Assisted Opening Pocket Knives
New Assisted Opening Knives
Author: Dino Reed
As of now, assisted opening knives are still legal within the country. [**] these knives could shortly become reclassified as the opposite, if measures that the U.S. Customs Protection is proposing essentially become the law.
U.S. Customs Protection has proposed revisions of what basically constitutes a switch blade, which is currently against the law in the country. This brand spanking new interpretation deems that assisted opening knives and other knives that feature single-hand operation should be considered illegal, when taking a look at the act that was proposed in 1958.
To be more definitive, the U.S. Customs Protection is scouting for revocation of ruling letters, as well as treatment related to acknowledgments of specific knives that have spring-assisted mechanisms to open. These ruling letters , however , don't actually classify these assisted opening knives as actual switchblades.
the North American state looks to be after these knives now. The U.S. Customs Protection proposes that earlier rulings be revoked on how aided opening knives don't equivalent to switchblades. This proposal is threatening to outlaw any aided opening knives since its totally broad and new definition related to switchblades seems to include every single single-handed opening knife out there, as well as simple pocket knives and basic old school slip-joints.
Today's Fed. definition of switchblades appertains to any kind of knife, which instantly opens through the use of hand pressure, gravity or inertia onto devices or buttons on their handles. Aided opening knives with other knives that need single-hand operation depend on grooves, studs, and other similar devices that are attached to their blades to open the knives. Such blades will require certain manipulation by hand for them to open for use.
If this is put to action, the offer of the U.S. Customs Protection could affect tens of millions of folk that have single-hand operation knives in their possession. In addition, these knife rights indicate that around 80 percent of knives sold in the country employ singe-hand operations. The industry of knives as an entity employs tens of thousands of people while contributing to almost ten billion bucks each year to the economy.
Both advocacy groups of knives are currently voicing out opposition to these measures. The act of the 50s is sort of clear that switchblades need turning on buttons on their handles. Without buttons, it would not be considered as a switchblade. This was defended by diverse cases on lots of levels through the years. The convoluted reasoning within the impending suggestion to reach past the law and expand regulatory purviews through rationalization and excuse for a brand new interpretation would be quite a stretch, if not completely illegitimate.
right now, single-hand opening with helped opening knives comprise the majority of Yank sales of knives. For the majority of knife corporations in the country, they even represent the majority of the knife products. These would refer to knives that US citizens carry along to play and work with every single day.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
Whats the best way to clean a gummed up assisted opening knife?
I have a Kershaw Ken Onion pocket knife and the assisted open is gummed up with oil from an attempt to keep rust at bay. What would be the best way to clean that?-
ANSWER:
wd-40 or alcohol. I would try the wd-40 and a toothpick. Good luck. If you try alcohol, use a q-tip and a toothpick. Also, after you get it clean, spray it lightly with wd-40, that will keep rust away.
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QUESTION:
Are spring assisted knives legal in California?
I've been reading up on the laws in CA regarding this, but i'm still not quite sure. The blade in question has a safety and pressure to part of the blade is required to open it. Here it is http://www.knife-kingdom.com/11-Spring-Assisted-Opening-Black-Stiletto-Pocket-Knife-Case-P-2289-BK.htm
If this at all helps, it is for southern CA, for possession in home.
Thank you to anyone that can help-
ANSWER:
Under California state law, non-switchblade pocket knives that are concealed in the closed position can be legally carried, concealed or open-carry. Fixed-blades must be carried openly. Knives that are disguised as something else (belt buckle, shotgun shell, etc.) are completely banned. Switchblades may be owned privately in the home, but not street-carried; while not specified, most people assume that transport is legal on the same basis as a gun: locked in the trunk in a locked container. Cane swords are completely banned.SECTION ONE: THE SWITCHBLADE/LEGAL FOLDING KNIFE RULES
WHAT'S LEGAL:
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
. And you can carry it concealed so long as it's concealed in the FULLY closed position, or open-carry if that's your thing (not recommended for BIG stuff, in case you happen on a town with a funky local ordinance or a really cranky cop).
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QUESTION:
can i carry around a spring assisted pocket knife with a 3in blade in las vegas?
hi, i have a spring assisted pocket knife with a 3in blade and i live in las vegas, i was wondering if it is withing the law to carry it in my pocket. and its not an "automatic knife" were u press a button to open it, its spring assisted were i have to open the blade partially then the spring takes over.-
ANSWER:
Yes. I carry one regularly myself.
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QUESTION:
What is considered "concealed carry" for a pocket knife?
I currently carry a regular opening pocket knife(no assist or switch) in my pocket with a pocket clip. Does that mean I am carrying a concealed weapon or is it not concealed since the clip is showing?Also, is switchblade legal in Florida if carried in the same way?
Thanks
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ANSWER:
Maybe I'm crazy, but I don't consider a pocket knife a weapon; it is a tool. I carry one in a belt holster just so it will be handy. I don't know about Florida, but in Oklahoma, you can own a switchblade, but you cannot carry it.
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QUESTION:
How do you open this type of a "Spring assisted" pocket knife?
I am buying this knife on eBay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350370668925
I did not understand the guys answer when I asked him this question....
he only said back to me this;
Dear perry182,
spring assisted does not mean switch blade, the
blade still comes out from the side (not straight
up) but with speed. no button to push. thanks.Please give me a better answer than his...
How do you open the knife if there is no button to activate the spring? Pull on the blade with your fingers like a regular pocket knife and then it comes the rest of the way on it's own once you get it started by griping the blade and pulling on it? I dont understand what "Spring assisted" means with regards to how do you open this knife?
Thanks in advance for your answer,
Perry in FL
It sucks I thought I was buying a switchblade knife, but oh well, it was only seven bucks, including shipping. Not bad for .50 even if it aint what I wanted. Can you buy one on the web anyplace? What is "Code" for
"switchblade"...."automatic knife"?-
ANSWER:
It looks like the bottom guard that keeps your finger from sliding from the grip onto the blade will be exposed on the top when it's closed. All you do is use your index finger to pull that part away from the end the blade ends up on. The video might help you more...
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QUESTION:
Best "left hand friendly assisted opening Knife on Amazon for Ken Onion Leek?
I have a sog bowie hunting knife and a sog flash ii black tini tanto knife that I bought earlier this year and am looking to buy a second every day carry kind of knife. Maybe something smaller and I could just carry two.=) Anyways the flash ii is an assisted opening folder that is medium size and the black length is 3.5 inch. I was thinking maybe a ken onion leek might be good. I'll pay a little over the budget for quality but I have a amazon gift card and don't want a lot of cash out of pocket considering I already have a great knife. Please send links because I know there are different models and pricing.Leek- cheapest I can find please tell me if the steel is any good, I know they are sharp and have great reviews. I just don't know if they stay sharp or if i can re sharpen easily like a sog.
http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Onion-Folding-Knife-Speed/dp/B0009VC9Y0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294279080&sr=8-1Last but not least I'm left handed and it's a hassle to close my sog assisted opening knife. The leek I think is a lot easier for lefties...
10PTS!!
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ANSWER:
Personally, I don't like the Kershaw Onion pocket knives. All of the ones I've handled have scales that are way too smooth and way too slippery to do any serious knife work with. Neither do I like any folding knife whose blade doesn't lock open, 'like a bank vault'.For a small pocket knife I like to carry and use a Swiss Army knife with a single lockable 3.5 inch blade. For a larger folder I use a pair of CRKT knives with 3 1/2 - 3 3/4 inch blades and LAWKS knife safety.
Here's my Swiss Army Knife - The one that's sitting on top of my backup drive as I type -
http://www.swissknifeshop.com/shop/swiss-army/everyday-swiss-army-knives/swiss-army-sentinel-plus
Here's what I'd replace it with today -
http://www.swissknifeshop.com/shop/swiss-army/everyday-swiss-army-knives/swiss-army-one-hand-sentinel
What would I buy for a lefty who has a .00 dollar coupon and doesn't want to put out a lot of pocket cash? This -
http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-M16-14ZSF-Special/dp/B003BS2WKY/ref=sr_1_6?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1294280546&sr=1-6
or this -
http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Tool-7133/dp/B001AC1AL0/ref=sr_1_13?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1294281249&sr=1-13
Here's my own EDC folding knife. I own 5 of them and have carried one in either a Del Fatti or a Wm Tucker custom-made belt sheath, almost everyday, for the past 12 years. (Interestingly, 12 years ago, I paid .00 for my very first one - Which I still own and love dearly!)
http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Crawford-Kasper-Teflon/dp/B0047Q3PRS/ref=sr_1_19?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1294281396&sr=1-19
I know knives; I even wrote a book on knives and knifefighting that, both, Ed Parker and Gil Hibben profusely complimented me on. (Too bad I couldn't get it published!) Here's a few pictures of what I carry everyday:
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/2003/series11g21crkt6783.jpg
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/2158/myberettaalleycatxu2.jpg
You know, for what you have to spend Amazon has some excellent choices for you to make right now. Good luck!
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QUESTION:
What type of steel will give me a super sharp knife blade? ?
I don't want something that will rust if you leave a fingerprint on it(some do) but definitely a step or three above 440C, which is pretty good.I also would like to know the best company to buy from that makes knives with that steel. I'm looking for a folding pocket knife, probably assisted opening.
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ANSWER:
Go with kershaw if you want assisted opening. their sandvic steel can get scary sharp and is stainless, but its only about the level of 440C. If you have ~0 to spend, got with Benchmade's nitrous stryker. D2 is a very tough, sharp steel, but between stainless and carbon steel in rust resistance. Other steels to look at are vg-10 (spyderco, look at their wave feature), 154cm, bg42, s30v, s60v, s90v, and the absolute best are SGPS laminated steel (Fallkniven U2), zdp-189 (spyderco again) and INFI (Busse, VERY expensive but worth it).
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