I live in harford county I personally wouldn't carry an Auto in MD. That is what started the Freddy Gray incident. Even though he was carrying an assisted opening.
 
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Nick Ballec said:
that's very true
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But I'm not the guy with enough money to buy that sexy MicroTech. So maybe I can't put myself in your shoes! Anti Auto laws suck! My waved Cold Steel Recon1 is faster than an auto! Not to kick a dead horse, just blow off some steam.
 
Minnesota Man said:
But I'm not the guy with enough money to buy that sexy MicroTech. So maybe I can't put myself in your shoes! Anti Auto laws suck! My waved Cold Steel Recon1 is faster than an auto! Not to kick a dead horse, just blow off some steam.
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i was just going to buy the knock off on Ali express. I've seen videos on knock offs and there almost the exact same. I wish i had enough to afford a real one LOL
 
Minnesota Man said:
I live in harford county I personally wouldn't carry an Auto in MD. That is what started the Freddy Gray incident. Even though he was carrying an assisted opening.
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Gray's assisted opener started trouble because of Baltimore Cities municipal code, which uses a more over-inclusive definition of switchblade and prohibits even the mere possession, regardless of concealment.

And yes, I can confirm zzyzzogeton's info*: Autos are legal to own and carry openly, but illegal to carry concealed or offer for sale. It should noted that unless you physically leave the state of MD, any company willing to sell you the knife are in violation of the law, because importing autos from foreign countries or selling them over state lines is against federal law. While this is routinely ignored and unenforced mostly, it is still the law.

*Namely because I wrote it:D. Yes that is my website and it is updated regularly when I learn of new law changes. I'm also a MD native.
 
glistam, thank you for putting the effort into that site and in maintaining it. It is my "go to" page when ever I am asked about the legality of switchblades.

I see you have a baton page on there. Are you working on a balisong page?
 
Thanks!
zzyzzogeton said:
Are you working on a balisong page?
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I hadn't thought about until now, but that's an idea. The trouble is balisongs are a trickier knife type to research, because they are almost never named outright, but rather are implied by statutory language alluding to "centrifugal force" or similar nonsense about flipping or gravity that in some cases was probably intended to be about German gravity knives post WWII. I've also noted that police officers can be infuriatingly ignorant about balisongs, to the point where arrests or confiscations occur only to be reversed by the high courts (See Thompson v Commonwealth of VA) and the vagueness of the law is such that the officer is not held accountable. So I guess I'm worried about the utility of such a project.
 
Yes, but.... maybe you could compile a partial list of the hard facts and tweek it along the line.

As an example, balis are legal to own and carry, open or concealed in Texas, with no edge or length restrictions. The chart might have a ton of question marks, but could be useful in limited locations.
 
zzyzzogeton said:
With respect to switchblade ownership, sales and carry in Maryland (MD) --

Legal to own.
Legal to carry openly,
Illegal to conceal carry.
Illegal to sell in MD.

Aside - is a balisong considered to be the same as a switchblade - No.

Per one of the best switchblade laws compilations ---

http://weaponlaws.wikidot.com/us-switchblade-laws
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Illegal to sell? I used to see them at the Timonium show for sale.
 
Bigbobg said:
Illegal to sell? I used to see them at the Timonium show for sale.
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I've been to that show and saw it too. But that doesn't make it legal. The sellers in many cases are from out of state and/or *very* ignorant about knife laws. But because it's a show and not an established business, it's hard for them to get caught. Even if there are cop customers, they likely consider the statute below to be extremely low priory, especially since guys that go to custom knife shows are the least likely to use a knife for violence. Most knife-wielding criminals use cheap or stolen kitchen knives.

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2018RS/Statute_Web/gcr/4-105.pdf

Note how the law has No military or law enforcement exception either.
 
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Nick Ballec said:
Very true plus micro tech has certified dealers in Maryland i pretty confused XD
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Eh, sort of. If you look at the listing, the only two certified dealers in the state have the exact same address, an junky little auction house way out in St. Leonard that rents temporary retail space. Also not all of microtech's products are autos.

I just want to emphasize, the law is the law. Just because people break it doesn't change what the law is. But hey, if they're selling autos illegally, it's their risk and not yours if you buy.
 
glistam said:
Eh, sort of. If you look at the listing, the only two certified dealers in the state have the exact same address, an junky little auction house way out in St. Leonard that rents temporary retail space. Also not all of microtech's products are autos.

I just want to emphasize, the law is the law. Just because people break it doesn't change what the law is. But hey, if they're selling autos illegally, it's their risk and not yours if you buy.
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Ok thanks for the info
 
unwisefool said:
What does Maryland consider open and concealed carry?
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Concealment is a notoriously difficult concept in law to spell out in easy-to-understand terms. However, Maryland does have case law about concealment 1966's Shipley v. State, quoted again in 2007's Polk v State.
By a recognized test a weapon is concealed if it is so situated as not to be discernible by ordinary observation by those near enough to see it if it were not concealed who would come into contact with the possessor in the usual associations of life, but absolute invisibility is not required;
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The judge in Polk further clarified:
In the case of a knife, moreover, its handle is most assuredly a part of the weapon, just as the handle of a revolver or a rifle is a part of the weapon. A knife is not ipso facto concealed because its blade is in its sheath, any more than a six-gun is concealed because its barrel is in the holster or a sword concealed because its blade is in the scabbard. Though drawing an inference, perhaps, the reasonable observer knows when he has seen a knife, a six-gun, or a sword. Concealment "should be made of sterner stuff."
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In Polk, the officer was able to see a knife, and recognize it as a knife, while standing outside a car. The court ruled this is not concealed.
 
glistam said:
Concealment is a notoriously difficult concept in law to spell out in easy-to-understand terms. However, Maryland does have case law about concealment 1966's Shipley v. State, quoted again in 2007's Polk v State.


The judge in Polk further clarified:


In Polk, the officer was able to see a knife, and recognize it as a knife, while standing outside a car. The court ruled this is not concealed.
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So, if the clip and butt of my Microtech are visible at the top of my pocket, it's not concealed?
 
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