Concealed knife carry laws

[10isnotenough]

I have a question about what constitutes a concealed knife. I live in Colorado. As I understand the law, as long as I have a blade less than 3.5 inches I can carry it concealed (other than automatic knives, etc.).

My question is about the word concealed. Does clipping a knife such as a CRKT M-16 to your pocket such that the top of the knife and clip show mean you are concealing the knife?

If it is not considered concealed, can you then carry a 4 inch bladed knife that waysince it is not concealed?

Thanks in advance.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

A clipped knife is concealed dude. Sorry. You will never be able to challenge that in court, especially if you have to stick somebody.

In Illinois, after a long legalize description of knives, there is a clause in the deadly weapons statute, that includes "any dangerous knife used with intent."

Stick with a 3.5 inch lock blade folder, non automatic, in your pocket. Good advise in any state. Just don't try to get on an airplane with it - Ha!

 

[hso]

Go to findlaw or alllaw and research the code for your state. You should also post over at bladeforums or knifeforums where such questions are dealt with regularly.

Also, clip showing, and therefore the butt of the knife, without being covered by a shirt/vest/jacket does not constitute concealed. You must be certain that your state doesn't further restict such carry of larger knives to belt sheaths.

 

[Drjones]

I hate it when people say, "Well, in MY state the laws are like this..." which gives you no help.

But this is relevant.

In CA, for example, I believe that they specifically define a knife being carried with a clip as NOT concealed. Furthermore, we can carry ANY size folding knife, so long as it is not concealed nor carried with the blade deployed.

Basically, you are going to have to find out the specifics in your state yourself.

BF.com is a great place.

Perhaps packing.org would have an answer for you?

 

[brownie0486]

Could you not have a defense in that it was visible for the officer to see if there was an issue where concealement requirements were concerned to begin with barring the cop searching and finding?

I think that might be my defense and why in Ca. they consider it that way as well.

He could see it to question it.

Brownie

 

[Jim March]

No, California REALLY allows full-tilt concealment of folding knives, so long as they're not switchblades and are concealed while folded.

Basically, California knife law has been on a pendulum for years.

After a couple of high-profile assaults with "improvised stabbing weapons" such as screwdrivers and wood chisels, the "dirk and dagger" law was altered to cover "any stabbing readily available stabbing implement". So for a while, concealed carry of your ball-point pen was a potential felony. While they didn't quite take it THAT far, there was a bust in the LA area involving a modest, 3" Spyderco Mariner where the poor guy was popped for a "switchblade" - the cop was able to grab the blade by the hole and swing the grip down. The *felony* conviction was overturned on appeal but meanwhile, the legislature realized they'd gone too far and had declared about a million residents accidental felons.

Even by Sacramento standards, that was too wild.

So they did a series of reforms: a folder wasn't "readily available" (in the dirk'n'dagger description) if it was folded, and folders couldn't be declared switchblades if they had a hole/stud/disk.

And that's more or less the way it's been since 1/1/98. There was an attempt to go the other way in 2001 but we mostly stopped it - see also the letter from Senator Karnette on my knife law page (legal folding knife chapter):

http://www.equalccw.com/knifelaw.html

 

[makdaddy03]

Go to knifeforums.com . Maybe some one there can help.

ps
You mean knives are legal in Kali? Every knife catalog that I see says can not be shipped to Kali, NY, HI and so on.

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

I was told at the airport by the local PD (Bay Area) that it is 3" of less. I really need clarification.

BTW, yeah, I left a sizable knife in a bag and was noticed at the airport screening. That was enlightening. Only trouble was I flew one leg with it. A Colt Commando 14 inch.

 

[Climb14er]

I too live here in Colorado and have looked into the knife laws A LOT.

Eventhough I have a CCW, I cannot carry concealed a knife longer than 3.5 inches, legally. This also includes carrying a knife in a sheath that covered on one's belt.

The exception to this is carrying what 'constitutes' a hunting knife. This is left to the discretion of the LEO.

Sure, you could carry a 3.65, 3.75, 4.00 inch folder EDC in your pocket on in a sheath on your belt. I would say that most times, you will probably be ok. But if you were to run into a 'problem' or have a LEO ask you 'what's in your sheath/pocket', and they measure, you could get screwed, especially if you have a legal and valid CCW.

I carry a Benchmade 705 and Small Classic Sebenza (just purchased) with blades three inches in length. I'm not looking for any knife problems, if you know what I mean.

 

[anotherKevin]

Mora knives not permitted in CO now?

I was just browsing through a Sportsmans Guide and saw that my favorite camping knife, the Swedish Mora is not permitted to be shipped to Colorado now. I have a few of them (one in each emergency earthquake kit).

Should I leave them at home when camping in Colorado now? Or is in your camp kitchen legal, but on your belt not?

 

[Bobo]

I don't how up to date this is, but it may help:
http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/sta-law.htm

 

[sonofodin]

Meh. All I can say is I am going to put it the old west way: Law and order is a good thing. Too much law and order, n' yer startin to step on too many toes. Reading these threads about how small knives are illegal at this length or that length or color really irks me. Gods above forbide that we should even be remotely allowed to value our lives and not have the governmental first response teams (leo's) decide whether or not we live or go to the chopping block based on a fraction of an inch. Don't get me wrong, I like cops. Some cops are REALLY cool...but I'm startin to not like seeing cruisers around...I get the feeling that anymore, they want to just arrest someone for something because it gives them wood. Not all cops are like that....Feel free to point me out to a few and I'll be more than happy to have supper with em...But then again, half of it is the ignorant people that make/vote on the laws...

 

[hso]

You should go to AllLaw and check the ohio code on knives yourself. http://alllaw.com/state_law_search/ohio/?SearchWords=knife&city_statecode=AL

The Bernard Levine site is a good start.

Overall, anything with a blade under 3.5" appears to not be defined as a "knife" in CO.

Remember that legal advice from the internet is worth exactly what you pay for it.