As I posted, the area concerning knives and other dangerous weapons is "muddy". Factors taken into consideration is the design and intended use of the weapon and the manner in which it is used if used to commit a crime. The peaceful transport of a set of kitchen knives from the local Wal-Mart would likely be considered harmless by the courts. The transport of knives designed for tactical use i. e. a Hori-Hori, Samurai sword, possibly a hunting knife, tactical knives etc. may be viewed otherwise by the courts. In other words it depends. (my opinion).
939.22(10)
(10) "Dangerous weapon" means any firearm, whether loaded or unloaded; any device designed as a weapon and capable of producing death or great bodily harm; any ligature or other instrumentality used on the throat, neck, nose, or mouth of another person to impede, partially or completely, breathing or circulation of blood; any electric weapon, as defined in s. 941.295 (4); or any other device or instrumentality which, in the manner it is used or intended to be used, is calculated or likely to produce death or great bodily harm.
The definition of " dangerous weapon" appears to require two conditions. First: It must be designed as a weapon. Second: It must be capable of producing death or great bodily harm.
A point concerning "out of reach" of certain "dangerous weapons":
The concealed carry prohibition statute 941.23 reads:
941.23 Carrying concealed weapon. Any person except a peace officer who goes armed with a concealed and dangerous weapon is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Notwithstanding s. 939.22 (22), for purposes of this section, peace officer does not include a commission warden who is not a state-certified commission warden.
In State v Walls the WSC ruled that a handgun sitting on the passenger seat of an automobile was out of ordinary view from outside the vehicle and therefore was concealed. A firearm is but one kind of "dangerous weapon". It would seem to imply that "concealment" would apply to any qualified "dangerous weapon" sitting on the passenger seat of a vehicle.
Caveat: The statutes I reference above are state statutes. Milwaukee county ordinance 63.015 catergorizes any knife with a blade longer than 3 inches as a dangerous weapon. Also bear in mind that the preemption statute 66.0409 does not apply to dangerous weapons other than firearms.
My opinions.
