What is a "Ballistic Knife"?

[TechPrepper]

I was randomly browsing through YouTube (yeah I know, it was a slow day ok?!) and came across a mention of a "Ballistic Knife".

A google search suggests that it is either:

1. Pure fiction
2. A Knife used by the Russian Special Forces
3. A Gimmick made by a Florida company

Anyone ever see or use one?

 

[jbkebert]

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

Yes they are/were a real knife illegal as all get out at least in Kansas but a real knife all the same.

 

[Shadow 7D]

I would point out two facts

First Illegal, in pretty much every state

Secondly, it violates the first rule of a knife fight
HAVE A KNIFE

see, much like throwing knives, it's disposable, one shot and you are done.

 

[conw]

Obviously whoever designed that wasn't a fan of reverse grips...

 

[lemaymiami]

That blade was actually a Spetsnaz item, I believe. Some years back I read a short piece about it (Soldier of Fortune magazine?). It has a pretty powerful spring but as noted above had some serious drawbacks...

By the way, I used to encourage my officers (the younger ones particularly) to read Soldier of Fortune, and other similar type magazines (particularly the ads) to get a heads up on the things they might find on the streets eventually. That particular item never showed up in my area of south Florida.

 

[plumberroy]

I had one several years ago it would stick the blade an inch into an oak tree from 20 foot. Also took every thing I had to set it and I am a big guy I turned down $200 from a guy that was a trouble maker and sold it for half that to a guy tat I knew would put it in his collection and never carry it
Roy

 

[JTW Jr.]

Secondly, it violates the first rule of a knife fight
HAVE A KNIFE

better rule...dont be there !

 

[Zoogster]

I hate laws that ban random things.

I remember a similar homemade thing for spearfishing. It had a line through the blade portion that connected to the handle and was a nice compact backup for a speargun for use on an already speared but difficult fish. It essentially worked as a detachable head, once the blade went through the fish the line connected to the middle of the blade meant the fish could not slip over either end when sliding on the line.

A knife blade was better, but because of the law and definition of "ballistic knife" a blade is illegal, but a bolt or arrow is not. So it got a 'bolt' in place of the blade, was a lot less versatile no longer useful for other tasks without a cutting edge, and ceased to go on dives.
The law triumphed again.

 

[FiremanJim]

It was actually a Spetsnaz knife, and is still in use by them, and for awhile before laws abolishing it for sale in the U.S. were established, you could buy it in the States.
They also came up with a grappling hook and a baton attachment for the knife as well.
I remember seeing them advertised in SOF and other guns and ammo magazines.

 

[hso]

The fundamental characteristic of a ballistic knife is that the blade flies completely free of the handle.

Origins predate the infamous "Spetsnatz Knife" or the various knockoff wannabe copies since it is pretty simple to make a OTF knife that launches the blade instead of stopping it when extended. The trick with "ballistic knives" is that the blade is supposed to actually stick into something with wounding/lethal force instead of leaving you standing there with a surprised look on your face and your intimidating switchblade handle in your hand and the blade on the ground between you and the guy you were trying to intimidate.

 

[InkEd]

I can see it having some limited practical use but not much. It gets cool points though.