[Combat-wombat]

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.asp?model=3100
I'm kind of liking this knife. It seems like a neat, little "cute" knife, that is politically correct enough for little cutting tasks. My question concerns legality. Now, I know the CA law allows "switchblades" under 2 inches, so this would be okay to buy here. Am I right? Anything I'm missing?

[Joe Talmadge]

Nothing you're missing, it's legal in CA from what we all can tell. I asked a buddy who is a cop, he agreed. Obviously, I'm not a lawyer and this isn't legal advice.

[45R]

CW-
Its legal for CA commoners. :) I have the non auto version and its a Big lil knife.

[George Hill]

So if it's legal for california citizens, why does it say "Restricted to Military or LEO"?
As if an On Duty Soldier is going to be packing that cute little thing... :rolleyes:
I swear, some of the laws in this country make about as much sense as a sack full of...


I like autos... but that itty bitty thing costs 125, yet is the size of a keychain knife. I'll pass on this one.

[c_yeager]

Technically speaking it is illegal to sell a switchblade accross state-lines according to federal law. There is a means of getting approval from the feds to do so but, its a hassle. The fact is that the law is not enforced widely or at all. But benchmade wont send it to you (good thing too since they charge an absurd MSRP). A lot of the big knife retailers simply dont worry about it and wont have a problem sending it out to you (or you could buy locally i suppose). Just so you know if i remember correctly it is technically the RETAILER that is breaking the law and not the buyer. I would recomend asking the guys over at the autoknife forum on www.bladeforums.com for the reall in depth details.

[hso]

WRT legal purchase of auto knives.

Fed interstate commerce regs apply to someone selling across state lines.

There are no Fed regs within the state, unless you use the mail to send an auto knife from one point to another within the state, then you are in violation of Fed postal regs.

State/local laws apply as to posession, carry, and sales. If there are no state/local restrictions with respect to the knife then there are no legal problems as long as it is not sent through the USPS.