[ZZTop]

Are switchblades illegal in the united states? Why are they illegal?

Also, there are knives that do the same thing because of the center of balance and design (you can flick them open) so why is the particular switchblade mechanism illegal or is it an outdated law?

 

[bkt]

It's a state-by-state thing.

And it's an outdated and meaningless law. No switchblade is as fast as a fixed blade, but fixed blades are legal just about everywhere.

 

[csteinman]

i have a pretty sweet mini-boot/throwing knife i have. it's a s&w.

here in Ohio you shouldn't carry a blade longer than 2 inches, and also it's illegal to carry a switchblade at all. you can own anything though, obviously. for the record, i'm not a lawyer.

bkt is right though, laws are completely different state by state.

for example, you can't purchase or carry brass knuckles in ohio, but you can still own them. you can buy them in south carolina and own them, but you can't carry them there either i'm pretty sure.

here's an interesting tidbit on ohio gun law too: handguns cannot be purchased by anyone under 21 either from an FFL or privately, nor can handgun ammunition. however, there are no laws against possession except carry. so, a 10 year old can keep a loaded handgun under his pillow legally. we all know though, if he shot himself or something there'd be issues with other laws regarding parenting, etc

 

[BoarderX47]

Actually in Ohio it is Legal to purchase and carry if you are a police officer or are an active soldier in the Military

 

[EHCRain10]

Legal in VA and Tenn

 

[teknoid]

Legal in VA and Tenn

And KY. Legal to carry with CCDW, not without.

 

[billdeserthills]

I Arizona everything is legal to own& carry except for Nunchuks.
I sell switchblades, only thing is without a CCW any knife over 3" is illegal if concealed

 

[Zappa]

I Arizona everything is legal to own& carry except for Nunchuks.
I sell switchblades, only thing is without a CCW any knife over 3" is illegal if concealed

Here in the Peoples Republik of Taxachusetts, it's just the opposite of Arizona, almost everything is illegal here. You can't have switchblades, stilettos, double edge knives, daggers, nunchuks, throwing stars, blowguns, slingshots, billy clubs, cane swords or stun guns. It's a felony if you're caught carrying any of these. However, guns are legal to carry, provided you have a license. But, the tricky part is actually getting a license............That's another story

 

[DirtyHarry]

Got locked up for having a S&W S.W.A.T stilleto knockoff in my car.It was in a bag on the back seat. In Houston, Tx. It was a class A misdeamenor which was dismissed in court. Im just glad they got the $40.00 version and not my S.W.A.T switch-folder 1st production run that I paid $150.00 for.

 

[billdeserthills]

Well, that sucks, nice of "them" to let you off with just a fine.

Seems to me that the Second Amendment should cover switchblades too.

 

[bkt]

Well, that sucks, nice of "them" to let you off with just a fine.

Seems to me that the Second Amendment should cover switchblades too.

"Arms" is all that is specified in 2A; there is no limitation to just handguns and rifles.

That does stink about having your knife stolen/confiscated, DirtyHarry.

 

[DirtyHarry]

OH well, live and learn. I was lucky it(the knife) wasnt brass knuckles, nunchuks or a kubaton. THe charge was "prohibited weapon" so when the judge asked me what the weapon was I said a "spring-fed knife." and he said "well at least that has some utility, case dismissed."

 

[h&k bigdaddydieseldan]

also legal in az,or,fl also there are other states that basically have a don't ask don't tell type laws

 

[CARNUT1100]

Ok, here in Australia switchblades are illegal pretty much everywhere.
On the other hand, if you have a knife with a heavy blade and a liner lock and you get the technique right you can flick it with your wrist as you get it out and have it open as fast as a switchblade anyway.
I have 2 knives like that and I can take them out of my pocket/sheath/belt clip etc. and have them open in under a second. And they are legal ( although not legal to carry here in Aus)

 

[billdeserthills]

I just think anti-gun/anti-freedom countries are sad, and I'd like to include California in there too.

 

[CARNUT1100]

Tell me about it!
I have seen a draft copy of a proposed Control of Weapons act at state level that would have introduced broad categories that make so many things deemed to be a weapon and open to the officer's interpretation that it was positively frightening.
That one was squashed with a bit of lobbying, and it turned out that the minister responsible had not even read the bill! His advisers told him it was good so he supported it.
After he read it and was told just how bad it was he quietly dropped it, but many of its clauses have been introduced in other bills since.
They snuck a crossbow ban in onthe back of the anti-hoon laws, which allow the confiscation of cars if you are caught doing burnouts and stuff like that, and the interpretation of that act is also very loose. One of its offences is "engaging in a display of accelleration" for instance.
Not too happy....