what knives can i carry in new york city?

M

Mr Krieg

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Feb 3, 2014
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i was thinking about taking my dragonfly 2 to new york but i am unsure of the knife laws there, could use some insight on their laws and what i can/cannot carry?
 
There was a recent thread on NYC. Think it was titled NY sucks.
Don't use a pocket clip, deep pocket carry that way you will not be approached by NYPD for the clip showing. Anything assisted, flippers and knives that they can open with "gravity" are considered illegal. If they can snap it opened with one hand it is considered illegal so there is a lot of grey area. If it is in your pocket and you don't break any laws you should be OK, but if yo want to use it in public go simple like slipjoints and SAKs.
 
billym said:
There was a recent thread on NYC. Think it was titled NY sucks.
Don't use a pocket clip, deep pocket carry that way you will not be approached by NYPD for the clip showing. Anything assisted, flippers and knives that they can open with "gravity" are considered illegal. If they can snap it opened with one hand it is considered illegal so there is a lot of grey area. If it is in your pocket and you don't break any laws you should be OK, but if yo want to use it in public go simple like slipjoints and SAKs.
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Small clarification: Most modern pocket knives knives can be held by the blade and flipped open with the handle's mass; courts have ruled this is a gravity knife, but only if it locks. Slipjoint knives are not considered locking for purposes of this law, because you don't have to disengage a button. They simply close under enough pressure.

Some examples of knives that fall through these loopholes:
Swiss Army Knives - Most are slipjoints.
Opinels - Lock has to be manually engaged after opening in a separate action. Smaller ones don't lock at all.
Peasant/Penny knives - have no lock, just friction or finger pressure
Most types of multitools/multipliers - Either don't lock, or simply cannot be opened by the blade-grabbing nonsense due to how they are designed.

Also, has to be less than 4" and never let a knife show in public. NYC has a rule that is reversed from typical knife laws: Openly visible knife in any way is illegal (with some exceptions) while concealed carry is legal (provided it complies with above).
 
I work in NYC, and carry a traditional slipjoint, a buddy I work with carries a Spyderco Slip-it.
 
Also concealed fixed blades up to 4" blade length are legal to be carried concealed.

FYI, the penalty for a "gravity knife" charge is up to 15 days in jail and a $300 fine. Realistically, few ever get jail time and you may/may not get arrested or just cited and released.
 
I work in NYC. I usually carry a delica and just slip I in my pocket before walking in public. Worst I got was a kershaw confiscated. I only carry less expensive blade when in NYC so if they get confiscated it's not too much of a problem. Good luck!
 
John Please tell the CORECT information. The penalty for NYC Admin Code 10-133 for carry ANY knife exposed is considered a violation level infraction of the law and has a max penalty of 15 days or a fine not to exceed $500. The charge of carrying a gravity knife is a class A Misd which can carry a sentence of one day less than a year in jail and a fine : CPW 4- 265.00 NYS PL....What gets done in court often differs greatly from the written law, but lets NOT mislead the readers here. The NYC admin code is not considered a criminal offense for this item, and paying a fine does not leave you with a criminal record, however the gravity knife ( CPW 4) does leave with a criminal record if you plead guilty to that charge even if you only have to pay a small fine. Be careful of fixed blades as any weapon by design is also illegal and anything you carry as a weapon ( ie self defense) is considered an illegal weapon. NEVER say anything is carried for self defense as that immediately makes it a CPW 4 arrest if the officer is so inclined to do so....
 
tom19176 said:
John Please tell the CORECT information. The penalty for NYC Admin Code 10-133 for carry ANY knife exposed is considered a violation level infraction of the law and has a max penalty of 15 days or a fine not to exceed $500. The charge of carrying a gravity knife is a class A Misd which can carry a sentence of one day less than a year in jail and a fine : CPW 4- 265.00 NYS PL....What gets done in court often differs greatly from the written law, but lets NOT mislead the readers here. The NYC admin code is not considered a criminal offense for this item, and paying a fine does not leave you with a criminal record, however the gravity knife ( CPW 4) does leave with a criminal record if you plead guilty to that charge even if you only have to pay a small fine. Be careful of fixed blades as any weapon by design is also illegal and anything you carry as a weapon ( ie self defense) is considered an illegal weapon. NEVER say anything is carried for self defense as that immediately makes it a CPW 4 arrest if the officer is so inclined to do so....
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I don't practice criminal law and am not admitted in NY (Thankfully)...for a clear, accurate interpretation one should contact an attorney practicing criminal law in the state of NY.
 
You would be hard pressed to find a clear, accurate interpretation of the NYS and NYC law as to true enforcement. The written law ( I and others have posted several times) is clear, but enforcement is not. Court handling of these cases is all over the map. I talk to both ADAs and defense lawyers many times, and I can tell you the only advice they are comfortable in saying is not to carry any knife if you fear arrest ....
 
blade less than 4in ,,any swiss army knives , spyderco ukpen knife or sodbuster jrs
 
Under 4" using whatever measurement gives you the largest value, slip joint, bottom of your pocket or pack.
 
Hello everyone,

I am from NYC and only recently got interested in knives.

First I got Kershaw Scallion because of its smaller blade, made in USA, and design (you don't look like you are in a combat zone or gonna cut someones throat with it).
Then I started reading more on this whole assist open/switchblade debate and decided to get something else just to on a safer side. Got myself a Buck Mini Spitfire.
Also nice, public-friendly design, no assist mechanism of any kind and below 3" blade. I am pretty happy with it overall. Then, as I am sure it happens with the most of us, I decided that I "NEED" to have a blade with a better steel:) While still satisfying my other requirements - somewhat small blade (3 inches or less), friendly "non-dangerous" design that I will like, no assist mechanism, no coated blades, less than $100, made in USA preferably. The only thing I was able to find was Buck Vantage Pro 847 S30v. It is 3 1/4" blade though, but close enough. Cant wait for it to arrive!

At this point I am pretty comfortable with walking around NYC with Mini Spitfire in my pocket.
Do you think having Vantage Pro on you in NYC is alright? I mean on a paper it meets all the requirements - below 4", not a dagger etc., not a switchblade or assist open, not a military looking design (that one is subjective I guess). Not sure about flick opening it, could not find any videos or info if it can be done. I am unable to flick open my Spitfire.
I really do want to comply with the law, while having the knife that I actually like.

What do you think of Buck 847 in NYC?

If that matters, I am 32 y/o caucasian, with white-collar type of job, family, kids etc. In my 11 years in NYC did not even have a single 2 minute conversation with LEO.


Thanks!
 
I work in NYC. Either UKPK, mini Barlow, peanut or alox Sak cadet for me. The mini Barlow and peanut gets the most pocket time. Not a whole lot of civilized situations in NYC where you need anything more than a peanut or Sak.
 
My thing is that I actually do like the design and looks of Buck Pro.... Plus that s30v steel:) wish they had a bit smaller size Vantage in s30v or something better than 420hc (not that I am looking down on it, just already have 2 420hc blades).
 
nib2000 said:
My thing is that I actually do like the design and looks of Buck Pro.... Plus that s30v steel:) wish they had a bit smaller size Vantage in s30v or something better than 420hc (not that I am looking down on it, just already have 2 420hc blades).
Click to expand...

Your demographics will certainly reduce your chance of LEO contact, but if you get caught with that you will 100% guaranteed get arrested. I agree, it's a nice knife; but not worth the risk of going to Rikers and meeting the Tossed Salad Man.
 
Lol meeting the tossed salad mean and pushing in my button gives me nightmares....
 
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