EDC knife for a young man-gift ideas

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Careful about abandoning allies just because theyre behind enemy lines. I know the Ontario folks and they deserve much more respect than that.
I meant it more in a manner of encouraging them to leave the state and relocate to a 2A friendly state, thereby denying our enemies of corporate tax revenue, personal income tax revenue from the employees, fuel/road tax revenue from trucks delivering raw materials and picking up finished products from the factory, denying our enemies of them multiplier effect of OKC employees spending their paychecks in the community...that list goes on and on. And just think, all of those dollars denied to the NY state government would go to a government that more fully understands and respects the constitution. If activist corporations can pull their events and dollars out of places that disagree with them, then gun owners and knife owners can encourage the same thing.
 
Genius. That statement just bumped the Buck off my short list. Thanks for the perspective.
Well, the new "Slim" versions of the 110 and 112 do have thumb studs and pocket clips. They otherwise look like classic Buck folding hunters. The select trim level does use plastic handles and 420HC blades, but it keeps the price under $30 for a USA made model. They're actually pretty interesting since they keep the classic lines with modern materials.
 
... Let's be honest, we carry folding knives because they're convenient. A good quality paring knife or a bird & trout type fixed blade would be great for most EDC tasks, but even in a good sheath they're less convenient to carry than a folder. Since I'm carrying a folder for convenience...

The one and only reason I carry a folder is because the law protects it. The law of many states does not protect and can even actively persecute the concealment of any fixed-blade knife. Those same states except "pocket knives" which have been come to be legally defined as folders. So an extra-large Espada, Rajah II, or Voyager Vaquero are legal to carry in your pocket, but a bird and trout, paring knife, or Morakniv all meet the definition of a "dagger" or "dangerous weapon" which are illegal to conceal in your pocket or even if your shirt or jacket partially covers the belt sheath because they are not exempted as "pocket knives" because they do not fold.
 
The one and only reason I carry a folder is because the law protects it. The law of many states does not protect and can even actively persecute the concealment of any fixed-blade knife. Those same states except "pocket knives" which have been come to be legally defined as folders. So an extra-large Espada, Rajah II, or Voyager Vaquero are legal to carry in your pocket, but a bird and trout, paring knife, or Morakniv all meet the definition of a "dagger" or "dangerous weapon" which are illegal to conceal in your pocket or even if your shirt or jacket partially covers the belt sheath because they are not exempted as "pocket knives" because they do not fold.
I stand corrected. Besides California, which other states have such a weird law?
 
Knife laws are complicated, but concealing fixed blades can be problematic in many more states than California: Wyoming, Wisconsin, West Virginia, even Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Nevada, Mississippi, Maine, and Hawaii all have laws that could prevent the lawfulness of concealing any fixed blade. Because each state's laws are different, I can't possibly detail how all the prohibitions work, but one example could be a statute that prohibits the concealed carry of any "dangerous or deadly weapon." Then there can be case law that establishes that a steak-knife constitutes a dangerous weapon. In some states, the law is particularly onerous, while others you simply can't be assured whether that carrying that fixed blade is lawful or not.

There are many more states, including Florida that have specific length limits on concealed blades, some of which are as little as 2.5 inches (Chicago) or 3 inches (Delaware and Rhode Island). Some places you wouldn't necessarily expect too: Colorado prohibits concealing knives over 3.5 inches, which would include the common Morakniv.

I frequent several different states in the west and the thing that is lawful to carry in all of them is a folder, and there are no length limits in any of them. Several of them do not infringe on 2nd amendment rights with respect to knives, but there is more than one that does. I'm pretty sure it's worse in the east.
 
Add NC to that list. Even for CCW holders.


Knife laws can be kind of murky and poorly defined they way they are written.
As stated - the folding pocket knife is a much safer bet in most every state.
 
Knife laws are complicated, but concealing fixed blades can be problematic in many more states than California: Wyoming, Wisconsin, West Virginia, even Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Nevada, Mississippi, Maine, and Hawaii all have laws that could prevent the lawfulness of concealing any fixed blade. Because each state's laws are different, I can't possibly detail how all the prohibitions work, but one example could be a statute that prohibits the concealed carry of any "dangerous or deadly weapon." Then there can be case law that establishes that a steak-knife constitutes a dangerous weapon. In some states, the law is particularly onerous, while others you simply can't be assured whether that carrying that fixed blade is lawful or not.

There are many more states, including Florida that have specific length limits on concealed blades, some of which are as little as 2.5 inches (Chicago) or 3 inches (Delaware and Rhode Island). Some places you wouldn't necessarily expect too: Colorado prohibits concealing knives over 3.5 inches, which would include the common Morakniv.

I frequent several different states in the west and the thing that is lawful to carry in all of them is a folder, and there are no length limits in any of them. Several of them do not infringe on 2nd amendment rights with respect to knives, but there is more than one that does. I'm pretty sure it's worse in the east.
So, being curious I just looked up all those states on AKTI's state knife laws section of their website. Of the states you listed Kentucky has the "ordinary pocket knife" language in the law, but also exempts "hunting knife". Hawaii has the "ordinary pocket knife" language in case law, but that case law also exempts "scuba diver's knife" as "non-weapon knives". PA prohibits all knives with "no common lawful purpose" and there's case law where a man waving a 7" blade folding knife was convicting of carrying a knife with no common lawful purpose. I strongly suspect that a Cold Steel Raja would fall under "no common lawful purpose" and I likewise suspect that if it ever came to trial, a motivated prosecutor wouldn't have a hard time arguing that such a large folder isn't an "ordinary pocket knife".

The other states you listed have either blade length restrictions that apply to all knives, or the somewhat common, "dirk, dagger, bowie" language (or some similar derivative). I'd not want to have my defense attorney arguing against an aggressive prosecutor that this, this, this, this, this, or one of many other folders like it, isn't a dagger.

All of this confusion about whats an "ordinary" knife, or a knife with a "common lawful purpose", or where the line is between a spear point blade and a "dagger", are reasons why you should join Knife Rights, who have been successfully repealing these vaguely written laws in states across the US.
 
As stated - the folding pocket knife is a much safer bet in most every state.
My reading of the various state knife laws as referenced by AKTI, and my experience volunteering with Knife Rights, contradicts that assertion.
 
My reading of the various state knife laws as referenced by AKTI, and my experience volunteering with Knife Rights, contradicts that assertion.

Fair enough, sir. Your experience sounds quite a bit more extensive than mine.
 
encouraging them to leave the state and relocate to a 2A friendly state

Decades long established businesses that are successful aren't as flexible as young ones like Magpul or giants like Remington or Beretta. Buck moved out of California because the demographic for employees shifted to people who were unreliable so they had a huge incentive to move out. Ontario's employees are dedicated and hard working and show up. Keep in mind that all of a state isn't the same as the part that controls the state and NY isn't NYC. Even though Cuomo is the worst example of a leftest Governor Knife Rights was able to get legislation through and finally past Cuomo's veto to stop NYC and Virus Vance Jr. and his abuse of knife owners in NYC. It ain't all that simple as people want to make it out.


Buck stagnated.

That's in the past. Unlike Case, Buck has mixed innovation with their traditional lines ...now. I don't think it was just that CJ took over from Chuck, but that they recognized the need to compete more broadly.
 
but a bird and trout, paring knife, or Morakniv all meet the definition of a "dagger"

Let's be careful about overgeneralizing since state by state rules vary and as you pointed out knife laws are complicated. Daggers are either defined by statue or case law if the state establishes a standard. Case law may be difficult to overcome, but it can be done. That may be expensive and time consuming and stressful, but with good legal help and even support at times from organizations like Knife Rights case law can change.

State laws are being changed as well. We took two years in TN to change our knife laws and have been able to carry anything we want as to size, shape or mechanism, but before 2015 state law allowed us to carry any single edged folder or fixed blade as long as it was under 4". The rub was that the local jurisdictions could further restrict size, and did. Thanks to Knife Rights we were able to get peremption in place making the state law the only applicable law and then getting rid of all restrictions the following year.

Other states have a variety of fixed and folder restrictions that Knife Rights has been working diligently to rid us of (TX seems to take FOREVER), but we still have to check state by state to be safe in what we put on our belt or in our pocket. I've learned not to make regional assumptions about knife laws since the struggle in Texas has taken many years and the restrictions and prohibitions have had to be chipped away while in New Hampshire they were freed in just one legislative session, Wisconsin went quickly and here in Tennessee we almost got it done in one try (had to make two runs at the legislature to get everything taken care of).

Knife-Rights-2010-2019_0614019_1200w.jpg
 
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I'd be interesting in seeing what Alaska's "complete knife law reform" was. While you guys are discussing folding vs fixed blades, one edge vs two edge, dagger vs whatever...the kid who works at my local Subway carries a Bowie knife on his right hip while at work.

This is what I found. Looks like concealment is more trouble than a full size knife in Alaska. Seems strange to me.

https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/alaska/
 
the kid who works at my local Subway carries a Bowie knife on his right hip while at work.

That's Alaska for you. I expect the kid will get tired of carrying that boat anchor around eventually.

Alaska- https://blademag.com/blog/support-alaskas-knife-rights-bill https://www.ammoland.com/2013/04/alaska-passes-comprehensive-knife-rights-bill-call-write-governor/
  • 2013: Knife Law Preemption Enacted repealing dozens of local knife restrictions and preventing any future local restrictions, Switchblade Ban Repealed
 
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That's Alaska for you. I expect the kid will get tired of carrying that boat anchor around eventually.

Alaska- https://blademag.com/blog/support-alaskas-knife-rights-bill https://www.ammoland.com/2013/04/alaska-passes-comprehensive-knife-rights-bill-call-write-governor/
  • 2013: Knife Law Preemption Enacted repealing dozens of local knife restrictions and preventing any future local restrictions, Switchblade Ban Repealed
I was living here at the time and never a word about anywhere.
 
There seems to be a big following of the Kershaw Leek. Seemed like a lot of hype. I finally broke down and bought one... that didn't last long... now I own two. Great size, great blade, great quality... for me it is a perfect edc knife! It took no time at all to abandon my Cuda that I carried for over a decade for the leek. My black leek with a serrated blade is a better looking knife but my silver leek with a straight blade will last forever (decades) without the finish eventually wearing.
 
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Yeah I do like my level more than I expected too. But mine mostly hides out in my sock drawer. I can't seem to bring myself not to carry my buck 55.
 
If you dont think your youngins would carry a sak.....you could always get him a quality kitchen knife, or set of kitchen knives.
Everyone uses them.....right?
That's not a bad idea. 90% of my kitchen knife uses are a 6" blade santoku (that I often wish was a bit longer) or a little 3" blade paring knife.
 
I stand corrected. I guess I took a larger risk than I had realized when I ordered. I've only ordered one Spyderco through Amazon and it looks like it came from the BladeHQ storefront. Still, it may be the last one I order through Amazon, given what I'm seeing in this thread.

Don't buy knives from Amazon, especially for stores fulfilling through Amazon. The problem is that with the storefronts whose inventory is managed by Amazon gets infiltrated by fakes in a common scam where someone requests a return for a legitimate knife and sends back a fake. The Amazon people never know the differences, and then the inventory gets corrupted.

The authorized dealers usually have prices and shipping that are just as good, the service is better, and you can feel much more confident that you're getting the genuine article. BladeHQ is a pretty decent dealer. DLT Trading, GPKnives, and KnivesShipFree are tops for me.
 
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