Swiichblade laws

[Jon Lumpkin]

I thought that possession of a switchblade knife was illegal in all states under federal law unless you are an active member of law enforcement or the military.I hear that FL and OR residents can legally carry switchblades made in their states.Can someone out there please explain this?
I would also like to know if some of the knives that are designed to be opened by a thumb stud or hole in the blade but could possibly be "flicked" open could be considered a switchblade although it wasn't designed to be opened by inertia.
Any and all help will be appreciated.

 

[Lurker]

Welcome to the forum, Jon.

I believe the Federal law bans interstate commerce in swithcblades, but not thier actual use or posession. That's up to the state laws. Importing switch blades into Oregon, for instance, is illegal, but importing switchblade parts is legal. Put them together inside Oregon and you can sell them. Viola, you just skirted the law.

There are other states where carrying concealed switchblades is illegal, but where there is no mention in the law that openly carrying a switchblade is illegal. Therefore, it would be legal to carry one openly.

I used to think that all swithcblades were inherently illegal, like cocaine or whatever. Probably a lot of people do. Then one day I was surprised to see some in the display case of a local knife shop.

As for flickable knives, yes, they can get lumped in with either switchblades or gravity knives or some other legally-challenged category, notably in California. I would be careful to carry a flickable knife in accordance with whatever laws govern switchblades or gravity knives in a given jurisdiction.