[Kangspec]

i have been searching here and there to find out how long of the blade is legal in WA state.

from what i found, 3 inch. However some say 3.5 inch.

not that its been a problem, (i have been carrying 3.25inch knife) just something to know about. just in case it might be the problem.

[hso]

You have to go by what the written law says instead of someone's vague recollection (or even passionatley held recollection).

State law relevant to knives doesn't discuss blade length at all. -

RCW 9.41.250
Dangerous weapons — Penalty — Exemption for law enforcement officers.


(1) Every person who:

(a) Manufactures, sells, or disposes of or possesses any instrument or weapon of the kind usually known as slung shot, sand club, or metal knuckles, or spring blade knife, or any knife the blade of which is automatically released by a spring mechanism or other mechanical device, or any knife having a blade which opens, or falls, or is ejected into position by the force of gravity, or by an outward, downward, or centrifugal thrust or movement;

(b) Furtively carries with intent to conceal any dagger, dirk, pistol, or other dangerous weapon; or

(c) Uses any contrivance or device for suppressing the noise of any firearm,

is guilty of a gross misdemeanor punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.

(2) Subsection (1)(a) of this section does not apply to:

(a) The possession of a spring blade knife by a law enforcement officer while the officer:

(i) Is on official duty; or

(ii) Is transporting the knife to or from the place where the knife is stored when the officer is not on official duty; or

(b) The storage of a spring blade knife by a law enforcement officer.


RCW 9.41.270
Weapons apparently capable of producing bodily harm — Unlawful carrying or handling — Penalty — Exceptions.


(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.

(2) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (1) above shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. If any person is convicted of a violation of subsection (1) of this section, the person shall lose his or her concealed pistol license, if any. The court shall send notice of the revocation to the department of licensing, and the city, town, or county which issued the license.

(3) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to or affect the following:

(a) Any act committed by a person while in his or her place of abode or fixed place of business;

(b) Any person who by virtue of his or her office or public employment is vested by law with a duty to preserve public safety, maintain public order, or to make arrests for offenses, while in the performance of such duty;

(c) Any person acting for the purpose of protecting himself or herself against the use of presently threatened unlawful force by another, or for the purpose of protecting another against the use of such unlawful force by a third person;

(d) Any person making or assisting in making a lawful arrest for the commission of a felony; or

(e) Any person engaged in military activities sponsored by the federal or state governments.

[glistam]

Short answer (based on citation of law provided by HSO): There isn't any max length by state law. The legality of a knife is based on criteria other than length, as is the case in many jurisdictions.

However, be mindful of your county and city laws, because they may have such a restriction. They are published online in the majority of cities all over the US. Seattle for example has a length limit of 3.5 inches.

[sheepdog]

...unless this has been repealed...it does limit blade length in Washington state to 3 1/2" for carry...

Information retrieved February 17, 2006

http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=&s2=knife&S3=&Sect4=AND&l=20&Sect1=IMAGE&Sect3=PLURON&Sect5=CODE1&d=CODE&p=1&u=/~public/code1.htm&r=5&Sect6=HITOFF&f=L3;1;12A.14.010.HEAD.


SMC 12A.14.010 Definitions.

The following definitions apply in this chapter:

A. "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.

B. "Fixed-blade knife" means any knife, regardless of blade length,
with a blade which is permanently open and does not fold, retract or
slide into the handle of the knife, and includes any dagger, sword,
bayonet, bolo knife, hatchet, axe, straight-edged razor, or razor
blade not in a package, dispenser or shaving appliance.

C. "Firearm" means a weapon or device from which a projectile may be
fired by an explosive such as gunpowder.

D. "Personal protection spray device" means a commercially available
dispensing device designed and intended for use in self-defense and
containing a nonlethal sternutator or lacrimator agent, including but
not limited to:

1. Tear gas, the active ingredient of which is either
chloracetophenone (CN) or O-chlorobenzylidene malonotrile (CS); or

2. Other agent commonly known as mace, pepper mace, or pepper gas.

E. "Switchblade knife" means any knife having a blade that opens
automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring mechanism,
or other device, or a blade that opens, falls or is ejected into
position by force of gravity or by an outward, downward, or
centrifugal thrust or movement.

(Ord. 117157 Section 2, 1994: Ord. 116872 Section 11,
1993: Ord. 113547 Section 1, 1987: Ord. 112103 Section 1, 1985: Ord.
110785 Section 1, 1982: Ord. 110462 Section 1, 1982: Ord. 103472
Section 1, 1974: Ord. 102843 Section 12A.17.010, 1973.)





---------------------------------------------------------------

This prohibits the carry of "dangerous knives.

http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=&s2=knife&S3=&Sect4=AND&l=20&Sect1=IMAGE&Sect3=PLURON&Sect5=CODE1&d=CODE&p=1&u=/~public/code1.htm&r=5&Sect6=HITOFF&f=L3;1;12A.14.080.HEAD.

SMC 12A.14.080 Unlawful use of weapons.

It is unlawful for a person knowingly to:

A. Sell, manufacture, purchase, possess or carry any blackjack,
sand-club, metal knuckles, switchblade knife, chako sticks, or
throwing stars; or

B. Carry concealed or unconcealed on his or her person any dangerous
knife, or carry concealed on his or her person any deadly weapon other
than a firearm; or

C. Possess a firearm in any stadium or convention center operated by a
city, county or other municipality, except that such restriction shall
not apply to:

1. Any pistol in the possession of a person licensed under RCW
9.41.070 or exempt from the licensing requirement by RCW 9.41.060, or

2. Any showing, demonstration or lecture involving the exhibition of
firearms.

D. Sell or give away to any person under eighteen (18) years of age
any dangerous knife or deadly weapon other than a firearm, or for any
person under eighteen (18) years of age to purchase any dangerous
knife or deadly weapon other than a firearm, or for any person under
eighteen (18) years of age to possess any dangerous knife or deadly
weapon other than a firearm except when under the direct supervision
of an adult.

(Ord. 117157 Section 5, 1994: Ord. 116872 Section 14,
1993: Ord. 113547 Section 3, 1987: Ord. 110785 Section 2, 1982: Ord.
110462 Section 2, 1982: Ord. 110179 Section 2, 1981: Ord. 109674
Section 12, 1981: Ord. 108814 Section 3, 1980: Ord. 102843 Section
12A.17.140, 1973.)

Subsection B regulating the carrying of certain knives is a reasonable
restriction of the right to bear arms. Seattle v. Riggins, 63
Wn.Ap.313, 818 P.2d 1100 (1991).

A citation as "carrying a concealed weapon" with the code section
number is sufficient to charge a violation of SMC 12A.14.080 B.
Seattle v. Hall, 60 Wn.App. 645, 806 P.2d 1246 (1991).

The prohibition of knowing possessing of chako sticks does not
conflict with state law and is not preempted by the state Juvenile
Justice Act. State v. Rabon, 45 Wn.App. 832, 727 P.2d 995 (1986).


* * * * *

[glistam]

sheepdog, that's Seattle, not WA state. SMC stands for "Seattle Municipal Code" and the link provided goes to that.

[sheepdog]

...thanks...the link didn't specify...I'll go look it up again...


...yep...I'm wrong...Seattle...thanks again....

[ChaoSS]

I'd just like to point out, as I have in other threads, that very few, if any, states have restrictions on the lengths of knives. However, in every state, you will encounter a number of people who insist that there are such restrictions. These often come from, as above, laws in a certain large city, or from other parts of the law that are not applicable to the average citizen. For example, certain states have laws that make commission of a crime with certain guns, or knives of certain lengths an even worse crime. For example, perhaps if you attack someone, it will be considered a worse crime if your knife is over 3 inches. These types of laws are often extrapolated out by those ignorant of the laws to say that those longer blades are illegal.


Always research your own laws instead of simply accepting what people tell you. It's generally not overly difficult to find to pertinent statutes.

[hso]

ChaoSS,

"I'd just like to point out, as I have in other threads, that very few, if any, states have restrictions on the lengths of knives." is incorrect. Plenty of states have blade length restrictions for carry. TN uses 4" (possibly the most common limit) while states with a blade length restriction for carry often use 5" or 3.5". Interestingly, California doesn't have a limit of blade length for folders.