9mo ago

What kind of utility knives are illegal in Canada?

The laws regarding knives here can be a bit vague at times and I'm wondering if knives like this

Or this

Would be considered illegal? The top one is assisted and deploys in a way that seems like a switchblade and the bottom one can be opened with one hand thanks to the knob. I am not sure if they would be viewed any differently than a pocket knife because they use utility blades making it a bit more obvious that they are a tool.

3 comments

source https://myknifeguide.com/carrying-pocket-legal-canada/
In Canada, the Criminal Coderegulates what types of knives can be legally carried. Section 90of the code prohibits carrying “prohibited weapons”, which includes:
Knives that open automatically by gravity or centrifugal force or by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the handle (i.e. switchblades).
Knives that have blades that open by centrifugal force (i.e. centrifugal knives).
Knives that have blades over 10 cm (3.9 inches) in length, with the exception of hunting knives.
So pocket knives with shorter, non-spring assisted blades are generally legal to carry under the Criminal Code. Locking blades and one-handed opening knives are also usually allowed. However, municipalities and provinces can impose further restrictions.
- Thanks. I am still not sure if that would rule out the second knife considering that knob might be considered an "other device" thing. I know there was a big push not too long ago with border security confiscating flipper knives
  
  What they don't want is for you to not have to touch the blade to open the knife. So if there is a stud or protrusion that you apply leverage to on the blade, seems good.
  What is nonsense about this law is the centrifugal deployment. If your pin that the blade rotates on is not tight and you can flick the blade out, illegal. What would be tight enough? You would have to make it hard to open with two hands because that officer deciding if you are legal can flick that knife as hard as they want. So you may not have the grip strength and/or skill to flick the knife out, but that officer can.
  They want you to carry a Swiss Army knife or folding buck knife. Actually they don't want you to ever carry a knife, unless you need one for work, which make sense because anyone working is magically unable to harm someone with a razor blade, linoleum knife, or duct knife.