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The "meaningful distinction" is that "assisted-opening" knives require a non-zero amount of force in the direction that the knife actually opens. Switchblades c
by badgar 14y ago
The "meaningful distinction" is that "assisted-opening" knives require a non-zero amount of force in the direction that the knife actually opens. Switchblades can just have a button.
The former takes a few minutes of practice to open smoothly, the latter doesn't.
There's no reason to buy an assisted-opening knife if switchblades are also available. So yes, they absolutely exist to exploit a loophole. Loopholes in laws do tend to create (often short-lived) markets.
- anigbrowl 14y agoThe former takes a few minutes of practice to open smoothly, the latter doesn't. Having once owned a switchblade, it takes a bit of practice to hold it such a way that you can operate it but not block the path of the outswinging blade with your fingers. Watching the demonstration in this video, there doesn't seem to be any more force employed in operating the switch that there was in pressing the button. I agree that this is probably a short-lived thing that will fade away following a minor regulatory clarification.
- jlgreco 14y agoHaving used assisted opening knives, I can say with confidence that the practice is necessary to make yourself comfortable holding the knife while still being able to deliver the necessary, and not negligible, force to open the knife. They are really very little alike.
- badgar 14y agoTo be clear, the opening force almost all comes from the wrist. The force you apply to the knife with your finger to get it going is quite negligible.
- jlgreco 14y agoWell perhaps I open them wrong then. I flick my (not assisted) boxcutter open with my wrist but open my assisted opening folding knife exclusively with my thumb on the thumb-bar. As I see it, not having to use your wrist is basically the point of the spring assist.
- sirmarksalot 14y agoHow would it compare with the amount of practice required to smoothly open a balisong?
- jlgreco 14y agoI have no idea, I've never used one. Those have always seemed like very silly knives to me.