Mini Griptilian -a prohibited weapon?

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pbkouri

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Mar 15, 2006
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Benchmade Mini Griptilian 556 Yellow Plain Edge - a prohibited weapon? Ya Right!

I bought the above knife by mail order from the USA, to be delivered to my home in Ontario Canada. Unfortunately, the Canadian border authorities have confiscated the knife claiming that it is a prohibited weapon under Canadian law, because one of the guards was able to fling it into the open position using centrifugal force.

Canadian law defines a prohibited folding knife as: "switchblade knives or other knives that open automatically by gravity or by centrifugal force, or by hand pressure applied to a button, spring, or other device"

Naturally I am appealing, their decision to "destroy" my Griptilian “within 90 days of official letter...”:eek:

Now, we all know that an AXIS locking mechanism is great for locking a blade in the open position. But is there anybody out there who knows if the AXIS lock on the Mini Griptilian also locks the blade closed?

If the AXIS locking mechanism indeed locks the blade in the closed position, I might have a leg to stand on in my appeal against the Canadian government, because I will say the guard had to unlock the blade, before opening it using centrifugal force.

Any words of wisdom are appreciated.:o
 
Seeing as how you can open the knife with your thumb without touching the AXIS lock, I don't believe you can claim that it is locked closed by the AXIS. Sorry to hear about your troubles.
 
If you swing it hard enough, you can open an axis blade without touching the lock. Chances are the customs guy did.

The bigger problem is (probably) that you can get that knife in Canada, and they want you to. Canadian customs seem to be viciously protective of the canadian economy (one knife at a time).
 
Mine definitely opens without needing to manipulate the locking mech. However, the locking mech "biases the knife towards the closed position." This is how these knives get around the "centrifugal force" stipulation in laws so written. These knives are also illegal in New York City, as are any knives that can be flipped open (including by holding the blade and flipping the handle). My advice would be to buy in Canada or from Canadian online vendors.
 
Nimick said:
<<The bigger problem is (probably) that you can get that knife in Canada, >>
Click to expand...

If the above is true than thats your defence. The Knife is sold in Canada so importing one should not be a problem. Take all those others off the shelves and out of each home and then they can destroy your new knife.
 
F3X said:
If the above is true than thats your defence. The Knife is sold in Canada so importing one should not be a problem. Take all those others off the shelves and out of each home and then they can destroy your new knife.
Click to expand...

I should mention that I do not know about the availability of this particular knife (griptillian). It has been the case in similar situations in the past that the knife that was held was available in Canada.
 
So, he's got 90 days to find out if the mini grip is sold by brick and mortar stores somewhere in Canada. And, to find out if there is some sort of special provision that allows these vendors (and not the general public) to import these knives.
 
Man that sucks! Stupid !@#! customs! I hope you get your knife.
I WAS considering buying another spyderco from a U.S vendor but now... well i 'll try Lebaron first. I just need their newest catalog. Hmmmm FYI the 2002 Lebaron Catalogue had the Griptilian model 551 in it so it was available for sale in Canada, at least a few years ago. Edit* Lebaron catalogue pdf at
http://www.lebaron.ca/pdf_access_sp06/index.htm .
Would customs be able to pull the same crap on a liner lock knife?
The blades on spyderco liner locks are tight right? Thats inherent in the liner lock design isn't it? Meaning a knife like the manix will not be openable "by gravity or by centrifugal force". I have a victorinox OHT trekker liner lock, it cannot be opened "by gravity or by centrifugal force". However its blade is a lot thinner and lighter than the meatier spydercos. Will a thicker heavier blade be more inclined to be opened in the "prohibited" fashion?
Anybody here with a Manix?
 
Oops the manix is not a liner lock! Damn there goes that idea! And i really like the Manix. Anyway same question i stated above but directed towards owners of the Spyderco Military (liner lock) knife.
 
Haven't played with a military, but my kershaw whirlwind and benchmade apparition (both linerlocks and both assisted opening) can be opened with a snap of the wrist. The only knives that I own that can't are a buck 110 and a SAK. Tight blades are not really a function of lock design. Pretty much any knife can be snapped open given a sufficient snap. Avoid the hassle, buy Canadian.
 
Just tighten the pivoting mechanism as tight as you can get it and loosen it back up when you've made it across the border. I assure you the guard won't be able to open it with a flick of the wrist if at all once it's nice and tight.
 
Galeno said:
Just tighten the pivoting mechanism as tight as you can get it and loosen it back up when you've made it across the border. I assure you the guard won't be able to open it with a flick of the wrist if at all once it's nice and tight.
Click to expand...

Or apply a little super glue to the pivot. :eek: :rolleyes:
Don't know if the handles dissolve in acetone, though. :foot:
 
Just make sure that they used the "approved" method for snapping the knife open.
And check to see if the knife is available in Canada, if you buy a folder from the US always see if you can have the vendor tighten the knife as much as possible before they send it.
I am not an expert but I have heard that even if the model of the knife is not prohibited your particular knife may be prohibited if it fails the test
 
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