The really sad thing is that switchblades were originally developed for affluent gentlemen. The idea was that a dapper fellow could open his knive without risking his manicure!

It also seems like the switchblade was a convenient target of blame that would stand up to judicial review. Specific features or accessories that can be well defined in a court were demonized in an effort to curb human behavior. Similar effort have been / continue to be leveled at firearms with the same lack of results. Other than penalizing the honest people for the actions of the dishonest!

If an action is illegal, murder for instance, does it REALLY matter what tool was used?

Crumudgeonator said:
This is completely forgetting two blatantly important facts. 1: knives are an art form first, tool second, and a weapon last; 2: most crimes involving bladed weapons of any sort are committed with common kitchen knives (which happen to be lobbied against as we speak).

Knives are an art form first? Hmm, well this is subjective. However given the number of 'collector's knives' available that seem impractical to use (e.g. a 'KIingon' knife), I would have to agree with you. I tend to think of a knife as a tool first.

Now then, for those of you worried about the legality of owning or carrying a switchblade, realise that it would be highly unlikely for you to be arrested on the sole charge of carrying a switchblade mainly because: how often do you open up your knife in front of an officer? What you should really be worried about is losing your knife on the off chance that you are ever searched by an officer. Most police understand the spirit of the law but also realize it is within their right to take your pretty knife from you. Both me and my brother carry microtechs and had been searched, we had been lucky enough to still retain our knives, but we know the risks we take in carrying them

This is true. However, switchblades are seen as knives which are *always* weapons in the eyes of the law. Some knives, such as military style knives with a blood-groove, are *always* seen as weapons. Note that a bowie knife is a camping/ survival knife...a tool, but a bowie knife with a camoflauge design and a name like 'The Exterminator' might be enough to prove that you were carrying the knife with the intention of using it as a weapon, at least in the eyes of the cops, a Judge and/or jury.

If the cop searching you really wanted to be nasty, you might be charged with 'Possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes'. This is true even if you consent to a search (which you don't have to do), and the cop doesn't have a reason to charge you with anything yet. Mind you, some Cops will even define an ordinary 'swiss army' pocketknife as 'a weapon' if they are in the mood to do so. This would no doubt be overturned by the courts, but there is still the hassle of going to court, getting a lawyer, etc.

I think that if you are carrying a knife, you have to be able to argue that you are carrying it for use as a tool. Saying that you are carrying the knife 'for self-defence' is the wrong answer to give to the Police.

John said:
It also seems like the switchblade was a convenient target of blame that would stand up to judicial review. Specific features or accessories that can be well defined in a court were demonized in an effort to curb human behavior. Similar effort have been / continue to be leveled at firearms with the same lack of results. Other than penalizing the honest people for the actions of the dishonest!

If an action is illegal, murder for instance, does it REALLY matter what tool was used?

No, it doesn't. Stabbing someone to death with a screwdriver or suffocating them with a plastic shopping bag gets you the same amount of time as using a knife on them, or a pistol. I think the main difference lies in *intent*. Since some knives are always seen as weapons, then the argument will be made that you intended to commit homicide with it the minute you took it with you outside. People don't buy switchblades to open up packages, generally. The knife you chose was not a 'weapon at hand' such as a bottle or a brick might be. If you use your knife in self-defence, you had better be able to prove that the other guy had clear intentions to kill or seriously injure you or someone in your care.

Another aspect of the AO style of knife is it's a lot harder to have it accidentally open in your pocket. I carried an auto for a very brief time until I nearly impaled myself on the tip when I reached into my pocket (the safety had come off and the blade opened without me knowing). I've never had this problem with any of the "tactical folders" (Spyderco, Benchmade, etc).

A high quality switchblade doesn't fail, but one has to pay through the nose to get one.

Ok, you give a very good example of using a switchblade for something other than fighting, so I over generalized when I said they are really only good for fighting. But be honest, the blade on a classic switchblade is to light for general utility uses and as pointed out elsewhere in this thread they where originally a gentleman's (read: a rich man's) weapon.

I don't disagree - simpler systems tend to fail less often than more complex ones. Why do you think more soldiers around the world prefer the AK-47 over the M-16?

That's an interesting point about switchblades, David.
I am curious about the history of switchblade knives. I am thinking that they must have been developed in the Second world War for someone that would benefit from their easy, one handed usage, such as paratroopers for example.

The reason I have accepted over the years is not necessarily because of switchblades, but stilettos. And this coming from a poor street kid who had never really had any experiences with knives other than narrowly escaping a knife fight with Norteno's because one kid recognized me as a friend from school... whew!