Is a knife a weapon or tool?

Question

I got stop by the cops when then ask to search me they ask do you have any weapons on you. I said no but I have knife clipped on my side. the cop got all pissed of and said this is a weapon and slammed my knife on the car hood. I said no its a tool who was right.

Answer 1

I would say it was both, you'd just have to prove that it was a tool.

Answer 2

A knife is a tool. A tool can be utilized as a weapon but it's still a tool.

Answer 3

A knife can be a used as a weapon or a tool. It's use determines what it is. Police Officers generally consider knives weapons, they have a defensive personality by nature i suppose, and he probably thought you were trying to lie to him, which is why he got all butt hurt about it.

Just like a pie is food, if a clown throws it in someone's face, it is then a prop. Use determines what something is used for.

Answer 4

it depends on the use of and who's holding it

Answer 5

you both were right a knife is a weapon and a tool just dependson how you use it...

Answer 6

nope..you were wrong...thats common sense...if a cop pulled you over, no duh he's gonna think the knifes a weapon....his life is on the line...the Knifes main objective is Piercing and stabbing...thats why its considered a WEAPON.

dont listen to Greenbeans-casserole...he's retarded

Answer 7

i would have to say that my case xx trapper pocket knife is a tool, used for everything from skinning game to cleaning my fingernails lol. but i would have to say that ka'bar strapped to my side hog hunting is weapon, since it's used to kill a hog after the catch dogs hit. so i would have to say either one would be right.

Answer 8

Seeing how people can die by it, to a cop it would be a weapon. Assuming it was a hunting knife in a sheath worn openly, that wouldn't count as a concealed weapon. When asked (and I don't know why he didn't see it) you should have said "I have a hunting knife on my side." and let him take it from you for his safety, and yours. If for some reason he did not see it, it's understandable why he might get "all pissed" after you said no. In your case, I have to say the cop is right.

Answer 9

I consider a knife to be both a tool or weapon depending upon how it is being used.  You would both be right.

If I were in your situation, I would like to think when asked the same question that I would state that I have a knife clipped to my pocket, but who knows, it is a stressful situation which has a tendancy to cloud clear thinking.

Answer 10

It is both, a knife can be a tool for cutting vegetables, meats, and string, but it can also become a weapon to defend yourself with.

Answer 11

A knife can be either. And you really should have said, a weapon? no, but I do have a pocket knife. that would have covered the issue and tempers would have been calmed.

shoot safe

Answer 12

It is more a tool than a weapon.

But cops think EVERYTHING is a weapon. A cop told me an airsoft pistol, shot by spring, not co2, is a weapon....

so whatever....

Answer 13

A knife is both a weapon and a tool. That is true of many other items. One can stab with a screwdriver and hit people with hammers and wrenches.

Answer 14

It is both.

Cut a rope and you are using a tool.

Threaten someone with it and it becomes a weapon.

Answer 15

There is what is commonly called the Spirit of the Law, and the letter of the Law.* He was following the letter of the law, however you are also right in your conduct and behavior because you voluntarily informed him that you had a knife on your side.* He however wanted to hear from you that you had a weapon.* To him it is a weapon, but to you it wasn't, it was a knife on your side.* Before he met up with you he may have been having a bad day.* Don't take it personally.* That is their standard operating procedure to protect themselves from injury or death.* Technically it was just a knife, but it could have been used as a weapon, and that was why he was upset with you.*~~

Answer 16

The knife is a tool, only the weilder can make it a weapon. Just like a pen, screwdriver, 2 x 4, ect, can all become weapons.