Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
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  1. #1
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    Question Legal knife size & type limits - PA

    Was not sure where to post this.......so here goes.....

    What are the legal limts for knife size - carry in PA?

    Is there a lenght limit?
    Is there a law against an assisted open knife - like a Smith & Wesson S.W.A.T. knife?

    Thanks

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Legal knife size & type limits - PA

    Pennsylvania's laws on knives are simple: No switchblades.

    Title 18, Section 908 (Prohibited Offensive Weapons) is the only law covering such (see http://www.thehighroad.org/library/b...knifelaws.html).

    Open carry? Okay. Concealed carry? Okay. Blade length? Unlimited. Assisted open (not spring-actuated open)? Okay.

    So-called "butterfly" knives? Okay. Japanese katana? Okay. Pirate cutlass? Okay.

    No switchblades ("one click, that quick").

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Legal knife size & type limits - PA

    Thanks for the reply
    The knife I am really questioning is the Spring actuated type open by Smith & Wesson. (It is a 1 click that quick type of knife.) The blade is less than 4 inches.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Legal knife size & type limits - PA

    Does it open with the push of a button? If not, you're okay.

    Pennsylvania law mentions absolutely nothing regarding blade length.

    Municipalities, however, might have something to say on the subject - there is no preemption law concerning such.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Legal knife size & type limits - PA

    YES...It open w/ the push of a button......

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Legal knife size & type limits - PA

    Open with a button click? Not legal for non-emergency service personnel. Read Section 908. Interpret it as you will. I can't interpret if for you 'cause I'm not a lawyer (they've got a monopoly on that business).

  7. #7
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    Default Re: Legal knife size & type limits - PA

    sucks...............
    Thanks !!!!

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Legal knife size & type limits - PA

    so from what I gather, you can carry anything from a pocket knife on up to a full sized claymore. you just have to check for local ordinances.
    i wonder if there is any case law in PA about someone getting harassed or arrested illegally for carrying a long blade.

    The old guy I work with said about 20 years ago he worked with a guy out here in monroe county that carried a saber with him everywhere he went.
    he said the police never bothered him..

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Legal knife size & type limits - PA

    I wonder what the take is on something like the Buck Rush. It has a small piece the sticks out on the bottom strap and it's spring assisted. Does have a safety to help it from accidentally opening. It's not a button per say.

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Legal knife size & type limits - PA

    IANAL

    However, what Ive seen be the dividing line between spring assist and full on switch blade/gravity is that as long as you must push/pull some part of the blade itself, its not a switch. This clears knives like the Buck Rush and similar, because you still have to manually move the blade a few degrees before the spring will take over. IANAL, and I cant cite sources ATM, but that is what I recall.

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