What age can you buy a knife in WV?

Answer 1

You can legally buy one at any age, as there is no law about this. However, stores have the right to refuse to sell to minors (under 18) if they so choose, because there is a liability. If the minor hurts themselves or someone else, the store can be sued for providing the knife to them. Whereas if the person buying was 18 and over and hurt themselves, a lawsuit is far less likely to occur or be heard by a court, as a adult is expected to know what they are doing and be responsible for their own negligence.

Answer 2

The state of Maryland has two laws with regards to the carry of knives. Title 4-101 refers to the concealed carry of many types of weapon, while Title 4-105 regulations the sale (but not ownership) of switchblades.

In a nutshell, folding pocket knives (called "penknives" in this law) of any size are legal to carry concealed or openly, so long as they are not a switchblade. There is no limitation based on age or the length of the blade. The lack of length limitation has been upheld in Maryland's highest court since 1978. Sometimes police officers can be ignorant of this, but they do so at their own peril. One officer in 2002 was tried and convicted of False Arrest because he arrested a man for a 3 inch long folding knife, mistakenly believing it was illegal.

Please note that some counties and cities have the right to make restrictions that are tighter than that of the state, so always check those as well.

Answer 3

For pocket knives or "penknives," meaning knives that fold into their handles and are not switchblades, there is no age limit. Any person of any age may carry one unless a local county or city law restricts this. Such local restrictions are quite rare, if they still exist at all.

Some unusual types of knife that fold may require clarification for purposes of this law.

• First is a switchblade. By MD state law § 4-105, these are defined as "a knife or a penknife having a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring, or other device in the handle of the knife." Such knives are illegal to sell in MD, but they can be owned and carried openly (as opposed to concealed).

• Second are Assisted Opening knives, or Spring Assisted. These knives must have the blade moved by the finger partway, after which a spring takes over and swings the blade out completely. These knives were invented more or less to exploit a loophole in most switchblades laws around the US, because they have no button or other switch. As such, they are legal to carry and considered the same as penknives.

• Third are gravity knives. There is no mention of these knives in the statutory law, but the proper technical definition is a knife that, when held in the correct orientation and a release is pressed, the blade falls open and into place by the force of gravity alone. They are extremely rare in modern times as the design is not terribly practical. While a 1964 court ruling considered them dangerous weapons, the applicable statute used at the time has been re-written since then and no longer applies, and the application of newer rulings since then also trumps this older ruling.
• Fourth are butterfly knives, which are formally called "balisongs." These are knives with split handles that close on either side of the blade, and can be spun open with one hand. No item of this description appears anywhere in MD law, and no court has ruled them to be dangerous weapons, because by most definitions set in legal precedents, they are still just "penknives" because they fold into the handle and are not automatic. They are commonly available at cutlery stores in the state. MD is quite unusual in that regard, as they are illegal in most other states, so caution is advised when traveling.

ADDED: Just because they can fold up into their handles does not make them entirely legal either. So-called "gravity knives" such as "Butterfly" knives, or "Balisongs" are also unlawful in almost every state.

Answer 4

11, for a simple pocket knife. 14 for a large knife. The blade must be smaller than your hand. You DO NOT want to carry one larger. That motha'll get you in trouble wit da law, foo!

Answer 5

i was 13 when i stabbed someone with a pocketknife i dnt think there is particulare age thingy.. u just have to know how and where to stab

Answer 6

11