Gravity Knife - California

C

CAman

Joined
Jan 5, 2000
Messages
157
Colt used to make a gravity knife with a marlin spike and a half serrated edge. I think it was called the 'Search and Rescue' Knife. It looks like it would be a great sailing knife.
Does anyone one have a review or know anything about it? Is it still available and from where?
Is it California legal?
Thanks in advance. - CAman
 
I don't know anything about this knife, or where you can get one, but I can tell you that CA law considers a gravity knife to be a switchblade.

From CA Penal Code section 653k:
For the purposes of this section, "switchblade knife" means a knife having the appearance of a pocketknife and includes a spring-blade knife, snap-blade knife, gravity knife or any other similar type knife, the blade or blades of which are two or more inches long and which can be released automatically by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle, flip of the wrist or other mechanical device, or is released by the weight of the blade or by any type of mechanism whatsoever.

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Dave

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of More Knives
 
I saw one of those not too long ago in a magazine. I think they are still in production.You may try looking for colt's website,Maybe sending them an email. Good Luck, Brian
 
I believe Patrick @ Triple Aught might have them in stock.

Stay sharp!

Jim

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Jim O'Young
www.speed-techknives.com
Home of the Speed Tech "SYNERGY" (tm)
1999-2000 BLADE Magazine "Most Innovative American Design"

 
Jim, Thanks for the lead - Triple Aught does have them. Blade is 420J Steel, that's too bad.
DSVirsky - how does California Law regard switchblades? I think they are illegal, but is there any exception if you are out of city limits (like on the ocean?). The knife in question has a 3.5 inch blade which falls open when a lever is pressed. Thanks. - CAman
 
653K says that it is illegal to carry a switchblade in the passenger compartment of an automobile or in a public place or in a place of public gathering. It doesn't say you can't possess one outside of those circumstances, such as in your home or on a boat.

It is also illegal to give, lend, sell or otherwise transfer a switchblade to anyone. (Even LEO or military.) CA law makes no exception for anybody to buy a switchblade. Even though many dealers do sell to cops & military, it is still illegal.

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Dennis Wright
Wright Knife & Sporting Goods
1-800-400-1980
("Have a knife day!")
wrightknife@ixpres.com
 
>how does California Law regard switchblades?

A switchblade is just that, any knife with a spring in it. In california, the blade has to be 2" or under. I would assume, that does not include the tang. Beyond that, each knife has to be judged on it's indivual merit, to determine if it's a automatic knife or a gravity knife. It has been a long standing US Customs policy, to judge each knife on a individual basis, and it was confirmed in US court in Taylor V US. In California in People Vs Quattrone, it was determined that a 5" butterfly is a switchblade. So, they are illegal in California. I would not mess with a butterfly in Cal. in the 4" to 7" range, to be safe. But beyond that, nothing has been established at all. Other than the law of if you say something enough times, people tend to believe it's true. Really, a law is not a law, tell it is tested in court. This country is based on a system of checks and balances. But once the court sets a precedent, it's hard to overturn. In general, while we have the right to own weapons, we can not conceal them, and you can not take a knife with a blade over 2 1/2" into a federal building. They could arrest you, under federal law. Thanks, JohnR7 http://sr11.xoom.com/expojohnr7/ButterflyB/
 
JohnR7,
One thing is very clearly established: in California, if the police search you and find a switchblade of any type, spring, gravity, butterfly, whatever, with a blade length of 2" or greater (not including tang) they can make your life very unpleasant. Even if you are ultimately vindicated in a court of law, you will have spent time in jail, and money on an attorney.

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Dave

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of More Knives
 
>> It is also illegal to give, lend, sell or otherwise transfer a switchblade to anyone.

In general, they are not after the private collector, they are trying to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals. The problem though, is it worth your while to go to court to find out, if it's legal or not. If I am out selling knives, they can take my entire inventory, and my truck, they can put me in one jail, my wife in another and our baby in custody. If you sell a questionable item to a minor, they can get you on a felony contributing charge. If I import a knife, customs has the option of calling it a switchblade or gravity knife and keeping it. That leaves it up to me, to hire legal defense like James Taylor of Taylor Cutlery did, to go to Federal court to get my shipment. (120 Batangas made Balisong's) He did get them back by the way
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But, you got to ask yourself if it's worth it
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That's what creates a shortage, and when you have a shortage it pushes up demand, and that pushes up prices. People will always want what is difficult to get. It's just human nature, and they will pay more for it. The manufactors are glad to ship though. Call up Boker in Germany, and they would only be to glad to sell you switchblades, if you place a big enough order. We do not spend hours and hours to study the law, because we want to, it's because we have to, when your in this business. Thanks, JohnR7 http://sr11.xoom.com/expojohnr7/phil/
 
Thanks for the info everyone. It seems like owning a gravity knife is a catch-22.
There is no clear definition, so they can get you on any interpretable knife when they are in a bad mood. You can own one in a home or boat, but you are not allowed to buy it. Only a lawyer's mind could be so screwed up to pass such a law.
 
CAman,
That's about the state of it. Thank goodness the legislature had enough sense (with a big thanks to Buck, Benchmade, and everyone else involved in the effort!) to amend the law to specifically exclude thumbstuds, Spydie holes, etc., from the switchblade definition. It used to be that any knife you could open one-handed was subject to being classified as an illegal switchblade.

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Dave

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of More Knives
 
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