bzdog

You sure? There is an 'or' in that statement, but the axis lock does not 'automatically' open upon activation of the button, and you cannot open the blade by any movement *unless* the button is concurrently held down.

It would seem to me that your interpretation would make almost any modern knife a 'switchblade', which doesn't seem to be the objective.

-john


EDIT: What about a BM with a Spydie-hole? It has no button.

Musketeer

What does not fall into the above categories are knives that open one handed using direct pressure on the blade to do so, even if assisted. The above does cover true automatic knives and balisongs (butterfly) knives.

Musketeer

Get a quality folding knife, even assisted, and you are going to be a hell of a lot better off than trying to get away with a opened knife in a custom sheath.

matiki

I'll agree to respectfully disagree with you here.



I agree completely. While you and I disagree on the interpretation of the code (policy), I agree that enforcement (procedure) makes this the best option.

They wrote the law in a convoluted manner, but with a clear intent. They wanted to make it easier to bust gang members for carrying weapons. They outlawed most knives, razor blades, billy clubs, nun-chucks, and throwing stars.

I carry a Kershaw Ken Onion Blur knife. If I hold it so the blade opens down, and apply pressure to the thumb lever, it opens completely. Many assisted openers do this. This makes it illegal by definition. In practice, you can demonstrate for the Officer (as I have had to) that the knife does not open when held horizontally, and that's good enough. If the Officer wanted to bust me, they need only to have me demonstrate it in a different manner (or try it themselves).

__________________

Musketeer

Remember with all the assisted blades you are not pressing a lever or button. You are pressing the BLADE. There is a fine but very legally defined difference. That "thumb lever" on the kershaw is the blade, same steel, just the back end of it.

LEO "How do you open that?"

You "I open it by pushing on the blade."

matiki

I think they covered that with "or other device". I can see how it would be an outstanding argument in court. I'd just rather avoid court.

Again, I respect your interpretation and your position.

__________________

Rob72

Yeah, bad idea. At the least you'll lose your knife, at worst, they'll charge you. The law is purposely ambiguous, and I doubt anyone here is willing to spend $50K to keep a $50 knife. "Other device" in the statute, means whatever the arresting officer and the DA agree on. OTOH, you do what you need to get home at the end of the day...

ShooterMcGavin

I completely agree Forget about a 3" fixed blade... a 1/2" fixed blade is illegal!

Yes, you are right, and I have the same reservations. I guess that's why I posted here first. I suppose I will not be doing this.

I disagree (oh, maybe you mean "better off [in court]"). Even with a wave-opened knife, nothing is as fast into action as a fixed blade. Sometimes you do not have the free space to 'wave' a knife, or even to flick it open.

I appreciate your input. I thought they wanted the law for a reason to haul someone in for a technicality, like you said. I carry a Benchmade 720 daily and never thought it fell under the category of illegal knives. I kinda feel worse now than when I started this thread

Knives I was considering for opened-sheath-carry:
Benchmade 635 Mini-Skirmish
Chris Reeve Sebenza

raevan

There are exceptions to the fixed blade code.

SMC 12A.14.100 Exemptions -- Dangerous knives.

The proscriptions of Section 12A.14.080 B relating to dangerous knives
shall not apply to:

A. A licensed hunter or licensed fisherman actively engaged in hunting
and fishing activity including education and travel related thereto;
or

B. Any person immediately engaged in an activity related to a lawful
occupation which commonly requires the use of such knife, provided
such knife is carried unconcealed; provided further that a dangerous
knife carried openly in a sheath suspended from the waist of the
person is not concealed within the meaning of this subsection;

C. Any person carrying such knife in a secure wrapper or in a tool box
while traveling from the place of purchase, from or to a place of
repair, or from or to such person's home or place of business, or in
moving from one (1) place of abode or business to another, or while in
such person's place of abode or fixed place of business.

Per the above you may carry a fixed blade if it is visible and is necessary for your job or while you are fishing or hunting.

matiki

So... know any good places to hunt or fish in Seattle?

__________________