From: charlesanderson@optushome.com.au   
      
   the wharf rat wrote:   
   > In article <4b0de021$0$5423$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>,   
   > Chilla   wrote:   
   >   
   >>Regardless the point in America is that a knife is pretty much useless,   
   >>as you can carry guns.  And we're not talking pop-guns either.  Some of   
   >   
   >   
   > 	A knife and a gun are totally different tools.  Even in a martial   
   > context.   
      
   True, but I think if you had the choice to carry a gun or a knife you'd   
   choose the gun.   
      
      
   >>Knives, apart from utility knives are really just for collectors.   
   >   
   >   
   > 	I'd hate to be a line chef in Sydney :-)   
      
   I use the term "utility" in it's proper sense.   
      
   A chef would also be using this knife in a place of work, not walking   
   the street with it "ready" ;-)   
      
   There are clauses in the knife laws that can guarantee that you can   
   carry a blade.  "If the people in the general vicinity don't feel   
   threatened... ".  If you do get arrested you just need to remember the   
   relevant laws in the summary offenses act.  Then you can bust the   
   arresting officer with wrongful arrest.   
      
   That is : i) If you have a tiny little knife, in your pocket, no one's   
   going to feel threatened, so in theory you will be safe from prosecution.   
      
   ii)  If you have a Crocodile Dundee knife, in your pocket (good luck by   
   the way), then people will feel threatened, and you will probably find   
   yourself successfully charged.   
      
   iii)  If you had that same knife in a nice presentation box, then this   
   would take away the threat (also the intent is changed), and you could   
   argue your way out of prosecution.   
      
   ---   
      
   If you make knives it pays to know the laws, and impending laws, so that   
   you can either fight them, or adapt to them.   
      
      
      
      
      
   Regards Charles   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)