[Bazooka Joe71]

Excuse my ignorance on my knife terminology here, but I had a quick question...I have a knife, that looks like your standard "tactical" or whatever you wanna call it, fold open knife with a 3.5 inch, half serated blade on it. It is spring loaded, and has a button on the handle so when you push it, it pops open...Are these legal to carry around? Or are they considered to be like a switch blade....OR are switch blades illegal anymore? Sorry for the ignorance, but im clueless on this subject, and was just curious if it is OK to have laying around my car.

Thanks

[ambulldog]

Does it open all the way when you press the button or only partially?

[Bazooka Joe71]

It springs open all the way, and pretty quick as well.

[VegasDude]

Sounds like that knife would be considered a switch-blade. AFAIK they are illegal in most areas except for LEO's and other First Responders. I think you can check your State knife laws on www.packing.org

[hso]

You've got a switchblade. They're legal to own in 29 of the 50 states.

They are illegal to own in Indiana.

IC 35-47-5-2
Knife with blade that opens automatically or may be propelled
Sec. 2. It is a Class B misdemeanor for a person to manufacture, possess, display, offer, sell, lend, give away, or purchase any knife with a blade that:
(1) opens automatically; or
(2) may be propelled;
by hand pressure applied to a button, device containing gas, spring, or other device in the handle of the knife.
As added by P.L.311-1983, SEC.32. Amended by P.L.70-2000, SEC.2.

Who made it?

[KnifeLawGuy]

Bazooka Joe,

The knife you describe sounds like a switchblade, sometimes referred to by the more politically correct term automatic knife. While such knives are legal to possess (and in some cases carry) by law-abiding citizens in a number of states, in many states possession and/or carry is illegal. Some exceptions typically exist, such as for law enforcement use.

Assuming that you are in Indiana, as listed under your user name, you may wish to examine:

Ind. Code §§ (2005)
IC 35-47-5-2
Knife with blade that opens automatically or may be propelled

Sec. 2. It is a Class B misdemeanor for a person to manufacture, possess, display, offer, sell, lend, give away, or purchase any knife with a blade that:
(1) opens automatically; or
(2) may be propelled; by hand pressure applied to a button, device containing gas, spring, or other device in the
handle of the knife.
As added by P.L.311-1983, SEC.32. Amended by P.L.70-2000, SEC.2.

Excerpted from Knife Laws of the Fifty States: A Guide for the Law-Abiding Traveler, p. 49.


Hope this helps.

Stay sharp, and stay safe,
david.

Edited to add: If it sounds like I'm repeating the previous post, it's because our moderator is a faster typist than I am!

[ambulldog]

Yep, sounds like a switchblade.

[Bobo]

Here's some info on Assisted-opening vs. Switchblade knives and their legality:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switchblade

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_opening_knife


I own a Gerber FastDraw assisted opening. Very smooth and fast. Got mine at WalMart, but they only have the partially serrated edge model not the smooth edge model.
http://www.knifeworks.com/browseproducts/Gerber-Fast-Draw--Nylon-Handle--ComboEdge--Assisted-Opening.html

[Eleven Mike]

Why, with a knife like that, you must be looking to kill someone. ;)

[22-rimfire]

Oh my, I just saw the Amish buggies on TV in the funeral in PA..... sad, really sad.

Sounds like you have a switchblade to me. I would get rid of it. I certainly would not let it lie around in my car.

Assisted opening knives. I'll give you a link. The "button" does not open this one. http://www.sogknives.com/Folding/Twitch/TWI-20.htm

[hso]

Bobo,

I wouldn't hang my hat on the two Wiki articles. They're not completely accurate nor are they complete.

There is still some argument in some states about whether "assisted openers" are switchblades or not. There are ongoing battles in some jurisdictions and, with luck, the fact that all assists made in the U.S. are biased to being closed as they sit folded will allow the lawyers for the knife companies to whip the over-eager ADAs. The problem is that some of the cheap knock-offs from the PRC lack that bias towards closed and they could poison a case.

Joe,

I wouldn't worry about your switchblade if you keep it in your house as a curio. Don't haul it around and don't leave it in your car. In other words, now that you know that they're illegal to have in Indiana, don't have it out where the cops can find it.

[22-rimfire]

Hso; I agree. I just didn't want to say keep it at home out of sight. I still didn't, did I?

I have several. Years ago (pre-9-11) I even had airport security find one in my brief case that I didn't remember even having there. It was still in the box and had slipped behind the fabric around the hinge in a hard sided brief case. oops. I put it in my carry on bag and checked it in as regular baggage. They laughed, but informed me that they were supposed to confiscate it. I had bought it to sell to some co-workers and forgot about it being in my brief case. I check my brief case now carefully for things like 22 shells and so forth that get lost in the nooks and crannies.

[hso]

They laughed, but informed me that they were supposed to confiscate it.

Well, I hope they were joking because if they weren't they lied. Airport security had no law enforcement authority prior to 9-11 in most juristictions. If we're ever allowed to take knives on planes again, TSA won't have authority either to deal with switchblades because they're feds and can't enforce local/state laws and there are no fed laws saying you can't have switchblades as long as you're not engaged in interstate commerce.

[mp510]

If we're ever allowed to take knives on planes again, TSA won't have authority either to deal with switchblades because they're feds and can't enforce local/state laws and there are no fed laws saying you can't have switchblades as long as you're not engaged in interstate commerce.
Is it possible that they could bust you for violation of the Federal Switchblade Act, possibly if they waited for you to land in some other state?

Also, while the TSA boys don't enforce state laws they call the staties in when they know somebody is violating state law. Several people have been sent to the clink for violating CT's weapons laws on those premises at BDL INT'L, or at least that's what I've heard on the news.

[hso]

you're not engaged in interstate commerce and they don't enforce commerce laws