Beware your knife may become "illegal"

C

cree611

Joined
Nov 17, 2002
Messages
39
Amarillo, TX...Potter County. Local retail stores have been advised by the Amarillo Police Department they must stop selling the Kershaw speed safe knives. After a recent arrest, the county attorney has deemed they are considered "switchblades". The county attorney is Sonya Letson. Her department has refused to hear arguments from knife experts and even local law enforcement that these knives really aren't switchblades. Anyone who can read can easily tell that these knives don't fit the definition under the federal switchblade law (I believe it was the August issue of Blade magazine that outlined this same point). Some retailers have removed all of the assisted opener knives from their shelves (Sog flash, Myerco). If you would like to contact Sonya Letsons office let me know and I will post her department's contact information.
 
If the law is written describing a "spring" in the handle, they will fail the test. That's why I won't own one.
 
Under the federal switchblade law, the knife must have a button or lever in the handle which releases the knife when pressed. The Kershaw has a blade flip which is a part of the blade, not the handle. The axis lock does not qualify because simply pressing the lock does not open the blade (centrifical force must also be used).
 
...And so the battle starts...The hole has been put in the dike.:(
 
The federal law wont mean squat if a local or state law exist that is different so dont go buy the frdeal law look up you states laws your counties your citys or towns.See what they say then go after the bastids.
 
personally, I think that evaryone who steps outside of their house should immediately be handcuffed to protect them from themselves.
 
Freedom country isn't so free anymore, or at least the war towards Oceania has started.
 
my sympathies.....

i've carried a balisong in NY for years despite their 'grey area' status.

Metis
 
Originally posted by Will'em
:confused: what about an axis lock?:confused:
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These are two separate potential issues.

SOG's SAT, and Kershaw Speed Safe are being argued as autos as the blades deploy with a spring.

The Axis could be interpreted as a gravity knife since the blade plops out with the lock pulled back.
 
The Kershaw "speed-safe" seems to be a gray area for many States. I could not answer the question: "Are they illegal in NH?" because our Law is written in such a manner that it's nothing but absolute mumba-jumbo. The Law talks of "springs, switch activation" and alot of words that could be broadly defined by individual officers ande Prosecutors.

The answer is that I carry whatever I want, my X-mas list includes the new Whisper and if I get arrested I intend to insure I get my day in Court so that the Law can be finally get some attention [The last update to the "switchblade" section was 50 years ago].

I am certain Ken Onion and Kershaw are willing to help straighten out this Archaic and very abused provision in many States. Like I said before, A citizen in NH can walk down the street with a pair of loaded Desert Eagles but God help him if he has a Microtech Socom in his pocket:rolleyes:

It's plain stupid and the only way to beat this is with a few test cases........Ira
 

my X-mas list includes the new Whisper [/B]
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Have you had a chance to play with the whisper? I was at my local knife store and when I walked in Dennis the owner got my attention with it.Man is it sweet,very nice and smooth.Great fit and finish and beautiful.The only way I would get one right now is if I found one on the ground.I was surprised by the price untill I learned a little more about it and got to play with it.I hope santa is good to you.Hey,does anybody kow anything about an older Timberline knife with assisted opening and a lock similar to the axis lock.I know they had to pull it or be sued.I found one and was wondering if it is something unique or hard to find.I cant remember the name off hand...............RB
 
There's a great knife store in Amarillo, called Knives Plus. They also do a big time job on mail order knives. I'll wait until they open and then call them to get more info on this. If anyone should have the skinny on this, they should. geegee
 
Originally posted by Metis
i've carried a balisong in NY for years despite their 'grey area' status.
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Metis: As long as you are not in NYC, you are free to carry the bali openly. There are case laws that makes the issue very black and white. Yet another example of how a single municipality can have a contradictory rule regarding carry laws that differs from the rest of the State. :confused:
 
well, i'm looking at the texas law right now (i'm a lawyer from texas) and it defines switchblade knife as on that opens automatically with a button OR "opens or releases a blade from the handle or sheath by the force of gravity or by the application of centrifugal force."

under that definition nearly every modern one-handed opening folder would be illegal, including the delica in my pocket right now. it took a heck of a flick, but i could flick it open when i got it before it was oiled, worked in, etc.
 
That would been with out touching the blade, just snapping your wrist, the Kershaw speed safe requires you to move the blade, then the spring takes over, this is not by this definition a swichblade:p
 
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