jdigi , that's just too funny that you have to have the knife in full view but you can hide your Glock on you . I wonder what brilliant mind thought that up . As if a little knife like a Scrapivor or Izula is anything as dangerous as a semi automatic hand gun . Our tax dollars at work .

The whole situation suck!! But you know that ranger is enjoying his new toy! You have to be careful with their questions. You kinda gave him probable cause to search you. In Ohio you wouldn't really have to say and then he would have no probable cause to search you. I don't know what federal park laws are though.

You got targeted for being honost

I live in Commiefornia...and I want out!!

Actually being harrassed is one of the reasons my gear is very "normal" looking and my BOB is no where near military in style.

The knife laws seem to be vague and really up to the officers or the judge. A folder of ANY size? All the LEO's I know said nothing over 3" and all the Cali forum people I know say nothing over 3.5"!
I have a BM mini barage that I took the assist out of (I love it!). The auto assisted knife is "legal" in Cali, but I know of two people that had theirs taken away from them because they were assisted.

I also think it depends on the County, I think Los Angeles (where I live...jealous?) and San Francisco are much different than say Bakersfield.

MM

I know of at least three people that want out, but they are underwater in their homes and just can't afford to leave. When I was growing up relatives could not afford to move here, now people can't afford to leave.

MM

illegal weapon? if I had been asked that specific question then the answer would be "absolutely not".

imho a knife is not a weapon unless it is used or at least intended to be used that way. I have not used a knife as a weapon to date so it doesn't fit my definition when I carry one.. maybe a situation that will redefine a knifes role will come along but no bs, my knives are just tools and not "illegal weapons" to me. if he asked if I had any awesome tools on me then maybe would get a different answer. but yuh, good luck explaining all that to a judge right...

if it was me I would make a couple phone calls. first just to locate the knife and make sure it wasn't "confiscated" into somebodies personal collection. i wouldnt say all that though. just that you wanted to locate the knife that was confiscated by officer_ on _. second I would request that the knife be returned and the misunderstanding be considered a lesson learned. the last thing you can try is to have a officer buddy call for you and request the knife be returned.

if $60 bucks is worth a few phone calls to you then i'd say put $60 worth of effort into getting the knife back.

In the parks the state rule usually applies. CA law states that any size fixed blade not openly work on your belt is a FELONY. Oddly, a concealed firearm without a CCW is a misdemeanor in most areas(Some locales are much stricter)

The other odd thing is there is no size restriction on fixed blades as long as they are openly carried on the belt. There is a guy here in town who is known for carrying a sword on his daily walk. The cops all know him because people call him in all the time, but unless he brandishes it there isn't anything they can do to him.

I would consider myself lucky and buy a new knife.

Statewide law does not have size limits on either fixed or folders, but does state that fixed blades must be openly carried on the belt. County ordinances are quite different thought and LA has the worst. Here in Northern California you'd have to be very obvious to attract attention of the law.

Glad I'm in VA. I see guys walking into Walmart with Sigs on their hips, I carry a 9mm in my waistband or a 45 under my jacket and a swamp warden or scrapivore in my pocket. It's all good and legal. Want a CCW license? A hunter safety course at $20 gets it for you. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

That blows. Where were you at? I think mike is right though. The problem is you had it concealed and it is a fixed blade. I have come across many rangers with a 45 and a SOD strapped to my side and have never even been hassled.

Gun and knife laws are ALMOST ALWAYS written by those who never use either one. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" />

I was in Northern California actually and we were at a camp ground and a ranger came to check on us. pretty much to give us hard time in my opinion. But Ive learned a valuable lesson on what not to do.