Could Axis lock be mistaken for "gravity knife?"

L

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I'm not sure what the exact definition of "gravity knife" is, if there even is one in a legal sense, and I believe an Axis lock knife definitely is NOT a gravity knife, but I am wondering if an Axis lock knife could be construed (or misconstrued) as a gravity knife by an over-zealous prosecutor and an uninformed jury.

Obviously there are plenty of carry laws that specifically ban "gravity knives." My guess is that if you can push a button or switch, etc. and then gravity carries the blade out of the handle of the knife, that might be enough for a prosecutor to argue to a jury that it's in violation of anti-gravity-knife laws (even if it's a knife that knife-people don't consider to be a gravity knife). I don't own an Axis, but am considering a BM Ares or Griptillian.

So what do you think? Should I avoid carrying an Axis in gravity-ban areas to be safe? I'm trying to make a conservative judgement on this. I'm not going to decide based on: "As long as it's in my pocket, who's going to know anyway?" but rather "Would I want a prosecutor waving this knife in front of a jury?"

Thanks for any advice.
 
A "gravity knife" would be one that opens by gravity pulling it. The axis has to be "flicked" if that makes sense.
 
Yes, that does help. Thank you. If the friction of the pivot pin holds the blade closed, then it's not a gravity knife.

Not owning an Axis myself yet, forgive me if this sounds ignorant, but if an Axis lock knife is flickable once the locking mechanism is pulled back, would that mean it could be problematic in jurisdictions where flickable blades are a problem, such as California? Or maybe the relavant fact is that the locking mechanism in it's resting position keeps the blade closed.

Thanks again for any advice. My motivation is that I want to stay well within any applicable carry laws and I also want to be able to travel freely around the US without having to have too many different knives for various locations I might be in (hard enough as it is). I haven't bought an Axis knife yet and wouldn't if I had to have a higher awareness of legal issues while carrying it. Thanks.
 
Hi Lurker.

As a matter of fact, the Legislature this last year in Calif. added more to the existing laws, requiring folders to have a detente. The axis lock, like Rekat's rolling lock and other ball detentes all qualify. The intent was to get rid of the import cheapies that practically fall open. The Legislature would do better to empower LEO's by making it illegal for convicted felons to carry any knife, just like the gun laws, and legalize all carry for law abiding citizens. That way, an officer sees a known gang banger with a pocket clip showing, he could arrest him on the spot. That would be a minimum of two strikes. The laws banning switchblade, balisongs, etc., are quite simply forms of racism and bigotry. The evil Puerto Ricans from the musical, "The Westside Story" carried stillettos. Phillipinos carry balisongs. It's ignorant bigotry. Like when the Sikh, shortly after 9-11, was arrested on a train for carrying a ceremonial dagger with him. The dagger is part of his religion and culture, the Sikh being part of the warrior caste.

Hank:cool:
 
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