Michigan knife laws?

J

Jjewell

Joined
Jun 3, 2012
Messages
54
To the best of my knowledge you can have a 3 in blade or shorter for it not to be a concealed weapon but can you clip it to your pocket to carry a larger knife because it wouldn't be concealed and you can carry a six inch fixed blade so could some one please help
 
First of all, take a deep breath and use some punctuation; periods and commas are your friends. We can better answer your questions when they're easy to read. :)

Anyway, I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice (yadda yadda yadda), but this is the legal situation to the best of my knowledge:

You can carry any length or type of knife (except switchblades) OPENLY in Michigan. The issue of concealment is unfortunately vague in Michigan, although that may be fixed by bill HB4262 currently in the Michigan Senate. You cannot carry a "dangerous weapon" concealed on or about your person, and knives with blades longer 3" are sometimes thought of as dangerous weapons. However, they are never explicitly defined as dangerous weapons in Michigan law, and at least one legal case supports this.* That said, it's probably best to be safe and not to conceal a fixed blade longer than 3" ("except a hunting knife adapted and carried as such"). You may be fine carrying a larger folder in your pocket, though I can't recommend that you risk it. A folder clipped to the top of your pocket may not even be considered concealed, however, if it isn't covered by your shirt/coat - although that determination would ultimately be up to the arresting police officer.

Here's the law (and check the concealment-related legal cases at the bottom): http://knife-expert.com/mi.txt

*- The case I mentioned, althought it's old:
"An ordinary jackknife with a pointed blade 3-5/16 inches
long was not a 'dangerous weapon...' in the absence of
evidence that it was used or carried for use as a weapon."
(1945)
 
I am in Michigan too and I called the local State Police station to ask them what the actual law is and was told "no fixed blades or autos and blades no longer than 3 inches".

This is basically what I grew up as far as the law goes all my life here but the actual vague law only mentions the "3 inch length" when it talks about committing a crime and with that the knife will be charged as a felony! IIRC.

It is vague enough that I do know people that carry close to 4 inch folders and have had cops see it, pull it out of his belt pouch, open it up and then just give it back to him. I dont push my luck and just stay with a 3 inch folder! :D
 
I'm in michigan too and just thought I'd give my input. Now police don't always know the laws exactly and may interpret them differently but according to michigan.gov, its legal to carry as long as you don't have intent to use unlawfully.

http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,4643,7-123-1591_3503_4654-10953--,00.html
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-750-226

"5. Is it illegal to have a knife with a blade over 3 inches in my possession?
MCL 750.226 No. Michigan law specifies that a person, with intent to use the knife unlawfully against another, shall not go armed with a knife having a blade over 3 inches in length. "

Basically if its for EDC then you should be fine. Now I'm not saying some cops might not hassle you but as long as you just tell them you use it for opening your mail and other daily tasks you should be fine. Don't ever say its for Self defense, regardless of size, and you shouldn't carry for that reason anyway. Your local laws may vary but overall you should be fine carrying whatever folder you want within reason. As long as its not like a Cold Steel Rahja 1 or something giant like that it should be fine.
 
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