I heared that in California a knife that "flicks" open can be considered illegal. What do I do? I can flick open almost all of my folders except for the really small ones. I like to carry either my cs el hombre or endura everywhere, but I can flick them open. I don't want to break the law. Any suggestions..
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Knives that flick open
- Thread starter Rhett
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 3,264
The gravity flip test is one that some authorities in various jurisdictions like to apply to any folding knife in the possession of somebody whose day they want to ruin, for good reason or some other kind of reason.
A year or so ago, I spent a couple of days down at the Los Angeles County Criminal Court as an "expert witness" hired by the public defender, to show the jury why the "flipping it open with ten tries" test was an abusive construction of the statute. The dope-dealing bum who owned the cheap POS knife was acquitted on the knife charge, and the county never did pay my bill.
The language in Section 653K of the California penal code regarding thumb-operated one-handers would appear to legalize any knife with a thumb stud or blade hole, even though there is another way to open it, i.e. flipping or maybe even the push button of a DA auto. CAUTION - That theory has not been tested in court!
I can't speak for other states.
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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
A year or so ago, I spent a couple of days down at the Los Angeles County Criminal Court as an "expert witness" hired by the public defender, to show the jury why the "flipping it open with ten tries" test was an abusive construction of the statute. The dope-dealing bum who owned the cheap POS knife was acquitted on the knife charge, and the county never did pay my bill.
The language in Section 653K of the California penal code regarding thumb-operated one-handers would appear to legalize any knife with a thumb stud or blade hole, even though there is another way to open it, i.e. flipping or maybe even the push button of a DA auto. CAUTION - That theory has not been tested in court!
I can't speak for other states.
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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
- Joined
- Feb 20, 1999
- Messages
- 1,284
So James, all we have to do is to make sure the pivot screw is tight enough so much so that 10 flipping tries won't open it, but using the thumbstud or thumbhole will, allbeit with a bit of force, right?
Oh well, I'm not contributing anything constructive here, I see.. sorry.
I'm from another country. I just hope they don't learn from those laws, and implement them here, too!
as our native blades (balisongs) are all flippables.. lol...
Dan
Oh well, I'm not contributing anything constructive here, I see.. sorry.
Dan
If a folder has a pivot screw, then I could tighten it. But if not, should we be in fear of breaking the law in CA because a lot of the folders over 3" will flick open including spydercos and cold steel. Also, if I tighten the screws on my benchmades, they just don't have as good a feel.
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 3,264
Don't bother to tighten the pivot of a one-hand folder in California (assuming that it is adjustable), since the thumb stud or thumb hole makes it street legal, no matter how smooth the action is. No, don't ask me if any of this makes sense.
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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com