The operative statutes for knives in CT are
C.G.S. 53-206 Carrying of dangerous weapons prohibited, and
C.G.S 29-38.
Weapons in vehicles. (
C.G.S. 53a-3 defines a Deadly Weapon, but then states that the definition doesnt apply to the previously mentioned statutes.)
As you already found, CT prohibits the carrying of
any knife having an automatic spring release device by which a blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length
As far as I am aware, there is no specific definition of a switchblade. I checked the
CT Judicial Branch website, but did not find any information of use. (That is not to say that there have never been any decisions defining types of knives, just that I didn't find them.)
Note that among the citations following 53-206 is one that reads;
Cited. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 313. Knife not coming within description of statute cannot be included as "any other dangerous or deadly weapon" and is not within prohibition of this section. Id., 551. This leads me to believe that an assisted opening knife shouldn't be considered a switchblade but, unless you are dealing with me, it doesn't necessarily help you.
While I personally would not consider an assisted opening knife a switchblade, I cannot speak for all CT Police Officers. (Some are not as enlightened as I.) I checked with one of our rookies, and asked him what the CT Police Academy is teaching these days. He said that they were shown examples of switchblades and gravity knives, but he had no idea what an assisted opening knife was. To the best of his recollection, such knives were never mentioned in class.
The long and short of it is that, assuming that you carry your assisted opening knife in an unobtrusive manner, you will probably not have any problems. If you are questioned about it, politely explain the difference between your knife and a switchblade. As long as you were behaving yourself, you probably wont get arrested. However, with CTs rather vague definition, its not certain that you could prevail if you did get arrested.
As an aside, the uncertain status of assisted opening knives is precisely the reason I dont carry one. With all of the anti-knife sheeple out there, you never know if one is going to freak out as you open your knife. They may well report you to the Police, claiming that you have a switchblade. The Police are likely to presume the report is correct, and then you are left with overcoming the Officer's belief that you are in possession of an illegal knife. Even though I am certain I would not get arrested, its not worth the hassle to me.
