Carrying a fixed blade knife in Pennsylvania?

Question

I have a friend who lives in Philadelphia county and he carries a Buck 119 almost every where he goes. He knows three Philadelphia police officers and they told him he can carry it, the knife just has to be kept in a sheath and on the belt and you can't carry in restaurants, malls, and hospitals. I was looking up and it looks like you can legally carry a fixed blade, but I'm getting a lot of flak from my uncle and especially my best friend who says it's a concealed weapon which I don't know how since it's in a sheath and on my waist. They say if I get pulled over I can be arrested for that but since it's legal I don't see how they will have a problem with that unless I get an a**hole or over sensitive cop. After a internet search 

here's the only thing I can find:

Pennsylvania - Pa. C.S.A. 18.908. Prohibited offensive
weapons. (a) Offense defined.--A person commits a
misdemeanor of the first degree if, except as authorized
by law, he makes, repairs, sells, or otherwise deals in,
uses, or possesses any offensive weapon. (b) Exception.--
It is a defense under this section for the defendant to
prove by a preponderance of evidence that he possessed of
dealt with the weapon solely as a curio or in a dramatic
performance, or that he possessed it briefly in
consequence of having found it or taken it from an
aggressor, or under circumstances similarly negativing any
intent or likelihood that the would be used unlawfully.
(c) Definition.--As used in this section "offensive
weapon" means... any... dagger, knife, razor or cutting
instrument, the blade of which is exposed in an automatic
way by switch, push-button, spring mechanism, or
otherwise...
- also see 24 P.S. 13-1317.2. re: students bringing weapons
on to school property.]

Pennsylvania case law:
Where opening knife required lock to be released, and
once lock was released blade could be exposed by flip of
wrist, knife did not have blade which could be "exposed in
an automatic way"... by "otherwise" legislature referred
to knives that were opened by some sort of mechanism which
is not a "switch," "push-button," or "spring" mechanism
but still a mechanism... (1979)

The state defines offensive weapons as:
"Offensive weapons." 
Any bomb, grenade, machine gun, sawed-off shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches,
firearm specially made or specially adapted for concealment or silent discharge,
any blackjack, sandbag, metal knuckles, dagger, knife, razor or cutting instrument,
the blade of which is exposed in an automatic way by switch, push-button, spring
mechanism, or otherwise, or other implement for the infliction of serious bodily
injury which serves no common lawful purpose.

My understanding of this is that the state of Pennsylvania prohibits you from carrying any dagger, knife, razor or cutting edge instrument that can be opened atomically like a switchblade or spring assisted knife. I can't see anything regulating the carrying of fixed blade knives so I assume there are no blade length requirements as long as it's a reasonable length. I assume I can have it on my belt but does it have to be visible 100% or can my jacket cover most of it or does the handle have to be visible to every body around. Specifically how about carrying in Bucks, Philadelphia and Delaware counties. 

Any insight on this will be helpful.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

A lot of people think almost any knife is illegal. Having a steak in a Bucks county restaurant and they were having cleaning problems {no knife available] pulled out my folding hunter and started to eat my steak.  Several other diners made friendly comments and requested to see it.  When finished showed it to two other diners, they said illegal. It's not and I'll keep it in my pocket or cut my whopper in half at Burger King where no one ever noticed.

zachar · Answer

Pennsylvania Knife Laws

Anonymous · Answer

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Carrying a fixed blade knife in Pennsylvania?
I have a friend who lives in Philadelphia county and he carries a Buck 119 almost every where he goes. He knows three Philadelphia police officers and they told him he can carry it, the knife just has to be kept in a sheath and on the belt and you can&#39;t carry in restaurants, malls, and...

shooter · Answer

It is really hard to say because laws are not clear and even if it is legal to have a big fix blade knife you could still get arrested. You will most likely not get charged with a crime but you will have all that hassle of going to court.Most likely you will never be bothered by the police as long as you are not using the knife in a offensive manor.

Shogun · Answer

You may not like a straight up adult answer, but here we go.  Walking around town with a hunting knife on your belt is a bunch of macho BS, unless your coming or going from a hunting trip.  Older men will snicker at you for trying to act like a bad azz.  Your state has some very liberal knife laws.  They don't even have a blade length regulation and only care about "automatic" knives and knives on any school property.  So get yourself a good pocket knife and carry that like a grown man would.  The fact that it's legal, but hardly anybody is doing it should give you an idea of how people perceive it.

Besides, once you pull that knife it becomes a deadly weapon under state law.  Check your Aggravated Assault Charge.  That is a felony.  Not to mention there could be someone nearby with a concealed carry permit who blows you away.  Like they say, "never carry a knife to a gun fight."  So it's not really about whether you can do it, or not.  Take a look at how it looks to other people and realize you're just asking for trouble.

? · Answer

Pa Knife Laws

Anonymous · Answer

Sounds like your uncle and your friend are idiots and over reacting (no offense to you.) 

It says nothing in the law against it, you also say your friend knows/asked 3 separate PA officers, so it sounds bout legit to me. Now same reason I gotta start concealing my handgun tho more (even tho open carry is legal) I have been harassed by local cops about it who don't know it's legal. SO as dumb as this may sound, sometimes even if something is legal, it's not always best to do. You may scare some ppl (excuse I was told for the harassment against me) or god knows what jack off might try and step up to mess with ya cuz ya got a buck knife on ya (ya know the guys who wanna act like they got some stones on em.) 

If ya wanna do it, it seems legal to me. Just remember follow the laws, and if your harassed in any ways don't be surprised. I get looks from ppl when they see me packing so expect about the same.

dca2003311@yahoo.com · Answer

* The words; " which serves no common lawful purpose ". Well Reb Obeying certain Laws whether its about Guns, or Knives that Forbid, or Prohibit you from carrying a Self-defense Weapon can get you Killed if, and when you are in the Right place at the Wrong time.* Every person has an Innate Right to Self-Defense, and to choose any weapon to prevent oneself from Bodily Injury, or Death Regardless of any Laws saying that you can't.*... Some Laws were never mean't to be followed, and taken Seriously, or Practiced, and Obeyed because they are Invalid, Unlawful, lack Common Sense, Wrong, Ridiculous, fly in the face of ones Ability to Defend and Protect their One, and Only Precious Life, or those of Others.* Its always Smart, or Wise to Obey any Government Law whether Instigated, or Created by any Federal, State, County, or Local Laws that are a Potential Threat to your Life, Survival, and Your Right to Self-Defense.*...I guess there are some People who would choose to Obey such Laws, and Die for a Ridiculous Law, than to save their own Life by choosing a Weapon of their choice to prevent it from happening in the first place.*...For those who choose to Obey such Laws People at their Funeral can say; " He was a Good Person because he Obeyed the Law, Sacrificed, and Lost his One, and Only Precious Life to keep from Breaking a Phoney Gun, or Knife Law created by the Federal, State, County, or Local Government."...I carry a Bayonet*...<> " Only a Criminal, Tyrant, or a Tyrannical Federal, State, County, or Local Government is Afraid of the Armed Amercan Citizen."..." Try Living Free in America Without Your Guns, Knives, and Ammo; I Dare You."...

Regaserig · Answer

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Carrying a fixed blade knife in Pennsylvania?

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