# Is a pocket knife considered a concealed weapon **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 3, 2005, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-pocket-knife-considered-a-concealed-weapon/306773 "2005-06-03T19:44:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-pocket-knife-considered-a-concealed-weapon/306773/1 "2005-06-03T19:44:47Z")
Is carrying a swiss army knife in your pocket considered a crime in any way like carrying a concealed weapon. If so how are people supposed to carry things like pocket knives? ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-pocket-knife-considered-a-concealed-weapon/306773/2 "2005-06-03T19:50:48Z")
Only if you’re trying to get on an airplane. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-pocket-knife-considered-a-concealed-weapon/306773/3 "2005-06-03T19:58:31Z")
You couldn’t bring it into a government building either. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-pocket-knife-considered-a-concealed-weapon/306773/4 "2005-06-03T19:58:31Z")
> [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > Only if you’re trying to get on an airplane. I’m sure it varies from state to state though. What about Indiana? Do we have laws saying you can’t carry a pocketknife or swiss army knife in your pocket for fear of it being labeled a concealed weapon? ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-pocket-knife-considered-a-concealed-weapon/306773/5 "2005-06-03T20:06:20Z")
- - - Depends on local laws, and where exactly you’re trying to go. What I was casually told about knives carried into the St Clair County IL courthouse was no knives with blades over 3 inches, openable one-handed or spring loaded. The guard let me keep my Swiss army knife on me, but then, I was not there to suffer the wrath of a judge, just to drop off some boring paperwork at an office in the same wing–and the guard was an old schoolmate of mine. ~ ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-pocket-knife-considered-a-concealed-weapon/306773/6 "2005-06-03T21:51:43Z")
It will probably depend on state laws. In California, it is if it’s above a certain length. It’s also illegal to carry most knives on any school campus (including colleges) unless they are very small 1 3/4" blade, IIRC. But you’ll have to check on IN laws. One thought: Call your local police station and ask. Obviously, they’re not the ultimate authority on the law, but it might give you a place to start looking. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-pocket-knife-considered-a-concealed-weapon/306773/7 "2005-06-03T23:22:19Z")
I’m with the poster who said to consult with the local police department. In the US, these laws vary by municipality and state. Cleveland, OH has stricter weapons laws than Akron, OH. If you’re concerned about getting in trouble for carrying a blade, call your local cops and see what their policy on it would be. If you will be transitting across city lines, you might want to leave the blade at home or at least carry it in your trunk. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-pocket-knife-considered-a-concealed-weapon/306773/8 "2005-06-03T23:56:42Z")
> [@iamthewalrus(:3=](#): > > One thought: Call your local police station and ask. Obviously, they’re not the ultimate authority on the law, but it might give you a place to start looking. Ca actually has different charges last I heard for concealed guns vs concealed knives. I do not recall the criteria but IIRC the concealed weapon\* knives will actually get you in as much if not MORE trouble than a concealed handgun. - definitions of weapon seem kinda fuzzy some mentions of 4" blades some mentions of 2 1/2 " blades differentiations for fixed vs locking vs non locking blades. Don’t really have time to nitpick the details.