You asked why state law prohibits the purchase of knives over four inches.

State law defines some weapons as dangerous weapons and, with come exceptions, makes it illegal to carry them on one's person or in a vehicle (see OLR Report 2005-R-0198). It does not, as your constituent asserts, prohibit selling or buying them or possessing them (e.g., in one's dwelling). Among the weapons the law classifies as dangerous weapons is “any knife the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or over in length.” The provision has been in the law since at least 1907 (1907 Chap. 140). The legislative history of this provision is not available. Thus, we are unable to say why the legislature set the four-inch standard.

VR:dw