Virginia knife law clarification

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  • Norton

    NRA Endowment Member, Rifleman
    Staff member
    Admin
    Moderator
    May 22, 2005
    122,856
    I'm walking downtown here yesterday and there's this dude walking down the street with this Crocodile Dundee assed knife hanging from his belt.

    Looking at the VA knife laws linked from handgunlaw.us it seems that Bowie knives are specifically named as being illegal.

    Am I missing something?
     

    DC-W

    Ultimate Member
    Patriot Picket
    Jan 23, 2013
    25,290
    ️‍
    I'm walking downtown here yesterday and there's this dude walking down the street with this Crocodile Dundee assed knife hanging from his belt.



    Looking at the VA knife laws linked from handgunlaw.us it seems that Bowie knives are specifically named as being illegal.



    Am I missing something?


    VA seems similar to MD. Open carry of them appears to be OK. Concealing them would be illegal, if I'm understanding this all correctly:

    http://www.knifeup.com/virginia-knife-laws/
     

    Minuteman

    Member
    BANNED!!!
    From Knifeup; for comparison:

    Virginia Knife Laws
    vaVirginia knife laws are long and quite wordy, making it almost impossible to determine what is legal and what is not legal when it comes to owning and carrying knives in the state of Virginia. This article summarizes the law in easy to understand language so anyone can tell what is legal and what is not.

    What is Legal to Own
    It is legal to own a dirk, dagger, or other stabbing knife
    It is legal to own a bowie knife
    It is legal to own a switchblade
    It is legal to own a ballistic knife
    It is legal to own throwing stars or other throwing knives
    It is legal to own a stiletto
    It is legal to own a Balisong, or butterfly knife
    What is Illegal to Own
    It is legal to own any type of knife in Virginia.
    Restrictions on Carry
    It is illegal to conceal carry a dirk
    It is illegal to conceal carry a bowie knife
    It is illegal to conceal carry a switchblade knife
    It is illegal to conceal carry a machete
    It is illegal to conceal carry a ballistic knife
    It is illegal to conceal carry throwing stars or oriental darts
    It is illegal to conceal carry any knife of a like kind to one of the above listed knives


    -----



    Maryland Knife Laws
    Maryland’s knife laws are somewhat archaic and cryptic. This article will clear the matter for you in everyday English. It gives you an outline of what is allowed and what is not allowed along with law citations and case examples. It than goes into detail about how the law works so that you can understand Maryland knife law inside and out.

    What is Legal to Own
    It is legal to own a balisong knife, also called butterfly knife.
    it is legal to own dirks, daggers, stilettos, and other slim knives.
    It is legal to own switchblades, gravity knives, and automatic knives.
    It is legal to own ballistic knives.
    It is legal to own disguised knives like belt knives and lipstick knives.
    It is legal to own throwing stars and throwing knives.
    It is legal to own undetectable knives.
    It is legal to own Bowie knives and other large knives.
    There are no limitation on the type of knife you can own in Maryland.

    Limits on Carry
    You can not conceal carry a throwing star, dirk, switchblade, gravity knife, or bowie knife.
    You can not open carry a throwing star, dirk, switchblade, gravity knife, or bowie knife with the intent to harm someone.
    You can open or conceal carry any sized pocket knife you wish.
    If a knife is not listed above, it is most likely to be legal for concealed or open carry.
     

    Wendigo

    Hungry
    Mar 31, 2013
    1,421
    Reisterstown
    Its unfortunate a fixed blade < 3 inches is illegal to carry concealed...something like this is much more comfortable to wear on a belt than a folder in a pocket http://www.benchmade.com/hidden-canyon-hunter-family.html

    I have no idea what your question is.

    In MD, you may open carry any blade and you may conceal carry any folding blade. There is no mention of length/size in MD knife laws. It seems VA knife laws are practically the same as MD.

    Hope that helps :)
     

    welder516

    Deplorable Welder
    MDS Supporter
    Jun 8, 2013
    27,306
    Underground Bunker
    From Knifeup; for comparison:

    Virginia Knife Laws
    vaVirginia knife laws are long and quite wordy, making it almost impossible to determine what is legal and what is not legal when it comes to owning and carrying knives in the state of Virginia. This article summarizes the law in easy to understand language so anyone can tell what is legal and what is not.

    What is Legal to Own
    It is legal to own a dirk, dagger, or other stabbing knife
    It is legal to own a bowie knife
    It is legal to own a switchblade
    It is legal to own a ballistic knife
    It is legal to own throwing stars or other throwing knives
    It is legal to own a stiletto
    It is legal to own a Balisong, or butterfly knife
    What is Illegal to Own
    It is legal to own any type of knife in Virginia.
    Restrictions on Carry
    It is illegal to conceal carry a dirk
    It is illegal to conceal carry a bowie knife
    It is illegal to conceal carry a switchblade knife
    It is illegal to conceal carry a machete
    It is illegal to conceal carry a ballistic knife
    It is illegal to conceal carry throwing stars or oriental darts
    It is illegal to conceal carry any knife of a like kind to one of the above listed knives


    -----



    Maryland Knife Laws
    Maryland’s knife laws are somewhat archaic and cryptic. This article will clear the matter for you in everyday English. It gives you an outline of what is allowed and what is not allowed along with law citations and case examples. It than goes into detail about how the law works so that you can understand Maryland knife law inside and out.

    What is Legal to Own
    It is legal to own a balisong knife, also called butterfly knife.
    it is legal to own dirks, daggers, stilettos, and other slim knives.
    It is legal to own switchblades, gravity knives, and automatic knives.
    It is legal to own ballistic knives.
    It is legal to own disguised knives like belt knives and lipstick knives.
    It is legal to own throwing stars and throwing knives.
    It is legal to own undetectable knives.
    It is legal to own Bowie knives and other large knives.
    There are no limitation on the type of knife you can own in Maryland.

    Limits on Carry
    You can not conceal carry a throwing star, dirk, switchblade, gravity knife, or bowie knife.
    You can not open carry a throwing star, dirk, switchblade, gravity knife, or bowie knife with the intent to harm someone.
    You can open or conceal carry any sized pocket knife you wish.
    If a knife is not listed above, it is most likely to be legal for concealed or open carry.

    In the explanation of carrying it says you can not OC a switchblade or some other knives , but then it says with intent to harm someone .

    I never carry a knife with the intent of harming someone , I use a knife always as a tool . But if something happened I suppose it could harm someone .
    Not sure of the language ? could someone explain. TY
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,881
    Officer- " Why do you have that knife on your belt ? "

    Suspect- " Gonna go mess up that dude that ( done me wrong) ."
     

    Doctor_M

    Certified Mad Scientist
    MDS Supporter
    Officer- " Why do you have that knife on your belt ? "

    Suspect- " Gonna go mess up that dude that ( done me wrong) ."

    Would the officer just say....

    87089.jpg
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,881
    But seriously, if they get cought otherwise up to criminal no good , and subsequently turn out to have a knife , likely to be additional charge . Or actually use such knife/ dangerous weapon to do their evil deeds .

    But otherwise either an extensive conspiracy investagation, or them being stupid .
     

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