What's the deal with Kershaw's Speedsafe?

C

c_meisenzahl

Joined
Dec 27, 2001
Messages
51
Is it switchblade or not? All I remember is seeing spring loaded knives from old black and white movies about bikers. How does this differ? Is it legal to carry in all states?
 
The generally accepted thought is that the speedsafe is not a switchblade. To make a long story short it is an assisted opening. You have to start the blade in motion. There is not a button that you push to make it open.

Of course I am still waiting to hear of some overzealous prosecutor charging someone with it as a test case.
 
You open it the first 20%, the spring assist opens it the other 80%, therefore it is not an automatic since you must initiate the opening of the blade. Some could say "Well you have to initiate a switchblade by pushing a button, don't you?" There is no button/lever/what-have-you on the Speedsafe mechanism. Not to mention I think it's a fan-@#!$ing-tastic design!

Can't wait to get my hands on my Black Chive! :D
 
Originally posted by c_meisenzahl
Is it switchblade or not? All I remember is seeing spring loaded knives from old black and white movies about bikers. How does this differ? Is it legal to carry in all states?
Click to expand...

The "Speed Safe" mechanism is not a switchblade under the current federal description. Most states use the same wording as federal law, but not all. You need to check your state and local laws if you want to be safe.

--Bob Q
 
We received a letter recently from Blue Ridge Knives, a distributor fo cutlery, that due to one stupid prosecutor's ruling in lower Michigan they would no longer ship any Kershaw Speed Safe openers of any knid to Michigan dealers. When will the madness stop? Brian
 
Speed-Safe knives ship and sell openly all over the country. The Michigan situation mentioned by BFH Knives is the first time I've ever heard of a problem. What a pity! Hopefully, that attitude will not become widespread.
 
The problem, if the Michigan case is true, is that a precedent has been set. That means that a domino effect can result in any following case. But it can't get any worse than Canadian laws. They openly sell AFCKs and Kershaw Speedsafe knives over the counter at local retailers but they seize, on more than one occassion, the very same knives when they pass through customs. It just makes me shake my head and I hesitate buying any folding knife that can be opened with one hand from the US. :mad:

Up here, one customs agent will consider a Speedsafe a switchblade-type of knife. Another customs agent will not. It's like ordering a knife at a casino...you purchase an item from the US based on rules of chance. You might get it, you might not. The laws/regulations are up for interpretation and the results are always inconsistent.

Anyone in Canada have a knife seized? I got a REKAT Sifu SE seized last year. I won't ever see that knife.

Burton (Sifu-less)
 
Originally posted by BFH Knives
...due to one stupid prosecutor's ruling in lower Michigan they would no longer ship any Kershaw Speed Safe openers of any knid to Michigan dealers. When will the madness stop? Brian
Click to expand...

I will have to admit that i saw that one coming. If we are honest we probably all knew that it would happen. I don't believe the Speedsafe is a switchblade, but to someone that is uneducated it could appear to be "close enough".
 
Anyone in Canada have a knife seized? I got a REKAT Sifu SE seized last year. I won't ever see that knife.
Click to expand...
well, last year they tried to seize my minitask that i've ordered from roger. It cost me 2 months and a lot of hassle to get it back. You can do a search by my user name to read the whole story.
 
Just as was said above, we all knew that assisted openers were gonna attract the wrong attention. What's worse is that they bridge the gap between autos and manual folders; a gap that needed to stay as wide as possible. Just my opinion anyway...

Professor.
 
Doug Flagg from Kershaw sent me this to post:

______________________________________________________________________

Oct 31st , 2001


To Our Customers:

A Kent County District Attorney has recently notified Kershaw that our Speed-Safe knives could be construed as illegal in the State of Michigan.

There have been no lawsuits or charges brought against Kershaw, or to our knowledge against any of our distributors or retailers. The District Attorney states that it is his opinion that the Speed-Safe knives violate MCLA 750.226A, which makes it a misdemeanor under certain circumstances to possess any knife that opens by means of a "mechanical contrivance."

We feel obligated to make our customers aware of this development. Many different knives sold by us and other companies are subject to a wide variety of state and local laws and regulations. Due to the complexity and constantly changing nature of these laws and regulations, it is impossible for Kershaw to be aware of every restriction in every location in which our knives are sold or carried. Because you sell your products to retailers and end-users, it is your responsibility to keep apprised of the laws that apply to you and your customers.

The opinion of the Kent County District Attorney may not have a widespread effect. Regardless, Kershaw has determined not to ship knives equipped with Speed-Safe into the State of Michigan. If your business resides in Michigan and you wish a refund on your purchases, please call for an R/A# and we will gladly accept Speed-Safe knives back.

If you have any questions please call Jeff Goddard at 800-325-2891.

Sincerely,


Jeff Goddard
National Sales Manager
 
I have also been looking at the speedsafe knives and did a little searching a while back and you might want to take a look at the thread below. It seems that there is a case in Washington State happening right now. It appears from reading (the whole thing, it goes from being a hoax to something all too real) that Kershaw and Ken Onion have gotten involved to the point of Kershaw giving $2000 to a lawyer for this guy.
I don't know if this if going to stop me from getting a Chive, but the Boa is on hold.



Please help: Going to court for a Ken Onion Kershaw
 
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