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It's not a switchblade. That's like calling a handgun a 'rifle with a shorter barrel'. There is a distinction between a switchblade (which opens at the operati

It's not a switchblade. That's like calling a handgun a 'rifle with a shorter barrel'. There is a distinction between a switchblade (which opens at the operation of a switch or button), a gravity knife (which opens as you described),and a spring assisted knife (which has a spring but not one strong enough to open the blade on its own). It's dangerous to mix and match words when describing an item that could or could not get you in a heap of trouble for carrying and or possessing in your particular jurisdiction.

Terretta 9y ago
Agreed it’s not a switchblade, it differs fundamentally in that it doesn’t have a spring and is not automatic. You take that thing, remove a bit, have this thing. Wikipedia: A switchblade is a type of knife with a folding or sliding blade contained in the handle which is opened automatically by a spring when a button, lever, or switch on the handle or bolster is activated. Most switchblade designs incorporate a locking blade, in which the blade is locked against closure when the spring extends the blade to the fully opened position. The blade is unlocked by manually operating a mechanism that unlocks the blade and allows it to be folded and locked in the closed position. Wikipedia itself contrasts gravity knife with switchblade (as of time of this comment): A gravity knife is a knife with a blade contained in its handle, and which opens its blade by the force of inertia or gravity. As the gravity knife requires gravity or spinning motion to propel the blade out of the handle, it differs fundamentally from the switchblade, which opens its spring-propelled blade automatically upon the push of a button, switch, or fulcrum lever. I’d think the distinction should be design intent: the Buck knife and Home Depot knife shown in article photo are not designed to actuate through a spring or gesture. A gravity knife, like a switchblade, is. So certainly closer to a switchblade without a spring rather than a locking blade folding knife. In Africa we called these knives that were not fully automatic but required a gesture “flick blades”. Some of them are not folding, they slid straight out (or down, gravity assisted) and had a double edge like a dagger. Many of these could become switchblades again if you disassembled them and added a spring. I also agree with you the enforcement interpretation sounds like they want it to mean any knife you could possibly shake to an open and locked position.
- whathaschanged 9y ago
  There have always been methods to skirt laws on these sorts of things. My personal favorite from a conceptual standpoint was the knife, whose sheath dropped away, rather than the blade coming out. https://www.google.com/patents/US4523379 https://www.google.com/patents/US4523379

Terretta 9y ago

Agreed it’s not a switchblade, it differs fundamentally in that it doesn’t have a spring and is not automatic. You take that thing, remove a bit, have this thing. Wikipedia: A switchblade is a type of knife with a folding or sliding blade contained in the handle which is opened automatically by a spring when a button, lever, or switch on the handle or bolster is activated. Most switchblade designs incorporate a locking blade, in which the blade is locked against closure when the spring extends the blade to the fully opened position. The blade is unlocked by manually operating a mechanism that unlocks the blade and allows it to be folded and locked in the closed position. Wikipedia itself contrasts gravity knife with switchblade (as of time of this comment): A gravity knife is a knife with a blade contained in its handle, and which opens its blade by the force of inertia or gravity. As the gravity knife requires gravity or spinning motion to propel the blade out of the handle, it differs fundamentally from the switchblade, which opens its spring-propelled blade automatically upon the push of a button, switch, or fulcrum lever. I’d think the distinction should be design intent: the Buck knife and Home Depot knife shown in article photo are not designed to actuate through a spring or gesture. A gravity knife, like a switchblade, is. So certainly closer to a switchblade without a spring rather than a locking blade folding knife. In Africa we called these knives that were not fully automatic but required a gesture “flick blades”. Some of them are not folding, they slid straight out (or down, gravity assisted) and had a double edge like a dagger. Many of these could become switchblades again if you disassembled them and added a spring. I also agree with you the enforcement interpretation sounds like they want it to mean any knife you could possibly shake to an open and locked position.

whathaschanged 9y ago
There have always been methods to skirt laws on these sorts of things. My personal favorite from a conceptual standpoint was the knife, whose sheath dropped away, rather than the blade coming out. https://www.google.com/patents/US4523379 https://www.google.com/patents/US4523379