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Speed-Safe?
- Thread starter serator
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 6, 1999
- Messages
- 2,639
The speed safe mechanism does Not seem to fit the usual legal definition of 'automatic' or 'switchblade' knife. It has no button in the handle to release the blade. Manual deployment of the blade is still required.
I have a Kershaw mini task. I love it. So I've been following this issue carefully. Kershaw feels that it IS NOT an automatic by legal definitions currently in the books. But I don't think this has been tested in a court of law yet. I've had people freak out over my use of a standard liner-lock. I'm sure whoever first gets into legal difficulties with a speed-safe knife will probably receive Lots of free legal help from Kershaw.
These knives are sold in every state. Government has not stepped in to charge anyone with a crime for use, sales, possession, or transport of speed safe knives as far as I can tell. Switchblade laws are local, state, and Federal. I think they are silly, but the penalties are severe.
It's an interesting question that you should be aware of along with All the legal issues surrounding carry of any knife. Don't flip the knife open Fast in front of the wrong folks. Be safe. Be careful.
[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 30 December 1999).]
I have a Kershaw mini task. I love it. So I've been following this issue carefully. Kershaw feels that it IS NOT an automatic by legal definitions currently in the books. But I don't think this has been tested in a court of law yet. I've had people freak out over my use of a standard liner-lock. I'm sure whoever first gets into legal difficulties with a speed-safe knife will probably receive Lots of free legal help from Kershaw.
These knives are sold in every state. Government has not stepped in to charge anyone with a crime for use, sales, possession, or transport of speed safe knives as far as I can tell. Switchblade laws are local, state, and Federal. I think they are silly, but the penalties are severe.
It's an interesting question that you should be aware of along with All the legal issues surrounding carry of any knife. Don't flip the knife open Fast in front of the wrong folks. Be safe. Be careful.
[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 30 December 1999).]
i don't care- i love my Random Task and i'm not giving it back!!! you can't make me!!!...seriously though, this has become my daily carry now; i can't say anything bad about this knife and i do some serious investigating before buying anything like this. anybody remember all the questions i asked about a month ago? even had Ken Onion responding on the forums! oh, yes, Ken if you read this, there is one thing bad that i can say about the Random Task....it should be buy one, get one free!! yeah, i know, i know.....worked all night, time to go get some sleep....Happy Y2k all!
- Joined
- Jul 2, 1999
- Messages
- 1,347
The speed safe knives are NOT automatics.
Swithcblade= Any knife that opens automatically by pressure applied to a button or other device located inside the handle.
There is no pressure being applied to anything inside the handle as the thumbstud is outside of the handle.
Mr Onion also brought the knife to be inspected by some officials. I think it was a DA. It was decided that the knife was NOT a switchblade and WAS LEGAL.(I heard this somewhere, but can't remember where.)
To top it off, I just read an issue of, I think, Blade magazine where there was an article on the subject. The author said that the knife was legal and was not a switchblade. He recommended carying one as an alternative to the illegal automatics. He did not give the usuall "this is only my opinion" disclaimer.
There is one downside to all of this though, the knife still fits the classification of "gravity knife"
Gravity knife= Any knife which has a blade that can be opened by gravity or the application of centrifugal force.(A bull **** law if you ask me)
By this deffination, any knife that can be opened by flicking your wrist is illegal.
With a normal knife you might not get such a rise out of the local authorities, provoking them to nit pick with the law. But the automatic appearance of the Kershaw's might aggrevate them and lead to them slapping you with the BS "gravity knife" law.
I hope this helps.
------------------
Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
Knives, Weapons and equipment. Best prices anywhere.
-------------
"only the paranoid will survive"
[This message has been edited by TheMartialWay (edited 31 December 1999).]
Swithcblade= Any knife that opens automatically by pressure applied to a button or other device located inside the handle.
There is no pressure being applied to anything inside the handle as the thumbstud is outside of the handle.
Mr Onion also brought the knife to be inspected by some officials. I think it was a DA. It was decided that the knife was NOT a switchblade and WAS LEGAL.(I heard this somewhere, but can't remember where.)
To top it off, I just read an issue of, I think, Blade magazine where there was an article on the subject. The author said that the knife was legal and was not a switchblade. He recommended carying one as an alternative to the illegal automatics. He did not give the usuall "this is only my opinion" disclaimer.
There is one downside to all of this though, the knife still fits the classification of "gravity knife"
Gravity knife= Any knife which has a blade that can be opened by gravity or the application of centrifugal force.(A bull **** law if you ask me)
By this deffination, any knife that can be opened by flicking your wrist is illegal.
With a normal knife you might not get such a rise out of the local authorities, provoking them to nit pick with the law. But the automatic appearance of the Kershaw's might aggrevate them and lead to them slapping you with the BS "gravity knife" law.
I hope this helps.
------------------
Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
Knives, Weapons and equipment. Best prices anywhere.
-------------
"only the paranoid will survive"
[This message has been edited by TheMartialWay (edited 31 December 1999).]