jbw357

I thought that it was illeagal to carry switchblades but I see them for sale all of the time on the Internet with no restrictions. They are usually called automatic knives. So are they legal or not?

Bobshouse

Automatic knives are not switchblades. They open with thumb or finger pressure, aided by a spring.

True they can open just as quickly, but, hey, I don't make the rules. Get yourself one now before they realize that they messed up...lol

bub

I think he's thinking of knives like this one.

3150 Details | Benchmade

If I got my link-fu right, the link should go to a Benchmade 3150 Impel. It is a push-button automatic knife, you push the button and the blade automatically opens. Remarkably similar to a switchblade in operation. I don't own one (and really have no interest in owning one, myself) but it is my understanding that, in most places, sales of these knives are restricted to Law Enforcement/Military only.

There is also a class of knives called "Assisted Opening". These knives look like regular lockbacks and have a thumb stud/thumb hole in the blade. They also have a spring to assist in opening the blade. Push the blade open past a certain point and the spring automatically opens the blade. These are legal for everyone to own, depending on state/local laws.

The difference in the two is that an automatic knife only requires a push of a button to open the blade. The assisted open requires that you actually manually start opening the blade before the spring kicks in and opens it the rest of the way. Not really much of a difference, as far as I'm concerned, but the Fed Gov says that there is a difference, so there is a difference.

Bub

White Falcon

Springer automatic switchblade knife (Black / Bayonet) - UniqueBlade

Critch

None of these laws existed till movies such as "West Side Story" and "The Cross and the Switchblade" , and others, came out. Just more stupid laws.

I'm still confused myself, Missouri says no Switchbaldes, but I have a feeling it may not be a law that is not enforced anymore.

I mean it is funny, 48000+ Misourians have gun permits,,,I doubt a switchblade is a big deal.

BronxBoy

Bobshouse,

I see you reside in California!

You are correct in your statement but I think you may be misinterpreting the California law. Yes, an automatic knife is not a switchblade but a switchblade IS an automatic knife and California law has grouped them all into a single category and calls them switchblades. Anything, of an automatic nature, with a blade over 2” is illegal for carry.

It is NOT illegal to own one, excepting those on the banned list, and you may transport one in your vehicle in much the same manner a person without a CCW can transport a legal firearm in California, inside the trunk or in a locked container in the cargo section of your vehicle. You may not carry one in public and it is NOT illegal to bring one across state lines provided you do so in a vehicle as previously described.

For everyone else, the state laws are all over the place so I would look those up for my individual state. Very few places outright ban them but many places make their ownership very restrictive. I have a small collection of knives that span 45 years and of which 3 are California declared switchblades. Only one is a true switchblade but all my automatics are illegal for carry in CA.

Wild B

By Federal law, all automatic knives (push button activation with out the side action "switchblades" or out the front action "jackknives") are restricted to Active Duty Military and Law Enforcement, and federally regulated.
However, unless state laws say otherwise, assisted opening knives are legal to own and carry.
A good rule of thumb, if you see an assisted opener in the knife case at your local WalMart, they are legal for you to own in your state.

Pat-inCO

It depends . . . . . . . . .

Each state has its own definitions. Here is the set for Colorado
CCW Related Statutes (Weapon related [knife] is the lower half).

Hairtrigger

So who is buying all the knives that are made like Microtech?

boblenaere

Those of us who live in southern states.

curt mini14

also in az you can buy them every ware swapmeets, stores, gunshows.no ID just cash there are some very nice ones to like guns you can spend a lot of money.

nick71

Mmmmm....
This kind of design of automatic knives seems a little familiar to me ...