When dressed up for Scottish events and ethnic festivals, I may wear anything from the “casual kilt” (in which case I’m carrying a claymore, dirk, sgian dubh, and possibly parrying knife or broadsword) to the full formal “Prince Charlie” (in which case I have only the dirk and sgian dubh).
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Same for California, Indiana and Ohio.
I have often gone to restaurants in those states wearing my full kit. The only trouble I’ve ever had was posing for many photographs.
By the way, a “sword” is not always a “blade”. A sword would normally be blunt.
Winston Churchill (as a young officer) records having his sword sharpened for active service, but even that was perhaps only the point: It’s been well know for a fairly long time that a sword is only useful as a stabbing or bludgening weapon, not a cutting weapon.
All the actual real swords I’ve seen, from real soldiers or militia, have been blunt, because that is the default state they existed in.
I love these zombie threads. I was reading the secomd post thinking “man, this guy’s all over it. He’s saying exactly what I would have said”. Then I realize it’s me from almost NINE (9) years ago. Holy Crap.
Unfortunately it seems to be illegal in Texas. I think it would be a hell of a means of self-defense. Who’s going to mess with someone with a katana strapped to their hip?
I think it would be best if you provided a citation for this bit of common knowledge. Especially given that the subject of this thread is a katana, a sword designed for cutting!
Being blunt makes a sword “not a cutting weapon” but it doesn’t make it less of a blade. Or what do you propose the part that’s not the hilt be called?
I was just in Home Depot looking at the 22" machete they have for sale, and wondering if I could justify such a purchase to my wife. I did not think to notice whether they had tool belts that could accommodate one openly.
FWIW by way of comparison, in the state of Victoria, Australia, it’s illegal to carry a knife unless you have a legitimate work purpose. ie, heading home from work with the boxcutter in your pocket is legal, going out from home to the pub with a pocket knife is illegal.
Walking down the street with a sword would have the cops straight on your arse.
Stupid over reaction to teen gangs carrying knives. I keep a leatherman tool in my laptop bag. If I ever got pulled up by Police I’d potentially be up for carrying a controlled weapon and looking at a $1000 fine. :rolleyes:
In Montana, it’s legal to open-carry a sword and I do so regularly. I did have a discussion with the local sheriff about whether it counted as “concealed” if the sword was sheathed but the scabbard was visible. He figured it was still open-carry.
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Of course all states are different, but generally “concealed” means carried in such a way that an ordinary person without any particular expertise is not put on notice that you are carrying a weapon.
Therefore a gun in a holster, or a sword in a sheath are generally not considered concealed.