The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Knife Laws in Canada?
crazy_joe
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I am thinking about buying a knife just in case I get myself caught up in a dangerous situation and need to protect myself/cut something. Before I buy one, I need to know what the laws against carrying weapons such as knives are in Canada (such as, whether or not it can be a switchblade, the the maximum length can be, whether or not it can be concealed, etc).
If any of you guys find a website that contains this information, can you please post an url to it also?
Thanks.
If any of you guys find a website that contains this information, can you please post an url to it also?
Thanks.
crazy_joe on
0
Posts
That would mean switch blades.
I'm unsure of the law concerning blade length or what the law says about carrying knives. I think its at least frowned upon.
Also I would like to point out that planning on using a knife for self defence is a pretty bad idea. Unless you know how to use it, it can very easily be used against you.
Switch blades use springs. Butterfly knives are the ones you flip around to open.
Workingmen of all countries, unite!
Wise words. Especially since if you pull out a knife the person (people?) you are up against are more likely to pull out some kind of weapon. The best means of self defence is probably some kind of martial arts class or improving your 100m dash.
It is a stupid, dangerous, and ineffective method of self defense and if you draw one on more than one guy, they're going to swarm you, and you're going to end up facing a group of people who are even more pissed off and who now have a knife. If you're fighting one on one, the fight either ends when you inflict a potentially fatal wound, or the other guy takes the knife and does the same.
Using a knife for self defence is literally such an unspeakably stupid thing to do that I'm having trouble verbalizing the reasons why in a coherent manner. There's this problem that occurs when people who are frightened draw a lethal weapon in self defense, which is to say drawing the weapon rarely equates to using it effectively or at all. It often results in escalating the anger level of your opponent who can see you shaking and who now doubts your ability to use the weapon. This happens with guns and knives. When you draw, you are prepared to take a life, or you very likely lose your own.
I know it sounds like I am over dramatizing this, but trust me, a knife will not help you. Working out, avoiding trouble, and learning to run really fast are all much better ways to stay safe.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
There are all kinds of things that can go wrong when you flash a knife.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
No. As Pheezer has stated you do not "pull" any weapon unless your sole intention is to put that person down permanently. Like he said if you are not trained in the use of a knife as a means of defence it will only instigate your attackers aggression. So no if you have a knife on you and get in a fight do not pull it out best suggestion is to avoid the fight completely or run.
Beat'd
1) Giving them what they want (in the case of a mugging)
2) Running
3) Shouting for help
4) Fighting
Avoid step 4 if at all possible. And if it is neccesary to use step 4, again do not bother with a knife. You will just get yourself injured, killed, or end up seriously injuring or killing somebody else. Which will land you in a whole shit-heap of trouble. Especially if it turns out to have been a misunderstanding of some kind (unlikely, but possible, especially when drunk). And that last point reminds me: if you're drunk you could end up drawing your knife on a friend. And how would that make you feel?
My brothers like spyderco. One handed opening. Real comfortable. It's not a bump, it's a hole you hook with your thumb. It opens FAST. Real light with the composite handle. I had one that you couldn't even tell is was there with a 3.5 inch blade. I took the clip off so it was just a smooth surface. Fit in the palm of my hand but it would open in a click.
Don't be a dick that clips it to his pocket so every asshole knows it's there. We're not impressed.
Huh? I've never heard of people doing it for that reason. I keep my knife there because it wont fall out, its easy to get to, and it doesn't get it my way. Couldn't really care less if people see it or not
No, it's not and you're wrong and this is terrible advice. If you're hanging around an area that's so dangerous that you're running the risk of being killed, a knife won't save you from anything. ESPECIALLY if you don't know how to use one in combat. Running as hard and far as you can will always be infinitely wiser than trying to stand and fight using a knife. Especially since any area that dangerous is going to be populated by people packing guns, and knives always lose to guns.
I don't care which ghetto you're talking about or how dangerous you think your hood is. There is no circumstance under which someone without extensive training in knife fighting could possibly be safer off because they were carrying a knife for defense. You go ahead and try to describe a scenario where pulling a knife is more likely to help you than it is to result in serious immediate and long term consequences.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
Also if a cop is searching you for whatever reason, they'll react very differently between finding a utility knife clipped to your pocket than if they find it inside your boot or hidden somewhere else.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
While I have a higher view of a knife's use as a weapon than some of the above, it bears stating that even experts in knife using martial arts repeatedly say that if you ever get into a knife fight, you have to expect to get cut. This isn't the kind of thing to get into without both physical and mental training.
As for your legal questions, I probably couldn't really answer even if I lived in Canada since laws can vary a lot by region. You'll first need to check national laws, then laws for provinces you frequent. After that, you need to look into county codes and then go through municipal laws for any cities you spend time in, especially if any are urban areas. Since knives heavily blur the line between weapon and non-weapon tools, different areas will peg them in the tool/weapon divide differently, typically with more rural areas viewing them as something you may need and cities being more restrictive.
Steam Profile
3DS: 3454-0268-5595 Battle.net: SteelAngel#1772
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
As intimidation, you'd be better just bulking up a bit and wearing short sleeves more.
And as an actual weapon there wil only ever be four ouitcomes:
The other guy pulls a bigger one or a gun and you stand there looking a dick.
The other guy immediately disarms you because holyfuckingshit of course you don't know what you're doing
The other bloke (or his friends) kicks the shit out of you without it being a factor at all
You accidentaly stab somebody fatally when they were just asking for the time.
Definitely take a look at www.bladeforums.com if you're still interested at all in this stuff. There's a section devoted to legal questions along with forums you can ask for help finding training, knife related or not. It's a much larger brain to pick. A lot of the reactions you tend to see to these kinds of questions come about because all too often people think they'll just get a weapon or sign up for any martial arts/self defense class without seriously thinking this through when there's a whole lot more to self defense than simply a way to fight.
Just be aware that like any forum, there's a contingent there that seems to post just for the sake of machismo so keep a bs meter up and that if you spend time reading people's reviews and impressions of stuff in their collection, you can easily find yourself spending a crapload of money before you realize it (part of the reason I stopped frequenting the place).
Steam Profile
3DS: 3454-0268-5595 Battle.net: SteelAngel#1772
We been using pointy things as weapons since jump. Don't act like it's some new, dangerous fad.
Congratulations, you are using a knife in a fight incorrectly. And will probably get killed with it if you go into a fight with anyone with half a brain.
For any fight with a knife you put it in your non-dominate hand and run the blade so it's pointing towards your elbow and you use it to block, people don't want to punch someone when they know they punch a knife. Your dominate hand is used to strikes and your knife hand for slash.
Stabbing A) gets people killed
Really learn how to fight without a knife, or stay out of dangerous areas.
Satans..... hints.....
Not to mention that accidentally stabbing some one pretty much regardless of the circumstances is going to get you thrown in jail.
This isn't debate and discourse, so in an attempt to keep things from veering away from helping the original poster, I'll just use these two posts as a springboard to illustrate two things: One, while the posters are disagreeing with each other, both are describing things that are quite different from the posturing you see when entertainment media tries to portray a "knife fight."
Two, no two situations are the same. Poster one has described a situation where there's more than one attacker and the emphasis is on forcing open an escape route. Poster two has described a situation where there is one attacker and a more defensive situation is in effect.
Dealing with this stuff is not something that magically comes to you the moment you strap on a weapon or step foot in a dojo or gym, hence the importance of actual training.
Steam Profile
3DS: 3454-0268-5595 Battle.net: SteelAngel#1772
The only thing I think we should ever all agree on is DON'T CARRY A FUCKING KNIFE, THIS IS REAL LIFE NOT FUCKING SERENITY.
I don't agree with that. And I don't see why I should. Seeing as a person is probably going to get shot/stabbed/killed if they choose to fight a mugger regardless, I don't see why you would even give a shit.
If you want to carry a knife and are legally allowed to carry the knife in question, have at it. Realise that you can't pull it until the other guy pulls his own deadly-weapon, and that you're probably going to die now wheras you'd probably only get a little bit cut up or beat up if you just hand over your shit, and accept the consequences of that choice.
I used it for a general use item not for self defense nor was I waving it around in public.
I have been stabbed and shot neither of these times did I use my knife on the person in the act.
One of my brothers and his friend have pulled knifes on each other on more than one occasion, they have the most interesting relationship I have ever seen. They have been friends for nearly 20 years.
Really the best advice anyone can give is be aware of your surroundings at all times, if confronted with a fight try to get away blah blah blah.
One crucial thing you have to remember about most provinces in Canada (particularily the more populated provinces like Ontario/BC/Quebec) is that the law is generally built around the safety of the population as a whole, rather than individual safety and freedoms. This is more or less the reverse from a majority of the United States, from which people get their thoughts on carrying weapons and whatnot.
For example, if you were ever to be stopped by police, it would be their perogative as to whether or not that knife was for utility use or whether you were planning on using it as a weapon. It can be bad enough that if you were acting like a jerk, they wouldn't hesitate to charge you with something pretty serious. As well, if you were concealing it, that can upgrade the charge even further.
One more thing to clarify from earlier in the thread: Canadian laws specifically state that a prohibited weapon is: "a knife that has a blade that opens automatically by gravity or centrifugal force or by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the handle of the knife". So basically, unless the knife opens purely by your own hand, you're in for some trouble if you're busted with it.
Just check out the website Turner listed earlier in the thread. It looked pretty helpful, and listed most the things you'd need to know if you planned on carrying a knife.
I'm just going to agree with everyone else and recommend you don't carry a knife for self-defense. I can't think of anywhere in Canada that you would actually need it, unless of course you're in the habit of walking around the downtown eastside of Vancouver at night on a regular basis.
There's no such thing as knife fight training.
There's no such thing as knife fight training.
All that "training" and mental preparation doesn't mean a fucking thing when someone nicks you with a sharp blade. You go into immediate shock, your adrenaline is going to be pumping, you'll be losing blood like fucking crazy, feeling light headed. You get into a knife fight, and the winner is going to be the guy who doesn't die.
Don't tell me this isn't the question he's asking. When some guy asks for advice on how best to commit suicide in his car, I don't give him good advice on it, I tell him to seek counselling.
This forum requires that you wait 30 seconds between posts. Please try again in 1 seconds.
Oh, and this post is idiotic. If you take police training or any other training with a knife (I, and many experts, still believe knife fight training to be utterly useless in practice), you would know you hold the knife just like a butter knife, with your thumb squarely on the top of the back of the blade. Reverse grips open your entire body up when you do stabbing motions, which usually means you're dead in a knife fight. Your greatest friend is range, and normal grips allow for the maximum.
Like I said, there's no such thing as knife fight training. Show me the best knife fighter in the world and watch me kick his ass with any long blunt object.
This forum requires that you wait 30 seconds between posts. Please try again in 1 seconds.
While im not saying this is a good idea, its not like the average person looking to mug you walks around with a "long blunt weapon" Sure you could be disarmed pretty quickly if you did face someone like that but lets at least be realistic about the most common situation here. Sure 9 times out of ten, its gonna be a very bad idea to pull a knife, but its nice to have the option if something ever did happen. For example, if im on the ground getting the crap kicked out of me, im gonna have no problem pulling out my knife and sticking in the guys leg. It wont kill him, but it sure will make them stop.
If you're going to buy a knife don't get it for self-defense reasons, get it for utility. Most rules at universities regard anything below the mentioned 3.5" mark as just fine; and universities usually err on the safer side of the law. And, to be honest, for utility you don't need much more than that unless you're getting into specialized hunting knives in which case they won't be carried around anyways.
Have someone show you how to sharpen knives, this will really extend the life of the blade and keep it in tip top form.
Ryan M Long Photography
Buy my Prints!
I have to second that suggestion for getting a gerber.
I carry this one everywhere i go.
Gerber AR 3.5
Hey, cool, that's my usual carry around knife.
Ryan M Long Photography
Buy my Prints!
It is a rather nice knife. Combined with my gerber legend, mini maglight, and my zippo. I'm pretty much prepared for anything.
Gerber Legend 800
If you are in a situation that you actually need a deadly weapon to defend yourself then there are better choices than knives, such as a gun, or even the previously mentioned "long blunt weapon" (although carrying that around probably isn't reasonable, there may be something that will do the trick nearby). It is ranged and your training you can do with a gun will apply much more directly than with a knife since you cannot realistically practice cutting someone or taking hits from a knife. The skills that allow you to hit a non-human target will also allow you to hit a human target. If you're in a fight and the other guy pulls a knife, you want a gun (assuming you can't get the hell out of there). If the other guy pulls a gun (which previously mentioned person who walks around looking to mug people may well have), well, no guarantees your gun will be much help but you sure don't want to pull a knife.
If a gun was not appropriate in the situation according to law then chances are a knife also wasn't, in which case you still didn't need the knife.
Knives are generally a poor choice for self-defence, both socially and saftey-wise. They have to be displayed (concealed weapons are still illegal without license) and yet appear innocent enough to not cause public concern. Appearing non-threatening is the responsibilty of the weilder in Canada, so even you are interested only in defense, if others see you as a threat, then your weapon becomes illegal by definition.
In terms of safety, knives tend to escalate situations into deadlier ones. By using a knife, you invite lethal force onto yourself by your opponent - who becomes justified in killing you under law. When facing a stronger opponent, quite often the knife-holder is eventually disarmed, and their weapon is used against them. It is far more likely you will become seriously injured (when fighting) while carrying a knife than you are without one.
I agree completely that there are much better options when it comes to defending yourself. But its just that i already have my knife on me for work, and i usually don't walk around carrying a gun. If you can get away, or even grab for a discarded 2x4 or something laying in an alley, go for it. You shouldn't rely on a knife as your only form of self defense but as i said in a previous post, you never know whats going to happen and sometimes you just have to work with what you got handy.