ME Knife Law Question, the whole spring assist thing...

[Crazyotter]

So seeing as Maine Knife Laws are very vague, I had a question that really bugs me. First, a copy of a chapter.

A person is guilty of trafficking in dangerous knives, if providing
he has no right to do so, he knowingly manufactures or causes to be
manufactured, or knowingly possesses, displays, offers,
sells, lends, gives away or purchases any knife which has
a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied
to a button, spring or other device in the handle of the
knife, 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. 2.
Trafficking in dangerous knives is a Class D crime.

Why are spring assisted knifes legal in Maine? They are sold by most stores around here, and well, you apply hand pressure to a flipper or stud and flick, open. Therefore, shouldn't they be illegal? Not that I'm complaining, but I'm annoyed those are allowed but not autos or butterflies.

 

[jnich67]

So seeing as Maine Knife Laws are very vague, I had a question that really bugs me. First, a copy of a chapter.

A person is guilty of trafficking in dangerous knives, if providing
he has no right to do so, he knowingly manufactures or causes to be
manufactured, or knowingly possesses, displays, offers,
sells, lends, gives away or purchases any knife which has
a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied
to a button, spring or other device in the handle of the
knife, 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. 2.
Trafficking in dangerous knives is a Class D crime.

Why are spring assisted knifes legal in Maine? They are sold by most stores around here, and well, you apply hand pressure to a flipper or stud and flick, open. Therefore, shouldn't they be illegal? Not that I'm complaining, but I'm annoyed those are allowed but not autos or butterflies.

Thank you for the reply in my other thread. I think the button on the handle thing is meant to mirror federal law concerning "switchblades," and goes back many, many years.

Jordan

 

[tapedeck74]

by hand pressure applied
to a[/B] button, spring or other device in the handle of the
knife,

Same reason they're legal in Canada, as our law is written almost identical. You don't push a button on the handle to open the knife. The fact that a spring is involved in opening is irrelevant since it doesn't have anything to do with the handle.