Knuckle Duster Legality Issues

[TwitchTheAussie]

OK busted with some cheap homemade knuckle dusters made out of 8mm round bar by the cops. It was a matter of my protection but I still got fined $500. I still dont know why they are illegal. Theyre a bit of metal wrapped around ones fist. A bat is a weapon, a knife is a weapon. So how can anything small and hard be classified as a weapon when people carrying cricket bats can just as easily start and finish a fight?

Whats your opinion on knuckle dusters as weapons?

[Hubb]

Designed to deliver the force of punches through a smaller and harder contact area, they result in greater tissue disruption and increased likelihood of fracturing the victim's bones on impact. Also, the wielder of such a weapon may punch harder than normal, exacerbating damage even further, due to reduced anxiety about harming their own hands when striking.

Have you ever been hit with someone using them? They are weapons and they hurt. They hurt bad.

They were created for the sole purpose of fighting, whereas a cricket bat, although can be used as a weapon, was not created for such.

[BC Pneumatics]

Everything you mentioned has an intended purpose other than injuring or killing humans. As far as I know, knuckles dusters don't posses a single use that is both practical and legitimate.

[PVC Arsenal 17]

Everything you mentioned has an intended purpose other than injuring or killing humans. As far as I know, knuckles dusters don't posses a single use that is both practical and legitimate.

Paper weight? lol

[Hubb]

Everything you mentioned has an intended purpose other than injuring or killing humans. As far as I know, knuckles dusters don't posses a single use that is both practical and legitimate.

Paper weight? lol

It's funny you mention that because I have seen them sold as paperweights. I think they guy at the flea market (who was half drunk) called it a "novelty paperweight."

[Novacastrian]

You are a bad wittle boy hey Twitch
I carry a small pocket knife wherever i go (blade approx 90mm long), but this is for protection of my puppy dog more than me. He is only 5 months old and where i live a lot of dogs wander around unsupervised, the last thing i want to do is use the knife but if a big hairy old mange attacks my dog or myself i would be forced to use it. If i didn't have it and was attacked i would be preverbaly screwed. If i get caught carrying it i am also screwed. This is a bit different to Knuckle Dusters though, they are probly a lot harder to explain to the cops.
I agree that some of our laws suck but there is a way around it, stay out of the site of the po-po and don't get busted!

[Pete Zaria]

You are a bad wittle boy hey Twitch
I carry a small pocket knife wherever i go (blade approx 90mm long), but this is for protection of my puppy dog more than me. He is only 5 months old and where i live a lot of dogs wander around unsupervised, the last thing i want to do is use the knife but if a big hairy old mange attacks my dog or myself i would be forced to use it. If i didn't have it and was attacked i would be preverbaly screwed. If i get caught carrying it i am also screwed. This is a bit different to Knuckle Dusters though, they are probly a lot harder to explain to the cops.
I agree that some of our laws suck but there is a way around it, stay out of the site of the po-po and don't get busted!

Good damn luck using a 2.5" knife blade against a wild dog. I've been involved in the training of guard dogs before, and let me tell you, I would NOT want to go up against a large dog, let alone a trained one, with a 2.5" knife. Better than nothing, but I'd put money on the dog in that fight.

As to knuckle dusters, brass knuckles, etc... They're illegal most everywhere in the States now. If you have a set, my advise is, leave it at home, or never give the police a good reason to search you.

In my opinion the legality of them should be the same as that of folding knives and etc... Most cities around here will let you carry a blade no longer than 4", or pepper spray, if you're over 18.

I keep this thing: under the seat of my car (bought it on eBay for $8 with shipping...). I'm sure I'd be in $hi7 knee-deep if an officer ever found it in my car, but I never intend to give them a reason to search me. And needless to say, a potential carjacker would be in for the surprise of his life, maybe literally.

Just my two cents.

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

[spudgunnerwryyyyy]

Well if you are a scout and you have your tote n' chip card most cops respect you carrying a knive. Dont know why i know this but i do.

[Ragnarok]

@BC is right, knuckle dusters are for one purpose only. A knife has practical uses.

My mother has a keyring that doubles as a self defence tool, not to mention that the keys alone would make a very serious coshe.
But those are blessed with a secondary purpose - I mean, almost everybody carries keys (although not normally that many), and "novelty" keyrings are common place.
I carry a multi-tool. Not for any plans of defence, I use it for it's intended purpose, but if it was needed, I could use it, but I'd rather not be there in the first place. I also doubt it would be of much use, it's not that big.

Of course the best way of not having your head kicked in is to look as if you could more than hold your own in a fight, but without looking like you're after one.

EDIT: Using a 2.5" knife against a dog? If we were talking about a trained dog I wouldn't want to fight it with anything less than a katana and a chainmail vest.

[Hubb]

I'm fortunate enough to be able to carry this. Even still, this only serves one purpose, which just so happens to be the same as the brass knucks.

And I will have to agree with Pete concerning the dog. A blade that size is probably going to do nothing more than piss off the dog (unless you catch him in the jugular ). And chances are, you are going to be too nervous to be able to use it anyway.

Oh, and Pete, I don't know about Washington law, but where I'm from, it's okay to have a knife like that, you just can't tote it around with you or anything.

[Pete Zaria]

I'm fortunate enough to be able to carry this. Even still, this only serves one purpose, which just so happens to be the same as the brass knucks.

And I will have to agree with Pete concerning the dog. A blade that size is probably going to do nothing more than piss off the dog (unless you catch him in the jugular ). And chances are, you are going to be too nervous to be able to use it anyway.

Oh, and Pete, I don't know about Washington law, but where I'm from, it's okay to have a knife like that, you just can't tote it around with you or anything.

Sorry in advance for the off-topic rant....

In Seattle, to the extent of my knowledge, you can't carry a knife over 4" inside city limits unless you have a CWP and you have to declare it on the CWP license. I don't live inside city limits, so I'd only need to worry if I was pulled over downtown, and once again, I intend to never give an officer a reason to search me.

Springfield Armory pistols are beautiful. I'm a revolver man (obviously...) for the most part. I love the simplicity and time-tested design of the 1911, but I generally dislike single-stack magazine pistols (if I'm going to carry a semi, I want a hi-cap mag), and I also trust .357 much more than .45ACP as a self defense round. (Average muzzle energy for factory 45ACP ammo is in the high 300-ftlb to low 400-ftlb range, while average ME for .357 Mag is in the high 400-ftlb to low 500-ftlb range, plus, since .357 is a smaller bullet going faster, it has better penetration characteristics. However, hand-loads for either caliber can achieve ME's approaching 1000 ft/lb).
Having said those things, if I was ever going to buy a 1911, it'd be a Springfield or Kimber Custom. No doubt they're sexy guns.

When I'm going to be in a situation in which I might encounter trouble (hiking, going downtown late at night, etc...) I carry that .357 in my signature but without the scope and taclight on it; just a lasergrip. Wouldn't trade that gun for the world. But it's too big for a daily carry weapon.

I've seriously been considering buying a Springfield XD in .45 ACP. It's the only current production semi that really attracts me. I started a thread about that vs a Smith .357 snubby not too long ago... haven't bought either one yet actually. Spent the money on my car instead... lol.

There's an old saying that goes, "Beware the man that carries one gun". Even a .22LR can be a deadly efficient weapon in the hands of someone who's practiced with it to the point of surgical shooting. If you're accurate and quick with your .45, then that's the best self-defense gun for you. I'll take my .357

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

[Hubb]

I bought it...and love it. I thought it would be too big to carry (concealed) at first, but it's not. I guess I've always been attracted to the 1911. It holds seven plus one of Federal Hydrashok. I have an extra mag, but if I have to fire it at a threat 15 times, it is time for me to run away.

Okay, sorry Twitch. I just can't resist a good gun story.

[ammosmoke]

@Pete- If you like big revolvers, you should get a smith and wesson 500!

[MrCrowley]

OK busted with some cheap homemade knuckle dusters made out of 8mm round bar by the cops. It was a matter of my protection but I still got fined $500. I still dont know why they are illegal. Theyre a bit of metal wrapped around ones fist. A bat is a weapon, a knife is a weapon. So how can anything small and hard be classified as a weapon when people carrying cricket bats can just as easily start and finish a fight?

Whats your opinion on knuckle dusters as weapons?

How come they searched you? Or did you bunt around in public with them on?

[TwitchTheAussie]

I have ah had my problems with concealed weapons and fights in town and most cops search me if Im alone . Also @ Hubbo its Ok man we all love gun stories.