Spring assisted knife

[APV]

I am trying to understand the difference between switchblade considered illegal in CA and spring assisted legal in CA. Is it just about having a button vs not having? Some legal classifications are not obvious.

[gorn5150]

When you push the button on a switchblade the blade automatically opens. There is no interaction with the blade. On assisted opening knives you have to actually move the blade a little bit before it deploys. As stupid as that is, that is the difference.

[donnrcp]

I own 6 assisted opening type knives but I really like the Cold Steel Swift 1 we got our son for Christmas last year. I've got my CRKT Hissatsu folder in my pocket as I am typing this. Next year the assisted opening knife may be classified as an AW .

[APV]

When you push the button on a switchblade the blade automatically opens. There is no interaction with the blade. On assisted opening knives you have to actually move the blade a little bit before it deploys. As stupid as that is, that is the difference.

Thanks. This classification is strait forward.

[gorn5150]

No problem, glad I could help. When assisted opening knives first hit the market my county DA tried to class them as swithblades. I had a meeting with their filing deputies and convinced them that they were not switchblades so they backed off of them. The only thing stupider then California gun laws are California knife laws.

[APV]

No problem, glad I could help. When assisted opening knives first hit the market my county DA tried to class them as swithblades. I had a meeting with their filing deputies and convinced them that they were not switchblades so they backed off of them. The only thing stupider then California gun laws are California knife laws.

I appreciate your affort on behalf of all on this forum. I am not sure why switchblades are ourlawed in many places. Technilcally speaking a regular kitchen knife is more deedly than any pocket knife. It is probably because for some law makers the name brings association with something criminal. I have no complains, I've seen much worse and less logical in other places.

[orangeusa]

There seems to be a legal hitch with gravity assisted knives. For some odd reason


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[gorn5150]

Switchblade knives include gravity knives in their description. The best I could find out as to why they are illegal was what I was told by my father, who became a police officer in the early 50's. The legislature in it's typical fashion saw one to many west side story type movies where gang members were using switchblades. Trying to save the citizens from themselves they enacted the law.

I always thought that was kind of BS until we got hit with a ton of kung fu movies. What did the legislature do then? They outlawed throwing stars and nunchucks. My father and my careers spanned 6 decades and neither of us have ever handled a robbery that involved the use of any kung fu weapon. Now crossbows are another story.

[APV]

... Now crossbows are another story.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Kvachkov

as funny as it sounds that guy and his close associate and friend got 13 years in a high security prison. It is sort of there is no joke that cannot happen for real somewhere somehow.

[packnrat]

and to think at one time the "switchblade" knife was called a safety blade.

even old granny's had them. in there sewing kits.
great for fishing.
(grab the knife with one hand cut the item, place back in pocket. blade was in safe mode till needed to cut then back into safe mode).

[RandyD]

I am not sure why switchblades are ourlawed in many places.

Switchblades are illegal for the same reason silencers, nunchucks, batons, AR-15 rifles, and openly carrying a firearm are illegal. There is an association between those items and a class of people the legislature does not favor. Their status of being illegal has nothing to do with crime prevention.

[TwentyOneFeet]

Switchblade knives include gravity knives in their description. The best I could find out as to why they are illegal was what I was told by my father, who became a police officer in the early 50's. The legislature in it's typical fashion saw one to many west side story type movies where gang members were using switchblades. Trying to save the citizens from themselves they enacted the law.

I always thought that was kind of BS until we got hit with a ton of kung fu movies. What did the legislature do then? They outlawed throwing stars and nunchucks. My father and my careers spanned 6 decades and neither of us have ever handled a robbery that involved the use of any kung fu weapon. Now crossbows are another story.

Basically this. I can carry a 10 inch bowie knife openly on my belt and that's perfectly legal. I can carry a folder that opens when you take it out of your pocket that is faster than any automatic knife and that's perfectly legal. But God forbid you OWN two sticks tied together with rope.

Sent from my LG-H910 using Tapatalk

[sirr6]

Can we own a switchblade/butterfly/OTF knife in our home?

[Carcassonne]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Kvachkov

as funny as it sounds that guy and his close associate and friend got 13 years in a high security prison. It is sort of there is no joke that cannot happen for real somewhere somehow.

Have you ever heard of the Pendragon plot to take over Marin with a laser on top of Mt. Tamalpais?


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[gorn5150]

Can we own a switchblade/butterfly/OTF knife in our home?

Yes