Stiletto: Legal or Illegal?
 

Is the Stiletto legal or illegal in most states? I remember as a kid always wanting one but having a friend tell me that they were illegal in the states.

Where's the best place to get one, the best make, etc.?

They are perfectly legal, so long as you don't carry them around concealed.

Legally, they are treated like a non-folding hunting knife. (at least, as long as the knife you are talking about doesn't fold).

Don't know if the tx in your name means Texas or not, But in texas all push button only knifes are illegal.

Meaning, if its sping only that makes the knife pop out it is illegal, this applies to knifes that pop straight out or from the side like a traditional switch blade.

However, the newer spring assist knifes are fully legal.

Oh, switchblades are pretty much illegal. I think technically you can have them in your house, but that's about it.

When I hear stiletto, I think of a long, skinny fixed blade dagger. Which is legal, so long as you don't hide it.

Not really sure if this is what you're looking for, but have a look at Camillus Knives

I sell knives- and so deal with this issue sometimes- the definition of stilleto is different in different states- so check the state you are in- a guy called levine used to list different knife laws by state- you might try to find his site- I dont have address or would give it- also, remember that the cop can always arrest you- legal or no- then you find yourself trying to prove the knife in question is legal- remember that in california a man ( albiet a criminal breaking into a house) was convicted of having a dagger on his person- it was a butter knife, but the california definition of dagger is that any item that can cause piercing damage may be found to be a dagger... so legaly a ball point pen can get you arrested- doubt they could make it stick....

Thanks for the site suggestion BRER LAPIN. Cool site, but, unfortunately those wouldn't fit my definition of stilleto.

FIRE the type of knife that I would call a Stiletto, as I have understood it to be, is spring loaded and shoots straight up from the top of the handle. This differs from a switchblade as it does NOT swing out from the side of the handle like a switchblade does.

Anybody know anyplace online that has info on Stilletto's?

I guess I'll be checking my local laws to see if they're legal.

sometimes.... just sometimes its a pain liveing in canada, <gun and kinfe laws> butttt its easy to get stuff up here from the states if u arnt too picky bout minor smuggling ;)

well hmm im not exactly sure but it really depends on what YOU call stilleto, i think 6 inch really thin knife ment for penetrating chain mail, if you think 1980's switchblade as seen in the movies than thats illegal

Okay, so I did some searching on the internet and found the correct description of the knife I'm thinking of. It's a

DUAL ACTION FRONT OPENING AUTOMATIC KNIFE

That's a mouthful. Anyway, anyone heard of or own one of these?

Yeah- microtech makes a wicked one that will shoot through a 3/4 inch board when you open the blade- don't sell em myself, but a customer had one he showed me- said it went for over a grand--- most states I am aware of find that style of automatic knife highly objectionable- I know, however, that in some states- I.E. here in missouri- they are legal as collectors items- in other words if you carry it and get caught its jail time but its legal to own and keep in your house as a collectors item- once again check your local laws- ps one thing for certain- it IS highly illegal to transport that one across state linesas it is a switchblade under the federal law.

Autos are illegal in virtually every state, but if that knife was manual action, it would be legal. Double edged knives are not illegal in California.

Here is a list of knife laws by state: http://www.knifeart.com/knifeart/kniflawbysta.html

God Bless Arizona...

Switchblades are supposedly illegal in my state, but I always see a ton of them at the annual gun & knife show. Go figure.

They are illegal in the state of California, along with any other "spring loaded" knives. butterfly knives are illegal too. all this was typed from inside of a knife store... teehee, i get to play with sharp shiney things all day...

Where do you work?

BTW, balisongs are not specifically illegal. That is still left to interpretation. Case law has made balisongs part of the "gravity knife" category.