Fishing Frenzy

One of the great joys of having a Bowie knife is showing it off. Bowie knives are elegant weapons, versatile tools and represent one of the legendary items associated with the American Frontier. In fact, it is not exaggerating to say that the Bowie knife is as much an American legend as is the claymore a Scottish one.

Knives, however, particularly large ones such as Bowie knives, are not smiled upon in all settings. In some situations, they are downright illegal. One must always know for certain where they stand legally before carrying a knife into any public place. There are some general rules that one can follow to make sure they don't run afoul of the law. One should also exercise simple good manners, as well. For instance, while a fine dining establishment may not specifically prohibit weapons, they're likely not smiled upon at the establishment and can be left in the car.

There are certain areas where any type of weapon is prohibited, regardless of one's state laws. Federal properties, hospitals and schools are good examples of such places. The owner of a Bowie knife, in these cases, has to be responsible and leave their blade at home. This is the common sense part of weapon ownership; it should be obvious to most people that carrying a Bowie in a school is inappropriate. The same can be said of a post office or a court house.

A Bowie knife may also be prohibited by any private property owner. In a bar, it is generally illegal to have any sort of weapon. The bar and the state will generally prohibit carrying weapons. Always observe these rules, even if able to legally carry the Bowie in a concealed fashion. That final aspect of carrying a weapon addresses a whole other feature of weapons laws.

Many individuals make some mistaken assumptions about carrying laws. Where Bowie knives are concerned, one may be under federal, state, city or private obligations at any time. For example, carrying one's Bowie on one's hip on the street may be fine in a certain town but will become a crime if one enters an establishment that serves alcohol. One may be able to openly carry in their neighborhood but still find themselves afoul of the law if they stray too close to a school zone while armed. The best way to find out what laws apply is to check with one's local and state law enforcement. In any area where weapons are generally prohibited, a Bowie knife should not be carried. Though these knives are tools, there is no denying that they are weapons, as well.