Texas and switchblade knives

[GKC]

I just read that Governor Perry signed the Texas Switchblade Ban Repeal bill, HB1862, on June 14, 2013, with it to take effect on September 1, 2013. It removes the ban on switchblade knives, except in cities where a city ordinance prohibits them (like San Antonio.)

I saw some switchblade knives in a gun shop some months ago, and I was surprised that they could sell them. They told me that they could sell one to me as a curio, but that I had to take it straight home, and then I couldn't carry it outside my home, or resell it. SO, I bought one, figuring I could use it as a letter opener, and keep it as a curiosity, since I hadn't seen one in years...at least not a true switchblade. Now, it seems the criminality will be removed, unless there are city/county bans or restrictions. I still don't plan on carrying it, since I don't usually carry a knife anyway (other than a multi-blade Navy utility knife I keep in the console of my car) and I don't want to check every city and county regulation when I go somewhere.

Besides, while I have to measure it, I think the blade is over 5"...which is another regulation in Texas, that the bill didn't address. It'd be hard to argue that this is a hunting knife...

Anyone else out there with these curios?

 

[fat tom]

A model 37 and an Italian-made Stiletto. I've owned both for many years.



f.t.

 

[kozmic]

That Perry guy sure has his **** together. God bless your rationally thinking gov. and God bless the great state of Texas!

I'm surprised NY's andy cuomo hasn't banned tooth picks and safety pin in the darkness of night (for the safety of the folks of course).

 

[GKC]

That Perry guy sure has his **** together. God bless your rationally thinking gov. and God bless the great state of Texas!

I'm surprised NY's andy cuomo hasn't banned tooth picks and safety pin in the darkness of night (for the safety of the folks of course).

I thank God every day for the blessing of being born a Texan.

I can't help but wonder about a state that fights obesity by limiting the size of the cup...like no one will ever refill a smaller cup.

 

[Gunslinger808]

They're legal here in AZ, my EDC knife is a Benchmade Auto Stryker.

 

[30-30remchester]

I believe the ban is a Federal law not just a state law. Bless the governor for passing this law. The feds have little right to restrict what happens inside a state. However when and if you cross state lines then the feds have jurisdiction under the Interstate Commerce Act, if IRRC. Am I correct? Opinions welcome.

 

[GKC]

I believe the ban is a Federal law not just a state law. Bless the governor for passing this law. The feds have little right to restrict what happens inside a state. However when and if you cross state lines then the feds have jurisdiction under the Interstate Commerce Act, if IRRC. Am I correct? Opinions welcome.

There is still a federal ban or restriction on them, as best I can tell from a quick search...on any federal property or Indian lands, under the jurisdiction of the federal government. The federal government doesn't address what is legal or not (regarding SB knives) within a state, except of course on federal property within a state.

Like I said, I don't plan to every carry it, since the new law does permit cities to enact their own bans, and I don't want to have to check all the various laws. At least I can sell it (after 9/1/13) within the state if I ever decide to get rid of it.

Since they are still banned (if I read correctly) from interstate commerce, I wonder how the gun shop got them? Ah well...a question that I will probably never have an answer to (not that it really matters, anyway.)

 

[tlay]

The proper name for them are automatic knives. They are legal here in Georgia but you have to have a concealed weapon permit. But you cannot carry an out-the-front automatic. You can own one but not carry it.

 

[jaykellogg]

Here is my 29-3 with ivory grips and a Leverletto. I carry a 4" stilletto, but i don't carry the Leverletto. I was told that I would probably be OK unless I got into a fight in a bar at 2:00AM.

 

[vic3620]

Google just took me to a sight called knife rights.org. It seem there are a lot of states repealing the automatic knife ban,including indiana.
It also talks about the federal ban.

Vic3620

 

[G-Mac]

It'd be hard to argue that this is a hunting knife...

Depends what kind of game you're after.

 

[shouldazagged]

In KY you can carry them, or most anything else except explosives or full-auto firearms, with a concealed carry license. I don't own a switchblade (yeah, I know, an "automatic", but I'm old school), and gave my son the only assisted-opening knife I had. Assisted openers aren't restricted here.

 

[kozmic]

I can't help but wonder about a state that fights obesity by limiting the size of the cup.

Well actually GKC, that was a proposed ban for New York City by Major Bloomgranny.

I realize the lines of lunacy between NY city and NY state have become blurred to outsiders by the mind-boggling amounts of stupidity displayed by their respective management teams!

 

[GKC]

Depends what kind of game you're after.

GKC like KFC...

I realize the lines of lunacy between NY city and NY state have become blurred to outsiders by the mind-boggling amounts of stupidity displayed by their respective management teams!

It's poetic justice since all firearms are considered assault weapons by the liberal loons.

 

[Faulkner]

I've got half a dozen automatic knives I use for work. I have a nice Benchmade I keep on my duty belt and it's come in handy a number of times when I needed to open the knife one handed.

Sidebar: A few years ago I took a automatic knife off of a guy I arrested as I searched him. I slipped the knife into my front pocket for safe keeping until I could get the subject cuffed and safely in the backseat of the patrol car. When I opened my door and sat in the driver seat that guy's dad-gum knife activated and flung open in my front pocket . . . let’s just say I had a few delicate moments as I eased back out of the car and reached back into my front pocket to retrieve the knife without cutting anything.

 

[doublesharp]

Florida flea markets sell cheap automatic knives as tools. I was told the belt sheath qualifies them as a tool.

 

[GKC]

I googled "automatic knife" and look at what I found - a vendor in Utah that sells and ships them. Hmmm...I guess it doesn't violate federal law (interstate commerce?) if they ship them to a state/location where they are legal.


Automatic Knives for sale - Blade HQ

 

[Muley Gil]

"I still don't plan on carrying it, since I don't usually carry a knife anyway..."



I've carried a knife since I was six years old. Carried one to school too.

Of course, I grew up to become a Marine....

 

[jaykellogg]

When I opened my door and sat in the driver seat that guy's dad-gum knife activated and flung open in my front pocket

That is why I like the lever operated knife. You can fold the lever up and it won't activate in your pocket.

A friend once told me his switchblade activated at his sister's wedding.

 

[Texas Star]

I have a Kershaw assisted-opening knife that I don't carry in a pocket. Normal one-handed openers are plenty fast for me. Like Faulkner above, I dread the idea of a knife opening in my pocket.

Actually, I usually carry a one-handed opener in a belt pouch. But that's for accessibility and to let me carry a Swiss Army knife in my pocket.

I'm almost sure that Texas allows blades to 5.5 inches, but some are defined as daggers, dirks, stilettos, or poniards. These are banned for carry, regardless of blade length. So are Bowie knives. I hesitate to carry a Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn folder off of my property, although the upper edge isn't sharpened.

On YouTube, Nutn' Fancy posted a video in which he had the upper edge of his A-F Combat Folder sharpened. By doing so, he made it an illegal knife in many jurisdictions. I've heard that he is a USAF pilot, and some knives normally illegal are legal for military personnel in line of duty. But I felt that he should have warned his viewers against such sharpening. If he did, I didn't hear him.

I think Gerber also makes this basic knife line as switchblades.

BTW, if you're reading a book by an English speaker from outside the USA , he'll probably call switchblades "flick knives."