Ok since I was active duty in the Army and since I left the service I've been carrying a BM5000S as my EDC for about 6 years. The harsh reality of that is even though it was legal for me to carry this great knife while I was active duty it has been weighing on me that it is illegal for me to carry it in California. I'm no longer active and I'm consider a Nitrous Stryker as a replacement for my EDC. Anyone know if the assisted opening will cause me any issues... not that I draw any undue attention to myself from the police. Its either this or find a good D/A with a hidden mechanism.

Try the wal-mart test. Go to wal-mart and see if they carry Kershaws or other A\O knives. If they do, your covered.

The one thing that I can tell you for certain is that it depends on the law enforcement officer you encounter. I have also heard of cases that have gone to court locally in regards to the issue that you are asking about. There was an article in the Orange County Register a while back that said law enforcement officers were getting carried away and charging people with knives that weren't even assisted openers of being in violation of 653k(switchblade law in CA). It's kind of an ugly issue.

Honestly, I don't own any assisted openers just to avoid the hassle. A "regular" Axis lock model can be just as fast...

I carry my 907 much more than the 913 and don't think twice about it. It's one of my favorite EDC's next to my 14210.

quote:

Originally posted by Chang:
The one thing that I can tell you for certain is that it depends on the law enforcement officer you encounter. I have also heard of cases that have gone to court locally in regards to the issue that you are asking about. There was an article in the Orange County Register a while back that said law enforcement officers were getting carried away and charging people with knives that weren't even assisted openers of being in violation of 653k(switchblade law in CA). It's kind of an ugly issue.

Honestly, I don't own any assisted openers just to avoid the hassle. A "regular" Axis lock model can be just as fast...

I think Chang is exactly correct here. California police officers are trained in a way so that they feel empowered to make decisions even if they are the wrong ones.

I have a limited edition 941 BC coated that I would alternate as my EDC with the 5000S but I just liked how beefy/strong the 5000S felt in my hand as opposed to the 941. Also I really don't mind if I ding my 5000S up since its been through hell and back with all the stuff I used it for while in the army. I didn't realize how apprehensive I was about actually using the 941 for a potentially damaged job until it came time to do so and I ended up putting some serious nicks in the blades edge.

I am fan for life when it comes to Benchmade and nothing will change that.. even if I do live in Commiefornia. Thanks for all the advice guys.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by Anchorblew:

I think Chang is exactly correct here. California police officers are trained in a way so that they feel empowered to make decisions even if they are the wrong ones.

Just to clarify, that was not what I was trying to say and I apologize if that was how it was interpreted. I have the utmost respect for law enforcement officers and the jobs that they do. I was more trying to say that the knife laws that exist have quite a bit of gray area in them and law enforcement officers are left to use their discretion in attempting to cite or arrest based on those gray laws. It is up to the courts to interpret the laws to see whether a crime was actually committed or not.

In my opinion, the bottom line is you carry a knife at your own risk in some, if not all, areas.

I didn't mean to misinterpret anything that you said but to just state what is really true with all LEOs. They are all trained to make split second decisions and they are drilled on these to react with the best possible decision. I have multiple family members that work with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs department and all of them will admit that not every decision is correct (ie- confiscating a knife, writing a ticket for one), but they will stand by their decision's of how they reacted to the situation.

But again Change you are right that when you carry a knife you are at risk. I think not just the risk of a LEOs attention but also the discriminative eyes of those people that look upon knives with a negative connotation.

I think it has a lot to do with both "display and intent." Yes, I'm older and so don't fit the profile of a "questionable" person. That helps, but still...

While there are established facts like not concealing fixed blades (very hard to do in downtown Walnut Creek,) I mostly carry folders anyway. And while those folders can be technically of any length (I don't own anything over 4",) the words prudence and caution still apply.

Use both your head and common sense, be aware of what's going on around you, and try to avoid the urge to flip that 913!

If nothing else, simply catch the blade as it's opening to avoid that CLACK....

Anchorblew, I'm glad that you understood what I was trying to say. When I looked back at my initial post, I realized that it was kind of vague and could be interpretted as a negative view toward law enforcement, which, again, was not my intention.

I believe that you have the right idea about being conscious of other people not always being accepting of knives. I guess the issue really hasn't be cleared up any further than when you started the topic. Sorry for that.

Joe's statement about using "your head and common sense" I think are the simplest ways of stating what we all seem to be trying to say.

quote:

Originally posted by joe_karp:
I think it has a lot to do with both "display and intent." Yes, I'm older and so don't fit the profile of a "questionable" person. That helps, but still...

I think by saying display and intent is hitting the nail right on the head here Joe. I would never carry my Microtech Scarab as it is a double action OTF and when its in my pocket the screw that holds the pocket clip in place doubles as a glass breaker. This would definitely fall into "display" category and draw unneccessary attention to one's self.

I doubt carrying an automatic or assisted folding knife would draw attention to myself but if the highly unlikely situation were to arise that I'd have to defend myself and I happened to use my knife for that it would then draw attention to my "intent" with the knife.

Again all the advice I've received here is great and will be taken to heart and mind. Thank you all.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Anchorblew,