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Could the experts tell me if this knife is legal in India?

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 2:20 pm
by Skyman
Hello,

I was looking to get this knife for concealed carry, but looking around the legal issues, i am a little confused.Is this knife illegal for carry in India? Will i be arrested if the cops see me with it? Needless to say, i don't have any criminal intentions.

http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-344788.html

Thank You.

Re: Could the experts tell me if this knife is legal in Indi

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 4:36 pm
by goodboy_mentor
Answer to your query lies in the fact if there is a notification issued under Section 4 of Arms Act 1959 for your area. To ascertain this do an RTI in the office of the district magistrate or SP of your area. To understand please read Section 4 of Arms Act 1959 along with Rule 19 of Arms Rules 1962.

Also please note that regardless of notification under Section 4 of Arms Act 1959, the police has been delegated the power of arrest by Parliament under Section 20 of Arms Act 1959. The police also has powers of arrest under Sections 41, 42 and 151 of Criminal Procedure Code. They may use all these sections craftily to arrest a person.

Re: Could the experts tell me if this knife is legal in Indi

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 2:12 am
by kalashnikovcult
spring assisted knives r banned

Re: Could the experts tell me if this knife is legal in Indi

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 8:15 am
by Skyman
Goodboy....thank you for pointing out exactly where to look.But kalashnikov says spring assist knives are banned.Correct me if i am wrong- does this refer to automatic knives such as switch blades or assisted openers per se?
That knife is a folder, which is assisted in opening by a spring mechanism.SO is that illegal by the law?
That rti application might take a while, so in the meantime, help is appreciated.

Thank you for the replies.

Re: Could the experts tell me if this knife is legal in Indi

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:15 pm
by goodboy_mentor
"spring assisted knives are banned" appears to be a generalized and sweeping statement. Are spring assisted knives banned all over India or in his state or in his district? It would have been better if kalashnikovcult had been specific about what he is saying and on basis of which law or notification he is claiming what he is saying.

Whether spring assisted knives, switch blades or any other type, shape, size etc. are banned or restricted will also be told by the notifications issued under Section 4 of Arms Act 1959 for your area. You may add this additional question in your RTI application.

Could the experts tell me if this knife is legal in India?

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 8:57 pm
by choombak
Skyman wrote:Hello,

I was looking to get this knife for concealed carry, but looking around the legal issues, i am a little confused.Is this knife illegal for carry in India? Will i be arrested if the cops see me with it? Needless to say, i don't have any criminal intentions.

http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-344788.html

Thank You.
Considering the price and no manufacturer specified, I'd say don't get this. It is more likely a cheap Chinese knife having poor blade steel as well as poor fit and finish.

Spring assisted does not mean automatic. It merely means the opening is assisted in some way by a spring, and possibly the closing as well. Benchmade knives that use AXIS lock are spring assisted. For eg the benchmade 555 or 556 grips.

As for legality, goodboy is right - do those RTI and get answers. I routinely carry a doug Ritter benchmade mini grip, and use it for regular cutting tasks. I am very careful about where I show the knife, etc.. Please use knife as a cutting tool and you should be good. Any egoistic or macho associations of thoughts can put you in trouble, irrespective of your intent. Stay sharp and safe.

Re: Could the experts tell me if this knife is legal in Indi

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:01 am
by Skyman
Choombak....folders are legal in India, right? SO a folder without assisted opening is a safer choice than a spring assist?

Stay sharp,stay safe- i like that.

Goodboy- i will be busy with exams these 3 months or so.When i do get down to filing that rti, could you ( everyone in fact ) help me phrase the questions?

Thank you for your replies.One more thing.Are serrated knives illegal in india?

Re: Could the experts tell me if this knife is legal in Indi

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 12:00 pm
by boris
I'd listen to what choombak sir has advised,use it for the job,know where to show it,no macho stuff.

If you want get a good folding knife depending on your budget maybe an SOG or gerber will do.

Re: Could the experts tell me if this knife is legal in Indi

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 1:49 pm
by Moin.
Skyman wrote:Hello,

Needless to say, i don't have any criminal intentions.

http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-344788.html

Thank You.
Well Skyman, none of the knife enthusiasts in the forum do. :mrgreen:

GBM is the best person to comment on the legalities my 2 cent on the knife you have selected to purchase. This is a double edge dagger/spear point type of blade with a flipper and a spring assisted opening blade. Please see the picture carefully, the edge of the blade on the opposite side of the flipper is sharp and protrudes out of the handle. Given that the cost of the blade is 12 USD the quality of the pivot is doubtful and the edge will protrude out of the handle and you will either cut your hand or you leg in case of pocket carry. Also the opening is spring assisted with the flipper. I dont see a locking mechanism mentioned in the specs or visible in the pics. What if accidently flipper gets caught with the cloth in you pocket and the spring assisted dual edged spear point blade pops open in your pocket ? Surely will not be a very pleasant experience. :D

Better to collect some more cash and go in for a decent quality Gerber or the Byrd Series from Spyderco. Excellent knifes for the price they come at.

Best Regards
Moin.

Re: Could the experts tell me if this knife is legal in Indi

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 1:57 pm
by Moin.
Syman please see the pic below of my Gerber Applegate Fairbarn, given the price and the pedigree of the blade, this problem is present. I was very tempted to sharpen the other side of the blade as well but refrained given that the sharp edge will cut either my hand or my leg. Hope my comments make sense and help you decide.

Image

Re: Could the experts tell me if this knife is legal in Indi

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:10 pm
by Moin.
BTW the company that makes this knife is TAC-FORCE. A lot of other Sub 10$ blades. Do a google search or see some vidoes on youtube. You will get what you pay for, secondly you want to carry this knife for SD puposes, why carry a blade which is unreliable and can fail when required most.

Best Regards
Moin.

Re: Could the experts tell me if this knife is legal in Indi

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:24 pm
by Skyman
Moin- thank you for your observations.

The knife is single edged, and double edged knives are illegal here if i remember right.It has a liner lock.The postage for the knife is aprox 50$,as i found recently- ridiculous if you ask me.So i'll be paying 3k for a 600 buck knife!! I doubt i'll do that now.I'll get a good s&w or some other good tactical folder for 30-50$,after i look into the legal niceties.

Re: Could the experts tell me if this knife is legal in Indi

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:40 pm
by Moin.
My friend, I am not referring to the Linear or Back Lock that is bound to be there. On most spring assisted openers and tactical folders there is a locking mechanism to prevent accidntal deployment and to prevent the blade from closing on your hand incase the linear lock fails. That is the locking mechnaism I am referring to.

Re: Could the experts tell me if this knife is legal in Indi

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:52 pm
by Skyman
Oh you mean a safety? yes thats there on higher end knives, and good point.I read in some thread that 3.5 inch blade is the limit for carrying in city limits and 9 inch knives are the legal limit.Is that true?

Really wanted this knife- http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-344195.html

But it is 9.5 inch.Legal?

Thanks

Re: Could the experts tell me if this knife is legal in Indi

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:58 pm
by Moin.
Hi GBM, If not much trouble can I rquest that all legal aspects pertaining to Edged Weapons be made into a single thread and that made into a stickyz. There seems to be a lot of confusing information like the carry limit of 3.5 inch blade witin city limits, the above mentioned double edged blade being illegal, unsharpened swords etc legal becuase there is no edge to make it a weapon. Referring sections in Arms act and interpreting them correctly is diccult for us lesser informed about the law and legal terminolgy and it's interpretation.
Thanks Moin.