Texas Star
US Veteran
Although the post office is supposedly private now, it still has signs saying that it is a Federal facility and that weapons are banned. Does that include ordinary pocketknives?
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Is It Legal to Carry a Pocketknife in the Post Office?
- Thread starter Texas Star
- Start date
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A weapon is a weapon. That ordinary pocket knife cannot be carried into a courthouse or on a commercial airliner.
While I disagree with the limits placed on us in many places, the law is the law and we should all adhere to the law.
However, I keep guns in all my vehicles and I drop things off at the post office. The guns will remain in the car but I go inside. Yes, it is still against the law and one day I may regret doing such since it would, beyond a doubt, put me in a Federal prison for several years. Just one person see a gun, a random vehicle search, an accident or many other things can get me in trouble for having the gun. I just refuse to leave my gun elsewhere so I can drive onto Federal property.
wogentry
Member
I've used my Case Stockman (6375CV) 3 blade pocketknife in the post office to cut tape while shipping out Christmas packages and the Postal Clerk didn't say or seem to care one bit. It has a 3.75 or so inch blade. 'Course a non locking, bone handle knife that looks like Grandpa's isn't as snazzy looking as them "tactical" knives that seem to be rage these days...
diamonback68
US Veteran
I go in and out of the Post Office all the time with my Kershaw Leek clipped in my right hand pocket and never give it a second thought.
GatorFarmer
Member
Eh, maybe, maybe not. Technically you're only supposed to have a blade around 2 1/2" or less on a Federal facility. A number that is buried in some statute or another. Though on base, the few times anyone measures it, they just set the blade across the palm of the hand, if it is smaller, then they say it is okay. That comes out to about 3.5".
The section of 18 USC quoted at the post office on the signs refers mainly to carry of a weapon with unlawful intent. It's unclear if it would even apply to a permit holder carrying a pistol, let alone a pocket knife.
You can either take your chances or go to a private mailbox service.
The section of 18 USC quoted at the post office on the signs refers mainly to carry of a weapon with unlawful intent. It's unclear if it would even apply to a permit holder carrying a pistol, let alone a pocket knife.
You can either take your chances or go to a private mailbox service.
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
I think a lot depends on whether you try that in a Post Office in dowtown New York vs somewhere in the Texas panhandle. It's called common sense gentlemen
-the lack thereof which keeps me in business 
OP
Texas Star
US Veteran
Taking the chance is what bothers me. Unless I have to pick up a postal package, I do usually use a UPS location.
I leave the knife in the car, where it should be okay at the nearest post office, which is in a strip shopping center. At the larger post office, it is on its own land with a fence, and it might be illegal to even enter the fenced area with a knife in the car. But they don't have any cops to search cars.
Gator, are you saying that they even check for knives on Naval bases?
This may be something after 9-11-01. When I was an Air Force cop, we never had any knife issues after basic training and tech school. I carried a medium Case stockman knife in my trousers and an I*XL scout knife in my parka.
I think we had to leave hunting knives in the orderly room and check them out before a hunt or a fishing trip. But another squadron on that base didn't bother the NCO barracks, and I knew a guy who kept his Randall Model 4 in his room. It had a five or six-inch blade.
Flying personnel certainly had sheath and pocket knives, and no one blinked. That also applied to visiting Navy planes.
T-Star
jpwhel
Member
I don't know whether TX law or Federal law applies here. In TX a knife with a blade longer than 5 1/2 inches is considered a weapon. In addition all switchblade knives are considered weapons.
GatorFarmer
Member
Gator, are you saying that they even check for knives on Naval bases?
T-Star
The Navy recently cracked down even further on weapons, for example, even officers can't store personally owned firearms save in family housing. You're also supposed to call base security any time you move a firearm or have it in your car to let them know - going to the range, picking one up at the store, going hunting, etc. Knife rules seem to have tightened up as well.
I live on a Marine base, everyone still has relatively large folding knives in terms of the Weapons BN and DIs. However the Marines are also more gun friendly than the Navy and perhaps any other service. There's still abig sign with a picture of a Beretta M9 with the red circle and line through it as you arrive, saying that possession of unauthorized firearms/weapons is verboten and entry onto the base gives permission to search.
The only time that knives really became an issue was going on board a ship. Enlisted personel (save senior chiefs) had to go through a metal detector. At this point the guards would give your knife the hand test. Officers and chiefs didn't have to go through the detectors, this is how the chaplain used to smuggle his booze onto the carrier that my wife was on.
OGA types might or might not have to be going through the detectors/search. It depended on if you were there to cook meals or teach school compared to some of the "you were never there" things.
The Captain not only had his own cook to make him what he wanted, but could authorize people to carry a weapon on his ship or do as he wanted. If he (or she) for some reason wanted to wear around a sword, I suppose it would have technically fine.
Circa 2000 you were supposed to bring a Leatherman tool or similar to Airforce OTS, though the booklet said personally owned knives and weapons weren't allowed. Go figure.
Most Navy MAs (Masters at Arms) were at one point deployed to assist the Army, thus most anyone who could be dragooned into the job (which was unpopular because of the hours worked and because people hate you) was made an MA for a while or served such in addition to whatever else they did. Sometimes departments were told to give someone up for MA duty. Obviously, the most effective and brightest people weren't the ones that a commander passed along. Sometimes it was the people who couldn't be trusted to correctly chip paint. Thus training was kept simple,hence the palm test. Regular MAs may well have had rulers.
OP
Texas Star
US Veteran
sipowicz
Member
Not sure about knives, but my post office doesn't allow whistling as it might wake up the employees...
You may be incorrect in assuming that it is illegal for you to have your firearm in your vehicle while it is parked in the public parking lot of the U.S. Post Office.
I don't know if a pocket knife is considered a dangerous weapon and thus banned from the public areas of the U.S. Post Office building. The definition of "dangerous weapon" might not be defined anywhere. I personally have taken my small pocket knife into the Post Office. I suppose that if I am in violation, I could be asked to leave. If I were an attorney, I might contest the action in court. Since I am not, I'd probably just leave as asked. Neither scenario is likely as I don't display the small tool (pocketknife) and they don't search me when I go in to buy stamps and mail parcels or letters.
I always carry a clipped knife without a second thought, and I usually see people in there with box cutters. 
In high school I occasionally carried my first generation pocket/multi tool. If a kid did that today I'm sure it would land them in county jail or something to that equivalent.
In high school I occasionally carried my first generation pocket/multi tool. If a kid did that today I'm sure it would land them in county jail or something to that equivalent.
bk43
Member
Assisted opening are not considered switchblades under the law. Customs did recently propose considering them as such for their purposes but the uproar was deafening and I haven't heard anything in a while.
Bob
Bob
hobby-gunsmith
US Veteran
Federal Law prohibites any weapons to be carried in any federal office or building including a post office, IRS, social security. However, if you go into a store that sells stamps or has a small post office inside it should be a "contract post office" pursuant to 39 CFR 241.2. Such a site should not be considered a federal office or building as the regulation defines it as being wholly private.. Thus, there should be nothing illegal if hou have a valid CWP on you.
Krull
Member
My local postmaster once told me that anything over 2 1/2 inches is not allowed,so I just use my sub two inch blade in the post office now,but I still carry the biggest knife WV law allows,which is 3 1/2.
And of course after he told me this during deer season I saw a guy in there with a hunting belt knife on! so I just play dumb and use the smaller one if I need to and keep the bigger one in my pocket.
Like Cajun said depends on where you're at,if it was my home state of CA I'd bet a pen knife would warrant a call to the local SWAT by the scared senseless PO employee
And of course after he told me this during deer season I saw a guy in there with a hunting belt knife on! so I just play dumb and use the smaller one if I need to and keep the bigger one in my pocket.
Like Cajun said depends on where you're at,if it was my home state of CA I'd bet a pen knife would warrant a call to the local SWAT by the scared senseless PO employee
Mule88
Member
Just dont broadcast it......you should be fine.
Devildogs1907
Member
I'm a retired police officer and carry a firearm into the post office almost every day. I didn't say I was right, I just do it. I am covered under HB218, which allows all full-time active and retired law enforcement officers to carry in all 50 states. I haven't tested any of those qualifications, but I carry a concealed firearm absolutely everywhere I go.
I have served on jury duty in downtown Cleveland and when I show the Deputy my badge he just ushers me around the metal detector.
All the 'no firearms allowed' signs mean to me is that the bad guys can feel relatively safe in carrying their weapons without interference.
I will not be a victim, and I will not allow my wife to be hurt in any matter.
No room for discussion on this subject with me.
Semper fi,
Dave Swaffield
I have served on jury duty in downtown Cleveland and when I show the Deputy my badge he just ushers me around the metal detector.
All the 'no firearms allowed' signs mean to me is that the bad guys can feel relatively safe in carrying their weapons without interference.
I will not be a victim, and I will not allow my wife to be hurt in any matter.
No room for discussion on this subject with me.
Semper fi,
Dave Swaffield
