Open carry of swords in the US

Martial Arts Training Forums The Armory: Weapons, Military, LEO, and Self Defen
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Sadly gun control seems to have come back as an election year topic. We’re past the hey day of laws becoming more supportive of open carry and self defense of the past few years.

The thing is, at that time, it seemed like as a society we were starting to move towards open carry of swords as being socially acceptable, as a kind of piggyback on open carry of rifles. I read that in Texas state law allows for open carry of swords.

Does anyone know what locales allow for legal open carry of swords in the United States?

Maybe if society got used to seeing swords as a gentleman’s fashion accessory ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_sword ) as well as a tool for exercise and low-level self-defense, some things would change in terms of the strong emotional reaction there seems to be from some cultures towards the general idea of weapons.

I know that in some parts of Europe, jewelry type small swords are still worn for certain ceremonies. So why would anyone have a problem with someone running around with a dapper smallsword in the US?

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[QUOTE=Wounded Ronin;2979464]Sadly gun control seems to have come back as an election year topic. We’re past the hey day of laws becoming more supportive of open carry and self defense of the past few years.

The thing is, at that time, it seemed like as a society we were starting to move towards open carry of swords as being socially acceptable, as a kind of piggyback on open carry of rifles. I read that in Texas state law allows for open carry of swords.

Does anyone know what locales allow for legal open carry of swords in the United States?

Maybe if society got used to seeing swords as a gentleman’s fashion accessory ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_sword ) as well as a tool for exercise and low-level self-defense, some things would change in terms of the strong emotional reaction there seems to be from some cultures towards the general idea of weapons.

I know that in some parts of Europe, jewelry type small swords are still worn for certain ceremonies. So why would anyone have a problem with someone running around with a dapper smallsword in the US?[/QUOTE]

Ummm…yeah so that’s just what society needs, nutbags with swords. Let’s be serious only a fuckwit would carry a sword in public. It takes an absolute fuck-ton of training to be anywhere near self-defense worthy with a sword. 99% of people aren’t going to do that which means it would end up as a novelty carry item.

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[QUOTE=Bneterasedmynam;2979694]Ummm…yeah so that’s just what society needs, nutbags with swords. Let’s be serious only a fuckwit would carry a sword in public. It takes an absolute fuck-ton of training to be anywhere near self-defense worthy with a sword. 99% of people aren’t going to do that which means it would end up as a novelty carry item.[/QUOTE]

Wait what? I call bullshit. Sticking’em with the pointy end when they are unarmed seems pretty easy.

That’s a bit like saying you need to be a major leaguer to swing a bat at someone.

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I have to side with Rayce. I don’t want to be anywhere near a healthy adult male with a 30" knife that means me harm.

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[QUOTE=Raycetpfl;2979710]Wait what? I call bullshit. Sticking’em with the pointy end when they are unarmed seems pretty easy.

That’s a bit like saying you need to be a major leaguer to swing a bat at someone.[/QUOTE]

You’re missing my point a bit here. Swords are dangerous that part I’m not arguing, but picking up a sword doesn’t instantly turn you into a fucking ninja or king Arthur. Using a sword for self-defense is the type of stupid shit nutcases fantasize about. The reality of swordfighting is less than ideal for self-defense. You instantly turn any incident into a potentially lethal encounter with a weapon that when not used properly can be disarmed a good percentage of the time. Even if you successfully hit an opponent you still run the chance of having your sword disarmed. Training fucking matters with a weapon like a sword. Are they dangerous, yes. Are they lightsabers, no. On top of this you will end up looking like a lunatic in court. It’s simply not worth it just to play out a dumb fantasy.

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I assume states that don’t have a length limit for open carry fixed blades (like California) would allow swords. But there’s a catch-all intent clause that means any edged weapon can be illegal if you’re carrying it to commit a crime. So, when I camp, for example, I carry a large useful knife, not a sword. I feel that an open carry sword raises more eyebrows than an open carry pistol.

[QUOTE=Bneterasedmynam;2980641]You’re missing my point a bit here. Swords are dangerous that part I’m not arguing, but picking up a sword doesn’t instantly turn you into a fucking ninja or king Arthur. Using a sword for self-defense is the type of stupid shit nutcases fantasize about. The reality of swordfighting is less than ideal for self-defense. You instantly turn any incident into a potentially lethal encounter with a weapon that when not used properly can be disarmed a good percentage of the time. Even if you successfully hit an opponent you still run the chance of having your sword disarmed. Training fucking matters with a weapon like a sword. Are they dangerous, yes. Are they lightsabers, no. On top of this you will end up looking like a lunatic in court. It’s simply not worth it just to play out a dumb fantasy.[/QUOTE]

Do you think this is any different for firearms?

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[QUOTE=Permalost;2980655]I assume states that don’t have a length limit for open carry fixed blades (like California) would allow swords. But there’s a catch-all intent clause that means any edged weapon can be illegal if you’re carrying it to commit a crime. So, when I camp, for example, I carry a large useful knife, not a sword. I feel that an open carry sword raises more eyebrows than an open carry pistol.

Do you think this is any different for firearms?[/QUOTE]

To an extent yes. With firearms you have what most would consider an intimidating weapon. Firearms make for a smaller target to disarm and give the advantage of range for weapon retention. With swords you have a weapon that requires close combat which on it’s own increases the chance of a disarm. Combine that with the leverage disadvantage a sword has once you close distance past the tip and you have a weapon that can be a liability to an untrained noob. Hense why I said you would need training to really get that type of potential from a sword. Now this doesn’t mean a sword isn’t dangerous in such noobish hands, but it’s still not a high percentage for self-defense.

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[QUOTE=ermghoti;2979736]I have to side with Rayce. I don’t want to be anywhere near a healthy adult male with a 30" knife that means me harm.[/QUOTE]

Most people wouldn’t, but training with such a weapon is the difference between being somewhat dangerous and being actually effective.

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Interesting article on the subject as it pertains to Canada, written by an old friend and member of my kendo club.

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[QUOTE=NeilG;2980704]Interesting article on the subject as it pertains to Canada, written by an old friend and member of my kendo club.[/QUOTE]

Manually-triggered telescoping spring-loaded steel whips?? What the fuck?? That just sounds extremely awesome.

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[QUOTE=Bneterasedmynam;2980730]Manually-triggered telescoping spring-loaded steel whips?? What the fuck?? That just sounds extremely awesome.[/QUOTE]

It does sound awesome.

More to the point, the only jurisdiction I am aware of the specifically PERMITS swords is Texas, but there are several that as has been mentioned have no length limit on legal blades.

That said, and god forgive me for this, but I am largely leaning toward agreeing with BNET here. Carrying a sword for self defense is a foolish thing to do.
I am in favor of laws ALLOWING the carrying of them, largely because it means I get harassed less about my training gear and if I want to bring a sharp out for test cutting or do a cutting demo it is WAY less hassle.
However, just because something is permitted doesn’t mean people should do it.
In my opinion, if as a culture we remembered that more, we would get a LOT less flack from those idiots looking to ban everything.

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Let’s face it, any person who would carry a sword for self-defence is the kind of nutbar who is just aching to use that weapon.

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[QUOTE=NeilG;2980816]Let’s face it, any person who would carry a sword for self-defence is the kind of nutbar who is just aching to use that weapon.[/QUOTE]

Also known as ninjas. In fact wasn’t there a ninja in Washington who was carrying his katana around as a vigilante??

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As we discuss sword carrying, a judge in England has suggested the best way to curve their knife violence is to make a law that forces all kitchen knives to be filed down so they can’t be used as weapons. Just when I thought England couldn’t get more retarded the go full tard + 10.

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Did the forum discuss this related news at some point?
https://www.policeone.com/edged-weapons/articles/385843006-Grisly-photos-show-officers-injuries-after-Samurai-sword-attack/?NewsletterID=383755044%20&utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=TopNewsMainTitle&utm_campaign=P1Member&cub_id=

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I feel like a lot of people missed the spirit of my original post.

Obviously, if you wanted maximum self defense capability, a modern firearm would be better than an infantry sidearm from the 1600s.

It’s more about returning to the sword as a gentleman’s fashion accessory, normalizing the open carry of weapons in Western society, and trying to create the social expectation that educated men and women would study personal defense as an academic discipline. It’s about trying to restore something which for some reason has gotten lost; the idea that having some self defense ability should be socially respected rather than viewed as aberrant.

Even though many people are irrationally frightened of open carry firearms, hopefully they would be a little more calm about open carry swords. Maybe it’s a way to broach the topic and start the discussion.

The sword could be used for self-defense in a pinch but that’s not really the original idea behind my post. While there’s no comparison between a sword and a firearm, if you train a lot with the sword it would be tremendously more effective than emptyhanded self defense.

Who would feel irrationally threatened by a dapper (though functional) smallsword? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_sword

EDIT: Someone was saying earlier about getting disarmed. Yes, it’s very possible to disarm a sword, but it’s certainly not trivial! Probably more people out there have studied gun self defense things in martial arts classes, than sword disarms, or tried to apply sword disarms in sparring with swords.

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I don’t think open (or concealed) carry of either firearms or swords is a good thing. So I’m going to just say no to the idea, no matter how dapper the weapon.

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[QUOTE=NeilG;2982505]I don’t think open (or concealed) carry of either firearms or swords is a good thing. So I’m going to just say no to the idea, no matter how dapper the weapon.[/QUOTE]

Even if it’s this dapper?

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[QUOTE=Wounded Ronin;2982502]I feel like a lot of people missed the spirit of my original post.

Obviously, if you wanted maximum self defense capability, a modern firearm would be better than an infantry sidearm from the 1600s.

It’s more about returning to the sword as a gentleman’s fashion accessory, normalizing the open carry of weapons in Western society, and trying to create the social expectation that educated men and women would study personal defense as an academic discipline. It’s about trying to restore something which for some reason has gotten lost; the idea that having some self defense ability should be socially respected rather than viewed as aberrant.

Even though many people are irrationally frightened of open carry firearms, hopefully they would be a little more calm about open carry swords. Maybe it’s a way to broach the topic and start the discussion.

The sword could be used for self-defense in a pinch but that’s not really the original idea behind my post. While there’s no comparison between a sword and a firearm, if you train a lot with the sword it would be tremendously more effective than emptyhanded self defense.

Who would feel irrationally threatened by a dapper (though functional) smallsword? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_sword

EDIT: Someone was saying earlier about getting disarmed. Yes, it’s very possible to disarm a sword, but it’s certainly not trivial! Probably more people out there have studied gun self defense things in martial arts classes, than sword disarms, or tried to apply sword disarms in sparring with swords.[/QUOTE]

I like where you’re going with this, but there’s more to it than just social acceptance. And, perhaps, that’s the way in. For example, nobody really gets scared about seeing a cop with a holstered weapon or three (gun, collapsible baton, tazer). It is appropriately accessorized for his/her daily function, which includes sitting in a car and walking, and occasionally running.

A short sword is likely to cause problems for us desk jockeys, for the same reason that the collapsible baton has become a LEO standard. I could maybe see a thigh- or shin-mounted dagger, similar to what I wear for SCUBA, but decorative:

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[QUOTE=Wounded Ronin;2982514]Even if it’s this dapper?

[/QUOTE]I think especially in that case. Dude looks like a sofa in a wig.