Land of the free and the home of the Clintons...

[mchad]

New York State has many nice things about it. However personal freedoms are wearing thin. A few years ago our great Governor decided to pass a law in the middle of the night effectively banning most semi-auto rifles and get this - all magazines with greater then 8 round capacity. The 8 round thing didn't last - now its 10. Anyway, as is expected, automatic knives are also illegal, EXCEPT when used while hunting or fishing with a valid license. So I happen to have both licenses, along with a boat that has a fishing rod on it. That being said, according to NYS law, I am legally entitled to own and possess a automatic knife.

Problem is, I have not found a dealer in NYS sells them, and no online vendors will ship to NYS. My question is, is it legal to purchase one in a state where legal and send it to myself, for my own legal use?

 

[glistam]

I could have done without the political ranting you opened with. Not because of any opinion on my part, but that it's not appropriate in this particular sub-forum. Generally you want to keep that confined to Whine & Cheese.

Alrighty then, on to the relevant part.

Automatic knives are also illegal, EXCEPT when used while hunting or fishing with a valid license. So I happen to have both licenses, along with a boat that has a fishing rod on it. That being said, according to NYS law, I am legally entitled to own and possess a automatic knife.

Problem is, I have not found a dealer in NYS sells them, and no online vendors will ship to NYS. My question is, is it legal to purchase one in a state where legal and send it to myself, for my own legal use?

Generally speaking, yes. If you physically travel to a state where sale and possession of automatic knives is legal, you can purchase one there and take it or send it home. Federal law only prohibits the sale over state lines; once you've bought it, it's your personal property and moving or mailing it ceases to be "commerce."

It's illegal under federal law to send an auto using the US Postal Service, but UPS, Fedex, DHL or whatever are fine because they are not subject to that particular set of regulations. Note that because most autos look more or less exactly like regular folders even when X-rayed, this rule is also largely unenforceable unless you go into a post office playing with the knife before boxing it.

Regarding New York State's laws, it's a rather interesting intersection of laws. The lack of NYS stores selling autos likely stems from the law not providing any exception or protection to merchants of said knives, and the courts definitely have a history of going after stores for selling "illegal knives" in NY. If I ran a cutlery store in NY I'd be terrified.

 

[tom19176]

Agreed with glistam ( as always). There are several stores in NY that DO sell auto knives BUT they can only legally sell them to law enforcement. They tend to be FFL dealers but I have seen knife only dealers openly sell them with it posted "for law enforcement only". They are openly sold at the annual knife show in Mystic Conn. The issue is the law allows them to be owned for those sporting uses, but the sale of them is banned. This was done for more of a "grand Fathering " of knives owned, but it allows for ownership and limited carry but not for legal transfer or sale. The transfer of one can only be to a dealer or a LEO. The sporting licenses allow ownership but they do not make the license holder an authorized buyer within NYS.......

 

[mchad]

Apologies for the rant. Thanks for the replies, I didn't realize autos were sold in CT, that may resolve my issue. I'll look into it. Appreciate it.