Cakewalk

Hello all...

I've asked several people over the past two months and got conflicting answers about carrying a knife in Florida. One of the responses I got was a simple pocket knife does not constitute a concealed weapon. Other times, I was told that any knife, no matter what the style or blade length, if carried concealed, requires a permit, and that although unlikely, you can be charged for unlawful concealed carry if you get caught by the wrong cop on the wrong day.

In reading Chapter 790 of Florida's Statutes, here's all I can find:

790.06 License to carry concealed weapon or firearm. -
"(1)..........For the purposes of this section, concealed weapons or concealed firearms are defined as a handgun, electronic weapon or device, tear gas gun, knife, or billie, but the term does not include a machine gun as defined in s. 790.001"

There are other areas where it discusses knives, even box cutters, but it refers to those having a license as described under 790.06 as being exempt from any prohibition. Still, it I can't find any verbiage that describes a knife in any greater detail when being carried concealed. This leads me to believe that even a pocket knife, when carried, well, in your pocket (duh...) is indeed a concealed weapon under Florida law.

Am I missing something or is this really the case? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

MattLarson

You're looking for F.S. 790.001 (13)

A common pocketknife is not a weapon under Florida law.

I'd recommend getting a copy of Florida Firearms by Jon Gutmacher. On pages 105 and 106, he discusses the Florida laws relevant to this issue in detail.

Matt

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retsupt99

Not a problem to carry a knife in FL...

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Cakewalk

Thanks guys. Guess I should have read the "definitions" section more. Although this does give me good info for those who told me I need a license to carry a knife.

Rustynuts

Note it says common pocket knife there, not a tactical 8" folder! Any "serious" knife, I'd still get a CWL.

ELCruisr

From the lawyers I talked with it seems FL knife law is a bit of a gray area. A common pocket knife is legal but it does not, by law, define just what that is. A somewhat chancey definition is a folder under 4". However I believe there has been one conviction on a knife under 4" because it's "tactical" features meant it was no longer a common pocket knife but a weapon.

Stay with a plain non tactical knife under 4" and you should be safe. They can do as much damage as a so called "tactical" model anyways.

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If you stand up and be counted, from time to time you may get yourself knocked down. But remember this: A man flattened by an opponent can get up again. A man flattened by conformity stays down for good. ~ Thomas J. Watson, Jr.

Cakewalk

CWL is on its way. I sent in the paperwork 2 weeks ago. Hopefully it won't take too long...

fernset

What the heck makes a knife "tactical"?

FLSquirrelHunter

Probably the same thing that makes a rifle an "assault weapon" : stupid politicians who think it's okay to carry a "plastic knife, or blunt-bladed table knife" but not a serrated edge table knife?

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BAC

If it has assisted-opening features, a fixed blade, is of a larger size than is reasonable for casual use, or other things like this. I wouldn't use the word "tactical" though. These are features that would make an otherwise common pocket knife a weapon, not "tactical".


-B