American Knife & Tool Institute, California Knife Laws At A Glance, akti.org, retrieved 22 March 2022 [9] Under Part III of the Criminal Code a knife that has a blade that opens automatically by gravity or centrifugal force or by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the handle of the knife, is illegal to possess, import, sell, buy, trade, or carry on one's person. These are prohibited weapons ( armes défendues). [17] While certain businesses can be granted a licence to acquire and possess prohibited weapons such as switchblades for use as props in movie productions, these exemptions do not apply to individuals. Langston, Richard (2001). Collector's Guide to Switchblade Knives: An Illustrated Historical and Price Reference. Boulder, Colorado: Paladin Press. p.224. ISBN 1-58160-283-9.

The Switchblade Knife Act ( Pub. L. Tooltip Public Law (United States) 85–623, 72 Stat. 562, aka SWA, enacted on August 12, 1958, and codified in 15U.S.C. §§1241– 1245), prohibits the manufacture, importation, distribution, transportation, and sale of switchblade knives in commercial transactions substantially affecting interstate commerce [49] between any state, territory, possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and any place outside that state, territory, U.S. possession, or the District of Columbia. The Act also prohibits possession of such knives on federal or Indian lands or on lands subject to federal jurisdiction. The federal SWA does not prohibit the ownership or carrying of automatic knives or switchblades inside state lines while not on federal property, nor does it prohibit the acquisition or disposition of such knives in an intrastate (in-state) transaction. Finally, the law does not prohibit interstate knife sales or transactions that are either noncommercial in nature, or which do not substantially affect interstate commerce (as defined by recent decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court). Unless preempted by state law, various county, city, or other local jurisdictions may also have their own codes or ordinances further restricting or prohibiting switchblade possession or use, for example Sioux Falls, South Dakota, or Oakland, California. Wolff, Lester R., Prohibited Knife Act, HR8612, HR8613, HR8198, U.S. Congress, 1968, 1973-1974: In his bill's declaration, Rep. Wolff stated flatly that 'switchblade knives have no redeeming social value and are restricted almost solely to violence'. Wolff would continue his legislative attempts to ban switchblade sales and ownership until 1974. Schrade, George M. George Schrade and his accomplishments to the Knife Industry. George Schrade Knife Co. (1982). ASIN B00072P8NU. a b La loi sur les armes a été modifiée: quelles sont les nouveautés? (PDF) (in French) (3rded.). Bruxelles. September 1, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2011 . Retrieved August 27, 2011. {{ cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ( link)In Austria the regulatory laws of individual states and the Assembly Act prohibit switchblades and other knives from being carried into a public building, school, public assembly, or public event. [12] Australia [ edit ] a b c d e f g h i j k Lang, Oliver (March 2010). Messer in Europa: Mit Dem Messer Auf Reisen (Übersicht - Messer & Recht im Ausland, Messer Magasin) (in German). Archived from the original on November 20, 2014. Crowell, Benedict (1919), America's Munitions 1917–1918, Report of Benedict Crowell, Assistant Secretary of War (Director of Munitions), U.S. War Department, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, pp. 88, 228

Limited – Illegal to sell, transfer or manufacture, may possess at home only. State Code: California Penal Code 17235 and Penal Code 21510 [65] Legal – as long as possession is not against federal law – Senate Bill 489 (2012), signed by Governor on 10 July 2012 with emergency clause. Illegal – Only legal for possession by on/off-duty police officers and paramedics State Code: RCW 9.41.250 HB 2346 Limited – Open or concealed carry legal with the exception of any knife that is 1) capable of inflicting death and designed or specially adapted for use as a weapon, or 2) is possessed, carried, or used as a weapon. Carry also prohibited at certain location-specific areas i.e. defined school safety zones including school activities, premises and school buses, and courthouses. Note: possession or carry may still be unlawful under various city ordinances. State Code § 2923.11 State Code: § 2923.12 State Code: § 2923.20 Legal – Nevada Knife Law Reform Bill, SB 176 (effective July 1, 2015) – State Code: NRS 202.350 paragraph 8(h), State Code: NRS 202.355U.S. Code Title 15, Sect. 1241 defines switchblade knives as any knives which open "1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or any knife having a blade which opens automatically; (2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both". The Act also prohibits the manufacture, sale, or possession of switchblade knives on any Federal lands, Native American reservations, military bases, and Federal maritime or territorial jurisdictions including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other territories. [50] [51] The act was amended in 1986 to also prohibit the importation, sale, manufacture, or possession of ballistic knives in interstate commerce. It is legal to carry and possess switchblade or automatic knives with no restriction to the length of the blade. [40] South Africa [ edit ] There is no federal restriction on the possession, ownership, or carrying of a switchblade knife. (For more information on switchblade laws, see State Laws Concerning Automatic-Open Knives.) There are states that have laws against switchblades. Most states allow knives to be opened automatically.

Note: Many California city criminal codes, such as Oakland, are more restrictive and prohibit possession or carry of all switchblades regardless of blade length. See OMC 9-36.040 Moore, Joan W., Going Down to the Barrio: Homeboys and Homegirls in Change, Philadelphia PA: Temple University Press, ISBN 0-87722-855-8, ISBN 978-0-87722-855-4 (1991), pp. 40, 59-60 The importation and possession of switchblades are illegal in Singapore. It may not be also listed or sold in auctions in Singapore. [39] Slovenia [ edit ] In Italy, increased production of automatic knives resulted from the actions of German businessman Albert Marx, who owned two cutlery manufacturing concerns in Solingen, Germany. [83] After a trip to Maniago in 1907, Marx was convinced of the appeal of Italian style automatic knives, and duly took note of attempts by Maniago knifemakers to increase productivity using powered cutting tools. [83] Marx promptly introduced the Solingen methods of semi-mass production to the Maniago knife industry, increasing output and lowering individual costs. [83] While Italian automatic knives would remain hand-assembled and to some extent hand-crafted products, Marx's innovations did increase production, enabling exports to other parts of Italy and eventually throughout Europe and abroad. [83] [87] Over time, Maniago became the central hub of automatic knife production in Italy. In the US, persons have occasionally been arrested or prosecuted by state law enforcement authorities for carrying assisted-opening knives defined as an illegal switchblade. [6] [7] [8] An attempt to criminalize the sale of spring-assisted knives by federal law enforcement was forestalled by a US 2009 amendment (Amendment 1447) to 15 U.S.C. §1244. This amendment provides that the Switchblade Knife Act shall not apply to spring-assist or assisted-opening knives (i.e. knives with closure-biased springs that require physical force applied to the blade to assist in opening the knife). [9] Legality [ edit ] Austria [ edit ]The Department of Justice and Equality: FAQ". Archived from the original on 2014-02-25 . Retrieved 2014-02-27. A switchblade knife is a type of knife with a folding or sliding blade within the handle that is opened automatically by a spring when a button, lever, or switch located on the handle is activated. This type of knife is often illegal in many countries and states due to its association with gangs, violence, and crime. However, they can be useful in certain situations, such as survival or self-defense. It is important to be aware of the laws in your area and use this type of knife responsibly and safely. The Cost Of Quality: Switchblade Knives Limited – legal if carried openly and legal if carried concealed when blade is less than 5in (13cm). Concealed carry of a blade greater than 5in (13cm) requires a "Weapons Carry License" O.C.G.A. § 16-11-126 Limited – legal to carry concealed unless blade is a dagger, dirk, or stiletto or concealed while containing a blade length of over 3in (7.6cm) State Code: 11-47-42