Are assisted openers= switch blades??

L

lcplcookba

Joined
Jan 8, 2008
Messages
27
I have a few switch blade and no assisted openers( although a switch blade is an assisted opener, is the assisted opener a switch blade) I am not seeking legal advice, simply trying to define the vocabulary. And are the restrictions or is the sale and purchase of both limited to police and active duty personnel. Thanks


P.S. Please go just a bit further, if you have the time. Like what is the difference? Thank Gentlemen
 
They require some initial force on the part of the user to open the blade. Instead of just pressing a button, the user must begin to open the knife before the AO system kicks in and opens it the rest of the way.
 
Assisted openers ≠ switchblades. Though I think the distinction is mostly academic.
 
Nope assisted opening is with help of a spring coming up like a regular folding knife... Not straight out of the handle.
 
moose1132 said:
Nope assisted opening is with help of a spring coming up like a regular folding knife... Not straight out of the handle.
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What???

From what I understand, you talk about Off the front (OTF) switchblades, like Michotech's H.A.L.O., but a knife with a pivot can be a switchblade too, think about the good old Italian stiletto.
 
cybrok said:
What???

From what I understand, you talk about Off the front (OTF) switchblades, like Michotech's H.A.L.O., but a knife with a pivot can be a switchblade too, think about the good old Italian stiletto.
Click to expand...

Hmmm... that has me wondering. Has anyone ever made an AO OTF? I imagine something that looks a bit like a rollock with some kind of spring or cam system to take over the initial opening action.
 
most AO knives you can stop the blade from opening all the way and then open them the rest of the way manually. autos you cant do that too. esspecially the OTFs. the auto will keep going after you stop and the OTF auto will just go through your hand lol
 
I think another factor people haven't mentioned is that autos are released with the use of a button and AOs are opened from the blade itself (flipper or thumbstud).

AOs are not autos, they were specifically made in a way to be able to go around the wording of an auto to allow a similar function but still be legal in most of the areas.

But of course, as Troop has already put it, depends on how pissed off you got the cop. His interpretation determines whether you're a law abiding citizen with a tool or a potential criminal with a weapon.
 
ya the cops have a lot of say but at the same time if for any reason you had to go to court you could argue it pretty easily.

autos are not assist opener nor are AO's autos. autos will take the blade out all the way by doing nothing more than pressing a button or pushing the slider up on OTFs. AOs require a little more effort (some less than others, my sog takes a little practice to get it down while my friends buck is almost to easy)

here in VA AOs are perfectly legal to carry every where you can take any other knife while auto knives may only be on your property

-matt
 
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not sure if it's universal but where I'm from a switchblade is described as having a button or release mechanism on the handle. use of a thumbstud or flipper for opening would not be considered a switchblade. again I'm not sure if this definition is applicable in all areas.
 
^^ most places define switch blade as a knife which is open by pushing a button or switch that is not connected to the blade

-matt
 
In virtually all states an assisted open knife will be treated the same as a "switch blade"
 
^^ im not sure which states you are looking at but every where ive looked into it AO's do not fit the definition, then again most places im looking are southern or western states
-matt
 
USSR said:
They require some initial force on the part of the user to open the blade. Instead of just pressing a button, the user must begin to open the knife before the AO system kicks in and opens it the rest of the way.
Click to expand...

Yup. If you have a flipper on the knife, the boundaries are blurred even further though. :)
 
you also have to take into consideration of the A.O. mechanism itself. Buck really screwed up by using a coil spring. this knife is not assisted it is a switchless switchblade. Buck knives like the tempest use a coil spring which will have constant opening pressure on the blade all the way through its opening procedure. Kershaw on the other hand uses a design that utilizes a torsion bar (not a spring) to give the blade a "kick" but it only happens when the blade is deployed about 30degrees and will stop moving the blade before it reaches it open position. in my opinion kershaw is the true "assisted" company. any knife brand using a coil spring in there A.O. folders is really playing with fire. also check your laws because by all definition here in illinois the way the laws are written really leaves it up to the discretion of the officer you talk to.


Also remember the easiest way to tell if something is legal to carry is if you have to ask if its legal to carry. Because if YOU the owner have a question on its legality imagine what a cop would think if he saw it. Just my opinion but if you have to ask its better left at home.
 
You have to remember all laws are open for interpretations by a judge. just because you have arguments for a AO not being a switchblade his opinion and interpretation may not agree.

I do not want to be bothered, and try to work with what is legal to carry
 
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