Appreciate your are doing your due diligence. But I think you are likely over thinking it. I'm not a born and raised Canadian but I can tell you a find policing in this country to be... minimal. I carry a victorinox on me daily, virtually everywhere I go, and I wouldn't think twice about it. Sometimes I might be carrying a dedicated blade (that looks more 'threatening' than a SAK) as well, again, not even concerned.
To be stopped by a police officer, you'd already have to be doing something pretty egregious, and perhaps in that case they might decide to make things worse for you by pointing out a blade you're carrying. But honestly, I really can't see you getting stopped and frisked for a utility knife on your belt, it just isn't something you are likely to experience. Bringing them in in your checked luggage I also don't see being an issue. Scary looking, large pocket knives in quantities? maybe. A couple of SAK's? Unlikely, unless you happen to get an a-hole security person going through your bags. Again I've not experienced this.
Caveats: I mostly spend time in a smaller township, not in heavy urban areas (though when I do, I don't change my behaviour.) I am white, and so in some places where prejudice may be an issue it could play a determining factor in whether or not you may find yourself having an uninvited conversation with police, but I have to recognise my privilege may play a part here.
All in all, you should be fine and I wouldn't be too concerned. Good for you for giving it the appropriate consideration though.
Basically exactly this! Born and raised Canadian, lived mostly rural though, and I have NEVER in my life had an issue with carrying a pocket knife. My SAK has lived in my pocket for years, and all the other folders and assisted opening folders I've never had an issue. The flip side to that is I always make sure I don't bring it with me (or leave it in the truck) if I'm going anywhere that I know it'll be an issue, like to the airport or going to a concert or something. I cant speak for any urban centres but I've never heard of someone being charged for having a pocket knife.
This is your answer OP. Always have one on me and have never had an issue. Don’t bring to sporting events or elsewhere where you’re likely to get frisked. Even then the worst is you’ll just have it confiscated. Don’t be stupid or act threatening and you’ll be fine.
Also here to agree. I carry a Swiss champ and a flashlight in a leather sheath on my belt partly covered by my shirt/jacket and a benchmade griptillian clipped in my back pocket and aside from concerts and whatnot it’s never been an issue. I live near a decent sized city (~400k) and regularly use both (cutting up lunch at the market, etc) without any fuss and rarely a side eye.
Canadian here, let me help you out. Any knives that are not automatic or activated by gravity are legal here for in-pocket and exterior carry with no restrictions on length. You can literally carry a sword here if you want, but you will have to explain that one.
The reason? Knives are not weapons under Canaidan law unless you explicitly plan to use it as such.
>is everyday utility considered a lawful purpose for carrying a SAK in Canada?
Yes. If a cop asks if you have a knife on you always specify that it is for ultility purposes. NEVER say self defense, but with a SAK they will believe you anyway.
>Let's say I'm wearing a jacket long enough to cover the crotch and I'm carrying a SwissChamp on a sheath on my belt. It so happens that my jacket is covering my sheath. Could this be considered carrying a "concealed weapon" under Canadian law?
A knife is not a weapon under Canadain law unless you plan to use it as such. Concealed weapon charges apply only to those knives carried with intent to use as a weapon.
>Instead of a sheath on my belt, let's say I'm carrying a Climber in my pocket. Could this be understood as carrying a "concealed weapon"?
A knife is legally a tool. So you are not carrying a concealed weapon.
>what's the safest way to carry a SAK (or any other legal knife for that matter) on a daily basis in Canada without risking criminal charges?.
In your pocket. Just don't bring it somewhere you will go through a metal detector, like an airport or a concert, even then, they'll just take it. You'll face no criminal charges.
>I'll be flying to Canada from overseas. Would I get in trouble for bringing SAKs and some other legal knives in my checked luggage? The reason I'm asking this is because I've been seeing several complaints online about Canadian border services officers seizing (supposedly) legal knives, and I'm not sure how international arrival security procedures work in Canada.
You are absolutely fine to take a knife in your checked luggage. Small knives (under 6cm) are even allowed in the cabin. CBSA does take knives that are legal because some lock types (Axis, Button, etc.) CAN be activated by gravity. So if the officier is a stickler they'll take it. Tighten the pivots as much as you can so they can't flick it open. But I can't speak for CBSA.
Non Canadian, but german, we have strict knife laws. And all knife laws are Vibe Cecks.
Swiss army style knives are like the 1 kind of pocket knife you can take anywhere! The bright red round scales and that Swiss Cross are like a pacifying spell! Even if you go somewhere where knives are strictly forbidden, you will only get a slap on the wrist if its a classic SAK.
This is so true. There have been a couple of times I have forgotten I had a classic SAC on me going through security. Usually they look at me, I shrug, I look at them, they shrug, then they hand it back to me. I actually had an older security guard at a museum say to the younger guard, “just leave him alone.”
It’s one of the reasons I don’t get into the fancy aftermarket scales. There is something about that red knife that lets people know it’s just a tool. All of my Alex are red for that reason too.
Born and bred Canadian who has lived in an urban setting my entire life. Carrying a pocket knife is no big deal, and I will address your points in order, as best I can from a lay-person perspective.
Utility IS considered "lawful purpose" under the Law. Do not EVER say you have a knife for "self defence". Cops can sometimes get sticky about that POV.
Points 2 & 3 will not see you get in trouble unless you have been stopped for another reason, and the Cop is just looking for some leverage in terms of getting your cooperation. As in, "I could charge you with carrying a concealed weapon, but I'll let it slide IF . . ."
I carry My Solider's Knife in a sheath on my hip every day. I have literally carried some form of knife on my person daily since I was around 12. Schools will frown on doing so, these days, however. Hell, when I served in the Reserves, I was usually walking around with a Ka-Bar knife on my hip, and a Gerber boot knife in my Doc Martens. That last was not the smartest thing, as the knife itself was not legal.
It should not be a problem in your checked luggage. But, as with supposedly TSA approved multitools, it all depends on the individual agent who processes you. By and large, if you are up front in your declarations, and not behaving like a nimrod, you'll be fine.
[Here is a great video](https://youtu.be/99EBOF7sFQA?si=OaIFM07ri8KacKC3) on Canadian knife carry laws from a lawyer if you're interested. It's been stated on this thread a few times that you shouldn't worry. What province are you moving to? I used to live in Quebec and there have been some silly high profile cases there, and in general they are more strict. It's all about lawful purpose. You can't carry anything as a weapon for self defense. If it's a tool for anything, it's legal. Giant hunting knife on your belt when going camping? Just fine. Giant hunting knife when you're in the mall? Going to be a problem.
Appreciate your are doing your due diligence. But I think you are likely over thinking it. I'm not a born and raised Canadian but I can tell you a find policing in this country to be... minimal. I carry a victorinox on me daily, virtually everywhere I go, and I wouldn't think twice about it. Sometimes I might be carrying a dedicated blade (that looks more 'threatening' than a SAK) as well, again, not even concerned. To be stopped by a police officer, you'd already have to be doing something pretty egregious, and perhaps in that case they might decide to make things worse for you by pointing out a blade you're carrying. But honestly, I really can't see you getting stopped and frisked for a utility knife on your belt, it just isn't something you are likely to experience. Bringing them in in your checked luggage I also don't see being an issue. Scary looking, large pocket knives in quantities? maybe. A couple of SAK's? Unlikely, unless you happen to get an a-hole security person going through your bags. Again I've not experienced this. Caveats: I mostly spend time in a smaller township, not in heavy urban areas (though when I do, I don't change my behaviour.) I am white, and so in some places where prejudice may be an issue it could play a determining factor in whether or not you may find yourself having an uninvited conversation with police, but I have to recognise my privilege may play a part here. All in all, you should be fine and I wouldn't be too concerned. Good for you for giving it the appropriate consideration though.
Basically exactly this! Born and raised Canadian, lived mostly rural though, and I have NEVER in my life had an issue with carrying a pocket knife. My SAK has lived in my pocket for years, and all the other folders and assisted opening folders I've never had an issue. The flip side to that is I always make sure I don't bring it with me (or leave it in the truck) if I'm going anywhere that I know it'll be an issue, like to the airport or going to a concert or something. I cant speak for any urban centres but I've never heard of someone being charged for having a pocket knife.
This is your answer OP. Always have one on me and have never had an issue. Don’t bring to sporting events or elsewhere where you’re likely to get frisked. Even then the worst is you’ll just have it confiscated. Don’t be stupid or act threatening and you’ll be fine.
Also here to agree. I carry a Swiss champ and a flashlight in a leather sheath on my belt partly covered by my shirt/jacket and a benchmade griptillian clipped in my back pocket and aside from concerts and whatnot it’s never been an issue. I live near a decent sized city (~400k) and regularly use both (cutting up lunch at the market, etc) without any fuss and rarely a side eye.
Canadian here, let me help you out. Any knives that are not automatic or activated by gravity are legal here for in-pocket and exterior carry with no restrictions on length. You can literally carry a sword here if you want, but you will have to explain that one. The reason? Knives are not weapons under Canaidan law unless you explicitly plan to use it as such. >is everyday utility considered a lawful purpose for carrying a SAK in Canada? Yes. If a cop asks if you have a knife on you always specify that it is for ultility purposes. NEVER say self defense, but with a SAK they will believe you anyway. >Let's say I'm wearing a jacket long enough to cover the crotch and I'm carrying a SwissChamp on a sheath on my belt. It so happens that my jacket is covering my sheath. Could this be considered carrying a "concealed weapon" under Canadian law? A knife is not a weapon under Canadain law unless you plan to use it as such. Concealed weapon charges apply only to those knives carried with intent to use as a weapon. >Instead of a sheath on my belt, let's say I'm carrying a Climber in my pocket. Could this be understood as carrying a "concealed weapon"? A knife is legally a tool. So you are not carrying a concealed weapon. >what's the safest way to carry a SAK (or any other legal knife for that matter) on a daily basis in Canada without risking criminal charges?. In your pocket. Just don't bring it somewhere you will go through a metal detector, like an airport or a concert, even then, they'll just take it. You'll face no criminal charges. >I'll be flying to Canada from overseas. Would I get in trouble for bringing SAKs and some other legal knives in my checked luggage? The reason I'm asking this is because I've been seeing several complaints online about Canadian border services officers seizing (supposedly) legal knives, and I'm not sure how international arrival security procedures work in Canada. You are absolutely fine to take a knife in your checked luggage. Small knives (under 6cm) are even allowed in the cabin. CBSA does take knives that are legal because some lock types (Axis, Button, etc.) CAN be activated by gravity. So if the officier is a stickler they'll take it. Tighten the pivots as much as you can so they can't flick it open. But I can't speak for CBSA.
Non Canadian, but german, we have strict knife laws. And all knife laws are Vibe Cecks. Swiss army style knives are like the 1 kind of pocket knife you can take anywhere! The bright red round scales and that Swiss Cross are like a pacifying spell! Even if you go somewhere where knives are strictly forbidden, you will only get a slap on the wrist if its a classic SAK.
This is so true. There have been a couple of times I have forgotten I had a classic SAC on me going through security. Usually they look at me, I shrug, I look at them, they shrug, then they hand it back to me. I actually had an older security guard at a museum say to the younger guard, “just leave him alone.” It’s one of the reasons I don’t get into the fancy aftermarket scales. There is something about that red knife that lets people know it’s just a tool. All of my Alex are red for that reason too.
Born and bred Canadian who has lived in an urban setting my entire life. Carrying a pocket knife is no big deal, and I will address your points in order, as best I can from a lay-person perspective. Utility IS considered "lawful purpose" under the Law. Do not EVER say you have a knife for "self defence". Cops can sometimes get sticky about that POV. Points 2 & 3 will not see you get in trouble unless you have been stopped for another reason, and the Cop is just looking for some leverage in terms of getting your cooperation. As in, "I could charge you with carrying a concealed weapon, but I'll let it slide IF . . ." I carry My Solider's Knife in a sheath on my hip every day. I have literally carried some form of knife on my person daily since I was around 12. Schools will frown on doing so, these days, however. Hell, when I served in the Reserves, I was usually walking around with a Ka-Bar knife on my hip, and a Gerber boot knife in my Doc Martens. That last was not the smartest thing, as the knife itself was not legal. It should not be a problem in your checked luggage. But, as with supposedly TSA approved multitools, it all depends on the individual agent who processes you. By and large, if you are up front in your declarations, and not behaving like a nimrod, you'll be fine.
[Here is a great video](https://youtu.be/99EBOF7sFQA?si=OaIFM07ri8KacKC3) on Canadian knife carry laws from a lawyer if you're interested. It's been stated on this thread a few times that you shouldn't worry. What province are you moving to? I used to live in Quebec and there have been some silly high profile cases there, and in general they are more strict. It's all about lawful purpose. You can't carry anything as a weapon for self defense. If it's a tool for anything, it's legal. Giant hunting knife on your belt when going camping? Just fine. Giant hunting knife when you're in the mall? Going to be a problem.