What do you guys think of this neck knife. Do you think it's worth buying?
http://www.1sks.com/store/camillus-arclite.html

Frank

For the price, how can you go wrong. My understanding is that neck knives are illegal here in California (what isn't?), or I'd already have a couple of them. Alaska Bowhunter Supply sells a dandy one, but it's mucho more bucks than the one you're looking at.

That same ArcLite is available from A.G.Russell Knives in D-2 steel for about $50. I really like mine. It's light and inconspicuous (even beneath a heavy T shirt), yet large enough to be functional.

Neanderthal,
Where did you get your knife from?

Frank

Longbow, No! neck knives are not illegal in California! Carrying anything over the legal carry length of 2.5" is. You can pierce your ear and dangle a K-BAR and be in violation of the law <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />. There are various push daggers disquised as buckles, OSS needle knives, throwing stars. bali-Songs etc. That are illegal to carry. If you have a dedicated backpack with a knife stowed few officers are going to make an issue of it ( unless you've allready given cause <img src="images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> to merit a search. )

Legal carry means what your packing at the shopping mall. I don't think anyone carving a turkey with a 10" German butcher knife, filleting a Halibut with a 8" filleting knife or hiking Yosemite with a Fallkniven,Cold Steel, Becker et al need fear prosecution. These are recognised as legitimate needs and uses. Yes, We can argue that self defense is legitimate. Thats the way it is in the real world. I've found a unfolded leatherman across the wrist or nose to be adequate <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

LOL, I had to delete my previous "duh" question. When me and twelve pack of Heineken try to write a post together, it doesn't always work out. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

John McIntire

The ArcLite is a very well designed neck knife. I have an early prototype made by Darrel Ralph with S90V blade and micarta scales. It is one of my favorites due to the very comfortable grip and excellent cutting geometry. You won't go wrong with any of Darrel's designs.

A.G.Russell, 1920 North 26th Street, Lowell, AR 72745-8489 800-255-9034 www.agrussell.com Great company. I've dealt with them for over 25 years. HTH.

I think I'm going to buy the ArcLite from A.G.Russell Knives in D-2 steel. That one is nice because it keeps an edge longer than the normal arclite.

Frank

I don't like bursting bubbles, but I don't like to see people unknowingly work their way into the bighouse either.

The state of the law in California re knives is best approached as a swamp, and a murky swamp with many areas of quicksand and bottomless holes.

A common offense under California law is the concealed carrying of a dirk or dagger. It may be treated as a felony. A dirk or dagger is any knife or other instrument capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death. Thus a great variety of knives & other items could be considered dirks or daggers.

Several kinds of knives are considered as dirks or daggers only when the blade is exposed & in its open position: 1. Pocketknives; 2. Folding knives which do not lock open; 3. Folding knives which are not switchblades. A knife carried in a sheath worn openly suspended from the waist is not considered concealed for purposes of the dirk/dagger law.

Thus as one moves away from knives which are folders or open belt knives, one moves into unclear territory. Moreover, counties & cities may have laws applying to knives.

I am a civil lawyer. I do not pretend to know the intricacies of criminal, let alone knife, law in California. A criminal lawyer friend with good reason for his CCW restricts himself to SAKs & locking serrated spey bladed knives. To that list I add Leatherman & its brethren. It's a lot harder to make the case that the bluntly bladed spey knife is a stabbing instrument. The image of SAKs & Leatherman would also make it more difficult to present a persuasive criminal case involving them. Obviously, these features are over & above the aforementioned safe harbor from which one might inadvertently stray. Except on hunting trips, where I'm presenting an open & obvious legal use & probably dealing with game wardens, I tend to restrict myself such knives as these. It is perhaps the reasonableness of law enforcement officers more than the clarity of the laws that has saved many people from arrest. I personally don't like trusting to good luck to avoid trouble.

The foregoing statements are not legal advice to any individual or group. They are merely my comment on the state of law in California re knives. Anyone with an individual question regarding his legal situation should seek advice personally from a criminal lawyer as to the exact circumstance of his particular problem.

John

I agree with Mr. Baker. And, just for the record, it is illegal in every contiguous state to carry "a concealed knife or other instrument capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death." The only "grey area" this law provides is in blade length. For instance, in California it is any blade greater than 2.5 inches, here in Missouri, it is 4 inches.

Also, if you were to walk into ANY federal building, in ANY state, with a blade length in excess of 2.5 inches, you are subject to felony arrest.

John McIntire

John,

Sorry, but you are mistaken copper. Leagal length in Missouri (im in Columbia by the way) is 6" <img src="images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

~231 out

Shock 231,

Mistaken? Copper? I suggest you take a look a MO codes: 571.010, 571.020, and 571.030. Better yet, take a look at this web page. Have a nice day, and you better hope I'm never over there in Columbia. <img src="images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

John McIntire

OK, sorry about that. youre correct, it is 4 inches. i stand corrected.

~231 out