Need some help

[Darius099]

Typical thread, sorry to annoy the kindly forum goers here, but I could use some advice.

I would like to carry for purposes of self defense, under the following stipulations.

My best choice was a switchblade, which is, of course, illegal. I am living in Alabama. My next choice was some sort of gravity version of a switchblade (no spring release), assuming it exists.

My last choices are really butterfly knives, which I have much less experience with.

What is legal? When/how does concealment come in? Blade length?

Thanks a ton to anyone willing to talk to me about this issue.

~Darius099

 

[Will P.]

Whatever the law says, legality is largely a matter of intent. If you are carrying something that a police officer thinks is a weapon, he will make trouble for you.

I would recommend a good manual folding knife like the AFCK, or even something less menacing looking. It is possible to be faster and more reliable with a manual opener (especially the AFCK) than with a lot of switchblades. Also, you have a degree of plausible deniability with respect to its purpose as a weapon.

Gravity knives are not modified switchblades; they are simply knives without a detent. A lot of POS knives can be used as gravity knives. Axis knives can also be used in this fashion. Gravity knives are, for me at least, slower opening than switchblades and much worse than a manual opening.

(Just my 2 cents. Sorry for not answering most of your questions.)

 

[davebolton]

Don't know about Alabama, but here in Canada pretty much any knife that can be opened by inertia, whether gravity knife, butterfly knife or other can saddle you with a prohibited weapons offense. Making the charges stick against someone who had no criminal intent, is more difficult, particularly with a decent lawyer. You should be able to find amendments to your criminal code online if you search for prohibited weapons.

 

[Rex G]

I just looked at the applicable law for Alabama, and it seems just about any folder is OK for concealed carry in Alabama. The fly in the ointment is that defensive use of a weapon will be reviewed by police, prosecutors, and quite possibly by judges and juries. All else being equal, a less menacing-appearing weapon will cast the user in a better light. I am NOT giving you legal advice, but it seems that any folder that is capable of fitting into a pocket is legal in Alabama, whereas just about any fixed blade can be construed to be a Bowie knife. My personal take on this: My peace officer status in Texas means I can carry ANY weapon concealed in Texas, but I do not carry a switchblade, gravity knife, or butterfly knife, even though I can. I can open my Spyderco Gunting and Strider AR quickly enough. I have considered an "out-the-front" auto knife, but the ones of high enough quality for me to trust cost almost as much as a pistol, and anywhere in Texas that I can carry a switchblade, I can carry a pistol. I usually open a folder with my thumb, because I want the confidence of feeling the lock engaging. If I kinetically open my Gunting, or "pop" open my AR, the sound of the lock-up is loud enough to assure me the blade is secured. (I have handled and own folders that are not loud enough to give me that assurance.) One factor to consider regarding switchblades: An auto knife is only fast to open if the knife is already in hand, with the thumb or a finger already on the firing button. Finding the button can be difficult if someone is thrashing you about the head, or if your adrenaline rush has your body shaking. Kinetic opening is as fast as a switchblade, if not faster, because finding that little button is a fine motor skill. A member of BF, Brownie, can teach you to deploy just about any folder by "popping" it open, and his method also beats a switchblade, because of the issue of finding that darned little button. He will have to trust you first. Contact him by PM or e-mail.