[GLOCK19FTW]

If you have your CWP, are you also allowed to carry a knife?

Now, I'm not talking about a tiny pocket knife.

My father-in-law gave me a really nice knife this past Christmas, but the blade is longer than the palm of my hand..

I've always heard that you can carry a knife (even without a CWP) as long as the blade is NOT longer than the width of your palm.

This one sticks out about 2 and 1/2 inches past my palm though.

I feel that if I can be trusted to carry a concealed, fully loaded firearm, I can be trusted to also carry a knife, regardless of blade length.

Am I correct? Or no?

[Bill Lumberg]

Laws regarding knife length allowed are state-specific. I'm not aware of pistol permits having anything to do with knives, but that's not to say that there isn't a state where there is some relation. For the most part, a permit has nothing to do with exempting citizens from restrictions on knife carry or the length of knives that are legal to carry. For instance, I carry a Benchmade auto all the time. I could not do that with a ccw permit.

Originally Posted by GLOCK19FTW

If you have your CWP, are you also allowed to carry a knife?

Now, I'm not talking about a tiny pocket knife.

My father-in-law gave me a really nice knife this past Christmas, but the blade is longer than the palm of my hand..

I've always heard that you can carry a knife (even without a CWP) as long as the blade is NOT longer than the width of your palm.

This one sticks out about 2 and 1/2 inches past my palm though.

I feel that if I can be trusted to carry a concealed, fully loaded firearm, I can be trusted to also carry a knife, regardless of blade length.

Am I correct? Or no?

[Glockdude1]

Check your State laws for knives. What is legal in one state, could be illegal in the next.

[GLOCK19FTW]

Yeah, this state's CWP laws define a concealed weapon specifically as a firearm. Doesn't mention knives.

It just doesn't make sense that you could carry a fully loaded firearm but not a knife, just because the blade is a little longer than your palm. lol

I'll see if I can find the specific laws regarding blade length for SC & will report back if I find them.

[PVolk]

I wondered this as well a few years back. In Michigan, we have CPL's not CCW's. And a CPL pertains only to a pistol, so I cannot legally carry a big knife.

[HerrGlock]

Originally Posted by GLOCK19FTW

If you have your CWP, are you also allowed to carry a knife?

Now, I'm not talking about a tiny pocket knife.

My father-in-law gave me a really nice knife this past Christmas, but the blade is longer than the palm of my hand..

I've always heard that you can carry a knife (even without a CWP) as long as the blade is NOT longer than the width of your palm.

This one sticks out about 2 and 1/2 inches past my palm though.

I feel that if I can be trusted to carry a concealed, fully loaded firearm, I can be trusted to also carry a knife, regardless of blade length.

Am I correct? Or no?

There are a couple/few states where it's a "Concealed Carry Weapon" permit that includes stuff other than guns but it seems SC is not one of them. They call it a concealed weapon permit but nothing seems to include knifes on the pages.

If you are going to be on school property, do not have a knife with an over 2" blade on it. That seems to be a big no-no so if you want to keep your dad's knife, don't carry it.

[Chesafreak]

I don't know about SC, but in VA it's a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP).

[GLOCK19FTW]

oh no - no kids here, so I won't be going anywhere near school property!

My wife & I both enjoy our lives as they are too much for that (or at least right now)

I found a little bit of information, but it was on a forum.. not an official site. So I'm taking it with a grain of salt.

It says that there is no length restriction UNLESS on school property - in that case, the blade must be 2 inches or smaller.

However, it also says that it must be open-carried in order for the "no length restrictions" clause to take effect, if I read and interpreted it correctly..

So, assuming that is up to date and correct, I could just clip it on to my pocket or something and go about my day?

[redbaron007]

Originally Posted by GLOCK19FTW

Yeah, this state's CWP laws define a concealed weapon specifically as a firearm. Doesn't mention knives.

It just doesn't make sense that you could carry a fully loaded firearm but not a knife, just because the blade is a little longer than your palm. lol

I'll see if I can find the specific laws regarding blade length for SC & will report back if I find them.

Glad to see you are researching it...you may want to think about any local municipalities regulations too; if the CCW laws do not address it, then the locals may. Just double check.



red

[John Biltz]

Arizona had a knives covered under the CCW permit. But it became moot when they passed the new knife law saying a knife was a tool not a weapon. It also barred anyone else except the state from setting knife laws.

[Bald Baron]

In my state it's a PCW (Permit to Carry Weapons). If it's legal to own you can carry it, openly or concealed.

[akgunnut]

There's no specific blade length restrictions put on the law books here in Anchorage Alaska, but the law does state "other than an ordinary pocket knife" as in the blade stored in the handle and requires a physical pull to open it. I have seen a handful of people carrying fixed blades but never stuck around to see if they were confronted by the police. I find it interesting that people are allowed to carry a concealed gun without a permit, but they can only carry a pocket knife if I interpret the law correctly.

[Smooth_squeeze]

This book has all the answers you'll need, for all 50 states. And it includes links to relevant laws to double check. Excellent book.

Do a search on Amazon for "David Wong Guns" and check out the 2012 edition of "Travelers Gun and Knife Law Book, 3rd Edition.

[ChiTownPicaro]

I usually carry a Benchmade in my pocket. I have been told by local cops the same thing about the palm of your hand, however that is incorrect. I believe in IL it was 3.5 inches and in Indiana it was around 4 inches. I have never had anyone say a word about it but nevertheless I usually carry it in a pocket in my cargoes with the clip hidden.

[isp2605]

Originally Posted by ChiTownPicaro

I believe in IL it was 3.5 inches and in Indiana it was around 4 inches.

IL does not have a length limit. IL law only addresses the intent in which the knife is carried. A knife of any length can be illegal if it's carried with the intent for illegal purposes. The only time the length becomes a factor is if the knife is used for illegal purposes to attack someone if it's over 3" then the charge becomes 'aggravated' and the penalty is higher.

[4Rules]

State Knife Laws
http://www.donath.org/Rants/StateKnifeLaws/

[Smooth_squeeze]

Originally Posted by isp2605

IL does not have a length limit. IL law only addresses the intent in which the knife is carried. A knife of any length can be illegal if it's carried with the intent for illegal purposes. The only time the length becomes a factor is if the knife is used for illegal purposes to attack someone if it's over 3" then the charge becomes 'aggravated' and the penalty is higher.

However, in Chicago, the actual, legal blade limit for a knife that is carried on the person is 2.5 inches. And yes arrests can be made if the blade is only 2.6 inches. One Chicago policeman I know (a lieutenant) told me it's just a tool they have if they need or want to arrest someone. Most people I know are under the misperception that in Chicago the blade can't be longer than a palm's width. Not so.

[isp2605]

Originally Posted by Smooth_squeeze

However, in Chicago, the actual, legal blade limit for a knife that is carried on the person is 2.5 inches. And yes arrests can be made if the blade is only 2.6 inches. One Chicago policeman I know (a lieutenant) told me it's just a tool they have if they need or want to arrest someone. Most people I know are under the misperception that in Chicago the blade can't be longer than a palm's width. Not so.

We're talking specifically IL law. I was very specific in replying about state law. Chicago is home rule and can pass their own laws. There's a whole lot more state of IL than just Chicago.

[Smooth_squeeze]

Originally Posted by isp2605

We're talking specifically IL law. I was very specific in replying about state law. Chicago is home rule and can pass their own laws. There's a whole lot more state of IL than just Chicago.

Just found this:

"Illinois Criminal Code 720 ILCS 5/24-1. Unlawful Use of
Weapons. (a) A person commits the offense of unlawful use
of weapons when he knowingly... (2) Carries or possesses
with intent to use the same unlawfully against another, a
dagger, dirk, billy, dangerous knife, razor, stiletto,
broken bottle or other piece of glass... or any other
dangerous or deadly weapon of like character...
- 720 ILCS 5/33A-1... A person is considered armed with a
dangerous weapon... when he carries on or about his person
or is otherwise armed with a category I or category II
weapon. (b) A category I weapon is a [firearm or] a knife
with a blade at least 3 inches in length, dagger, dirk,
switchblade knife, stiletto, or any other deadly or
dangerous weapon of like character."

Am I reading this or understanding it incorrectly that if someone carries a knife with a blade 3 inches in length that they are armed with a dangerous weapon, and is that against the law to do so?

[isp2605]

Originally Posted by Smooth_squeeze

Just found this:
Am I reading this or understanding it incorrectly that if someone carries a knife with a blade 3 inches in length that they are armed with a dangerous weapon, and is that against the law to do so?

No what you are reading is what I explained about the length of 3" making the act an aggravated charge which increases the penalty. You have to read the beginning of 33A-1(a)(1) to understand what it says and why. Armed violence. A separate charge.
Read 24-1 and it is specific "with intent to use the same unlawfully against another". Then if you do use the knife unlawfully against another and the blade is over 3" long then it's an additional aggravating charge to the incident.
This helps explain when you read in the papers about someone doing an illegal act but getting something like 7 different charges which to the uninformed sound like duplicate charges for the same act. If you use a 4" knife illegally against someone then you can be charged with 24-1 and also the corresponding aggravated charge of armed violence for the same act. 2 separate charges.

[Stevekozak]

Originally Posted by 4Rules

State Knife Laws
http://www.donath.org/Rants/StateKnifeLaws/

I am not sure that this is an accurate website. It indicates that deadly weapons cannot be concealed in AZ. As another poster already said, AZ is a constitutional carry state, and if it is legal to own, it is legal to carry, either openly or concealed.

[oldman11]

Originally Posted by GLOCK19FTW

If you have your CWP, are you also allowed to carry a knife?

Now, I'm not talking about a tiny pocket knife.

My father-in-law gave me a really nice knife this past Christmas, but the blade is longer than the palm of my hand..

I've always heard that you can carry a knife (even without a CWP) as long as the blade is NOT longer than the width of your palm.

This one sticks out about 2 and 1/2 inches past my palm though.

I feel that if I can be trusted to carry a concealed, fully loaded firearm, I can be trusted to also carry a knife, regardless of blade length.

Am I correct? Or no?

In about 2004 or 2005 it was 4.5 inches for a folding pocket knife in N. Carolina.
In Texas your good under 5.5 inches.

[fwm]

Originally Posted by Bill Lumberg

I'm not aware of pistol permits having anything to do with knives, but that's not to say that there isn't a state where there is some relation. For the most part, a permit has nothing to do with exempting citizens from restrictions on knife carry or the length of knives that are legal to carry.

MO CCW is Concealed Carry Weapons permit. Any legal weapon may be carried concealed with it. Legal knifes of any length or whatever, long as it is a legal weapon under state law. (No brass knuckles or switchblades, etc. as they are defined by state law as illegal)

[SCmasterblaster]

Here in VT I carry my Spyderco knife along with my G17 no problems. FREEDOM!