Switchblades

[General Septem]

I've been carrying my Boy Scout knife around long enough, and it's a pain-in-the-ass to open. I inevitably break a nail (which I keep long for fingerpicking on the guitar) if I use my right hand. And I'm obviously no Boy Scout, and don't wish to portray that I am (not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not me). So I've been thinking about getting something a little more stylish and a little easier to open:

http://www.skm.to/imgs/1/itst/190.jpg

I love the blade. I'd probably go with a different handle, but that's the sample pic they had for that handle. I actually don't see the Damascus kris blade in their listing anymore; I just sent them an email asking if we can still get them.

But there's just one small problem, not that it would stop me. These knives aren't just illegal to carry in the state of New York; they're illegal to possess.

Not that that's going to affect my decision, but it will affect whether or not I get arrested for it, which is bullshit.

Who's to say a switchblade is any more of a weapon than a steak knife? I mean, I wouldn't use it for steak because it would get in the mechanism and fuck it up, but still. I wouldn't call it any more dangerous than a pocketknife just because it's easier to open. After all, a pocketknife has more blades. Shit, I see someone coming at me with a knife with two blades and a corkscrew coming out each end, I'm more likely to think he's a psychopath than if it were a stylish Italian stiletto with a Damascus steel blade.

I'd go so far as to say that with the main blade coming out one end and a "leather tool" (basically a short stabbing blade with a sharpened edge) coming out the other end, it might actually be more effective in combat than the blade above. You can slash and stab with it without having to flip it in your hand at all. See what I mean (outermost two blades):

http://www.bestglide.com/product_images/TS1121_lg.jpg

Yet these are legal and switchblades are not. The only difference (besides switchblades being so much more badass) is that they're easier to open. Ok, a hell of a lot easier, but really, what's draw speed worth except in self-defense? I use my pocketknife (same as the one above but with a different (red) handle) all the time to open letters, boxes, bags, all kinds of things really. I use it all the time. I'd use a switchblade for the same thing; I just wouldn't have to nearly break a nail in the process.

I for one think it's total bullshit that these are illegal. Who's to say it's a "dangerous weapon"? I'd call it more of a "dangerous tool", but then what useful tool isn't dangerous when not properly used. I mean I use saws and routers all the time, and if some black-tie asshole with a bunch of cops on his payroll tried to tell me I couldn't use them, I'd shove his face into the spinning blade.

But verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose. Any thoughts?

[Ausinus]

Well, V :D, I think that collecting melee weapons such as knives is a viable hobby. And I love the knife in the pic, such elegant craftmanship.

I myself have a collection of Katana, Spathoi and other weapons. Then again, I live in washington:D

[General Septem]

Well, V :D, I think that collecting melee weapons such as knives is a viable hobby. And I love the knife in the pic.

I myself have a collection of Katana, Spathoi and other weapons. Then again, I live in washington:D

We agree on something :D

I actually know several people in the area with knife collections too who own switchblades, so I don't think it's a very incriminating "weapon" to own. I would just have to be careful where I carry it.

[Ausinus]

Well I mean, its much easier to track a knife than a gun.

[General Septem]

Well I mean, its much easier to track a knife than a gun.

Track in what way?

[Ausinus]

Track in what way?

Well say i stabbed someone it would be easier to find out who did it than if i shot them. :D

[General Septem]

Well say i stabbed someone it would be easier to find out who did it than if i shot them. :D

That's interesting, why is that? I would think guns would be easier to trace since bullets are like a gun's fingerprint.

[Ausinus]

That's interesting, why is that? I would think guns would be easier to trace since bullets are like a gun's fingerprint.

Well you have more forensic evidence like bloodstains on the knife, fingerprints, etc.

[General Septem]

Well you have more forensic evidence like bloodstains on the knife, fingerprints, etc.

Ah, but they'd have to have the knife in the first place. If I were to kill someone with a knife, I'd make sure it got properly destroyed. :D

The thought of hurting someone with a knife makes me sick though. I'd rather be shot any day.

[Ausinus]

Yeah.

So do you fence?

[General Septem]

Yeah.

So do you fence?

Actually it interests me, but I haven't. Do you?

[Ausinus]

Yup, I'm a foilist. Its fun, but requires a lot of dexterity.

[General Septem]

Yup, I'm a foilist. Its fun, but requires a lot of dexterity.

Ha, it would probably help me get in better shape. :D

[who897]

I'm thinking the reason behind switchblades being illegal to carry is that they are truely on made for 2 purposes...display and harming another person. I for one could care less either way, I figure you bring a knife I bring a gun, you bring a gun I bring a gang w/ guns, you bring a gang w/ guns I bring a rocket launcher...etc etc etc. :D

[General Septem]

I'm thinking the reason behind switchblades being illegal to carry is that they are truely on made for 2 purposes...display and harming another person. I for one could care less either way, I figure you bring a knife I bring a gun, you bring a gun I bring a gang w/ guns, you bring a gang w/ guns I bring a rocket launcher...etc etc etc. :D

See, I look at it as nothing more than an easy to open pocketknife. Boy Scouts carry Boy Scout knives, rebels carry switchblades, but that's just the culture that goes along with it, and it doesn't make one or the other inherently bad.

I'd use a switchblade for the same things I already use my pocketknife for. Its ability to open at the press of a switch only makes it more suitable (as a weapon) for self-defense, which isn't a bad thing at all (unless you consider a society not dependent on the police a bad thing). As a pocketknife, well it makes it convenient too.

I wage warfare by taking my enemies' jobs away. Then they can't afford rocket launchers. :D

[hitekredneck]

See, I look at it as nothing more than an easy to open pocketknife. Boy Scouts carry Boy Scout knives, rebels carry switchblades, but that's just the culture that goes along with it, and it doesn't make one or the other inherently bad.

I'd use a switchblade for the same things I already use my pocketknife for. Its ability to open at the press of a switch only makes it more suitable (as a weapon) for self-defense, which isn't a bad thing at all (unless you consider a society not dependent on the police a bad thing). As a pocketknife, well it makes it convenient too.

I wage warfare by taking my enemies' jobs away. Then they can't afford rocket launchers. :D
tho i enjoy a finely crafted knife, (my wife has somewhere around 30 of em), i've never been able to find a dependable switch that didn't fall apart after 40-50x opening and closing....i'll stick with my good ol schrade made bowie with 9" xx laser sharpend american steel....tho i dearly would love to find damascus or toledo....;)

[General Septem]

tho i enjoy a finely crafted knife, (my wife has somewhere around 30 of em), i've never been able to find a dependable switch that didn't fall apart after 40-50x opening and closing....i'll stick with my good ol schrade made bowie with 9" xx laser sharpend american steel....tho i dearly would love to find damascus or toledo....;)

Apparently SKM knives are very high quality. They specialize in switchblades and I've seen some say they're the best. For $50-100 they better be. ;) You might know better than me though. :D

[hitekredneck]

Apparently SKM knives are very high quality. They specialize in switchblades and I've seen some say they're the best. For $50-100 they better be. ;) You might know better than me though. :D
i've had an skm with6.5 in blade...again, it wore out after som frequent use...ya see, the narrow blades are fantastic for cleaning game, and if the steel's good, skin quite well too...

[General Septem]

i've had an skm with6.5 in blade...again, it wore out after som frequent use...ya see, the narrow blades are fantastic for cleaning game, and if the steel's good, skin quite well too...

Oh, that's interesting. Do you think it could be because they're not designed for cleaning carcasses, or do you think it's just the design?

[hitekredneck]

Oh, that's interesting. Do you think it could be because they're not designed for cleaning carcasses, or do you think it's just the design?
hey man...i believe (damn, there's that word again) in utilization of all tools:D

[General Septem]

hey man...i believe (damn, there's that word again) in utilization of all tools:D

Haha, I just mean that do you think the wear and tear was from normal use or just from cutting meat with it :D

I mean I might want to take it into consideration if I get one of my own. ;)

[hitekredneck]

Haha, I just mean that do you think the wear and tear was from normal use or just from cutting meat with it :D

I mean I might want to take it into consideration if I get one of my own. ;)
well, ya gotta remember that animal hide wears a blade out pretty quick...and most switch's are more designed for piercing rather than slicing, but i like the narrow blades for getting into joints and slicing tendons..as well as getting into the tallow during the skinning tho that wears on a blade almost as much as the hide does...one of these days i'll take a few pics of a few of my arms and show em off

[Nobody]

tho i enjoy a finely crafted knife, (my wife has somewhere around 30 of em), i've never been able to find a dependable switch that didn't fall apart after 40-50x opening and closing....i'll stick with my good ol schrade made bowie with 9" xx laser sharpend american steel....tho i dearly would love to find damascus or toledo....;)....At the T.A. on the west side of Boise,Someone runs a knife shop inside. He's got a German made, stag handle, with a 6" blade, that has a powerful recoil, for 300 bucks, or you can get one of his Italian models for 80.00.Regardless of what you get for your money, Any Eurpoean switchblade is worth having.