thanks and after doing some googling i found this and i think it answers my question...

Police directive sent to all districts regarding open carry in Philadelphia, PA Sept 22, 2010

GENERAL: 1272 09/22/10 12:53:20

TO : ALL COMMANDING OFFICERS / DEPARTMENT HEADS
SUBJECT : FIREARM OPEN CARRY LAW IN PHILADELPHIA

1. DIRECTIVE 137, ENTITLED “FIREARMS” IS BEING UPDATED
CONCERNING THE PENNSYLVANIA OPEN CARRY LAWS
REGARDING THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA. THIS TELETYPE
REFLECTS THE NEW POLICY AS IT WILL APPEAR IN THE
DIRECTIVE.

2. ALL OFFICERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT PENNSYLVANIA IS
CONSIDERED AN “OPEN CARRY STATE” WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
PHILADELPHIA. IT IS IMPORTANT TO DEFINE A FEW TERMS USED,
WHICH ARE AS FOLLOWS:

“OPEN CARRY” REFERS TO THE ACT OF OPENLY AND VISIBLY
CARRYING A FIREARM ON ONE’S PERSON.

“OPEN CARRY STATE” REFERS TO A STATE THAT ALLOWS
PEOPLE TO OPENLY AND VISIBLY CARRY A FIREARM ON ONE’S
PERSON WITHOUT A SPECIAL LICENSE OR PERMIT.

“CONCEALED CARRY FIREARMS LICENSE” REFERS TO A SPECIFIC
LICENSE ISSUED TO AN INDIVIDUAL AUTHORIZING THE PERSON
TO CARRY A FIREARM CONCEALED ON HIS OR HER PERSON OR
VEHICLE.

3. IN PHILADELPHIA, UNLIKE ANY OTHER PART OF THE STATE, FOR
ANY PERSON TO LAWFULLY, OPENLY AND VISIBLY CARRY A
FIREARM, THAT PERSON MUST HAVE A CONCEALED CARRY
FIREARMS LICENSE. SO, IN PHILADELPHIA, IF A PERSON HAS A
VALID CONCEALED CARRY FIREARMS LICENSE, HE OR SHE CAN
LEGALLY CARRY A FIREARM EITHER OPEN AND VISIBLE OR
CONCEALED.

4. AN OFFICER ENCOUNTERING A PERSON CARRYING A FIREARM
OPENLY IN PHILADELPHIA SHOULD FOR THE SAFTEY OF PUBLIC
INVESTIGATE AS A POSSIBLE VUFA VIOLATION.

A. SINCE A SEPARATE LICENSE IS REQUIRED IN PHILADELPHIA
AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY OFFICER TO KNOW WHO DOES
AND DOES NOT HAVE A VALID CONCEALED CARRY LICENSE, IT
IS ENTIRELY REASONALBE FOR OFFICERS TO TEMPORARILY
DETAIN AND INVESTIGATE ANY INDIVIDUAL CARRYING A
FIREARM EXPOSED TO DETERMINE IF THE PERSON IS
OPERATING WITH THE LAW.

B. IMMEDIATLEY SEIZE ANY FIREARMS FOR OFFICER SAFETY
DURING THE STOP AND UNLOAD THE FIREARMS IF POSSIBLE,
BUT ONLY IF IT CAN BE DONE SAFELY.

C. A 75-48A MUST BE COMPLETED AND THE BASIS FOR THE STOP
WOULD BE A “POSSIBLE VUFA VIOLATION”

D. ONCE THE OFFICER RECEIVES CONFIRMATION THAT THE
CONCEALED CARRY LICENSE IS VALID, AND THERE ARE NO
OTHER OFFENSE OR VIOLATIONS BEING INVESTIGATED,
OFFICERS SHOULD RETURN THE FIREARM AND AMMUNITION
BACK TO THE INDIVIDUAL AT THE END OF THE STOP.

E. HOWEVER, IF THE INDIVIDUAL CANNOT PRODUCE A VALID
CONCEALED CARRY LICENSE OR THE LICENSE IS NOT VALID
(I.E. EXPIRED OR REVOKED), PROBABLE CAUSE THEN EXISTS
TO ARREST THE INDIVIDUAL FOR THE VUFAVIOLATION AND
TRANSPORT THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE DIVISIONAL DETECTIVES
FOR PROCESSING. THE FIREARM AND AMMUNITION SHOULD
BE PLACED ON A PROPERTY RECEIPT (75-3) AND MARKED AS
“ EVIDENCE”. A 75-48A FOR THE INITIAL STOP MUST BE
PREPARD ALONG WITH A 75-48 FOR THE VUFA ARREST.

Where did you find that?  This part is pure BS...how can they get away with that?



 

Ok i have a question, i have family that lives in PA and their claiming that you can open carry BUT can't have ur pistol loaded with one in the chamber, that you have to grab the magazine and then load when and if a situation occurs.
I call bs but their claiming that you really have to read the law.

Help me understand better so i can open carry in pa

You can open carry cocked and locked except in Philly without a CHL.  But as soon as you enter a car it becomes concealed.  Which will get you in trouble. If you have a CHL then the car part doesn't matter.

I knew it!!!  Its been yrs since they looked into the law. I can can call bs on some of my family

How long do you have to wait to be a resident in Pa to apply for a  CCW if you purchase a home.

I'm pretty sure as soon as your drivers license has your current address.

I heard that Monroe County has some issue with refereneces. I just purchased the home and I do not know anyone.

Have you got this figured out yet?  I'm curious for the outcome.  Surprised no one else jumped in.

  My county asks for 3 references. They do not have to be in the same county. I am not sure if they have to be even in the same state.

A few updates plus a recent map in the OP.

http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/pennsylvania.pdf
Below is a copy from the above site.

Updates to this Page

1/20/12 – Res/Non Res Permit Sections Updated with additional Info Sheriffs may want in application process. Notes Section
What PA Considers Loaded definition expanded.
3/2/12 – Broken Links Repaired. All Links Checked.
3/9/12 - Emergency Powers Law added to Notes Section.
3/17/12 – Addition to Emergency Powers Added.
4/23/12 – Mental Hospitals Added to Places Off Limits. Capitol Complex Off Limits Reg Added.
5/11/12 – Chem Weapons/Stun Gun/Higher Cap Mag Section Updated.
7/1/12 – Mississippi Now Honors PA.
8/3/12 – PA Now Honors Mississippi.
8/17/12 – All Links Checked.
8/24/12 – Do Gun Signs Have the Force of Law Section Updated. Changed from No to ?????.
10/19/12 – Chen Sprays/Hi Cap Mags/Electric Weapons Section Updated with better wording for Philly Code.
10/26/12 - Minimum Age for Possessing/Transporting a Handgun Added to Notes Section.
11/9/12 - Chem Spray/Stun Gun/Hi Cap Mag Section State Law on Instructions added.
12/7/12 – Places Off Limits Updated with Expanded Admin Rule on Casinos Off Limits.
12/21/12 – Gun Signs Section Updated. Changed fromm ???? to NO.
1/11/13 – Note added to Places Off Limits under Schools about arrest of Dr having legal firearm on School Property.
1/28/13 – Broken Links Repaired. Centre Co no longer has Application Online. That Broken Link Removed.
2/9/13 – Permits This State Honors Updated With FL Non-Resident No Longer Honored by PA.
2/28/13 – Wording added to Note in “Permit/Licenses This State Honors” section about FL non resident permits.
3/29/13 – All Links Checked and Repaired if Required.
4/1/13 – PA only honors the Maine Resident Permit/License.
4/5/13 – Note added to Places Off Limits Section About Philly Passing Ordinance Banning Firearms in City Parks.
4/11/13 – PA Will Only Honor Residents Permit/Licenses from AZ, FL, ME and VA.
4/22/13 – MS and PA have signed a Reciprocity Agreement. Alpha/Numeric Statute Code for Reciprocity/How St Honors
Another State Added to Misc Section.
5/31/13 – Open Carry Section Added.
7/1/13 – Kansas Now Honors Pennsylvania.
7/20/13 – PA Honors Kansas. PA will only honor the ND Class 1 Permit.
8/1/13 – PA No Longer Honors Idaho. Alabama Now Honors Pennsylvania.
9/7/13 – All Links Checked.

For those of us (not living in PA) wishing to obtain out of state permits, any recommendations on CCW friendly sheriffs/counties?

Chester Co. ....but that would be quite a drive for you, unless you visit central pa on occasion. ~5 hr from the border to chester co sheriffs office

You could always get a non-resi if you need one sooner and then just re-apply once your listened updates

Could someone explain the update shown on 9/16/14 below?  I read it as we can carry in Casinos but they banned firearms?  Is that right or am I misunderstanding it?  Thanks

Also I found the laws on folder type knives.  It looks like fixed blades are illegal and only two city's have rules on knives.  Just scroll down to PA.
http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/USKnife2.pdf

Its illegal to open carry in Philadelphia.

The ONLY way you can carry in Phila. is concealed and obviously must have a CCW permit.

YOU CAN carry concealed in Phila. as long as you have a CCW permit.


YOU CAN NOT open carry in any "class 1 " city in PA.

No offense Blackshirts, but YOU ARE INCORRECT.

You CAN open carry in Phila (i.e. "Class 1" city) but ONLY if you have an LTCF.
It's not necessarily the wisest thing to do, and it'll probably be more hassle than it's worth; but  I don't want folks being swayed by incorrect information. You CAN carry OPENLY in the city of Philadelphia IF you posses a License to Carry Firearms.

You might still get picked up, harassed, brought down and held, they might even try to get you on some asinine Discon or disturbing the peace charge; but nonetheless there is no law that expressly forbids an individual that has an LTCF from open carrying in the city of Philadelphia. Just remember the old saying, "You can beat the rap, but you can't beat the ride".

Despite guidance by this:

https://mylegalheat.wordpress.com/2014/07/02/pennsylvania-utah-reciprocity-update/

It looks like residents of NY (and the like) that have UT and FL permits have no way to carry concealed legally in Pike County PA per the below:

https://www.pikepa.org/Sheriffs/NonResident.pdf

Guess a drive to another county could work.

Please don't shoot the messenger. 
Apparently, PA law concerning knives is too vauge.
Example of local law: Philadelphia

http://www.phila.gov/philacode/html/_data/title10/CHAPTER_10_800_SAFETY/10_820_Cutting_Weapons_in_Publ.html

§10-820. Cutting Weapons in Public Places. [url=http://www.phila.gov/philacode/html/_data/title10/lnx_fn.html#fn193][180][/url]

(1)   Definition.

Cutting Weapon. Any knife or other cutting instrument which can be used as a weapon that has a cutting edge similar to that of a knife. No tool or instrument commonly or ordinarily used in a trade, profession or calling shall be considered a cutting weapon while actually being used in the active exercise of that trade, profession or calling.

(2)   Prohibited Conduct. No person shall use or possess any cutting weapon upon the public streets or upon any public property at any time.

(3)   Penalty. The penalty for violation of this section shall be a fine of not less than three hundred (300) dollars and imprisonment of not less than ninety days.

 It still baffles me how locals can ignore or interpret this any other way.

As far as State Parks go I will say this.  I live in a very rural part of the state with many state parks very near me.  We have had numerous PA Firearm Law / CCW seminars sponsored by the State Reps in the area, # 67 and # 68 in particular.  These seminars usually the Rep or Reps, Sheriff, DA, DCNR (State Parks) personnel as presenters and some other folks that I am surely overlooking.  At each of the seminars I have been to, the DCNR personnel have said during their presentation that you are not only permitted to carry concealed in the State Parks but that we welcome it and encourage it.  I do not recall Open Carry being addressed or didn't pay attention as I have a CCW and Hunting License which has me covered as far as Open Carry in most cases.  Open Carry although legal is not something the general public is prepared for.

So, according to this, https://www.psp.pa.gov/firearms-information/pages/carrying-firearms-in-pennsylvania.aspx, it appears that as long as you have a CHP in your state, you can carry in your car... is that a proper understanding of the law?

Also, it seems that now that Virginia doesn't have reciprocity, there's no way to get a non-resident CHP?