"Spring assisted" knife What the???

[uralrider]

Does anybody but me think that in fact a spring assisted knife is a switchblade? I can buy one of these knives on ebay, but I can't legally sell a 100 year old automatic pocket knife due to some archaic law from the "50's that had to do with the "Greaser " image or some such thing. I think it's time this old law was taken off the books so collectors and dealers could legally trade in these great old knives.

[pickenup]

Originally Posted by uralrider

I think it's time this old law was taken off the books

You ain't the only one.

[3/2 STA SS]

Yea its a slippery slope. An ''automatic knife'' in FL is considered Illegal if the blade is capable of becoming ballistic-detactable from the handle-like the old Spetznaz knifes that had the spring inside the handle that propelled the blade-that were offered in the US many years ago.

[jacksonco]

They are legal here in WV. A spring assisted opener requires that the blade be part way deployed manually. A full auto knife it is only necesssary to push a button or switch and no contact with the blade is required.

I have an SOG Aeigis assisted opener and also a Kershaw Scallion assisted opener. I like the SOG the best of the two and it is my EDC.

[308 at my gate]

Originally Posted by jacksonco

They are legal here in WV. A spring assisted opener requires that the blade be part way deployed manually. A full auto knife it is only necesssary to push a button or switch and no contact with the blade is required.

I have an SOG Aeigis assisted opener and also a Kershaw Scallion assisted opener. I like the SOG the best of the two and it is my EDC.

Like jacksonco said there is a difference between the two styles of knives and the way they open. I do agree the law for switch blades is old and dumb. I also have several of the assist opening knives and they work very well and I will probably look for another. If they got rid of the law knife makers would have a whole new market for high quality switch blades.

[Bobitis]

Be thankful you don't live where 'gravity assist' knifes are illegal.

A friend of my son brought over a 'butterfly' knife one day. I asked him to see it. When he handed it to me, I put it through the moves, and handed it back to him. He was impressed.

I told him it was illegal to own and not to get caught with it.

Good thing a nice razor sharp steak knife is still legal.
Think of how restaurants would be out of business.

Next up?

Scissors.

[johnlives4christ]

in kentucky you can own any type of knife you want but cannot carry anything but a regular hunting knife or pocket knife. but with my ccw license i can carry a switchblade. i've been wanting one, but the price of a good one is prohibitive

[BullShoot]

///the price of a good one is prohibitive ///

So, what is the going price of a switchblade? And is the ban on them universal? Or just in certain jurisdictions?

Inquiring minds want to know.

BullShoot

[308 at my gate]

Originally Posted by BullShoot

///the price of a good one is prohibitive ///

So, what is the going price of a switchblade? And is the ban on them universal? Or just in certain jurisdictions?

Inquiring minds want to know.

BullShoot

Hundreds of dollars.

[johnlives4christ]

hundreds of dollars. aint sure really because i haven't really looked since i know they aint cheap. maybe bill can suggest a reasonably priced one.

[3/2 STA SS]

I carry a four inch Godfather from Protech. It was 200 brand new and I wore the spring out. Sent it back,new spring was Free and it is better than ever. This is from a company in California where I am sure they are not even legal to carry. I have a CCW and love it.

[3/2 STA SS]

Originally Posted by 308 at my gate

Hundreds of dollars.

You can spend thousands for exotic metals,stone,bone handles etc... Around 200-300 will get you a great one that will serve you well.

[BullShoot]

Well, to go a semi-cautious step further.... what about one from the ''greaser image'' age?
MoP scales, marked ''Imperial'', 3 3/8'' blade, 7 1/2'' loa?

BullShoot

[johnlives4christ]

i looked up the godfather. more like 300.00

[3/2 STA SS]

Hey john- I bought mine 5 years ago.black with the green inserts. I guess they went up in price. My next one will be an out the front model-I love those.

[johnlives4christ]

id like to have one of the old italian ones. just for the history, but i can buy a new gun for the cost of a knife so i dont bother

[ofitg]

Originally Posted by johnlives4christ

in kentucky you can own any type of knife you want but cannot carry anything but a regular hunting knife or pocket knife. but with my ccw license i can carry a switchblade. i've been wanting one, but the price of a good one is prohibitive

I am getting off-topic, but have you ever considered something like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CENTR...motiveQ5fTools

If you're close enough to cut somebody, you're probably close enough to bash their skull in.... and no waiting for them to bleed out.

[johnlives4christ]

actually i've considered one of the gerber backpaxe's for close in self defense in the car. my interest in switch blades, old ones at least is the same reason i like baby brownings and remington derringers. not for self defense but for collecting.

dunno i think one of the new ones would be need to have, and i'd carry it around if i had one, but an old one, that'd be sweet. i'd probably carry it once in a while, but not seriously

[ofitg]

Yeah, I have to admit, the different switchblade mechanisms are interesting to me, and I've collected a few over the years.... but a lot of them seem flimsy, and unless you're walking around with your thumb on the switch, you may not get it open quickly in an emergency.
One non-auto knife which impresses me is the Cold Steel Vaquero Grande, out of production but still available occasionally. That big blade is ridiculously easy to flip open with one hand.

[jacksonco]

Knives can be deployed ridiculously fast. In close quarters a person well trained with a blade is going to deploy the blade and win out over a person with an undeployed pistol. The knife will do far more damage and on the first strike the person with the gun will be unable to hold it in his hand let alone pull the trigger.

[johnlives4christ]

exactly jacksonco

a knife is an ambush weapon pirmarily

a gun is a defensive weapon primarily

[ofitg]

Originally Posted by johnlives4christ

exactly jacksonco

a knife is an ambush weapon pirmarily

a gun is a defensive weapon primarily

I would certainly agree that a knife is a poor choice for defensive purposes.... especially if it is a folder which cannot be opened without manipulating some mechanism in the proper manner.

If I couldn't carry a gun for defense, I think my second choice would be some type of impact weapon - hammer, SIPO, small flail, or similar.

[Bill DeShivs]

I can certainly recommend the Leverletto! Less than a hundred dollars, and the quality is excellent. Either old-school Italian styling (better mechanism) or modern "tactical" versions in 2 different sizes.
I don't sell them, but I designed them-and I can help you find them.

[jack404]

Trust me knives make good defensive weapons too John , but then the aim of any knife fight its to go from the defensive to the offensive and remove the threat

it is always a defensive start unless your attacking first .. even against unarmed attackers , deal with it , get the upper hand and take em out

and with good luck and skills it'll all be over in 3-5 seconds

like oftig said , folders are a poor choice for defensive tools

i do like the Kbar , the Gerber boot knife (Mk1 i think) and a belt buckle push knife , but the belt buckle knife that comes free without doing anything but pulling it hard enough some need you to undo the belt ???WTF?? hold on i'll just play with my belt for a sec huh ?? ha

I dunno if they are legal but what i call a morrocan flick knife is excellent if you can get em

they shoot straight up and lock , and decent spring and its deadly from closed ..

a mate has a plastic ice srcaper thats sorta like a tomahawk, a excellent weapon for the car and 100% legal to carry in the drivers side door pocket , dont carry a hatchet or hammer or iron bar in there , thats intent in some places


also never under estimate the simple entrenching tool, close in its a horrid weapons, big wounds , you can swing it hard as its got great grip and leverage to either the blade or the pick , this is also legal to carry even if it is razor sharp

[Alpo]

Originally Posted by Bill DeShivs

I can certainly recommend the Leverletto! Less than a hundred dollars, and the quality is excellent. Either old-school Italian styling (better mechanism) or modern "tactical" versions in 2 different sizes.
I don't sell them, but I designed them-and I can help you find them.

Bill, so you think the lever is better than a button?

My one switchblade is a Hubertus lever latch. It's truly amazing what you can find on the web. I just looked and found one site that says they are made in Germany and than converted to automatic once they come in-country. Another site said they are made as automatic in Germany, and can only be sold to cops, firemen, EMTs, etc. The site I bought from, four years ago, said, "Send us a hundred dollars".