Balisong Laws

The_Iron_Joe

The_Iron_Joe

Knifemaker, Jeweller. Custom Books Open!
Joined
May 3, 2012
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Hey guys, I've never been on this side of BladeForums before, but I have a few questions and I don't think there is much of a better place to ask.

I'm Canadian, and I want to flip balisongs. I want to use them, carry them, every bit! Handling trainers can be fine and fun, but I'd really love to legally use the live versions. Of course, I know that they usually fall under the 'prohibited weapon' section in the Criminal Code of Canada, but it seems silly to me that in a country where you are allowed to legally own, operate and transport firearms within city limits, you cannot carry a knife because of the way it opens, even around your own house! Never mind the fact that larger, more deadly blades are considered legal.

I'm not asking how to smuggle a butterfly knife into Canada, nor am I asking for sources on where to get one in the country.

I want to know if anyone has heard of an instance where balisong knives [or some item in a similar standing] have gone from illegal status to legal items.

I'd also like to know if there are any other Canadians here who are interested in balisong knives in general.

I thought about putting together something like a kickstarter where people would contribute to a fund which would go towards a bill of some sort, one that would exempt balisong/butterfly knives from the portion of the Criminal Code which states that gravity knives are illegal on the basis that the balisong design is mostly a novelty and part of a hobby. After all, the Native American 'Ulu' knife is exempt from the laws concerning push daggers.

Thanks for any insight! Sorry if this is in the wrong section, but I wanted to speak directly to the bali-crowd!
 
I just posted a thread in the Balisong section, but because it's not as active, I thought I'd ask the same questions that I did there, here.

If you want to read the OP, here it is.

My questions are...

I want to know if anyone has heard of an instance where balisong knives [or some item in a similar standing] have gone from illegal status to legal items.

I'd also like to know if there are any other Canadians here who are interested in balisong knives in general, and what your opinions are.

Thanks for the time, guys.
 
We do have a separate knife laws forum and you may want to try your question there if, after a few day here, you don't ge an answer. But your question is entirely and specifically about Balisong knives, so it is topical here too. And I actually suspect that you will get your answer here.
 
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll definitely try my luck there around the end of the week, if I don't see many responses here. I'm hopeful that it won't be necessary though.
 
A few states in the US have enacted "knife amnesty" laws or repealed the restrictions on knives, and other states have such legislations in the works. The amnesty laws are called such because their intent is that no county/city/municipality/etc can enact a law; only the state laws (if there are any) apply. That way you don't unknowingly break a law when you cross an imaginary line with a knife (something that can happen a lot in states like CA).

But...you're in Canada. I wouldn't hold my breath.
 
they way I hear it all of the good knifes that we like in the usa are not allowed in your country. it seams you have more restrictions that California does and that is bad. Butterflies, switchblades and such other knifes.
 
Some states like Arizona effectively repealed all their knife laws and even added "preemption" which means the local cities can't pass any laws restricting knives that are tighter than that of the state. This seems to be a trend in the past 5 years thanks to the efforts of groups like KnifeRights.

Restricting balisongs alwayls struck as one of the most foolish bits of legislation. They are not fast, subtle, or all that suited to offensive use. They are clumsy, primitive toys whose only claim to infamy is visual flair in deployment. The most dangerous knives are the ones you don't see coming. I think we should actually encourage criminals to buy them so they will end up maiming their hands and thus be less of a danger to others.
 
Planterz said:
A few states in the US have enacted "knife amnesty" laws or repealed the restrictions on knives, and other states have such legislations in the works. The amnesty laws are called such because their intent is that no county/city/municipality/etc can enact a law; only the state laws (if there are any) apply. That way you don't unknowingly break a law when you cross an imaginary line with a knife (something that can happen a lot in states like CA).

But...you're in Canada. I wouldn't hold my breath.
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Interesting to hear, although I doubt a similar thing could happen here with our current legislation. I won't be holding my breath for a while, for sure...

richard thurman said:
they way I hear it all of the good knifes that we like in the usa are not allowed in your country. it seams you have more restrictions that California does and that is bad. Butterflies, switchblades and such other knifes.
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Yes, switchblades are also illegal here. Actually, it's theorized that both switchblades and Balisong knives were included in the Criminal Code because of their 'connections' to gang activity. The idea is, an officer would have an extra reason to charge someone and make an arrest. And since butterfly knives and switchblades are considered 'prohibited weapons', it's a five-year prison sentence for mere possession, regardless of intent.
 
yes but in all of my years selling at the flemarket and on the internet switchblades have made me more money than all of the rest of the knifes have. there is a auction site that allowed switchblades and all of a sudden they ban them so they pulled all of my switchblades off there site. I have not sold anything since then and I don't know why I bother to keep listing my regular knifes there too.
 
There was a case in NY that fought the law and won.... proving that balisongs are not technically gravity knifes.

I don't know if that will keep you out of handcuffs but a good lawyer might be able to use this prior ruling to help you get the case thrown out.
 
richard thurman said:
yes but in all of my years selling at the flemarket and on the internet switchblades have made me more money than all of the rest of the knifes have. there is a auction site that allowed switchblades and all of a sudden they ban them so they pulled all of my switchblades off there site. I have not sold anything since then and I don't know why I bother to keep listing my regular knifes there too.
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Well, there is a large appeal to the non-knife people as far as switchblades go; they're undeniably cool, I'm not surprised they were your best sellers.

cactusjake007 said:
There was a case in NY that fought the law and won.... proving that balisongs are not technically gravity knifes.

I don't know if that will keep you out of handcuffs but a good lawyer might be able to use this prior ruling to help you get the case thrown out.
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Well, the ideal goal is to legally carry the knife in the first place, I can't afford the risk of a 5 year prison visit. Do you have any links to a story covering the case?
 
It would be really awesome if we could get the Canadian government to even recognize something like a kickstarter or movement so to say. I think it would be awesome and I also feel it is extremely stupid we are not allowed to have them.

As to maybe how to somehow come across one.... You can make one. Or Ive heard of people buying them getting them sent to friends or family in the states and then having then dismantle it and ship it all in separate packages.. but of course this is just rumors I have no idea if it would work.


But to get the balisong or gravity knife laws overthrown would be amazing for us!
 
WillardCorspe said:
both switchblades and Balisong knives were included in the Criminal Code because of their 'connections' to gang activity.
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Seems to me politicians watch to much West Side Story.

west-side-story-knife-fight.jpg


Or stock photos used in stabbing articles...... a student throws a knife at another kid with no mention of the kind of knife but the stock photo for the article is a balisong.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/cri...uffle-upper-west-side-school-article-1.146362
 
For many years, it was a given fact that switchblade laws and other knife restrictions were untouchable. What politician would vote to legalize switchblades?

But, in the last few years, hundreds have and those laws have been revoked in many states. The is the direct result of KnifeRights. If you American Balisong enthusiasts are not KnifeRights members, I urge you to join now. And you Canadians need to form your own version and go after those laws; it can be done.
 
WillardCorspe said:
Well, there is a large appeal to the non-knife people as far as switchblades go; they're undeniably cool, I'm not surprised they were your best sellers.



Well, the ideal goal is to legally carry the knife in the first place, I can't afford the risk of a 5 year prison visit. Do you have any links to a story covering the case?
Click to expand...

I have some that open just like a regular knife and you can't flick them open but they are also a switchblade too. it is so much fun watching people try to figger out how I am working the switchblade part of the knife. when I was at daytona flemarket in florida I had a person come by once a year and bought a case of them just to take back to canada to sell so his vist was paid for by them knifes.
 
Gollnick said:
For many years, it was a given fact that switchblade laws and other knife restrictions were untouchable. What politician would vote to legalize switchblades?

But, in the last few years, hundreds have and those laws have been revoked in many states. The is the direct result of KnifeRights. If you American Balisong enthusiasts are not KnifeRights members, I urge you to join now. And you Canadians need to form your own version and go after those laws; it can be done.
Click to expand...

The problem is that the criminal code rarely gets touched especially when it comes to "weapons." Even if we did manage to get a lobby group going, it is extremely unlikely that it will influence the Federal Government.
 
I'm Canadian and a Balisong lover, but so far all I've ever had has been combs, bottle openers and trainers, nothing more.

That said though, I'm not entirely without hope; recently the long gun registry was revoked. I never thought that would ever happen, and we're starting to see people push for the removal of the CFOs, who've been stubbornly trying to instate their own backdoor registries and make up and play by their own rules. So I wouldn't say it's impossible.
 
yep....here in virginia balisongs were illegal.....but virginia law is mostly based on case law and in 2 court cases people who were on trial for carring balisongs were found inoccent.....and balisongs were removed from the restricted weapons list.
 
South Carolina re-wrote the law a couple years ago changing from restricting gravity knives and switchblades to simply making them illegal to use in a crime. I'm happy I can carry a bali now, but think it is funny how many teenagers are running around with Boker Kalashnikov autos clipped to their jeans. I'm not up on the details, but think the rewrite was mostly inspired by concealed carry gun issues and knives were just a sideline.
 
Balisongs are illegal in Canada based on the centrifugal force of them and unforetunetaly there is no light of them becoming legal in the near (or even far) future. It would take a number of lawsuits by people with money (and knife rights) to get them and switchblades to enter the legal zone. I do like balisongs though, they are fun and can be really well done. Its the crappy ones that ruin it for everyone though.
 
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