"Illegal" Spyderco

[Bowie Man]

JD Spydo,

Thanks for the PM. Everyday all I hear is that we are a---oles, racists and liares. Even when good people get tickets for legitamate reasons they change their attitude towards the Police. You don't get de-sensitized to it... just the opposite, you are always on the defensive trying to justify your actions.

After re-reading your post and PM, I realized that you were not intentionally putting down Police Officers but the "system" dictating the actions of the Police.

Sorry that I jumped the gun Joe.

[foggy]

I also do not understand how a switchblade, automatic, or baliong is in anyway more dangerous than any other knife. In fact I would think just about any fixed blade would be more dangerous.

Isn't the swichblade somewhat more dangerous because the spring loaded blade can be shot into someone without any hand motion at all? That being said I don't realy understand why a AO or "flick knife" would be any more dangerous than someone who can open a quickly.

I have a friend who realy likes his gerber gator so he drilled the blade and added a thumb stud. Does this now make it a "dangerous" knife?

[twca]

I'm out of the office until late next week, but I believe I have more than one account in Toronto. I'll let you know.

Please do send a PM if you can. I'd really appreciate it.

So, yes, I think we are stepping up to the plate. Hopefully you do too.

Oh, I plan to, don't worry. Not one to complain and not act. The current situation isn't acceptable!

[twca]

The information you received was false and misleading...take it from a Toronto Copper. There are quite a few stores in the City of Toronto that sell Spyderco knives in abundance, and Cops are some of their best customers.

Hey Bowie Man,

Thanks for the post, it means a lot. If you could PM with any locations it'd be a big help. I'd like to think has an excellent reputation among TPS guys!

[elt1]

Happy to say that out here on the West Coast there are more than a few stores that sell Spyderco products.

Being an LEO officer I also find knives of all kinds on different people, including Spydies. While many others flick open, I've yet to find a Spydie that does....

[The Deacon]

Isn't the swichblade somewhat more dangerous because the spring loaded blade can be shot into someone without any hand motion at all? That being said I don't realy understand why a AO or "flick knife" would be any more dangerous than someone who can open a quickly.

I have a friend who realy likes his gerber gator so he drilled the blade and added a thumb stud. Does this now make it a "dangerous" knife?

The only knife where the blade can be "shot" into someone is a ballistic knife where the blade is literally launched from the handle as a projectile. They are the one category of knives I have no problem with being made totally illegal to own.

An OTF auto could only injure you if the front of the handle was closer to you than the length of the blade when it was opened.

Interestingly, one of the first applications of the principle of the automatic knife was a device called a fleam, used by doctors in the days when "bleeding" was considered a medical treatment for certain ills as an alternative to leeches. The spring mechanism was "cocked", the handle was placed against the skin, and the "trigger" activated. The very small blade then made a cut more precisely and uniformly than would have otherwise been possible, and the patient was less likely to flinch because they could not see it coming.

The opening motion of a switchblade is identical to that of a regular folder, so I would not consider it a very effective weapon

Switchblades, OTF autos, and at least some gravity knives can be opened without any hand motion beyond the "motion" of pushing a button or moving a lever.

It does pay to remember that back when almost all the state and federal laws regarding automatics and gravity knives were being written those were the only knifes which could be consistently and easily opened with one hand. For that reason, at least some lawmakers today would be more than happy to extend the restrictions against autos and gravity knives to include any and all knives which can be opened one handed. From a purely legal perspective, that would make as much sense as repealing the existing laws, since, as you pointed out, such knives are no more difficult to deploy quickly than the "evil" switchblade. From a purley political perspective, it would be a lot more attractive than repeal, since it could be "spun" as "anti-crime" and "anti-violence". For that reason, it pays to be very careful where, and to whom, you argue the illogic of the current situation. As an old co-worker of mine would say "things can ALWAYS get worse".

Consider this for a moment. I don't think the Capital Region of New York is particularly "violent", but the chances of a week going by without the local newspapers and TV reporting at least one "stabbing" are slim. There is a better chance of me being hit by lightening than of two weeks without such a report. Now granted, you know and I know that the "weapon" in most of these incidents was a kitchen knife, a pair of scissors, a letter opener, or some other household object. But it seems like the only time the weapon gets described is when it is a folding knife, hunting knife, or the dreaded SWITCHBLADE!!!.

I would imagine statistics in other parts of the country are about the same, and that the media there follows a similar pattern as to what gets publicized and what doesn't. What impression do you think those almost weekly stories create in the minds of the "average voter"? Now consider that the folks who need to support legislation to either ease or increase the restricitions on knives are elected, and most want to be re-elected. Which position do you think looks more attractive to them?

[merciful]

Things like this really annoy me, as I'm very much inclined with the classic "guns don't kill people..." faction. The knife laws here in Canada are much easier to deal with than the myriad state/local restrictions in the USA: as (I believe) was more-or-less covered above, we can't have have automatics of any sort, or knives which open via gravity (or "centrifugal force"), balisongs, or push-daggers. Any sort of folder is technically fine, and there is no restriction on blade length.

I did lose a knife to Customs once, as they declared that it could be opened "centrifugally", with the dreaded wrist-snap. The officer admitted to me that it was a stupid distinction, that the assisted-opening mechnism was quicker, safer, and more reliable; and told me the next time to make sure I had the dealer tighten the pivot.

I've also had a senior RCMP officer pass along to me through a relative that he didn't think any cop around here would have any concern what sort of knofe I used to cut up someone trying to rob me in the street; and anyway, I've always considered the law to run a very poor second to necessity in a serious situation.

Even should the law change (which is very unlikely here, considering the preponderance of wide-open spaces, outdoorsmen, and our strong centralised government), I'll carry whatever I damn well please. No-one is supposed to be carrying a knife in the UK now and people are still stabbed in the street: but I'm no sucker.

[swingshot]

As an old co-worker of mine would say "things can ALWAYS get worse".

Too true. In Denmark the U.K Pen knife isn't even legal for carry.