Switchblades

kwselke

kwselke

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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.
 
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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.
 
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I am not very knowledgeable on switch blades but I really like this Buck I got from the NRA-ILA. One handed opening,very sharp,and has a really good clip for your early morning walks. It is not heavy but not real light
 

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Haven't checked on the knife laws in Texas since I recently moved here. But I carry a Benchmade Griptillian with the Axis locking mechanism that opens about as fast and easily as any folding locking knife I've owned, and that's quite a few! You can open it easily with the thumb stud, but if you catch the Axis lock with thumb and forefinger and hold it back and give the knife blade a flip, it's out easily and right now! With a bit of practice, you can release the lock as the blade moves into locking position. You can close the knife the same way in reverse. I have the large one and the smaller copy. The big one has a serious blade that ought to handle about anything you'd want to be close enough too to use it on.

Gonna hafta look into my new State's knife laws! Maybe some will chime in an enlighten us all about what Texas will allow!
 
kthom said:
Haven't checked on the knife laws in Texas since I recently moved here. But I carry a Benchmade Griptillian with the Axis locking mechanism that opens about as fast and easily as any folding locking knife I've owned, and that's quite a few! You can open it easily with the thumb stud, but if you catch the Axis lock with thumb and forefinger and hold it back and give the knife blade a flip, it's out easily and right now! With a bit of practice, you can release the lock as the blade moves into locking position. You can close the knife the same way in reverse. I have the large one and the smaller copy. The big one has a serious blade that ought to handle about anything you'd want to be close enough too to use it on.

Gonna hafta look into my new State's knife laws! Maybe some will chime in an enlighten us all about what Texas will allow!
Click to expand...


During Rick Perry's tenure as Governor, knife laws changed for the better. (So did gun laws.) I gather that switchblades are now legal, as are assisted opening knives. Max. blade length is 5.5 inches.


I think any of the following remain illegal: Bowies, daggers, poniards, dirks, stilletos, swords, machetes, and gravity knives. Not sure about the last. I don't think machetes are specifically named, but they're over 5.5 inch blades, so if a cop wants to get you, they could go that route.


I used to work with a young guy who was a little reckless and who liked to race cars. That got him in trouble with game wardens after a race at a lake. They thought he smart-mouthed them as well as racing. So, they went on a treasure hunt and found his tackle box with a fillet knife over 5.5 inches and charged him with an illegal knife.


I've heard that San Antonio has a ban on all lockblade knives. Check, if going there. Plano supposedly has a three-inch blade limit, but that conflicts with state law as does the ban on lockblades. I think state law prempts local laws. Someone with money needs to sue to repeal those laws.


We have a member in South Australia. He told me that cops there generally don't bother with knife laws unless they're looking to hang something on someone that they want for something else or can't charge, otherwise. I suspect that a knife they'd ignore might get you in trouble in New South Wales or in Victoria.


It's always good to know the literal law and how cops tend to enforce it. I think much depends on the pesonal image that a person has.
 
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I like the Benchmade folders, I have a Volli assisted that quickly became my favorite. I lost it, and replaced it with a Grizzly Creek manual opener but its actually faster to open. A light flick with thumb pressure on the stud and it snaps open. Or if you are fancy you can do it with a quick down/up motion without the stud. A bonus is to close I disengage the lock and the blade falls shut yet there is zero play in the pivot. To close the Volli I usually disengage the lock and close it against the side of my thigh.

The Volli has a lock to keep it closed, the Grizzly does not. And I recently found the Volli in my nightstand so now I have both.
 
Here, left to right, are my 4 automatics: Piranha, S&W, Boker, & CRKT.
5th from left is an "Assisted" opening Benchmade.

6th from left is neither automatic or assisted, but it is my favorite for
everyday carry. It is Kershaw's Junkyard Dog II. It is called "Flipper
Technology". A slight pull on the flipper with index finger and a slight
flip of the wrist deploys the blade as fast as an automatic.

I like the ambi-dexterous feature. I carry it clipped in front left
(weak side) pocket. My thinking is if someone is trying to wrestle
my gun out of my right hand, I can deploy the knife and use it
with my left hand. It has never happened, but it could.

I have paid for fire insurance about 60 years now and my house
has never burned down yet. But it could.
 

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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.
 
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Can't speak to Texas knife law, but as far as the knives themselves go, there are generally two types. Automatics that open by flipping open in an arc from the handle, like a conventional knife, and those that open by the blade coming straight out the front of the handle. I think the latter is easier and more secure to use, as you don't have to worry as much with finger placement when activating the blade.

Look for a model with a recessed activation button (proud buttons can be depressed in your pocket by bumping against something). Some have safety switches as well.

I own three or four automatics, but find a well designed assisted opening, or flipper knife to be just as quick, and usually less expensive for equal quality. Maybe more reliable as well? Automatics are cool though. Try out as many as you can before purchase. Look for something that carries well, feels good in your hand, and can be easily closed with one hand. I have always been partial to Benchmade knives in general, but if you can find a clean, used "GT" auto (I believe they are now out of business), they are a heck of a nice automatic.

Larry
 
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Here is my Benchmade 9100 SBK. My son bought it for me years ago, and as you can see I have carried it daily. This is a fine knife, but was replaced by the 9101 which has two openings in the spine to allow debris to fall or be blown out. I bought my son a 9101 SBK a few years ago for his birthday. This model is also offered without blade serrations.

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Sig_Beretta_Glock_009.JPG
 
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I carried them for a while but eventually worked my way back to conventional side openers. MY favorite was the Microtech LCC - great knife.

Anyhow, now it is Sebenzas for me. I have several and they will all likely outlive me - though stuff, smooth opening, and rebuildable.
 
Switchblades are illegal here but I remember back in the 50's every store you went in had them on a card next to the register :confused:, I think I might still have a few hanging around someplace.
 
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