Automatic Knives

[ragu1macrider]

Are spring assisted knives legal in Pennsylvania? I'm interested in an OTF model.

[jahwarrior72]

Are spring assisted knives legal in Pennsylvania? I'm interested in an OTF model.

short answer: no.

the long answer:

Pennsylvania - Pa. C.S.A. 18.908. Prohibited offensive weapons.
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits a
misdemeanor of the first degree if, except as authorized
by law, he makes, repairs, sells, or otherwise deals in,
uses, or possesses any offensive weapon. (b) Exception.--
It is a defense under this section for the defendant to
prove by a preponderance of evidence that he possessed of
dealt with the weapon solely as a curio or in a dramatic
performance, or that he possessed it briefly in
consequence of having found it or taken it from an
aggressor, or under circumstances similarly negativing any
intent or likelihood that the would be used unlawfully.
(c) Definition.--As used in this section "offensive
weapon" means... any... dagger, knife, razor or cutting
instrument, the blade of which is exposed in an automatic
way by switch, push-button, spring mechanism, or
otherwise...- also see 24 P.S. 13-1317.2. re: students bringing weapons
on to school property.]

Pennsylvania case law:
Where opening knife required lock to be released, and
once lock was released blade could be exposed by flip of
wrist, knife did not have blade which could be "exposed in
an automatic way"... by "otherwise" legislature referred
to knives that were opened by some sort of mechanism which
is not a "switch," "push-button," or "spring" mechanism
but still a mechanism... (1979)

curiously, butterfly knives/balisongs are legal to own and carry. the PA court ruling in Commonwealth v. Miles established butterfly knives as legal in the state of PA. the judge ruled that the butterfly knife the defendant possessed was not an "offensive weapon" under section 908(c) of the Crimes Code, 18 Pa.C.S.

[JayBell]

theres a difference between "spring assist" and automatic knives.

a "switchblade" type that has a button that is pressed and the blade literally springs out on its own without you touching the blade is a nono to carry/posess except under certain circumstances:

1. As a re-enactor for historical purposes
2. as an actor in a play or performance
3. as a collectible curio
4. FFLs may posess automatic knives

so a Benchmade Auto 550 or a cheap stilletto switchblade is a nono to walk around with, but you can keep one as a collectible, use it in a play, or carry one as a re-enactor.


a "spring assisted" knife, like a Kershaw Blur, or a CRKT My Tighe is NOT a switchblade as defined under PA law, and may be posessed, carried, used, same as a swiss army knife.

I myself carry a My Tighe as a general carry knife top model, black titanium:
http://www.crkt.com/mytighe.html

You must push the blade out with your fingers to activate the "assist" mechanism that will open the blade to the lock point.

[ithinkimamedic]

SOG Flash II is another "spring assisted" lock blade. Hell if I didn't keep loosing them at work I would still be sporting my first one. As it is I am on number 3 due to circumstances beyond my control

[Lazylaser]

Yeah I was keeping my mouth shut,
but I went into the mall knife store and bought a side folder that opens with the press of a button. So, idk they sell knives similar to the crkt at the mall.

[Ten*K]

what's the specific need for spring assist? my CRKT m16-12z opens like lighting with barely the flick of my fingers.

[Lazylaser]

what's the specific need for spring assist? my CRKT m16-12z opens like lighting with barely the flick of my fingers.

Its like the full auto of knives. Sure you can bumpfire a semi, but...

[ithinkimamedic]

what's the specific need for spring assist? my CRKT m16-12z opens like lighting with barely the flick of my fingers.

My feelings on the matter are that I want a knife that will open as fast as your "flick of the fingers" but will have a much stiffer threshold for force required to open it. Basically I don't want to flick it and have it open, I want to be able to drop it and not have it open spontaneously. Additionally I may not always have the room to flick the wrist and get it open promptly where as a well placed firm flick of my thumb opens the blade enough to let the spring assist take over.

Different needs dictate different options.. just like AR's or defensive pistols IMO

[djturnz]

A side question; I have one of those Italian switchblades that the "switchblade comb" was modelled after. It never leaves the house and I'm not 100% sure where it is right now. Is there something special I need to do to make it a collectible curio? Or is the fact that I don't take it anywhere good enough?

[JayBell]

A side question; I have one of those Italian switchblades that the "switchblade comb" was modelled after. It never leaves the house and I'm not 100% sure where it is right now. Is there something special I need to do to make it a collectible curio? Or is the fact that I don't take it anywhere good enough?

should be good enough as it sits. just dont carry it around