Legal/Illegal?

[skseifert]

So, is there a difference between a switchblade (or auto opening knife) and a spring assist knife? Is one or both legal/illegal to carry? I saw this similar discussion on a similar thread, and started to wonder about my spring assist that I carry as a utility knife.

 

[Scutter01]

You should read the knife FAQ stickied at the top of this forum:

https://www.indianagunowners.com/forums/the_cutting_edge/45001-indiana_knife_law_faq.html

 

[skseifert]

IC 35-47-5-2
Knife with blade that opens automatically or may be propelled
Sec. 2. It is a Class B misdemeanor for a person to manufacture, possess, display, offer, sell, lend, give away, or purchase any knife with a blade that:
(1) opens automatically; or
(2) may be propelled;
by hand pressure applied to a button, device containing gas, spring, or other device in the handle of the knife.
As added by P.L.311-1983, SEC.32. Amended by P.L.70-2000, SEC.2.

What specifically does "Opens Automatically" mean, with respect to a spring assist?

 

[UncleMike]

IC 35-47-5-2
Knife with blade that opens automatically or may be propelled
Sec. 2. It is a Class B misdemeanor for a person to manufacture, possess, display, offer, sell, lend, give away, or purchase any knife with a blade that:
(1) opens automatically; or
(2) may be propelled;
by hand pressure applied to a button, device containing gas, spring, or other device in the handle of the knife.
As added by P.L.311-1983, SEC.32. Amended by P.L.70-2000, SEC.2.

What specifically does "Opens Automatically" mean, with respect to a spring assist?

"Assisted open" knives are legal since they require the user to exert pressure on the blade itself to engage the spring assist.
Switchblades open by applying pressure to a release button and not the blade.
It is a small, and stupid, difference.
The idiocy over switchblades came about when I was a kid and movies of the day purported that switchblade knives were the primary weapon of "Gang" members.
Which was a huge load of crap.
The true stupidity is that sheath knives are perfectly legal and they require NO opening assist of any kind.
Just draw it from the sheath and cut away.

 

[jbombelli]

"Assisted open" knives are legal since they require the user to exert pressure on the blade itself to engage the spring assist.
Switchblades open by applying pressure to a release button and not the blade.
It is a small, and stupid, difference.
The idiocy over switchblades came about when I was a kid and movies of the day purported that switchblade knives were the primary weapon of "Gang" members.
Which was a huge load of crap.
The true stupidity is that sheath knives are perfectly legal and they require NO opening assist of any kind.
Just draw it from the sheath and cut away.

Plus, they're vastly superior if you want to use one as a weapon.

 

[Hammerhead]

Yeah, but the Sharks and the Jets don't look as cool when they pull their sheath knives off their belts to have their dance fight.

 

[UncleMike]

Yeah, but the Sharks and the Jets don't look as cool when they pull their sheath knives off their belts to have their dance fight.

Yeah.
That movie did more to cement the image of the switchblade toting hood than all of the newspaper headlines in the Country.

 

[Blue Tile Spook]

Anyone have a switchblade comb that I can borrow?

switchblade comb - Google Search