3" - How do you measure this to be legal?

[Stephen F]

Hello Everyone,

Have been watching a while, good to see like minded people back home.

I have quick question I hope someone can help with as I want to buy a legal EDC. Its a slip joint that has a 3 1/4" blade, but I am told that the cutting edge is 3" or less - is this OK?

Also, do you measure the 3" point to end in a linear manner, or do you measure the lenght of the profile?

Thanks,

Stephen

[Danzo]

Hi Stephen and welcome

Where in China? I grew up in Hong Kong as an expat sprog.

Technically the law applies to the cutting edge of the blade. As a general rule however the Courts will take the '3" rule' to mean the whole blade. If the choil (the unsharpened bit) is very distinct from the cutting edge as, for example, on a Spyderco Native, you should be able to argue your case succesfully in Court. The Native is a lock knife but it illustrates the point well.

Hope that helps

Danzo

[Martyn]

The law says cutting edge, you can take it literally...

http://www.britishblades.com/pics/edge.jpg

Measure it as above for a knife with a clearly defined ricasso and choil, but as danzo says, if the knife doesn't have this clear ricasso (an opinel for example), take it to mean the whole blade.

[Yog]

Welcome aboard Stephen.

You might need to check the exact wording on the law.
The UK law clearly states a 3" "cutting edge", but if the law in China just states a 3" blade, then that could easilly be interpretted as being from the tip to the nearest part of the handle.
A bit nit picky, but it could make a difference.

As always you best defence is being very polite to the police officer :wink:

[ZDP-189]

Tis' strange and I have never understood why blades were measured in this way. I generally assume the worst possible interpretation, because I know the police will.

[Danzo]

I would be very, very, very polite to a Chinese Police officer.

:yikes:

:cop:

:notworthy

Danzo