Switchblades

[kwselke]

I'm confused, thought this was now legal in Texas.

It is now. A couple of years back a state bill governing knives and illegal weapons was written that specifically stated that the state laws overruled local ordinances which were stricter. The ordinances still exists, but are not enforceable. Over 5.5", double edged, daggers, spears, Bowie knives (I believe a true Bowie is double edged and over 5.5") are pretty much illegal to carry, but they are legal to own.

 

[les.b]

I have neglected to share a picture of my Benchmade EDC's. One clipped on the pocket, one in the pocket. Sometimes all I carry is the Impel in my pocket. Depends on my mood. I've lost about four Benchmade gents knife autos over the years, but as you can tell, I've held on to the Mini Reflex II for a while . . .

Well, Muss, that's my favorite Benchmade as well. This is my most carried EDC knife, I've had it since I think 1995 or 1996. I used to use it on the trout streams, really handy to have an auto opener, but the spring went kafooey, and after carefully making sure there weren't any trout innards inside, I sent it back to Benchmade in 1998 or 1999, they made good on their warranty, replaced the spring, and even sharpened it....and it's been running fine ever since. I have several other Benchmade Autos, but this is in my opinion the most useful and handy size for EDC.



I have a number of other "switchblades" as well, including one that has very little intrinsic value, but has a lot of sentimental value...it was given to me on my first trip to Moscow, by my Russian police friend, as a souvenir, it had been confiscated from a Russian street hood. Just a cheap Italian made switchblade, but looking at it brings back memories of that trip, and my friend, who has since passed away. I didn't even think about passing through customs when I threw it in my luggage, but no one said anything along the line. Of course, that was pre 9/11.

Best Regards, Les

 

[TXSWFAN]

It is now. A couple of years back a state bill governing knives and illegal weapons was written that specifically stated that the state laws overruled local ordinances which were stricter. The ordinances still exists, but are not enforceable. Over 5.5", double edged, daggers, spears, Bowie knives (I believe a true Bowie is double edged and over 5.5") are pretty much illegal to carry, but they are legal to own.

All are legal to carry if you have a LTC and are carrying your handgun.

Texas Code 46:02 states...

Sec. 46.02. UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPONS. (a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a handgun, illegal knife, or club .....

Texas Code 46:15 Non-Applicability

(b) Section 46.02 does not apply to a person who:

(6) is carrying a concealed handgun and a valid license issued under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, to carry a concealed handgun;

 

[joe44va]

As a Marine Engineer back in the 60s and 70s I carried switch blades sourced in Spain. Great when working when you only have to use one hand to get the thing open. I now carry a Benchmade 470 (much better steel). Got nothing to do with West Side Story.

 

[HalfStack]

All are legal to carry if you have a LTC and are carrying your handgun.

Texas Code 46:02 states...

Sec. 46.02. UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPONS. (a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a handgun, illegal knife, or club .....

Texas Code 46:15 Non-Applicability

(b) Section 46.02 does not apply to a person who:

(6) is carrying a concealed handgun and a valid license issued under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, to carry a concealed handgun;

Gotta love Texas.

My EDC: (Glock G29 10mm and HK Turmoil OTF knife)

photo upload sites

Because of Section 46.15 and I have a permit I can carry any of these:

upload photo

image upload

upload img

screenshot tool

To name a few.

 

[Concerned Citizen]

I was told by a gun shop owner who also sold automatic knives that there was legislation being introduced to make them legal to carry here in WI. I haven't heard anything else about since and that was over a year ago. I ought to check up on that.

I was told by my CCW instructor who is also an LEO that we can carry any knife we wanted expect for a switchblade so long as we had a CCP.

 

[Spartan 2]

Been collecting for years now. I would recommend Knives and Outdoor Gear at Blade HQ | Gear Up For Adventure. they have a huge selection and are good people to buy from. They have all the major brands, Microtech, Benchmade, Piranha, etc.

 

[Leatherhead23]

 

[codenamedave]

My .02:

They're fun to play with, but seeing as how a decent folder can be flicked open from a useful grip as fast or even faster, I see no need for one.

No offense intended, just an observation: I see it as similar to a butterfly knife, in that your average street person thinks they're super-cool and scary, even though a basic, legal flickable folder would be open & in use in about a tenth of the time it takes to open a butterfly knife.

My usual pocketknife is a Cold Steel Hold Out.

 

[Leatherhead23]

My .02:

They're fun to play with, but seeing as how a decent folder can be flicked open from a useful grip as fast or even faster, I see no need for one.

No offense intended, just an observation: I see it as similar to a butterfly knife, in that your average street person thinks they're super-cool and scary, even though a basic, legal flickable folder would be open & in use in about a tenth of the time it takes to open a butterfly knife.

My usual pocketknife is a Cold Steel Hold Out.

My opinion is they're easier and safer to close and put back in the pocket one handed...

 

[steamloco76]

Pennsylvania's gun laws are very clear, the knife laws are fifty shades of vague, with no statewide preemption statute. Switchblades, gravity knives and double edged blade knives are illegal to carry. There is no official blade length statute. Assisted opening knives like the Kershaw Speed Safe series are sold just about everywhere and seem to be legal under the state definitions. Ballisong knives are legal, as long as the blade is not double edged. That said, everybody thinks they are illegal here. Local jurisdictions can make up just about any knife rules they see fit.

I carry a 3 inch blade assisted opening knife all the time. In 90% of the state it is no big deal, however it seems all knives are illegal to carry in Philadelphia.

 

[codenamedave]

My opinion is they're easier and safer to close and put back in the pocket one handed...

Per-maybe-haps if you have an auto-retracting OTF knife. For the other 99.9% of autos, it's a two-handed operation, unlike basic lock back folders.

Pennsylvania's gun laws are very clear, the knife laws are fifty shades of vague, with no statewide preemption statute. Switchblades, gravity knives and double edged blade knives are illegal to carry. There is no official blade length statute. Assisted opening knives like the Kershaw Speed Safe series are sold just about everywhere and seem to be legal under the state definitions. Ballisong knives are legal, as long as the blade is not double edged. That said, everybody thinks they are illegal here. Local jurisdictions can make up just about any knife rules they see fit.

I carry a 3 inch blade assisted opening knife all the time. In 90% of the state it is no big deal, however it seems all knives are illegal to carry in Philadelphia.

Yikes, that sounds like a nightmare to deal with. We have some odd laws in CA, for instance (the last time I checked) it's legal to own a full auto or a push knife, but it's illegal to carry them. Butterfly knives are illegal, but with a few local exceptions there's no limit to the size of a pocket knife, hence the 6" Hold Out.

My biggest beef in CA wasn't with the law per se, but with some police agencies that arrested anyone who had a knife that could be opened with a flick of the wrist, for carrying a switchblade. The really sad part is that some of the knives involved actually couldn't be opened that way; apparently the cops thought their fantasy over-rode reality.

We finally got a ruling that stated the law actually meant what it said, and not what a cop wanted it to mean.

 

[Leatherhead23]

Per-maybe-haps if you have an auto-retracting OTF knife. For the other 99.9% of autos, it's a two-handed operation, unlike basic lock back folders.
.

Haha...definitely not 'per-maybe-haps'....it IS easier and safer for one handed operation if it is an OTF double action auto.

Like these....

 

[codenamedave]

Haha...definitely not 'per-maybe-haps'....it IS easier and safer for one handed operation if it is an OTF double action auto.

Like these....

Good-lookin' knives ya got there.

 

[Flattop5]

Here are a few switchblades:

A rare 3-blade German leverlock by Hubertus (left side of photo).

A German leverlock by Boker (right side of photo).

Two large Italian button-types by Beltrame.


-----

 

[deadin]

Anybody carry one of these?

 

[Flattop5]

Interesting knife, deadin. Never seen one like that. Are they still made today?


[Late edit: I just watched a video of one of those knives, deadin. If you practice, you can open it fast, like a switchblade. Cool knife: a Kershaw E.T.].

-----------

 

[deadin]

If you practice, you can open it fast, like a switchblade

True... You can even donate a little blood during the practice... (Don't ask how I know...)

 

[ISCS Yoda]

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.

I see a few Boker Kalishnikov 74s on this thread. I have owned switchblades forever and ever amen but I wouldn't carry one until the law changed. I have my Boker Kalishnikov 74 on me right now.

What I would never carry is the classic "stiletto" switchblade, with the big protruding button on the handle. I carried one of those for years when I was younger and (1) it would often open if I bumped into something, (2) after it opened it would be almost impossible to remove without undressing unless you didn't mind slicing your pocket, and (3) after awhile they will break - they are not extremely well made.

The way Texas changed is was to DROP switchblade knives from the list of illegal knives in the definitions section:

PENAL CODE

TITLE 10. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND MORALS

CHAPTER 46. WEAPONS

Sec. 46.01. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

...

(6) "Illegal knife" means a:

(A) knife with a blade over five and one-half inches;

(B) hand instrument designed to cut or stab another by being thrown;

(C) dagger, including but not limited to a dirk, stiletto, and poniard;

(D) bowie knife;

(E) sword; or

(F) spear.

(7) "Knife" means any bladed hand instrument that is capable of inflicting serious bodily injury or death by cutting or stabbing a person with the instrument.
...

Realize that the "knife" definition is VERY broad so any item that can be even incidentally identified as a blade is a knife but that doesn't make knives illegal, just broadly defines them. Sections 6 (A) through (F) define an illegal knife but very few folks know what a dirk and a poniard are, some folks understand stiletto, so you can see you still have some broad strokes to consider when carrying fixed blade cutting tools.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

As an addendum, and BTW I have no idea what that Corpus Christie item is above but cities in Texas can't pass weapons laws that are preempted by Texas state law, I thought I would post some pictures of knives that I routinely carry. These are only four of the assortment I can and sometimes do carry.

I plan to start a new thread on the Christy sliding blade knife.