Are switchblades still illegal?

[Lennyjoe]

I have 2 Benchmade swingblades and was wondering if they are in the switchblade catagory and if they are still illegal for carry.

I've been out of the knife business for a while but just came across these blades. I want to give one to my 21 year old son (Springerman 05) but don't want him to get in trouble if he doesn't have a CCW. Heck, do these knifes even fall under a CCW?

Confused.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Last time I was in AZ you could buy a switch. I can carry on my Permit because mine is for deadly weapons not just guns. You need to check laws in you state, Nothing say you can give to him for collection. With all the different folders today switch blade to slow opening and not dependable.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Perfectly legal in Florida. Gotta do the individual state check thing.

 

[bratch]

Yup its state by state. In OK its a no go even with CCW.

 

[RyanM]

PA state law is weird. It says that the laws prohibiting the possession, manufacture, carry, etc., of blackjacks, slung shot, switchblades, etc., do not apply to anyone who "possesses any firearm for any purpose not prohibited by this Commonwealth," or something very similar. Very weird.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Looking at the first three results of a search for "switchblade laws" I found the following for Arizona:

1. Okay to own and carry here.

2. Legal to possess and carry concealed here.

3. Nothing listing it as a prohibited weapon in the state code (that I could find) here.

 

[hso]

http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/az.txt

http://www.amatecon.com/switchblade.html

 

[Lennyjoe]

Cool, thanks.

I have a Benchmade swinger that was issued to me (military) and was wondering if I'd get tossed in the bucket if I was to carry it.

 

[Maser]

Oh great, why did I have to stumble upon this thread. Now I want to go looking for my old stiletto that I lost when I was 7.

 

[Falcontech]

LennyJoe,

I too am in the military and recently while I was in Iraq they were going to issue us Benchmades (unfortunately they ran out and gave us $30 Gerbers when the Benchmades didn't come in.) We were curious as to the legality of still having it back in the States and after some research we found that in NJ where we were from it is OK to have and carry as long as you are Law Enforcement or Military. I guess it mostly a state to state kind of thing.

 

[gopguy]

Illegal to carry Switchblades in Ohio....Though you can possess them now...just can't build or sell them.

From Packing.Org.


Date updated: Aug 23, 2005 @ 10:13 pm

Ohio's knife laws are very vague and the links below are lacking in detail. Its important to realize that each individual municipality or local government can enact more strict restrictions on knives.

§ 2923.11. Definitions. As used in sections 2923.11 to 2923.24 of the Revised Code

(J) "Ballistic knife" means a knife with a detachable blade that is propelled by a spring-operated mechanism.

§ 2923.12. Carrying concealed weapons.

(A) No person shall knowingly carry or have, concealed on his or her person or concealed ready at hand, any deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance.

§ 2923.20. Unlawful transaction in weapons.

(A) No person shall:
(3) Manufacture, possess for sale, sell, or furnish to any person other than a law enforcement agency for authorized use in police work, any brass knuckles, cestus, billy, blackjack, sandbag, switchblade knife, springblade knife, gravity knife, or similar weapon;

1974 Committee Comment to H 511
An ordinary pocket knife that is not possessed, carried or used as a weapon is not a "deadly weapon" under RC § 2923.11(A)

 

[Hkmp5sd]

after some research we found that in NJ where we were from it is OK to have and carry as long as you are Law Enforcement or Military. I guess it mostly a state to state kind of thing.

What you will probably find is that is says LE and Military "while in performance of their official duties." That precludes things like carrying off duty.

 

[James T Thomas]

rose by another name

RyanM and others from PA:

The PA Crime Code classifies switchblades as "prohibited offensive weapons,"
as well as sawed off shotguns, bombs, and other items commonly percieved as having aggressive intent in use.

A "swing blade;" is that flicked open by centripital force? That is wrist flick?
If it is, it would not fall in the prohibited category here in the Keystone state.
The description is any bladed device, the deployment or exposure of the blade being accomplished by a switch, spring mechanism, or automatic, etc.

Here in Pennsylvania our corrupt legislature has been influenced by some commercial interest and has placed the compendium of criminal laws; the Crime Code under a "name." A category (I think it is latin), and so it is not available on the internet for the citizens of the commonwealth to research so that they will know whether their actions break the law or not. You must go to a special branch of the public library, at some inconvenience, to find a copy of our criminal laws so that you may remain a law abiding citizen.

I think many of the criminals are holdining public office in Harrisburg, PA!

 

[mec]

For years, I was under the impression that switchblades were illegal all over the united states. this stems from my learning the word "impeach" when I was about 5 years old.

the neighborhood kid loved switchblades- mainly the stilleto type. His dad would buy him one and he would go out and peg it at the china berry tree. the spring would break and the blade would go all floppy. the next week, his dad would buy him another one. One day he came trudging out in the drive way saying , " Eisenhower should get impeached. He outlawed switchblades."

so, I found out that "impeach" didn't refer to the fruit trees we were all growing at the time and figured Eisenhower had banned the knives for a long time thereafter. The major concerns of the sissy puritans at that time were:
1. communists of course;
2. comic books- estes Keffofer had determined that Batman and Robin were going to turn a whole generation into homosexuals in tights;
3. Ducktail haircuts and switchblades as featured in the Movie , Blackboard Jungle;
4. cinnamon toothpicks smuggled into school- the marijuana of the 1950s.