an opinel 3-1/4" folding single edge skinning knife

yes, the law of cool...  Opinels rule.

... think all knives would fall into the  "or other deadly or dangerous weapon". Thoughts? It would only take one @hole officer to ruin your day, but then I would argue the concealment portion.

As FT stated, the HI Supreme Court has found that "knives generally" do not constitute dangerous or deadly weapons.  Unless there's something special about your knife that makes it especially scary, it's ok.  (So you probably shouldn't carry the Jackhawk 9000 advertised by Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights, for example.)

I daily carry a custom made leather pouch with a leatherman holding a... 3" max blade, an opinel 3-1/4" folding single edge skinning knife, and a tactical flash light. Also a folding razor knife to cut boxes....

Am I breaking the law?

Don'cha just love vaguely-worded laws, regs, and decisions which allow the authorities to nail you under vague and unpredictable circumstances?

Accusations are cheap.  Defense is expensive.

I carry this around in order to cut my seat belt and break my car window in an emergency.



Am I breaking the law?

Terry, 230RN

(Pic credit in properties --"Fantasy knife" from knifeplay.com displayed for educational purposes)

Don'cha just love vaguely-worded laws, regs, and decisions which allow the authorities to nail you under vague and unpredictable circumstances?

Accusations are cheap.  Defense is expensive.

I carry this around in order to cut my seat belt and break my car window in an emergency.



Am I breaking the law?

Terry, 230RN

(Pic credit in properties --for educational purposes)

It looks scary  you are going to go to jail lol.

It's only scary because of the blood-red tassel.  Otherwise, it would be OK.

Right?

It's only scary because of the blood-red tassel.  Otherwise, it would be OK.

Right?

The paracord wrap made me quiver  

Replace it with a pink tassel and it will be legal. 

I daily carry a custom made leather pouch with a leatherman holding a... 3" max blade, an opinel 3-1/4" folding single edge skinning knife, and a tactical flash light. Also a folding razor knife to cut boxes....

Am I breaking the law?

HI's knife laws are fairly lenient.  What you described is legal.   That's not to say if you were involved in a defensive stabbing, you'd have an easy day in court.  There's no such thing in the Aloha state. 

A leatherman and a box cutter are considered tools because their intended design is a tool.  The double edged, automatic, butterfly stuff, ect... is a no brainer.  The questionables   A Katana is a designed weapon- NO GO.  A Marine Fighting Knife "KA-BAR"- Fighting is right in the name....

I carry Emerson Knives all the time.  By description they're all perfectly legal.  HOWEVER, if I ever had to defend myself with one, I'm sure the fact that CQC is in the name and Bad Intent being all over the Emerson website would come up in court.  Will that stop me from carrying Mr. Emerson's very fine cutlery products?  NOT ON YOUR LIFE!!!

But like someone before stated, if you are truly concerned, ask a lawyer. 

I'm pretty sure you can carry any length fixed blade as long as its not concealed.

from what i was told it was ^this^

doesn't matter what length, doesn't matter if it's fixed or folding as long as it's not concealed, not double edged, not automatic you're good to go. 

EDIT: It can't be butterfly knife either.

^

So at what length does a "knife" become a "sword?"  Or is this another one of those regulatory (or statutory or by ordinance) vagaries that the authorities use when they feel like it or want to "pile on" charges for you to plea bargain on?

Thanks Everyone!

Dave

^

So at what length does a "knife" become a "sword?"  Or is this another one of those regulatory (or statutory or by ordinance) vagaries that the authorities use when they feel like it or want to "pile on" charges for you to plea bargain on?

i never asked.  I was told this buy a guy who's sister is a lawyer and he asked her about the laws of carrying a knife because at the time, i always thought it was 3.5" blade or under.  I don't plan on ever carrying a large knife anyway (unless there was an island wide/global event that would cause local and federal laws to not really apply anymore). So i never bothered asking.

Are the knife laws different from state land to federal land?

Are the knife laws different from state land to federal land?

Not here.

Not here.

Thanks

For what its worth,

A friend of mine went to jail for partying a little too close to someone else's beach on Oahu. Can't remember which beach but it was a military base nearby.

He had a japanese tanto knife in his back seat and a fire cracker from the 4th of July on the floor. He's also part Hawaiian.

We was arrested and convicted for having an "assault weapon" and an "explosive" under anti-terrorism definitions. He couldn't afford a better lawyer than the state appointed for him so he was a "customer" for many years.

Moral of the story is to be careful. This isn't a state that takes kindly to armed citizens. If you're going to make a habit of having a knife larger than a pocket knife I'd print out and carry a small copy of the law so you can enlighten the officer who thinks you are breaking it. I do the same for the lock picks that I carry. Many LEOs are not overly familiar with the details of the laws they enforce, especially if it is something they don't run into all that often.

What's the law on lock picks?

Dboy: In Hawaii is is illegal to carry IF you commit a crime with them or intend to commit a crime with them. Otherwise they are perfectly legal.

Dboy: In Hawaii is is illegal to carry IF you commit a crime with them or intend to commit a crime with them. Otherwise they are perfectly legal.

Thanks!  I carry some for work and never thought about the law side of it.   its all legal purpose so I guess I'm good.

For what its worth,

A friend of mine went to jail for partying a little too close to someone else's beach on Oahu. Can't remember which beach but it was a military base nearby.

He had a japanese tanto knife in his back seat and a fire cracker from the 4th of July on the floor. He's also part Hawaiian.

We was arrested and convicted for having an "assault weapon" and an "explosive" under anti-terrorism definitions. He couldn't afford a better lawyer than the state appointed for him so he was a "customer" for many years.

Moral of the story is to be careful. This isn't a state that takes kindly to armed citizens. If you're going to make a habit of having a knife larger than a pocket knife I'd print out and carry a small copy of the law so you can enlighten the officer who thinks you are breaking it. I do the same for the lock picks that I carry. Many LEOs are not overly familiar with the details of the laws they enforce, especially if it is something they don't run into all that often.

Ok well, first things first lol - that is not a knife.   The Tanto is a short sword hah - which makes a world of difference.   I am skeptical about the explosives thing though, unless his firecracker was like some suped up m-80.

A short sword would be a wakizashi. This tanto had a 8" blade or so. A dull seppuku blade, at that. It actually belonged to his brother who had borrowed his car earlier to get the knife back from an ex-girlfriend, if I recall the story correctly. I know the brother well and he showed me a photo of the tanto. It was no sword.

Dangerous blade? Maybe. "Assault Weapon?" No.