Switchblades

[cmort666]

I had a friend in grade school in the '60s who had one in his pocket when he fell off the monkey bars. It opened up on impact.

Getting it out of his pocket involved take his pants at least partially off.

He wasn't cut too badly.

Here in Ohio, I don't carry a knife for self-defense, as carrying one big enough for that purpose is WAY more hassle than just carrying a handgun.

In Ohio, unlike firearms laws, which are preempted at the state level, every little podunk town can have its own knife carry laws. You can be legal, walk across the street, and become a criminal.

There's FAR less legal danger for me to carry a registered MACHINE PISTOL here than a decent knife.

 

[Tom S.]

Here in Michigan,switchers are illegal to carry. I have a few locked up in the safe. That said, my assisted-opening Kershaw Blur and SOG Flash function every bit as fast as any of my autos, front or side opening. And, I can carry them legally almost anywhere. Just sayin.

That's not completely true. If you only have one hand, you can own/carry one. Never thought it was worth losing a hand over though.

Any person who shall sell or offer to sell, or any person who shall have in his possession any knife having the appearance of a pocket knife, the blade or blades of which can be opened by the flick of a button, pressure on a handle or other mechanical contrivance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not to exceed 1 year or by a fine of not to exceed $300.00, or both. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any one-armed person carrying a knife on his person in connection with his living requirements.

 

[Darkstar888]

Mine is an Emerson CQC 7-B w/wave feature.

Had a black finish one, but I gave it to a Marine friend before he went to the sandbox.

The wave feature makes it into a self opener when removed from the pocket.

I wave mod my Spyderco Tenacious with a zip. Works like a charm.

 

[turnerriver]

I carry this Microtech UMS. A one handed knife makes sense.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[the ringo kid]

I have been told it is now legal in Texas to carry self-opening knives AKA switchblades. I have carried a knife everyday for decades as a tool and always thought that a switchblade would be handy to have, but never bothered to learn the ins and outs of them because they were considered prohibited weapons.

For the last few years I've carried a Spiderco Delica 4. I like 3" to 4" drop point blades for their utility.

That said, I request your thoughts, wisdom, and suggestions about self-opening knives. I have no idea about their strong points and weak points. Please educate me, and help me decide if I should buy and carry one.

Its been that way for years. You can carry spring-loaded and gravity knives too. I have a wee collection (all 3) of them.

 

[the ringo kid]

I had one as a kid and my father had a better one, made in Italy.


I was always afraid that one'd open in my pocket, safety catch or not. I also won't carry my Kershw 1550ST in a pocket. Belt pouch only, if I carry it at all. It 's a self opener, once you push the blade partly open.


I prefer one-hand opening knives, where you push on a stud and flip the blade open. My Benchmade 710 and Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn knives are good examples.


I also own Spyderco Delica and Endura knives and occasionally carry them.


THe Delica has a three-inch blade. I saw on the TV news where a dad in Big Bend Natl. Park used one to ward off a cougar that attacked his six-old boy at a lodge there. He wounded the animal enough that it finally fled, but the blade was too short to inflict a lethal wound. I also know of a case where a man killed an African lion with a six-inch blade. I don't know why he (in the Big Bend case) didn't try to cut the cat's throat. I knew a man on Vancouver Island who did cut the throat of a cougar with a four-inch blade. He was badly messed up, but survived. I think he lost one eye and his scalp had to be re-attached by surgeons.

If you won't encounter cougars or vicious dogs, a three-inch blade is probably enough. I carry a Swiss Army knife in my pocket for normal tasks. The folder in a belt pouch needs to be long enough for serious defense work.

Years ago-I had twin versions of the WWII German gravity knives-both stamped 5th F.J. Regiment. I kinda wish I had kept them.

 

[Farmer17]

I have several assisted opening knives with the flipper and they are just as fast as any switchblade and probably safer to pocket carry. The Kershaw Brawler, OSO Sweet, and Leek are excellent, well-designed knives with great steel and they are cheap. Oklahoma recently made switchblades legal to carry but I don't really see the need for one other than the "cool factor". If I could find a Kershaw quality, reasonably priced, automatic where the blade came out the front I'm sure I would buy one.

 

[OLDSTER]

"switch blade"

I've carried this Boker auto daily for 5 years. Great knife and reasonably priced-still a big seller on BladeOps

 

[DavidWJ]

The Buck "Rush" is awesome. Easy to clean and the stainless blade and open sided aluminum frame are great in salt water.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Wisconsin recently legalized switchblade carry. Previously, even assisted knives were considered switchblades and illegal to carry, potentially problematic for me, since I live close by, in Minnesota, and spend a lot of time in Sconny.

For some reason, OTF openers have no appeal for me. I wouldn't mind something like a Frank Beltrame Classic Italian switchblade, or possibly a Mikov*, if the purchase drill were not so troublesome.

*Does anybody remember the self-proclaimed sharpening expert who showed up here for a short time a few years ago? Part of his riff was that only two brands of knife were worth owning, ZT and Mikov. His attitude left a bad taste in my mouth for ZT that persists to this day, yet I find the Mikovs appealing. Go figure.

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

The weekend the law in Texas changed, I went to a gun show and bought a Boker Kalishnikov 74 switchblade.

...and have carried it ever since.

 

[shouldazagged]

I don't know if it has changed in Kentucky for people who don't have the CDW license, but those of us who do can carry switchblades legally. I haven't since the 1950's, when I owned two or three cheapo stiletto-style models that would go dull on the third slice of Velveeta.

I carry a Swiss Army knife daily for the tools, and a larger folder for cutting chores, not for self defense unless absolutely all else fails.

Nowadays I carry a Spyderco Endura or a drop-point SOG Flash II assisted opener. More often the Spyderco, though the SOG is a very nice knife for the money. The Endura just has less to go wrong, and I can open it quite quickly.

If I were to go to an automatic it would be an out-the-front model, but so far I have other uses for the money.

 

[Darkstar888]

What's the advantage over an assisted opener. Just as quick to flip a flipper as puss a button isn't it?

 

[Leatherhead23]

What's the advantage over an assisted opener. Just as quick to flip a flipper as puss a button isn't it?

My OTF is a double action, it snaps closed just as fast as it snaps open...so that's a huge advantage. No accidents while closing quickly on your leg. My buddy cut off his finger doing that.

 

[Darkstar888]

I was also thinking most have a safety switch to right? So two actions to open it vs one with a flipper assisted.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

My Benchmade Emerson-design "tanto" has no safety other than the fact that the button is recessed, and it automatically locks open quite securely. Excellent knife which I bought just because I got it at a good price and I liked it, but the fact is that I can get my Spyderco Endura out faster. I don't carry either now. If my right hand is available, I'd rather pull a gun for defensive purposes. YMMV. My need for a cutting device is probably never immediate. If I think that is changing, I'll go back to the Spyderco.

 

[Farmer17]

Actually who needs a wimpy switchblade, Oklahoma just passed a law allowing law abiding people to carry "Sword Canes"!

 

[e3mrk]

Sadly,All that cool stuff is illegal in Ohio.

 

[patvince]

In France, carrying a knife (automatic or not) is prohibited....that said, i ( and my brother, my sons too..)daily carry a knife (pocket, switchblade, assisted opening..) on my belt since i am 17 Y.O...and never be arrested for that. Now if you are a thug, or in a gang, or are arrested or controlled in a (or after) a demonstration, cops will confiscate your blade (and keep it for himself..)and that's all, no lawsuit except if you have a background)..Now who goes in a demonstration with a knife ?

 

[Texas Star]

Agree with you. here , in France, carrying a knife (automatic or not) is prohibited....that said, i ( and my brother, my sons too..)daily carry a knife (pocket, swithblade, assisted opening..) on my belt since i am 17 Y.O...and never be arrested for that. Now if you are a thug, or in a gang, or are arrested or controlled in a (or after) a demonstration, cops will confiscate your blade (and keep it for himself..)and that's all, no lawsuit except if you have a background)..Now who goes in a demonstration with a knife ?

Does that ban affect ALL knives, even a typical Opinel or Swiss Army knives or just larger ones that lock open?



What if a Frenchman has to defend himself from a human (criminal) or a dangerous dog? Is that legal? If one gets arrested for having an illegal knife, would the police withdraw his gun licenses, if any?