Carry Knife Measurments

[Guest JeepMonkey]

Question on knife blade measurement. I'm looking into a fixed-blade knife to mount in the Jeeps for a utility purpose should I ever need one. Since it being in a vehicle is considered "carrying", I thought I would ask here. When the state law mentions the maximum blade length for a carry knife, are they referring from the tip to the start of the handle, or only the length of the actual sharpened cutting edge?

Edited March 8, 2009 by JeepMonkey

[Reservoir Dog]

Measurement is a straight line extending from the tip of the blade to the forward-most aspect of the hilt or handle.

[Guest JeepMonkey]

And it's 4" in TN too?

[Reservoir Dog]

And it's 4" in TN too?

Yes.

39-17-1307. Unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon.

(a) (1) A person commits an offense who carries with the intent to go armed a firearm, a knife with a blade length exceeding four inches (4), or a club.

(2) (A) The first violation of subdivision (a)(1) is a Class C misdemeanor, and, in addition to possible imprisonment as provided by law, may be punished by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500).

( A second or subsequent violation of subdivision (a)(1) is a Class B misdemeanor.

© A violation of subdivision (a)(1) is a Class A misdemeanor if the person's carrying of a handgun occurred at a place open to the public where one (1) or more persons were present.

[bteague2]

Get whatever you want and put it in a pelican case or something with your emergency gear/ car kit I doubt any cop would hassle you for it.

[Defender]

What about the knives with assisted or automatic opening devices...are they legal to carry?

[Fallguy]

What about the knives with assisted or automatic opening devices...are they legal to carry?

39-17-1302. Prohibited weapons.

(a) A person commits an offense who intentionally or knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs or sells:

(7)

A switchblade knife or knuckles;

39-17-1301. Part definitions.

(14)

“Switchblade knife†means any knife that has a blade which opens automatically by:

(A)

Hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle; or

(

Operation of gravity or inertia

Just a note though, a "butterfly" knife is not considered a switch blade. I have a link to the court case for that, but I am not at home right now.

[Guest KWW67]

On the switchblades, I believe there are exceptions for law enforcement and EMT's. I would have to look it up.

[Defender]

Wonder why the gun and Knife shows sell these so openly nowadays...used to be you didnt see them...now they are quite open about selling them. Does the law include the assisted opening knives as well as the auto ones? Seems stupid that I can carry a firearm but not a knife, lol.

[Fallguy]

On the switchblades, I believe there are exceptions for law enforcement and EMT's. I would have to look it up.

There is. 39-17-1302((8) it also inculdes Military personnel

Wonder why the gun and Knife shows sell these so openly nowadays...used to be you didnt see them...now they are quite open about selling them. Does the law include the assisted opening knives as well as the auto ones? Seems stupid that I can carry a firearm but not a knife, lol.

I think assisted opening knives are legal.

[Almond27]

Knives like a Sog Flash 2 and Gerber's new assisted open and Kershaw's are perfectly legal.

[Titansfan]

Key phrase is "intent to go armed ".

A kid going to ball practice with a bat is not intent to go armed.

[Guest sling]

I think assisted opening knives are legal.

Legal to own and sell... illegal to carry around. You be correct sir.

[DaveTN]

Knives like a Sog Flash 2 and Gerber's new assisted open and Kershaw's are perfectly legal.

I carry an assisted opening Gerber.

DISCLAIMER: That doesn’t make it legal though.

But I have been looking for something smaller; it’s too heavy in slacks.

[Fallguy]

Legal to own and sell... illegal to carry around. You be correct sir.

I actually meant that I think "assited" open knives are legal to carry. Where as "automatic" open knives are not.

[Oh Shoot]

I carry an assisted opening Gerber.

DISCLAIMER: That doesn’t make it legal though.

But I have been looking for something smaller; it’s too heavy in slacks.

I just switched EDC from Cold Steel Recon 1 (6.3 oz)

to CS Voyager (3.4 oz)

Both 4 inchers. Took clip off the Voyager, as it sits so nicely beside wallet in weakside back pocket without clip, which puts it a little too high out of pocket for me. Actually, most all of them do when I wear cargo shots with the pocket flaps.

I really think some of the Cold Steels are a pretty good value for quality/price. And of course, sharp as all dadgummit.

And by the way, on topic, I have several knives sold as 4" blades, and every one measures that from tip to where handle starts, not just the sharpened part, as previously mentioned here.

- OS