Legality of a spring-assist knife

Posted by: el_diabl0

Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/10/08 01:52 PM

I recently got a Gerber FAST draw spring-assisted knife as a gift, and was wondering about the legality of it in Ohio. Anyone know the law on one of these? I can open it faster than most switch blades.

Also, anyone familiar with this model? Gerber FAST draw How is it for EDC?
Posted by: Grouch

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/10/08 02:09 PM

Ohio laws are pretty vague when it comes to knives. The Ohio Revised Code has little to say on the matter of possession.

http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2923.20

Local laws may be more specific and/or restrictive.
Posted by: Grouch

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/10/08 02:40 PM

It says:

"Manufacture, possess for sale, sell, or furnish to any person other than a law
enforcement agency for authorized use in police work, any brass knuckles, cestus, billy, blackjack, sandbag, switchblade knife, springblade knife, gravity knife, or similar weapon;"

Specifically, possess for sale, sell, or furnish to...

It doesn't really say it's illegal to possess one for personal use.


Posted by: Grouch

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/10/08 03:04 PM

Ohio is just plain weird sometimes. It's legal to sell fireworks in Ohio but not for use in Ohio ('cept by fire officials or pros). There's a waiver that must be signed stating that they are for use outside of Ohio. Most folks just sign the lie and buy what they want.

Regarding knives, I've been a cop in Ohio for almost 20 years and I've never even checked a knife to see if it was auto-open, let alone bust someone for possessing one. Of course there will always be cops that'll bust their granny for jaywalkin' but I'm not one of them. smile
Posted by: Grouch

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/10/08 03:22 PM

Originally Posted By: IzzyJG99
Personally the only difference between an assisted/spring/switchblade and a normal folding knife is one thing. The time between them pulling it out and stabbing you right in the buttcheek is a little less. You know what I mean? Lol.

Yup, and even then, it's not all that much faster than the deployment of many folders without the assist.

Quote:
I think el diablo might as well carry it. I honestly have not ever run into a cop that's checked to see where I was wearing my knife. But then again the two times a cop has ever had to pat me down I said "I have a folding knife in my front pocket." and they seem to just pass over it and act as if it's not there.

I agree. He should be okay as long as he doesn't give the cops a reason to give him more than casual scrutiny.
Posted by: el_diabl0

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/10/08 04:30 PM

Thanks for the replies. It was purchased for me online/out of state.

What's worse is that I have a concealed handgun license, but I'm afraid of getting thrown in jail for a little pocket knife, lol. The Beretta 96d I carry is not a problem!
Posted by: Chris Kavanaugh

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/10/08 04:35 PM

Is everyone aware of Doug's other effort Kniferights.org?

There are laws on the books everywhere, so poorly written and thought out they cry for a test case. If you don't feel like being one, a few thoughts:

Demeaner is everything. In a age of slobwear, a man with a tie and longsleeved, pressed shirt is going to be treated differently than the guy in a Jimmy Buffet lookalike contest.
If you are searched, that whistle, sparklite box and flashlight establish an association of purpose; ie I am preparing to survive, not burgle the hardware store.

Does this work? I was in a steakhouse that provided liability free knives; roundnosed and DULL. Without thinking, I pulled out my Ritter, opened it onehanded and proceeded to eat. My companions sort of froze, as two policemen in the opposite booth were looking at me. Then one said " somebody is thinking" and they both pulled out their Spydercos and started cutting.
Posted by: Grouch

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/10/08 06:07 PM

Originally Posted By: Chris Kavanaugh
Demeaner is everything. In a age of slobwear, a man with a tie and longsleeved, pressed shirt is going to be treated differently than the guy in a Jimmy Buffet lookalike contest.

I concur. Right or wrong, we make snap judgements based on the information that's readily available. If appearance is all we've got to go on, the neat looking guy will draw much less scrutiny than a gang-banger wannabe with his underwear and butt-crack showing (no offense to plumbers).
Posted by: Art_in_FL

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/11/08 03:52 AM

I've never been quite sure what the supposed advantage of a 'spring assisted' knife is supposed to be. IMO most every type of folder worth having has a 'opening hole' or notch that allows it to be opened single handed about as fast as anyone could want. If you need it faster than that use a fixed blade.

One of the reasons I like the Leatherman Wave is that both main blades, differentiated by the notches ground into the back of the serrated blade, have these holes and are quite easy to get out of their holster and open in one smooth move. I always know which blade I'm flicking open because I always store the knife in the same orientation within the holster.

The Leatherman has two advantages that tend to avoid legal conflicts. First, is that it is automatically seen as more of a tool and less of a weapon. Being able to honestly state that I use it in my job only reinforces this point. Second, it has no spring action in blade opening.

Spring action of virtually any kind starts brings to mind the switchblades from the 50s street punk movies. Butterfly knives have similar bad press from the 70s low-budget martial arts movies.

Sure, people can [censored] and moan about how stupid knife laws are but anything short of objections forceful enough to actually change the law you have to deal with them. Get over it. Moderate your equipment selections and presentation to avoid scaring people and catching the eye of the law and you will likely never have a problem. Pretty much common sense and common courtesy.
Posted by: haertig

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/11/08 04:59 AM

For me, regular folders are faster to open that those assisted ones. I've handled a few assist knives and didn't like any of them. By the time I've maneuvered them into a position in my hand where I feel safe flicking that assist release, I could have had a regular folder already open and in use. And some of them have safeties on them so they don't accidentally open in your pocket. While that's a good thing, it just slows down the knife even further when you have to mess with the safety. Add to all this the "Is it legal?" question. Whether it is or is isn't, you could still be in for a hassle from local law enforcement. I consider assisted opening knives as a solution in search of a problem, and a poor solution at that. Just my opinion, of course.
Posted by: EMPnotImplyNuclear

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/11/08 09:14 AM

spring-assisted knives are not switchblades/springblades.


Generally, a spring blade knife is a k... pressed[/B].



RoadsideImports LLC : Assisted Knife Laws


Why is the butterfly knife illegal in Oh... Yahoo! Answers

Posted by: Grouch

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/11/08 09:49 AM

Originally Posted By: Art_in_FL
I've never been quite sure what the supposed advantage of a 'spring assisted' knife is supposed to be. IMO most every type of folder worth having has a 'opening hole' or notch that allows it to be opened single handed about as fast as anyone could want.

Originally Posted By: haertig
For me, regular folders are faster to open that those assisted ones.

I agree that with the knives available today, spring assisted opening isn't all that beneficial but it hasn't been all that many years since opening a typical pocket knife was a two handed operation.
Posted by: Tom_L

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/11/08 03:44 PM

I don't see much purpose for an assisted opening knife either. I can open my waved Endura faster than any other knife, autos included. Besides, it only takes gross motor skills - it's just a matter of puling your knife out of the pocket. Whereas with any assisted opening/auto knife you need to fiddle with a button.

Seriously, if speed is of concern, get a waved knife. As simple as that and (still) legal.
Posted by: CANOEDOGS

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/11/08 03:58 PM


my best switchblade story---summer 1964 i'm doing the high school kid hike around Europe..i'm in the French Alps,maybe..
someplace like that--i see a knife shop..i'm looking at stuff and ask to see one of the switchblades of course..the old lady behind the counter get one out--a big one--and snaps it open..
"fishing knife"----
Posted by: mwigant

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/11/08 06:52 PM

I removed the spring from my kershaw so there would be no grey area. I was afraid that officers or security guards who didn't share my legal opinions would confiscate it.
Posted by: Chris Kavanaugh

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/11/08 07:08 PM

The real social problem with any quick opening knife is the act of showing off opening it.It's not unlike the many tricks you can perform with a Colt SAA or a martial artist getting into an exaggerated fighing stance.
By the time you've twirled your Colt, flipped the filipino butterfly or braced yourself the other person has either already shot,stabbed or drop kicked you between the goal posts.
It's a nice feature for emergency one handed opening. Otherwise, I save the mechanism undue wear and let the italian hard sausage and cheese sweat a few more minutes like Richard Widmark did in his first movies.
Posted by: Hikin_Jim

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/11/08 07:52 PM

It seems like non-spring-assisted and spring-assisted locking knives are generally legal, provided that they aren't concealed.

It seems like a knife clipped to one's pocket or the like is not considered concealed. Is that the general consensus?
Posted by: Lono

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/11/08 08:03 PM

I'm always willing to add in some useless and potentialy wrong trivia to a topic like this - back in 1985-87, there was and probably still is a ban on the importation of switchblades into the US, however a one-armed person could legally import switchblades for personal use. I remember reading the reg, and was so pleased when the T/F question actually appeared on the customhouse broker's license examination the year I took it.

The other good bit from that exam had to do with cattle that roamed across a free range border were not considered illegally imported. I could imagine a smart rancher setting up his operations uphill on the Canadian side, and letting his cattle go down to the slaughterhouse under their own power.

There is the apocryphal and probably wrong story about my grandfather, who made it part of his business to import whiskey during prohibition, by rolling barrels of the stuff downhill from Canada somewhere near Buffalo. But I already digress from the switchblade topic...
Posted by: haertig

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/11/08 08:21 PM

Originally Posted By: Hikin_Jim
It seems like non-spring-assisted and spring-assisted locking knives are generally legal, provided that they aren't concealed.

Probably this varies by state. In Colorado, "a knife" is defined as something with a blade over 3-1/2", so you don't have to worry about carrying blades smaller than this, either concealed or not (but I don't know about short-bladed "assisted opening" knives - they may be different). There are exceptions to this blade length for hunting, fixed blades, etc., but 3-1/2" is about the biggest practical pocket knife so I just stick with that so I don't have to worry about it. The bigger blades do better in sheaths or holsters anyway, IMHO.
Posted by: Art_in_FL

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/13/08 12:10 AM

Originally Posted By: haertig
And some of them have safeties on them so they don't accidentally open in your pocket. While that's a good thing, it just slows down the knife even further when you have to mess with the safety.


Somewhere I remember reading a piece about how a cowboy saw a switchblade and bought it on a whim. Late getting home he was at full gallop on his horse when he was reminded of it when he heard a slight click and pressure in his pocket.

Bouncing vigorously up and down on a horse with a pointy piece of steel wedged firmly into your crotch, according to his account, isn't a good thing. Made for a good story as I remember it.

Safety can be a concern when a knife is designed to open automatically at the touch of a button.
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/13/08 06:56 AM

As far as I understand it,
CA + Spring-Assisted Knife = Felony .

Actually, I'm almost 100% certain about this, the law in CA is so strict that if you can wrist flick a folding knife open, it is a felony.

Posted by: EMPnotImplyNuclear

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/13/08 08:13 AM

Many find CA laws confusing, and thats because they are
(the more confused you are, the less likely you are to exercise your rights).

Anyway, assisted opening knives are not switchblades, and are legal in california. Heck, even switchblades are legal in california, provided they're made in the state (not imported) and are under 2 inches.

Please read the following


California Knife Laws: A Comprehensive Guide


Quote:
Your lockblade folding knife should have a thumbstud, thumb"hole", thumb "disk" or similar push-thingy, so long as the "thingy" is attached directly to the blade (versus on the grip and linked up via a gearbox of sorts). It should not have a spring that does ALL the opening (yes, the Kershaw Ken Onion series seems to be OK). And finally, the blade needs to have at least some tendency to stay closed in the pocket or whatever bias a "bias towards closure" or "detent" (discussed in more detail later in this chapter).

As long as it's got all that, and the vast majority (including all eight knives discussed at the bottom of this document) do, it cannot be "declared a gravity knife or switchblade" even if you can snap it open with relish smile.


US Assisted Knife Law
Quote:
Spring Assisted Knife Laws
Legal Definitions:

Switchblade

A switchblade (also known as automatic knife, switch, or, in British English flick knife) is a type of knife with a folding blade that springs out of the grip when a button or lever on the grip is pressed. There are two basic types: side-opening and out-the-front (OTF). A side-opening knife's blade pivots out of the side of the handle (in the same manner as an ordinary folding knife). An out-the-front knife's blade slides directly forward, out of the tip of the handle. Many OTF (out-the-front) knives work with a dual-action mechanism that enables the user to extend and retract the knife in one press of the finger, with no cocking or priming action. However, some OTF (out-the-front) knives are single action, and require the user to manually retract the blade. A wide variety of blade designs may be found on switchblades, but the most common is the Italian stiletto style seen often in movies. However, the switchblade should not be confused with the butterfly knife (balisong), assisted-opening knife, or the non-automatic stiletto.
Assisted-Opening Knife / Spring-Assisted Opening Technology

A spring-assisted knife is a knife that when you push on the thumb stud to open it a spring takes over and propels the blade open. Spring-assisted knives make a great alternative to automatic knives. A Spring / Torsion assisted knife is a type of knife which uses a spring assisted mechanism behind the blade. They open by the ambidextrous thumb stud on the blade with a slight bit of pressure. They are commonly confused with switchblades, but have one main difference. While a switchblade can be opened usually with the push of a button within the handle, the user of a spring-assisted knife must apply slight pressure to the thumb stud and the spring/torsion assisted mechanism does the rest. Once the knife has been opened about one-quarter of the way (45°), the mechanism will open the knife the rest of the way. A/O knives are Assisted - Opening which are also Spring - Assisted knives.

US Assisted Knife Law
CALIFORNIA is the basis of all law due to it being typically the hardest and most progressive

California State Senator Betty Karnette of the 27th District is the author and who is responsible for Bill SB 274 and the legalization of Spring Assist Knives.

Senator Karnette realized that Spring Assist Knives are extremely functional tools by law-abiding citizens and that these knives serve an important utility to many knife users, as well as firefighters, EMT personnel, hunters, fishermen, and others who utilize one-handed opening knives, then the prohibition of such items is obstruction to justice & complete disregard to US law.

Spring Assist Knives are intended to save lives while an EMT, Firefighter, or Law Enforcement Officer is trying to get you out of an automobile accident or any other viable problem. They have saved skydivers lives that had to cut parachute lines. They have saved countless fishing poles when a line is needed to be cut. They are also essential to handicap individuals whom happen to have one arm. Special Thanks to Senator Betty Karnette is in order because if it were not for her we would loose more of our rights in this country and also not have tools that are lifesaving instruments.
LEGAL LAWS & STATE STATUTES OF CALIFORNIA


The rules on "what is a legal pocketknife versus a switchblade" are contained in Penal Code 653k. In it's entirety (current effective 1/1/2002):

653k: Every person who possesses in the passenger's or driver's area of any motor vehicle in any public place or place open to the public, carries upon his or her person, and every person who sells, offers for sale, exposes for sale, loans, transfers, or gives to any other person a switchblade knife having a blade two or more inches in length is guilty of a misdemeanor.

For the purposes of this section, "switchblade knife" means a knife having the appearance of a pocketknife and includes a spring-blade knife, snap-blade knife, gravity knife or any other similar type knife, the blade or blades of which are two or more inches in length and which can be released automatically by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle, flip of the wrist or other mechanical device, or is released by the weight of the blade or by any type of mechanism whatsoever. "Switchblade knife" does not include a knife that opens with one hand utilizing thumb pressure applied solely to the blade of the knife or a thumb stud attached to the blade, provided that the knife has a detent or other mechanism that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade, or that biases the blade back toward its closed position.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bill SB 274, clarifies the definition of a one-hand opening knife so they are not wrongly classified as switchblades. Bill SB 274 clearly states: For the purposes of this section, switchblade knife means a knife having the appearance of a pocketknife and includes a spring-blade knife, snap-blade knife, gravity knife or any other similar type knife, which can be released automatically by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle, flip of the wrist or other mechanical device, or is released by the weight of the blade or by any type of mechanism whatsoever. Definition of Switchblade knife does not include a knife that is designed to open with one hand utilizing thumb pressure applied solely to the blade of the knife or a thumb stud attached to the blade, provided that the knife utilizes a detent or other mechanism that (a) provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade, or (b) biases the blade back toward its closed position. In order to ensure that only legitimate one-handed opening knives are covered, SB 274 narrows the language to only allow knives to fall under the exemption from the switchblade law if that one-handed opening knife contains a detent or similar mechanism. Such mechanisms ensure there is a measure of resistance that prevents the knife from being easily opened with a flick of the wrist. Moreover, a detent or other mechanism is prudent and a matter of public safety as it will ensure that a blade will not inadvertently come open.
Read Senator Betty Karnette's exact words in a letter published to the Secretary of the Senate.

Published in the July 18, 2001 edition of the Senate Daily Journal on page 2070.

DRAFT - LETTER TO THE SENATE DAILY JOURNAL

July 5, 2001

Mr. Gregory Schmidt
Secretary of the Senate

Dear Greg:

The purpose of this letter is to express the Legislature’s intent in enacting my SB 274, which makes amendments to Penal Code Section 653k.

Section 653k makes it a misdemeanor to make, sell or possess upon one’s person a switchblade in California. The statute was enacted in 1957 and provides a length definition of a switchblade knife. In 1996, AB 3314 (Ch. 1054) an exemption was created for one-handed folding knives. Recently, there has been concern that the language of the exemption is broadly read to apply to knives that are essentially switchblades, but are designed to fall under the language of the exemption.

In order to ensure that only legitimate one-handed opening knives are covered, SB 274 narrows the language to only allow knives to fall under the exemption from the switchblade law if that one-handed opening knife contains a detent or similar mechanism. Such mechanisms ensure there is a measure of resistance (no matter how slight) that prevents the knife from being easily opened with a flick of the wrist. Moreover, a detent or other mechanism is prudent and a matter of public safety as it will ensure that a blade will not inadvertently come open.

Although some one-handed opening knives can be opened with a strong flick of the wrist, so long as they contact a detent or similar mechanism that provides some resistance to opening the knife, then the exemption is triggered. These knives serve an important utility to many knife users, as well as firefighters, EMT personnel, hunters, fishermen, and others utilize one-handed opening knives.

The exemption created in 1996 was designed to decriminalize the legitimate use of these extremely functional tools by law-abiding citizens. SB 274 is not intended to interfere with those knife owners and users. The amendments to Section 653k accomplish this important purpose by establishing more objective criteria for determining whether a knife meets the intended exemption to the switchblade law.

Sincerely,
BETTY KARNETTE
Senator, 27th District





[JOKE]Maybe you got dangerous mold in your cave, making you think you're %100 sure when you're only %30.. laugh
Posted by: comms

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/13/08 04:18 PM

AZ may be going Left in many regards, (So goes California, so goes the West) but you can buy switchblades and auto openers here.

Thankfully, Arizona is still very much the wild west and as such there is a respect for selling such items, so you do not see them in lower quality stores. I suppose because they are available and generally expensive that other knives are better sellers.

I have a auto opener that is also a manual folder. You don't see many of those. It opens just like any other folder with a lock along the back, but you can also depress the corner of a panel built into the frame that makes it an auto. You can't do that with a switchblade.
Posted by: SwampDonkey

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/13/08 05:28 PM

I agree with Tom L.

I bought a assisted-opening Kershaw Leek when they first came out a few years ago. I EDC'ed it for a while but did not like that the silver pocket clip contrasted with my normally dark trousers and drew attention. The snap of the assisted-opening also scared people and everyone considered it an illegal "switchblade", even though it was not. The knife is very thin and I often forgot it in my pants pocket before doing the laundry. The knife opened in the dryer once and poked some holes in a load of clothes, my DW was not impressed!

So about 6 months ago I bought a "Waved" Spyderco Endura seen here . The black pocket clip is not as visible and after some practice it is faster to open than the Kershaw, even though it is not spring assisted. I have been meaning to write a review on this knife, hopefully soon I will find the time.

Mike

Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/13/08 08:50 PM

"(the more confused you are, the less likely you are to exercise your rights)."

That's exactly how I feel.

Thanks for that info.

The reason I'm 100% sure even when only 30% sure is so that I can stay out of trouble. That kind of cave mold, while potentially dangerous to the typical human, but only if ingested, glows (quite brightly in some moist corners where its needs are best met) and is very helpful in that regard, as a little light never hurt a troglodyte, especially not one who ventures out onto the surface as often as I do. It if weren't for that mold, I would probably be as blind as a carnivorous cave-deer.

Posted by: frenchy

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 11/20/08 09:59 PM

+ 1 on wave opening system (like on some Emerson's knives).

No mechanical parts to fail.
Very fast opening if/when needed : the knife is open as soon as out of pocket... is that fast enough or not ??
Normal one- or two-hand opening possible, in order to keep a low profil and not frighten people around you ...
Posted by: el_diabl0

Re: Legality of a spring-assist knife - 09/22/09 06:13 PM

Originally Posted By: IzzyJG99
I own the F.A.S.T. Draw. I like it. The blade really flies out of there rapidly when you push the button. It's easily worn out, though. After about 50 deploys the mechanisms get very loose inside and often the black when deployed freezes up the mechanisms and you're forced to actually take a screw driver and loosen everything to unfreeze it. The scales are low quality. They chip off if you drop it.


UPDATE...

After 10 months of carrying my Gerber, I have found the exact opposite to be true regarding the quality of this knife. I have put it through semi-strenuous daily general purpose use, and have opened it many hundreds of times, and have not had a single issue. As for the scales, I have yet to have one chip, and in fact they aren't even scratched. It still looks almost new.

The blade does need to be sharpened every month or so, depending on what I use it for. Once sharpened, it is very sharp.

I have had zero side-to-side play at the hinge and it has not needed to be tightened. The blade deploys quickly and smoothly. The belt clip remains firm and holds the knife in my pocket with little movement.

These are available for as little as $25 on eBay. I highly recommend this great little pocket knife for daily carry.