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Safe assumption when going through multiple states?

Discussion in 'Travel' started by able_man, Mar 25, 2011.

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    • In Omnia Paratus

    able_man Uber Prepared

    Do you think it is a safe assumption that I can carry a manual pocket knife with a cutting edge under 3" without trouble while visiting multiple states and DC?

    I also thought about leaving the knives at home and just carrying my LM Wave, but I could potentially (though I don't see any reason I'd be having a run in with the police) get in trouble because of the blade length I think.

    I asked the question this way because it seems that in general 3" is the rule. I know that if I do visit any federal buildings while in DC I can't take any blades. Any help is appreciated!
    able_man, Mar 25, 2011
    #1

    bigfoot Uber Prepared

    I would imagine, IMHO, that a sub-3" blade would be fine most places (as would a multi-tool or SAK). But you would need to be careful with not just only federal buildings, but also many national monuments, historic sites, museums, etc. For example, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis has security screening, metal detectors, and X-ray machines present.

    A quick Google search turned up a knife law site with state-by-state listings: http://www.knifelawsonline.com/knifehome/
    bigfoot, Mar 25, 2011
    #2

    Ajax Uber Prepared

    Barring a visit to a secure building you should be ok. I've heard of people in NY being harassed for just having a pocket clip exposed. Bloomberg and NYPD have a hard-on for knives after a couple serial stabbings.
    Ajax, Mar 25, 2011
    #3

    Cobra 6 Actual Uber Prepared

    Building off of what Bigfoot wrote that knifelawsonline website does have some very helpful info plus it has links for many of the states so you can take an online look at the most updated version of state statutes on their official state websites.
    Cobra 6 Actual, Mar 25, 2011
    #4

    indigo_wolf AKA Breezy

    Sometimes city ordinances trump state laws.... If you start in Boston and drive 50 miles out in any direction, the chances of a 3 inch blade being legal is pretty much a crap shoot, as the odometer ticks off the miles. :brickwall: :brickwall: :brickwall:

    ATB,
    Sam
    indigo_wolf, Mar 25, 2011
    #5
    • In Omnia Paratus

    able_man Uber Prepared

    Thanks for all the input. I'm still trying to decide what to do. I'm going to feel so naked without my usual carry! The only time I've gone without is when I had to go to the courthouse. When not somewhere secure I might just pocket my SAK Explorer. It's going to feel very weird to not be prepared.
    able_man, Mar 26, 2011
    #6

    bpa Uber Prepared

    Being prepared involves dealing with the situation as it is. What do you use a knife for? There are no laws against scissors AFAIK. There are some nice keyring scissors, which can be sharpened. If you don't want that, EMT shears work well too. If you need it for cheese, use a paring knife. No laws against that either, except for TSA, which disapproves of cheese.

    Adapt.
    bpa, Mar 27, 2011
    #7

    thenextarcher Loaded Pockets

    i tend to stick with a 2.5 in knife when i go places that im not sure about
    thenextarcher, Mar 28, 2011
    #8

    indigo_wolf AKA Breezy

    Hopefully not one you cherish. Boston and some other cities/towns around it have a 2" limit.

    ATB,
    Sam
    indigo_wolf, Mar 30, 2011
    #9

    JDavis Empty Pockets

    I can vouch for this. Just recently, my wife and I were driving through St. Louis. She had visited the arch in 2003, I never have. When we got there, it was miserable cold. The security mentioned has just been added because my wife says she never had to go through all that before. I carry multiple knives on me, and don't think anything about it normally. What got me stopped was my Gerber spring assisted knife, http://www.gerbergear.com/Tactical/Knives/06-FAST-Knife_31-000216. The officer would not let me through with it, apparently they consider this an automatic knife (which it's not, it's a spring assist, big difference), and seeing as I'm not law enforcement, EMT, etc., they stopped me. Just an FYI.
    JDavis, Dec 28, 2012
    #10

    jackknife Uber Prepared

    Able_man, you do not have to leave your knives at home. I am a native of D.C., and I grew up carrying a pocket knife, and continue to do so, even while visiting sights like the Smithsonian, the National Gallery Of Art, and various federal buildings. I usually carry a small knife anyway, like a Case peanut or a small SAK. I always have a keychain size SAK on my keyring like a classic or rambler. Small, but able to deal with 99% of what you may have to do in a urban setting like D.C. Sometimes I carry a 84mm SAK like a recruit or bantam. The only places a knife is a no-no are the capital, any courthouse, and the white house tours. A small multitool will fly under the radar as well.
    jackknife, Dec 28, 2012
    #11

    Solomon Loaded Pockets

    I love MEXICO. I can carry all my knives on me and go anywhere I want. Also, push button knives are legal here. <<Inappropriate content removed by jag-engr>>
    Last edited by jag-engr, Feb 25, 2013
    Solomon, Jan 29, 2013
    #12
    armedtetrapod likes this.
    • +1 Supporter
    • In Omnia Paratus

    Quixotica Uber Prepared

    I think a SAK would be your best bet. Most people in my experience don't equate a SAK with "knife", so they usually don't give it a second look.
    Quixotica, Jan 29, 2013
    #13

    Monocrom Uber Prepared

    Under 3-inches and non-locking is usually a safe bet. If it's a Swiss Army Knife, even better.
    Monocrom, Jan 29, 2013
    #14
    • +4 Supporter
    • +2 Supporter
    • In Omnia Paratus

    J_C Uber Prepared

    Some cities such as Chicago have a 2" limit. NYC effectively prohibits any locking blade if the cop can figure out how to open it one-handed, no matter how small.

    If I wanted nearly no risk of violating any laws I would opt for a multitool, SAK, or traditional styled slipjoint, with no blades longer than 2". That even excludes the little Case Peanut but their small stockman pattern is right at 2" for the clip blade. Spyderco also has the Squeak, which is a 2" slipjoint. Just don't use the pocket clip in some jurisdictions.

    Unfortunately we have such a hodge-podge of laws regarding any object that some legislators at some time or another have considered to be classified as a weapon that its difficult to know without checking the laws of every state, county, and city that you plan to pass through.

    If you were traveling to my state and city, you could carry any knife with a blade length of 4" or less, folding or not, concealed or not, as long as it did not qualify as a "switchblade, dirk or bowie knife". Meaning no 2-edge daggers or fully automatics.
    J_C, Jan 29, 2013
    #15

    indigo_wolf AKA Breezy

    State by state is annoying near the borders, but manageable. It's when laws shift at the county, city level that it becomes a tad loopy. It's what I like to refer to as the crazy quilt of legality.

    Honestly, if they didn't not vary the severity of punishment of crimes based on the weapon used (i.e. knife crimes carry a lighter penalty than guns), it wouldn't be an issue. Punish the crime not the tool.

    The reason that Chicago and Boston have the 2-inch rule for knives is because criminals were opting for knives as the weapon of choice since they carried a lighter sentence than guns.

    ATB,
    Sam
    indigo_wolf, Jan 29, 2013
    #16

    Monocrom Uber Prepared

    I though Chicago was 3-inches. Now it's down to two??

    In NYC, the officer will stand there, flicking his wrist and arm like crazy, trying to get the blade to swing open. Easiest thing to do is get a non-locking knife or one that locks in both the open and closed positions.
    Monocrom, Jan 30, 2013
    #17

    indigo_wolf AKA Breezy

    I always understood it to be under 2", however looking at the code, it seems to be age-dependent.
    • +18 Years = 2.5 inches or smaller
    • 18 Years or Younger = less than 2 inches

    Chicago Municipal Code 8-24-20 C & F

    (c) No person shall carry or possess any knife, the blade of which is released by a spring mechanism, including knives known as “switch-blades”, any blackjack, slingshot, sandclub, sandbag, metal knuckles or bludgeon. No person 18 years of age or under shall carry or possess any knife, the blade of which is two inches in length or longer.

    (f) No person shall carry concealed on or about his person a or dagger, dirk, stiletto, bowie knife, commando knife, any blade of which is released by a spring mechanism, including knives known as “switch- blades” or any other type or kind of knife, any blade of which is more than two and one-half inches in length, ordinary razor or other dangerous weapon except that no person 18 years of age or under shall carry concealed on or about his person, any knife, the blade of which is two inches in length or longer. Provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to the following officers while engaged in the discharge of their official duties: sheriffs, peace officers, and corrections officers; nor to the following employees or agents while engaged in the discharge of the duties of their employment: conductors, baggagemen, messengers, drivers, watchmen, special agents and policemen employed by railroads or express companies; nor to persons lawfully summoned by an officer to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace, while so engaged in assisting such officer.

    Full text for the Municpal Code of Chicago can be found here.

    So iconic that Spyrderco has a knife called the Spyderco Chicago
    "Laws. Whether necessary, good or just nutty, they're intended to establish order and ward-off chaos. When our government and society implement rules we do our best to live within their parameters. As an example, many U.S. metropolitan cities draw the line for carrying pocketknives in public to those with blades two inches in length or under. Welcome to Chicago!


    If I were a Chicagoan and carried a pocketknife regularly, I might be inclined (as a law abiding citizen) to carry a tool falling under this city's restriction. The Spyderco C130 Chicago is just that."

    ATB,
    Sam
    indigo_wolf, Jan 30, 2013
    #18

    blacmud8 Uber Prepared

    I want to save this and repost it every time someone from the US goes off on one in a thread about knife laws in the UK (y'all are living in a police state blah blah land of the free blah blah constitutional rights etc. etc. etc.)
    blacmud8, Jan 30, 2013
    #19
    Solomon likes this.

    jnsn Uber Prepared

    What are your gun laws like?
    jnsn, Jan 30, 2013
    #20
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