what happens if I have a knife on me in toronto?

My understanding is that you may carry a knife if you have a legal purpose for doing so. Also, the knife can’t be “concealed”; i.e. if you have a fixed blade sheath knife, it must be visible on your person. However, it would be hard to claim a legal purpose for carrying such a knife around Toronto.

Switchblades and related knives are specifically legislated against, meaning DO NOT carry a switchblade. You could go to prison for awhile.

If carrying a knife would make you feel better, go for an inconspicuous folding lock-back. However, and I can’t stress this enough, do NOT think that you will stand much of a chance in a fight just because you carry a knife. Chances are, any punk who would accost you with a knife in the mean streets of Toronto has a far more lethal mentality than you. A true knife fight is not something you win; it is something you may survive if you are lucky and just plain meaner than your adversary. Even if you are lucky and mean, you may not survive anyway. If you do survive, you’ll likely be badly messed up. A knife can be used as a last resort if you’re pretty certain you are going to die anyway, but don’t start walking around arrogantly just because you have one.

Oh, and the law is written in an intentionally ambiguous way. If you were involved in any altercation and the police found a blade on you, they could charge you with unlawful possession of a weapon. Telling them you use the knife to cut open boxes isn’t going to convince a judge if you were involved in a brawl. You were in a fight, you had a knife, you ARE guilty of unlawful possession. Even if you didn’t even get the knife out of your pocket, you are still guilty. It could even be a kitchen steak knife, still illegal to have on you in a fight. There are no blade size limits and the like.

Your best bet is to learn how not to become involved in these situations in the first place. It can take young’uns a long time to figure that out sometimes, but just don’t end up dead in the process.

My favorite option is to always carry a heavy-bodied metal pen. Not one of those aggressive looking “tactical” pens; just a simple, no frills ‘executive’ style pen. These will do similar damage to an aggressor without antagonizing them, can be deployed without tipping off that you are preparing to defend yourself, and won’t attract the attention of the Mounties. Heck, I can even carry it on an airplane, no worries.


Here is an overview of the knife code as provided by the almighty Wikipedia:

Canada
Certain knives are designated as 'prohibited weapons' pursuant to the Criminal Code of Canada. Section 84(1) defines such knives as "a knife that has a blade that opens automatically by gravity or centrifugal force or by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device attached to or in the handle of the knife".[7][8] By law, only those who have been granted exemption by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police via the Canadian Firearms Program are allowed to possess (but not acquire) prohibited weapons.
If one is found to be in unauthorized possession of prohibited weapon by any law enforcement officer, he or she is liable to maximum of 5 years in jail and the weapon being seized. The peace officer can then apply to a provincial court judge for the said weapon to be forfeited and be disposed as he or she sees fit. The import and export of such devices are also strictly regulated and enforced by the Canada Border Services Agency.[9]
Examples of such knives include:[10]
• automatic knives such as switchblades
• centrifugal knives such as flick knives or butterfly knives;
• gravity knives;
• Constant Companion (belt-buckle knife)
• finger rings with blades or other sharp objects projecting from the surface;
• push daggers;
• spiked wristbands;
One-handed opening knives have been designated as legal to import by Canada Border Services as long as they don't fall into one of the prohibited categories.
There is no length restriction on carrying knives within the Criminal Code of Canada; the only restriction is for concealed carry.

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dont carry knives, knives arent enough, carry a 12 gauge shotgun in a guitar case

Federal law says you can walk around with a sword if you want to. Worst that could happen if you a breaking a by-law is a fine.

You could double check, but my friend lives in Ajax and he carries a knife on him 24/7 and he told me the law is the blade has to be less than 4 inches

I am not familiar with Canadian laws, but here in the US, possession of a switchblade is a felony. A pocketknife is a terrible choice for a weapon, as it takes too long to bring into action. In addition, to be proficient with a knife takes quite a bit of training, and if the mugger is holding a knife, he is going to be much better than you could possibly imagine. I have heard a bit about Canada's draconian laws concerning defense weapons, but I would tell people who ask me, I would tell them to get a canister of OC pepper spray or a stun gun. Best of luck. The crime is robbery, not robery.

I wonder what would happen if you had a powerful can of aerosol spray and a lighter that wouldn't go out in the wind, you know a jet flame kind? And if you held the flame against the spray what would happen? I've heard that it might catch the spray on fire and become a flame thrower but I've also heard that it could blow up the can in your hand. I wonder what would happen?
I also wonder what if you had a can of aerosol that wouldn't go back off like maybe a flea fogger? Or if you had an actual box cutter or a plastic knife on you, what they would say to that? Especially if you had no idea about it and no intention of using it whatsoever? I dunno, I just wonder. . .

You can carry a Pocket knife, is they ask why you have it on you tell them your a box cutter and its a tool. Theg cant confiscate it.