Explanation of Amendment 1447

Critter

Critter

Platinum Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2003
Messages
1,765
Many have asked how this Amendment 1447 would solve the Customs switchblade issue. We've got your answer here: http://bit.ly/Mwd5E

We still have one more significant hurdle to overcome, Conference Committee. We're working very hard hand in hand with the other advocacy organizations involved and our friends in the House to try to ensure it makes it through. Expect more on that next week.
 
Maybe I need to study the mechanism involved in assisted opening knives but I have been thrown off by the "biased toward closure" language. If a knife is an "assistant opener" how is the mechanism that provides that assistance considered a mechanism that is "biased towards closure" of the knife?
 
^A torsion spring is used both for deployment assistance and retention. So it's sprung in both modalities.
 
Biased toward closure is any knife that is not inherently biased toward opening. As was described an auto that is always under tension to open is biased toward opening. In a assisted opening knife the spring tension is used to keep the knife closed, therefore it is biased toward closure. To open the knife force must be exerted to the blade or by flipping or flicking to overcome the spring tension keeping it closed. This is opposed to an auto knife where the spring tension is released by a latching type mechanism via a button, plate, etc but not the knife blade itself.
 
SOLEIL said:
Biased toward closure is any knife that is not inherently biased toward opening. As was described an auto that is always under tension to open is biased toward opening. In a assisted opening knife the spring tension is used to keep the knife closed, therefore it is biased toward closure. To open the knife force must be exerted to the blade or by flipping or flicking to overcome the spring tension keeping it closed. This is opposed to an auto knife where the spring tension is released by a latching type mechanism via a button, plate, etc but not the knife blade itself.
Click to expand...

Some (DA OTF) auto's use spring tension to keep it closed and is not inherently biased towards opening.
 
SOLEIL said:
Good point, didn't think about OTF. I'm really not familiar with OTF knives. Do they all open using a latch release button or do some have a way to open them by manipulating a part of the blade? IIRC the button release thing was always a sticking point for auto definition. It would be great if they were exempt:thumbup:. I would love to own one but just can't justify the cost for a quality piece right now and don't want to waste money on a cheap one. I gotta hit the lottery:D.
Click to expand...

Some are single action OTF's (Halo's, cheapies). Push a button and the blade pops out. Manual retract. D/A OTF's on the other hand have a slide on the side (or top) and dual springs inside. The knife is biased closed until the spring pressure is overcome then it pops the blade out. Same for retracting except the blade (when open) is locked with an internal latch that is deactivated when retracting via the slide.
 
If I'm understanding this correctly assisted openers are biased towards closed until you reach some point in the opening process and then they are biased towards open. Is this correct?
 
2edgesword said:
If I'm understanding this correctly assisted openers are biased towards closed until you reach some point in the opening process and then they are biased towards open. Is this correct?
Click to expand...
Correct.
The closed-bias of the spring/torsion-bar/etc keeps them from opening in your pocket.
To open, you push on the flipper, thumb-stud, thumb-hole, etc until you pass the 'neutral point' of the spring. Pushing any further biases the spring to flip the blade out.
 
If this passes, would it also prohibit the NyPD from arresting people for having "gravity knives"?
 
flashlife said:
Correct.
The closed-bias of the spring/torsion-bar/etc keeps them from opening in your pocket.
To open, you push on the flipper, thumb-stud, thumb-hole, etc until you pass the 'neutral point' of the spring. Pushing any further biases the spring to flip the blade out.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the clarification.
 
joe-bob said:
If this passes, would it also prohibit the NyPD from arresting people for having "gravity knives"?
Click to expand...

I don't think so. Cities may still pass local ordinances.
 
joe-bob said:
If this passes, would it also prohibit the NyPD from arresting people for having "gravity knives"?
Click to expand...


Unfortunately, no. That's a state/city/county? ordinance. It may, however, help considerably if the law NY uses in that regard ever comes before a US court.
 
A few years ago, I heard Kershaw stepped in to help one of their customers who had legal problems concerning this type of knife. I thought they had a precedent set. What happened?
 
There's a reason the "gravity knives" was in quotes...NYPD has been making up their own definitions. I wondered if this amendment would correct that injustice.
 
AR fan said:
A few years ago, I heard Kershaw stepped in to help one of their customers who had legal problems concerning this type of knife. I thought they had a precedent set. What happened?
Click to expand...

Some person or persons in US customs decided that all previous legal precedent was wrong due to misinterpretation of established switchblade definitions of the last 51 years. Customs made up their own interpretation and ignored all previous ones. Just another agency frivolously over stepping their boundaries for the sake of "our protection" with no regard to the economic and legal aspects of their actions.
 
OTFs aren't going to become legal by the amendment, this is an exemption added to a restriction against knives that are opened by actuating a mechanism without touching the blade. OTFs have a button. I think NY could still do as they wish, one because states can be more restrictive than federal law, and two, this doesn't necessarily make flickable knives legal. You don't have to touch the blade to open them. And of course, true gravity knives don't have a bias to closed.
 
Moved to the appropriate forum.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top