Switchblade opinions?
 

OK, I've been reading the State Code again (silly me, but sometimes work is boring when it's raining and everybody is being good and/or staying inside for a change) and have found out that the state's laws against one-handed knives/switchblades no longer applies to me. Since I can buy them legally, I thought "What the hell", and think I may want to pick one up. So, does anybody have (legal) experience with them? I'm not looking for the $20 Tijuana specials, I'm talking about a real-deal heavy-duty utility tool kind of "switchblade" that I can use and abuse and the damned thing will not break on me.

Any suggestions?

(BTW, when it comes time to buy, it'll be no problem putting in the order on letterhead to deal with legality questions for the manufacturing firm)

Why, exactly, does it no longer apply to you?

Go with Boker. Boker's automatic knives are pretty much universal among military, police, and paramedics over in Europe, and have an excellent reputation for reliability and toughness.

Benchmade also makes some extremely high quality automatics, though I have a feeling the police and a judge may 'disagree' with your interpretation of your state laws.

You may be better off with one of the 'spring assisted' knives which use a spring to assist the opening, but you still have to initiate the opening process via a thumb stud so there is no 'button' or 'switch' and are thus generally legal.

Because there are certain codified exemptions. As examples, the law specifically exempts people with only one functional arm, and people who are rescue squad workers are also exempt.

Eeeeeh....you might wanna check up on that. I dunno how it is in your jurasdiction, but the EMS exemption -usually- only applies to spring-assisted knives like the new Kershaw line. Still one-handers, but not in quite the same league as the Boker automatics or the "gangster" stilettoes of yesteryear. Since you said you were a C-III dealer, I assumed you meant it had something to do with that.

It's like that here in 'liberal shit hole NY'

Paramedics, fire, cops, they can all own auto's.

I say look into a Masters of Defense Harkins Triton:
http://www.lapolicegear.com/blmodtr.html

Check out:
http://www.bladeforums.com/

Microtechs are made very nicely.

ok, I dunno what you're getting the blade for, but since you posted it in weaponry I'm gonna assume it's to fight with.

If that's the case, forget the switchblade and get a good folder. I can deploy my Spyderco faster than any automatic knife out there. Just takes practice and regular oiling. Plus the lock is stronger on a (quality) folder so you're less likely to collapse the blade when you're fighting.

Benchmade makes an awesome knife, and my buddy had one of their autos...it was very nice!

I've got a Dalton Slim SEAL, Paragon mini-Tanto & Benchmade non-serrated Spike. All very different in terms of build technique but all top quality.. Dalton's stuff is pretty neat because he doesn't make much of any single style and does lots of color variations to the handles. You end up with something fairly unique for not a lot of dough. Microtech, Boker, MOD, and so on are all top quality as well.



soundmotor

My favorite autos are Microtechs (I prefer coil-spring autos, myself, like the Microtech SOCOM elite). Microtechs are extremely well made and considered by many to be the best. I've owned a few and have never had any problems. Cheaper autos, on the other hand, aren't worth the trouble. Poorly heat-treated springs can bend or crack after just a little use, and cheap blade steel is also not going to do you a lot of good. Microtechs only use high quality blade steel (s30-V, 154CM, etc), heat-treated with care, which ensures good edge holding without excessive brittleness that you often see with the less expensive 4-series stainless steels.

Masters of Defense also makes an excellent auto, but I don't have as much experience with these.