[banditele]

I have a few fixed blade knives and I enjoy carrying them at times. I am concerned that people might be offended by a knife ,legal ,"5 1/2 or less in Texas"
I am not trying to be intimidatting or anything; I jiust enjoy carrying and useing my blades.
Does anyone else carry their fixed blades ?I respect you guys opinions and judgement . If you guys do carry a large fixed blade ; Have you ever been asked to leave a place due to your knife?

I have been amazed at the amount of law enforcement officers that cannot tell you the legal limit on knives. I have asked local, state, and county officers. Finally went to the texas penal code to get my answers. It frightenes me to know that the people who can arrest you do not know what the law is. I have a great deal of respect for law enforcement and am not trying to bash them.
What are your views on this issue ? thanks for your time guys

[brownie0486]

I get LE's into the defensive knife classes as an adjunct instructor for S+W.

Most LE's who attend have no actual knowledge of the dangerous weapons statutes where knives are concerned.

They know dirks, daggers, double edge, stilletos are illegal but then can't tell me what the definition of these items actually is most of the time.

Blade length restrictions, or the lack thereof, in their state statutes escapes all but a few who are usually into knives themselves and so have researched the laws in their state.

I make sure I have copies of the statutes covering their states dangerous weapons laws [knives section ] and that they leave fully aware of the governing laws.

Have probably save a few from being hasstled unnecessarily.

Don't always assume the police know the law, hell, even attys: have to research the law during the course of there doing business with clients. They also do not know the laws but they do know enough to research them and where and how to find the pertinent info they require for their cases.

Brownie

[El Tejon]

band, not so unusual. The only silly knife law we have up here is a prohibition against "switchblades" (which is feckless if you know the pop) in which there is no knightly exemption. You would be amazed, or maybe not, at all the coppers (and EMTs) that carry them.

As a LEO, I used to field all the incoming calls for "weekend duty" (one prosecutor was availalbe for questions, help with search warrants, etc.). I remember many calls about "permits" for knives, "blade length" or other non-existant laws.

[JohnKSa]

I carry a folder with a 5" blade in my back pocket.

The shiny little Spyderco clipped in my front pocket gets a lot more attention, but every once in awhile someone realizes I've got a monster in my back pocket.

I've had a couple of people (one ex-LEO included) tell me that it was over legal length, but none pursued it when I quoted the penal code.

You're right though, most LEOs are a very poor source of legal advice.

When I was a kid, I carried a 5.25" blade Kabar hunting knife in a belt sheath pretty much everywhere I went. Never got hassled, but that was a lot of years ago.

[Tamara]

Y'all could tote this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13965&item=2170466168&rd=1). ;)

[eddieleon]

I have never been asked to leave.

Some years ago 1978 I was in Illinois on a job and couldn't find a place to eat in this little town. Finally located a small Chinese resteraunt. They had steak on the menu. I ordered one and that was the toughest piece of meat I ever tried to eat. Finally I took out my belt knife, only 4 3/4 inches of KaBar. This poor little old waitress came to fill my tea, saw my knife and ran. This big Chinese fellow refilled my tea. As I was leaving there were three males at the cash register.

One of the local bosses at Illinois Cement, don't remember the town, expressed concern that I wasn't arrested. When asked what for, he commented that they don't carry belt knives there. He was appalled when I said I would feel undressed without it.

Then again I asked a local constable to explain to my hunter education class the rules on weapons here in Texas. In one definition of knives he described a flip knife or whatever as one that could be opened with one hand unaided.

When I took the class back, with him still there, I went into the need to keep a good reputation and not to associate with undesirables. Then I took my own belt knife (probable 5-6 months old) and held the blade and flipped it open. I explained that by definition it was illegal as I could open it one handed, with a good rep noone was going to bother me unless I asked for trouble. Also that any lock back knife that was used extensively, I am an electrician, would do the same with a little practice.

Caught hell for that also.

Oh well

[JohnKSa]

I have a problem with the flip knife (called a gravity knife in the penal code) rule.

It's been my experience that any quality locking blade knife with a blade over about 3.5" can be flipped open unless the tension spring is VERY stiff.

I've never heard of the rule being enforced which is good.

Like you say, the only real solution is to keep out of trouble and it should never become an issue.

[eddieleon]

Yes, this rule reminds me of the military charge of conduct unbecoming of a American soldier. Catch all for who do you want to harass now. Good for keeping someone in line. My problem is who is going to draw the line and by what right.

[SoDFW Jason]

I carry a folder but I know lots of guys that carry fixed blade knives on their belts. VERY common around here.