imported post
The knife laws for NV are very ambiguous. First, let's start with NV state law:
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/Index.cfm .
The Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) do not define "pocket knife" and make no mention of it other than in the definition of "switchblade knife" [NRS 202.350(8)(h)].
NRS 202.350 Manufacture, importation, possession or use of dangerous weapon or silencer; carrying concealed weapon without permit; penalties; issuance of permit to carry concealed weapon; exceptions.
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8. As used in this section:
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(h) “Switchblade knife” means a spring-blade knife, snap-blade knife or any other knife having the appearance of a pocketknife, any blade of which is 2 or more inches long and which can be released automatically by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle or other mechanical device, or is released by any type of mechanism. The term does not include a knife which has a blade that is held in place by a spring if the blade does not have any type of automatic release.
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So, a pocket knife without any type of "automatic release" would not be considered a "switchblade knife." In NV, one needs a permit from the sheriff to sell switchblade knives and they may only be sold to those outside the state (shipped via mail) or law enforcement personnel within NV [NRS 202.355]. No one else may possess such knives within NV.
Furthermore, the statutes generally refer only to the following: "dirk," "dagger," and "machete" (none of which are defined), along with "switchblade knife" and "knife which is made an integral part of a belt buckle." NRS 202.350(1) and (2) are the relevant sections about the possession and carrying of concealed weapons:
NRS 202.350 Manufacture, importation, possession or use of dangerous weapon or silencer; carrying concealed weapon without permit; penalties; issuance of permit to carry concealed weapon; exceptions.
1. Except as otherwise provided in this section and NRS 202.355 and 202.3653 to 202.369, inclusive, a person within this State shall not:
(a) Manufacture or cause to be manufactured, or import into the State, or keep, offer or expose for sale, or give, lend or possess any knife which is made an integral part of a belt buckle or any instrument or weapon of the kind commonly known as a switchblade knife, blackjack, slungshot, billy, sand-club, sandbag or metal knuckles;
(b) Manufacture or cause to be manufactured, or import into the State, or keep, offer or expose for sale, or give, lend, possess or use a machine gun or a silencer, unless authorized by federal law;
(c) With the intent to inflict harm upon the person of another, possess or use a nunchaku or trefoil; or
(d) Carry concealed upon his person any:
(1) Explosive substance, other than ammunition or any components thereof;
(2) Dirk, dagger or machete;
(3) Pistol, revolver or other firearm, or other dangerous or deadly weapon; or
(4) Knife which is made an integral part of a belt buckle.
2. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 202.275 and 212.185, a person who violates any of the provisions of:
(a) Paragraph (a) or (c) or subparagraph (2) or (4) of paragraph (d) of subsection 1 is guilty:
(1) For the first offense, of a gross misdemeanor.
(2) For any subsequent offense, of a category D felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.
(b) Paragraph (b) or subparagraph (1) or (3) of paragraph (d) of subsection 1 is guilty of a category C felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130.
Therefore, one may not carry concealed any dirk, dagger, machete, or belt-buckle knife. So, what does this mean? Well, there are traditional dictionary definitions for these items that would lead one to reasonably conclude that a pocket knife would not be included in this group. However, one must also be careful of the catch-all "or other dangerous or deadly" prohibition in NRS 202.350(1)(d)(3).
All in all, there are some LEOs who would interpret the possession of any knife or other weapon to be a violation of NRS 202.350(1)(d). I was once almost arrested by the LVMPD for carrying a 5-inch aluminum kubotan (
http://www.defensedevices.com/gripkubaton.html ) which they called a "dagger" (
http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum36/20477.html ). The thing has no blade or sharp edges. Yet, the officers involved had no problem with my Ka-Bar TDI Model 1480 Law Enforcement Knife, which has a blade under three inches long (see picture here -
http://www.lapolicegear.com/katdilawenkn.html ). Simply idiotic...
Anyway, if it wasn't enough to worry about NV state law, one must take care to note what area of "Las Vegas" he is in. Most of the Las Vegas Strip with all of the casinos is actually located in the unincorporated towns of Paradise and Winchester. Clark County Code governs these areas:
http://municipalcodes.lexisnexis.com/codes/clarknv/.
CCC 12.04.180 Concealed weapons prohibited without permit.
It is unlawful, within the unincorporated area of Clark County, for any person to carry upon his person a concealed weapon of any description, including a knife with a blade of three inches or more, a gun, pistol, revolver or other firearm, capable of being concealed, without first having received written permission therefor from the sheriff. (Ord. 242 § 18, 1965)
The code states "including a knife with a blade of three inches or more." This might lead one to conclude that a knife with a blade under three inches is ok. However, and this is probably just the lawyer in me, note that the code states "a concealed weapon of any description" (i.e., ALL weapons). One could argue that including the language "with a blade three inches or more" exhibits the legislative intent that anything under three inches would not be considered a "weapon," but linguistically, this does not hold true. The use of the word "including" denotes a list that is a subset of all possible weapons, which includes knives with blades under three inches.
So, we now move from state/county law to local law. If you happen to geographically be in what is considered the incorporated city of Las Vegas, then Las Vegas Municipal Code would apply:
http://municipalcodes.lexisnexis.com/codes/lasvegas/.
Here, we finally get a definition of what constitutes a "dangerous or deadly weapon" :
LVMC 10.70.010 Defined.
"Dangerous or deadly weapons" includes, but it not limited to:
(A) Any dirk or dagger;
(B) Any knife with a blade three inches or more in length;
(C) Any snap-blade or spring-blade knife, regardless of length of the blade;
(D) Any ice pick or similar sharp stabbing tool;
(E) Any straightedge razor or any razor blade fitted to a handle;
(F) Any dangerous or deadly weapon within the meaning of any law of this State restricting the use thereof; and
(G) Any cutting, stabbing or bludgeoning weapon or device capable of inflicting grievous bodily harm; and
(H) Any firearm, as defined in Section 10.66.010, other than one carried pursuant to a valid permit issued by a duly authorized governmental authority or an ordinary rifle or shotgun lawfully carried for purposes of hunting or other lawful sport. The permit requirement does not apply to:
(1) A person who has not been a resident of the City for at least sixty days; or
(2) A firearm during the seventy-two hour period within which a person is allowed to register that firearm under Section 10.66.040.
This definition is still quite ambiguous, but it contains similar language to the Clark County Code section above - "a knife with a blade three inches or more in length." However, note subsection G - "any cutting, stabbing or bludgeoning weapon or device." A knife with a blade shorter than three inches is still quite capable of "inflicting grievous bodily harm." Also note that the city code doesn't prohibit the outright possession of dangerous or deadly weapons, just doing so while "loitering":
LVMC 10.70.020 Loitering while carrying concealed.
(A) It is unlawful for any person, while carrying concealed upon his person any dangerous or deadly weapon to loaf or loiter upon any public street, sidewalk or alley or to wander about from place to place with no lawful business thereby to perform, or to hide, lurk or loiter upon or about the premises of another.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person who has concealed upon his person any dangerous or deadly weapon to loiter about any place where intoxicating liquors are sold or any other place of public resort.
All in all, given the above laws, it's probably best to carry a simple pocket knife with a blade under three inches that doesn't look too menacing. Just to cover your butt, I would also write to the sheriff to request a permit to carry whatever particular knife you're interested in carrying. You can request a permit under NRS 202.350(3) or LVMC 10.68.020:
NRS 202.350 Manufacture, importation, possession or use of dangerous weapon or silencer; carrying concealed weapon without permit; penalties; issuance of permit to carry concealed weapon; exceptions.
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3. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the sheriff of any county may, upon written application by a resident of that county showing the reason or the purpose for which a concealed weapon is to be carried, issue a permit authorizing the applicant to carry in this State the concealed weapon described in the permit. The sheriff shall not issue a permit to a person to carry a switchblade knife. This subsection does not authorize the sheriff to issue a permit to a person to carry a pistol, revolver or other firearm.
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LVMC 10.68.020 Issuance--Term--Content.
(A) The Sheriff of the Metropolitan Police Department or his designee shall have the power to issue to any person who, in the judgment of the Sheriff or his designee, shall have such privilege, a written permit to carry concealed any of the weapons specified hereunder. Such permit shall be numbered consecutively in the order in which they are issued.
(B) Each such permit shall state the name, address and occupation of the person to whom the same is issued, and the date of its expiration and shall specify the kind and description of weapons authorized to be carried concealed by such person.
- Mike S.