- Oct 8, 2007
- 19,012
So does a pocket knife have to be carried in your pocket to be legal in md?
So does a pocket knife have to be carried in your pocket to be legal in md?
So does a pocket knife have to be carried in your pocket to be legal in md?
I would say it depends on which leo stops you and what his day has been like.
The blade also needs to be with in the legal requirements in Maryland.......which is set by individual counties not the State. ie: The counties of Cambridge and Frederick MD. ban concealed carry if the blade is longer than 3"........Cheverly MD. is 2.5 and Laurel outlaws switchblades of all kinds. Check your local laws where you live but generally carrying a knife concealed has many more restrictions than open carry does. (MD. as a State) imposes no maximum blade length limit on knives that are open carried. FWIW......
The term is "pen knife" rather than "pocket knife" in state law. It means any folder that isn't a switchblade (Mackall v State), and you can carry it however you want because per state law, it doesn't actually count as a weapon. http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2016RS/Statute_Web/gcr/4-101.pdf
No Sir. The courts have established that it is the LEO's responsibility to understand this law. Arrests for a folder lead to said LEO getting hauled into federal court on a false arrest suit: http://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/Unpublished/011565.U.pdf
Don't forget Baltimore and Ocean City where assisted openers are illegal.
But by and large, most law on folders are rare, generally confined to cities, and enforced so rarely even some local LEO have never heard of them. Also there are some misconceptions. For example, in Cambridge the municipal code states it's only illegal to carry >3" "with intent to use it unlawfully against another," rather that outlawing mere carry itself. Otherwise all the hunters and fishermen in that area would be boned. Also Cambridge is a city, not a county, just saying because I have family there. When I went and checked the other municipal codes, I found that Frederick (both the county and the city), Cheverly and Laurel have no knife laws. Municode.com is a fantastic resource for finding (or disproving the existence of) local laws.
I don't follow. I looked up each of those municipal codes and did not see these laws. If what you say is true, can you provide a link?Maryland’s knife law situation is made more complicated by local ordinances. These frequently impose length limits on top of the state’s already fairly comprehensive limitations. Both Cambridge, MD and Frederick, MD ban concealed carry if the blade is longer than 3”, while Cheverly, MD sets the length at 2.5”. Laurel, MD outlaws switchblades entirely, even for ownership. This checkerboard of conflicting rules could present difficulties to knife owners who frequently move around the state while carrying.
Guess you missed a page in your overly extensive Knife research.........Everyone is an expert.
I don't follow. I looked up each of those municipal codes and did not see these laws. If what you say is true, can you provide a link?
I don't follow. I looked up each of those municipal codes and did not see these laws. If what you say is true, can you provide a link?
http://www.cheverly-md.gov/Pages/CheverlyMD_Council/O-6-13 Dangerous Weapons (13)
I can provide a link showing its not a law anymore
Sure Inspector Gadget.........www.knifeden.com
The article that I referenced is dated July 23, 2015, Not sure how Smokey can cite a code that says it is "not a law anymore" when it is dated 3 years prior to the article that I provided.
Personally I don't really care what the law states as I don't carry a knife for protection or otherwise.......Why bring a knife to a gun fight,
Secondly if your going to make the statement that certain counties, cities or munis.... "Have no knife laws at all" (your quote), you better be darn sure that is true when some unsuspecting MDS'er that read your extensively researched post gets jacked up and jailed for carrying a 3.5in folder in his/her pocket.
Articles are not as valid as codified law that I cited straight from cheverly's Web page. I'm sure you can find an article (probably by Chad) saying the dildAR is the finest home defense rifle of all time... go to the source of the law for the truth.
Is that the six sided AR ?
But back on knives; Even if folding knives have no place in your defensive strategy, they are very important to always keep at hand if only for the utility and occasional rescue value.