Fixed blade pocket knife
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THE PILGRIM
Member
Interesting Michigan Knife Law.
Bark River Knives are made in Escanaba.
Up in the UP.
Bark River Knives are made in Escanaba.
Up in the UP.
Just took this one out of my back pocket. As mentioned in post #18, it is a A.G. Russell “ woods walker”. I have carried one of these for over 25 years. I have cleaned a lot of fish, small & large game and birds with this knife.
This is my third one, the first two “grew legs and walked off”.
This is my third one, the first two “grew legs and walked off”.
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Your reward for close reading of the ad. It’s probably best for everyone if you say no more.
OP
This Arno Bernard design was perfect for pocket carry but the sheath had a belt loop. I lost it in my 2018 fire.
"...let's see if any of y'all have anything like this, a custom made, fixed blade knife designed to be carried in a pocket in a purpose made sheath."
Nope. And I never will.
Go ahead and tell me I'm overly cautious, you won't be the first.
Nope. And I never will.
Go ahead and tell me I'm overly cautious, you won't be the first.
6thtexas
Member
I have one of these with a pocket sheath. It has skinned everything up through deer and on occasion is put to use as a steak knife when we go out . (most restaurant steak knives suck!)
I used to have a Gerber bird knife that I would carry. Lost it in one of my moves. 
cadmike
Member
+1 on the AG Russel. I’ve had mine for years but only occasionally carry it. I keep it in the console of my truck in its leather sheath. I know my brother has one too…gifts from Dad.
I have a pair of Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunters, both the original 15016 version (top) with a slightly shorter and thicker blade and the current 15017 version (bottom) with a slightly thinner and longer blade.
I like the later version better, which is why I have both.
Benchmade makes a good knife for the money in this model ($180). The SV30 steel is a good choice for the knife. It’s in the sweet spot for both taking a good edge and keeping it, and it’s not prone to either rolling or chipping.
The overall size works well for pocket carry and the blade is long enough and stout enough for heavier duty cutting, while being thin enough to manage things like cutting up an apple. I’ve used both of mine for daily carry for a couple years each and both of them have held up extremely well.
However, the sheaths that came with them were second rate. They were both made from a pressed leather product (scrap leather pressed into a sheet), and the design wasn’t all that functional for anything other than belt carry.
Consequently I bought Kydex sheaths for each of them from Armatus Carry immediately after I purchased each of them. I ordered tje sheaths with the Ulticlip and hardware kit, and so equipped it makes a superb pocket sheath. Total cost was $56 per sheath.
I’ve noted that Benchmade has started offering the 15017-1 model with a kydex sheath for $230. However on its own the sheath is not really set up for anything other than storing the knife. The design however can be equipped with the Ulticlip and hardware kit from Armatus for $16 plus shipping. However, that’s going to cost about the same as just getting the basic 15017 knife and then ordering a sheath with your preferred options and clip from Armatus Carry.
I like the later version better, which is why I have both.
Benchmade makes a good knife for the money in this model ($180). The SV30 steel is a good choice for the knife. It’s in the sweet spot for both taking a good edge and keeping it, and it’s not prone to either rolling or chipping.
The overall size works well for pocket carry and the blade is long enough and stout enough for heavier duty cutting, while being thin enough to manage things like cutting up an apple. I’ve used both of mine for daily carry for a couple years each and both of them have held up extremely well.
However, the sheaths that came with them were second rate. They were both made from a pressed leather product (scrap leather pressed into a sheet), and the design wasn’t all that functional for anything other than belt carry.
Consequently I bought Kydex sheaths for each of them from Armatus Carry immediately after I purchased each of them. I ordered tje sheaths with the Ulticlip and hardware kit, and so equipped it makes a superb pocket sheath. Total cost was $56 per sheath.
I’ve noted that Benchmade has started offering the 15017-1 model with a kydex sheath for $230. However on its own the sheath is not really set up for anything other than storing the knife. The design however can be equipped with the Ulticlip and hardware kit from Armatus for $16 plus shipping. However, that’s going to cost about the same as just getting the basic 15017 knife and then ordering a sheath with your preferred options and clip from Armatus Carry.
I agree for the most part. As noted above I like the thinner blade 15017 version of the Benchmade Hidden Canyon better, but it’s still thick by pocket knife standards.
My wife bought me this Ellis model knife by James and it does a good job filling the gaps with a thin knife blade, a fairly decent set of scissors and a flat blade screw driver blade on the end that works for things like opening paint cans and Dzus fasteners.
The nice part is that works well clipped in the pocket behind my Hidden Canyon.
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When a I worked in DC their laws prevented anything that “could be used” as a deadly weapon, except for pocket knives with blades less than 2 1/2” in length. I ended up having to carry this 2.16” length CRKT Squid as the blade was both short and didn’t have any kind of spring assist opening. Although restrictive, at least the law was clear.
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VA knife laws were very confusing. Switchblades, dirks and Bowie knives cannot be carried concealed. They adopted the dictionary definition for Bowie knives (“a stout single-edged hunting knife with part of the back edge curved concavely to a point and sharpened”) which would allow something like a Hidden Canyon as the back edge isn’t sharpened. The also used the dictionary definition for dirk (a long straight blade dagger).
However “Switchblade” wasn’t well defined and anything with a spring assist opening probably could have been defined as a switchblade, like this Kershaw Leek, but they sold these almost everywhere in VA. What made them legal to carry was the pocket clip, which left about 3/4” of the knife exposed above the edge of your pocket, enough for the courts to consider it not concealed.
Or in other words, it was technically legal to carry clipped to the edge of your pocket, but technically illegal to carry if carried all the way inside your pocket where it would totally concealed.
I got randomly bag checked once with a Leek clipped to my pocket. When asked to open it, I pressed the back of the blade just enough to bring the blade out so I could pinch it between my finger and thumb and then opened it like a non assisted pocket knife. I did that to not have to risk getting into the finer points of the law. In VA, an assisted knife can’t be concealed, and it was “unconcealed” but an unconcealed knife must also be recognizable as a knife - and that can be a judgement call that an over zealous officer may be happy to let the court sort out after your arrest. Best to note poke that particular bear.
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NC knife laws are also confusing. NC 14-269(a) states:
“It shall be unlawful for any person willfully and intentionally to carry concealed about his or her person any bowie knife, dirk, dagger, slung shot, loaded cane, metallic knuckles, razor, shuriken, stun gun, or other deadly weapon of like kind, except when the person is on the person’s own premises.”
By that definition a knife that isn’t a Bowie knife, dirk, dagger, or razor “or other deadly weapon of like kind” can legally be concealed.
Except, in 14-269(d) they add an exception to the entire concealed weapon section:
“This section does not apply to an ordinary pocket knife carried in a closed position. As used in this section, “ordinary pocket knife” means a small knife, designed for carrying in a pocket or purse, that has its cutting edge and point entirely enclosed by its handle, and that may not be opened by a throwing, explosive, or spring action”
Here, a fixed blade pocket knife like the Hidden Canyon (that isn’t a prohibited dagger, dirk, Bowie knife, or razor prohibited in support (a) ) also doesn’t fall other the “ordinary pocket knife” exception listed in (d).
Under the principle of the rule of lenity any interpretation of vagueness or ambiguity in a criminal statute must be decided in favor of the defendant.
Under that principle a fixed blade pocket knife that isn’t prohibited in (a) is legal even if it is not included in the ordinary pocket knife exception in (d). But again, an over zealous officer could decide it’s not an ordinary pocket knife, arrest you for carrying it concealed and let tue court sort it out.
Again, best not to poke that bear so I normally carry mine with the handle protruding from the pocket when I’m outside the house.
NC law also leaves the status of spring assisted knives like the Kershaw Leek in a sort of legal limbo, as it could be considered to fall under the “or other deadly weapon of like kind” prohibition under (a) as it has a spring assisted opening, and as such doesn’t fall under the “ordinary pocket knife” exception under (d).
Unfortunately, unlike VA there isn’t any state Supreme Court ruling on whether a knife carried protruding slightly from a pocket with a pocket clip is concealed or unconcealed. The only thing we have to go on are jury instructions for concealed weapon cases and it comes down to the wording:
“…that the weapon was concealed, that is hidden from the view of others”
https://www.akti.org/wp-content/uploads/NC-r235.10-NC-concealed-jury-instruction.pdf
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Bill Lear
Member
Looks GREAT...<wink, wink>
One of my typical carry options is the Benchmade Infidel, though I rotate to others.
The Infidel ejects a near 4" double-edged blade and is highly reliable as well as sturdy enough to hold up to any sort of interpersonal exchange I might encounter!
The Infidel has an S30V blade and twin blade locks that cannot fail.
Other models I often carry is the MT Halo V with 4.6" Elmax blade and the Guardian Tactical Recon 040 with massive 4.1" blade.
One of my typical carry options is the Benchmade Infidel, though I rotate to others.
The Infidel ejects a near 4" double-edged blade and is highly reliable as well as sturdy enough to hold up to any sort of interpersonal exchange I might encounter!
The Infidel has an S30V blade and twin blade locks that cannot fail.
Other models I often carry is the MT Halo V with 4.6" Elmax blade and the Guardian Tactical Recon 040 with massive 4.1" blade.
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I just read Mi knife carry laws and it includes carrying a stabbing implement concealed. So a tactical "pen" could be illegal. So your knife clipped your pocket could be illegal if your shirt or jacket covers it. Also cities, town, county's can make there own ordinances, what is legal in Escamba, may not be legal in Lansing. Very confusing laws. Be Safe,
OP
I am not sure I understand this:
I have no problem with caution but I don't understand the problem. What part of carrying a fixed blade knife in a leather "pocket" sheath disturbs you?
I have no problem with caution but I don't understand the problem. What part of carrying a fixed blade knife in a leather "pocket" sheath disturbs you?
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