Benchmade 9170 Auto Triage in California?

[BigART71]

My interpretation of the California knife laws makes me think this Axis auto is legal in California.

Can anyone confirm or deny the 9170's legality in California?

Thanks.

 

[glistam]

It's an automatic knife that opens by activating a switch located in it's handle and it has a blade longer than 2 inches. Illegal to offer for sale and to carry, legal to own.

 

[BigART71]

It's an automatic knife that opens by activating a switch located in it's handle and it has a blade longer than 2 inches. Illegal to offer for sale and to carry, legal to own.

I thought Auto's weren't illegal in California. Switch Blades are unless under 2" or something like that.

But I looked at what constitutes a switchblade and this doesn't really apply because of the safety and axis movement, it's not a button.

I could be wrong, and probably sound argumentative, but I want to be absolutely sure so I don't get in trouble since this would be an every day carry.

 

[glistam]

Switchblade and Automatic mean the exact same thing, including in the knife-making industry. If you meant "spring assisted" yes those are legal due to a specific wording that they require pressure on the blade itself or stud attached to the blade to open. The 9170 is a switchblade because a mechanical device in the handle is what is operated to cause the blade to open. Switchblades with "safeties" on them still count as switchblades.

Here's a paste of the most current statute:

17235. As used in this part, "switchblade knife" means a knife having the appearance of a pocketknife and includes a spring-blade knife, snap-blade knife, gravity knife, or any other similar type knife, the blade or blades of which are two or more inches in length and which can be released automatically by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle, flip of the wrist or other mechanical device, or is released by the weight of the blade or by any type of mechanism whatsoever. "Switchblade knife" does not include a knife that opens with one hand utilizing thumb pressure applied solely to the blade of the knife or a thumb stud attached to the blade, provided that the knife has a detent or other mechanism that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade, or that biases the blade back toward its closed position.

21510. Every person who does any of the following with a switchblade knife having a blade two or more inches in length is guilty of a misdemeanor:
(a) Possesses the knife in the passenger's or driver's area of any motor vehicle in any public place or place open to the public.
(b) Carries the knife upon the person.
(c) Sells, offers for sale, exposes for sale, loans, transfers, or gives the knife to any other person.

(Source: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/.html/pen_table_of_contents.html)

The knife is already flagged by its manufacturer's system as only saleable to law enforcement and military. Now as I said before, you do not violate the law by owning one or even buying one, but anyone selling one to you is breaking the law, and you can't carry it in public.

 

[BigART71]

The wording is weird for me on ""Switchblade knife" does not include" bit. "other mechanism that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade" is what gets me scratching my head.

Seems like the the better choice would be the 915 Triage. At least I wouldn't be in trouble with it for daily carry. I'm just not fond of the sheepsfoot blades.