philster

This has been touched on in an earlier thread. Do you carry a "borderline illegal" knife?

My preferred carry is a Spyderco Endura, which is smack dab between 3.5 and 4 inches. It's a manual opening knife, but like most, you get it halfway there, and you can "flick your wrist" to pop it open, which could be interpreted as illegal. I don't hesitate to carry in WA except in Seattle, where I carry a cheap Leatherman that is under 3 inches. I won't cry if it gets seized. What about you? Do you dance around our vague and "flexible" rules.

Obviously if you're drunk, being a *rick, or otherwise acting sketchy, they can interpret things as they want to. But if you're being a Joe Good-Citizen, how do you feel with your Every Day knife in your pocket?

ironmike86

Hmmmmm in some countries that would be 3 3/4 . I've been stopped and they looked at my Knife which is 3 1/2 . I think thats the limit? But he looked at it to long before letting me have it back. I carry a Spyderco Delica now thats 3"
The 3 1/2 one they may have been looking at the assisted flip? I don't need any trouble. I use to carry a 2 1/2 fixed blade till I found out it's illegal to carry a fixed?? wtf Even a small one

philster

Yeah. But the edge is 3 and 7/16... And it's actually more like 3 and 14/16 if you REALLY measure it...

I may be picking up a Delica for a quality "more legal" blade. I have to admit, especially when you "flick assist" the Endura open, it's pretty intimidating.

McWeaze

I think it is ironic when they start making a fuss over interpretation of an assisted opening knife and whether it is to long or not... But the .50 dessert eagle in your holster is fine no questions asked

pnwvolks

I carry a small manual flip Ka-Bar which is 3.5inches long. I have not had an issue thus far. When I camp Ive carried my 7in Ka-Bar fixed blade. The ranger had no issue with it hangin off my hip, but maybe thats cause I was up in BFE...

I find it funny that there is such an issue with knives, but I can rock my 44mag on my hip open carry no issues....

koorbloh

in what country are you guys having trouble with your knives?

philster

I know right! I don't remember the exact wording, but it's something like "Dangerous weapons include Knives, sand filled socks, brass knuckles, etc. etc. etc. with the exception of firearms..."

TheRedSkull

i carry a benchmade infidel, every day...

DerBarbarian

I carry 2 switch blades 1 stilleto and one LE one and a manual flip open, used to have a 5" boot knife that I wore all the time never had issues. Hell when the cops were getting my ID out of my pocket when i got in that accident in feb they pulled a switch blade out and just gave me a look and put it back in my pocket..

deadshot2

I guess my latest knife purchase wouldn't pass for a legal carry in Seattle



At a blade length 7" maybe I should try and convince them it's two knives with just one handle;)

Interesting how the laws usually prohibit "concealing on one's person". What about carrying in a back pack or fanny pack which have been found by some Courts to be "luggage"?

philster

Well if a fanny pack is considered luggage, just call that knife a saw and you'll be fine. Also claim to be a "native born american wood carver"

philster

You got lucky. I guarantee he was thinking "Great, just what I need. This guy... And his knife..."

philster

It's not about having trouble. It's about turning getting a little bit of shit, into a shit storm when they pat you down. It's a thing can use to escalate charges if they want to. 3 inches or less the only thing they can argue is that you concealed it. Longer than that and you concealed a deadly weapon.

ironmike86

I believe it's Longer than 3 1/2 or any fixed blade.



C. "Dangerous knife" means any fixed-blade knife and any other knife having
a blade more than three and one-half inches (3 1/2") in length.

I carry 3" just to make sure....Opp side of my Pistol. :)

deadshot2

What can make this interesting is all the different parts of a knife. To a knife maker the "blade" is the sharpened portion of the edge. The un-sharpened part of the knife, just in front of the handle portions is called the "choil".

If one wanted to pick the fly poop out of the pepper, only the sharpened part of the knife can be considered "blade". Look a look at the Spyderco Balance

Almost half the moving part of the knife is un-sharpened so really, how long is the blade?

philster

Well since we're trying to pick out fly poop, I would point out that Spyderco lists both a blade length and an edge length in their catalog. I've always considered the blade, "the silver part" on my knives.

ironmike86

Yup is the blade the sharpen part or what?? That why I call it the whole blade just to be sure. Don't need any trouble. If I have a gun and a 3 5/8 knife and the Cop just doesn't like me he could give me a headache.