Are axis locks legal in New York City?

[bk400]

I've read the many posts regarding New York City knife laws, and I'm wondering if the axis lock folders might be barred as a "gravity knife."

Seems like the letter of the statute is unclear on this issue, and I cannot find case law that addresses the point (though case law does suggest that butterfly knives are NOT gravity knives).

Any thoughts would be helpful. The last thing I need is to run into an unexpected metal detector, hand over a BM 943 and not only have it confiscated, but get cited for weapons possession as well.

 

[Death's Head]

Sorry bro. But you are way off with what you know about what an Axis lock is. I don't know what the laws ar in NY, but it is in no way a gravity knife. It is only another locking mech.

 

[Kazeryu]

'gravity knife' is the legal catch-all term that technically lets police confiscate anything other than a really, really stiff lockback or slipjoint. Any knife that can be flicked open with a hand or arm movement can technically be termed a 'gravity knife' if the officer feels like being a prick.

Generally as long as you keep the pivot fairly tight you won't run into problems, though.

 

[tom19176]

I do not own an Axis lock, but from what I understand once you pull down the release lever you can then flick the blade open and it will lock inplace. It is closed by the same release lever. THIS IS A GRAVITY KNIFE per the NY defintion......let me know if I am correct as to how it opens, and please correct me if not the case.....I have a very large collection of pocket knives, but I only have about 10 that I feel I can carry in NYC-NY. I am a formerLEO from NYC and now that I am a Non -LEO again, I am very careful not to carry any knife you can flick open. This last weekend was one of the many times I tighten all my EDCs which takes awhile to do. I test them to be sure they can not be flicked open from any position. This requires opening my Kershaw 2420 and bending the liner lock so as to hold the blade in tighter, and adjusting the set screw. My other German lockbacks I have to peen the pins so they can not be flicked. It sucks, but it is the law, and if you are careful about this one area, then you can legally carry up to a four inch lock blade concealled. You can not carry it exposed in NYC. I suggest the Buck model 110, as in the 1970s they actually changed the knife so it could not be flicked open at the demand of the Feds ( there is a thread on this in the Buck section). I have several new ones, and they are great.....will not flick at all.

 

[Death's Head]

Damn, didn't realize what bk400 could mean by gravity knife. Now I know where there can be that awful gray area. I guess many knives with a lock like this such as ARC, Compression, etc., can be considered a gravity knife if you interpret it like that. But like tom said, it is a blanket law and it can be interpreted differently from different people. I guess it would depend on the day the LEO and/or judge is having at the time. Like I said, it is a gray area and can go both ways.
Many knives can be opened with just a flick of the wrist if you learn the right technique. This isn't a secret, so I am not bragging. James Keating and Michael Janich demonstrates this in several of their videos. A knife that I am successful in opening with this method is a knife that can be pretty tight compared to many other knives is the Endura. I don't have any problem opening this knife very quickly. With practice, a knife could start in your pocket and then be deployed in an instant. Let's hope this technique stays under the radar.

 

[tom19176]

One other point.....If you ever where to be forced to defend yourself with your EDC, and all else is legal in your actions, your knife ( in NYC at least) will be sent to the ECD ( evidence collection division) for evaluation. The officer checking the weapon does not know where or how it was used, so forget about them thinking you did the right thing and going easy on you. This is done will all weapons recovered from a "crime". They take ballistics from the guns of a store owner who shot a robber and had a permit for the gun, and they WILL test your knife for other blood samples, and as to form and function. If they can flick it open, then there report will come back with the statement that the knife involved is a GRAVITY knife. The DA will almost without excepition charge you with weapon possession, and it will not matter if you where leaglly defending yourself ( remember Bernie Goetz if you are old enough). The likely civil suit that will be filed by the other party(or his relatives) will start off by declaring that you used a illegal Gravity knife. Messy isn't it ????

 

[Death's Head]

I guess you will always be taking a chance when carrying that sort of knife in NYC.
Well, I know I ain't moving there.
Good luck to ya.

 

[OilMan]

One other point.....The DA will almost without excepition charge you with weapon possession, and it will not matter if you where leaglly defending yourself ( remember Bernie Goetz if you are old enough). The likely civil suit that will be filed by the other party(or his relatives) will start off by declaring that you used a illegal Gravity knife. Messy isn't it ????

Another point.... It's better to be judged by 12 than carried by six.

 

[tom19176]

OilMan....I agree and that has always been my saying also, but better to start off from a legal position, as in with a legal knife, and then only have to explain your actions. If you are considered a law breaker simply by your choice of weapon then you maybe be deemed to bend the law in others ways.