Knife carry

[Schadenfreude]

Can anyone tell me where the blade legally per tn code begins on a folding knife. I regularly carry a knife sold my the manufacturer as a 3.75" blade knife someone at the local gun shop thought that leo's would measure from the pivot point which would put this particular knife over the 4" limit. Does anyone have any insight into this?

[Guest Tommy Ferguson Jr.]

TCA 39-17-1307 - Unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon - (a)(1) A person commits an offensewho carries with the intent togo armed a firearm, a knife with a blade length exceeding four inches (4"), or a club.

There is no provision that I can find as to how to measure the blade. I think most people would measure the visible portion of the blade or the actual cutting surface; the pivot point is inside the handle. YMMV.

[Guest CrazyLincoln]

I actually did some research into this and asked a few cops just to get a good idea of both technical and practical aspects.

BTW, I have a very nice benchmade I carry EVERYWHERE (except airports and the like) and I have never had a problem. Even showed it to the cops I was asking.

Law: Illegal to carry over 4" (as stated in previous post)

Switchblades, legal to own, illegal to carry (vague illegal to 'possess')

Practically: As long as its not obviously huge (don't carry a machete) the cops won't bug you about it unless you're making trouble. It's not like

they're going to jump on you from seeing an outline and whip out the ruler. I even showed one of my switchblades to a cop and he said that I shouldn't pull it out or I could get it confiscated if I got caught, but I probably wouldn't get in any trouble if it stays in my pocket.

In my experience, people are MUCH less uncomfortable with knives than guns, and pretty much leave you alone. Just use common sense. Plus I open boxes almost every day, so I have an excuse anyway.

Disclaimer: I am in no way condoning breaking any laws. IANAL. Please consult a legal professional for definitive legal advice. Please don't sue me, I don't have any money anyway......

[Guest Phantom6]

Can anyone tell me where the blade legally per tn code begins on a folding knife. I regularly carry a knife sold my the manufacturer as a 3.75" blade knife someone at the local gun shop thought that leo's would measure from the pivot point which would put this particular knife over the 4" limit. Does anyone have any insight into this?

Did you buy the knife from a retail shop in the state of Tennessee? If so you are most likely allright. The blade of a knife is the sharpened edge or once sharp edge as the case may be. The pivot point of the folder is the tang of the knife and not the blade itself though they are certainly part of the same piece of metal. As an Illustration see the image below. It's quite a bit easier to see on the Case folder but it is still viewable on my CRKT m1 Lightfoot and my CRKT Green Spearpoint. It is measured from the tip to the last sharpened portion of the blade as illustrated and as Tommy Ferguson Jr. suggested.

[towerclimber37]

thanks for that tommy!

by the way, how goes your recouperation?

[Guest c.a.s.]

Phantom: I carry a version of that CRKT knife in that picture. CRKT M16-13Z. I need to do some work on sharpness, and get some lube for it. I don;t really want to use WD40 on it. I have sources, os it;s off to saving what I can.

[towerclimber37]

cas, believe it or not, you can use the glass on a car window to sharpen it rather quickly!

Use the top edge of the window as a sharpening stone.

[Guest c.a.s.]

It's half-serrated. And I don't think my nosy a$$ neighbors wouldn't give the police a "crazy person with a knife" call.

I have 2 whetstones, a pocket-sized stone, and an extremely tiny one that came with a survival knife. I think they are medium grit. I'm thinking about getting a diamong-hone set with a vice. Sportsman's guide has some good prices. Or else get it sharpened next time I go down ot Rocky Moutain Knife Works for $1. They use a grinder, so I think I'll just get the diamond hone.