The new BM Adamas, takes the opening to a new level. I can just hold the knife in my hand and merely flick it and the heavy blade just falls out and open. And that's without touching the lock at all.
I personally have ZERO issue with that and think it's a great feature. However, my understanding is that in some locales, this very feature (falling open by use of gravity, a flick of the wrist, etc.) can make the knife illegal by definition. It depends on who's doing the interpreting of the law, of course, and most folks will never have a problem. But consider the wording of this portion of WA state law, where I live:
From
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.250
(1)
Every person who:
(a) Manufactures, sells, or disposes of or
possesses any instrument or weapon of the kind usually known as slung shot, sand club, or metal knuckles, or spring blade knife, or
any knife the blade of which is automatically released by a spring mechanism or other mechanical device, or any knife having a blade which opens, or falls, or is ejected into position by the force of gravity, or by an outward, downward, or centrifugal thrust or movement;
(b) Furtively carries with intent to conceal any dagger, dirk, pistol, or other dangerous weapon; or
(c) Uses any contrivance or device for suppressing the noise of any firearm unless the suppressor is legally registered and possessed in accordance with federal law,
is guilty of a gross misdemeanor punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.
It goes on to add that the only exceptions are for law enforcement officers.
Again, I don't like this legislation, and our state is working to change it with some current pending bills. However, I'm afraid this law could easily be interpreted to apply to those that open like the one described above. And of course, this could easily be applied to ANY Axis lock, which is annoying to say the least because I LIKE the Axis lock, a lot.
