Posted on 02/12/2015 9:05:35 AM PST by marktwain
AUGUST 12, 1958, a date that has faded into obscurity, the Congress of the United States enacted Public Law 85-623, an "act to prohibit the introduction, or manufacture for introduction, into interstate commerce of switchblade knives, and for other purposes," and sent it on to President Eisenhower for his signature. Under this act, "The term 'switchblade knife' meant any knife having a blade which opens automatically --
(1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or
(2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both."
The maximum penalty for each violation of this law was a $2,000 fine and five years in jail.Levine goes on to examine the history of switchblade knives, American manufactures, the debate in Congress, and the parallel to the "assault weapon" ban. At the time that the article was written, in 1990, the Clintonian "assault weapon" ban had not been passed, sunset out of existence, and generally discredited.
"Switchblade knives in the hands of criminals are, of course, potentially dangerous weapons. However, since they serve useful and even essential purposes in the hands of persons such as sportsmen, shipping clerks, and others engaged in lawful pursuits, the committee may deem it preferable that they be regulated at the State rather than the Federal level."Mr. Levine does an excellent job of describing the lies and distortions used by the politicians pushing the ban. I have no wish to duplicate his work, but the parallels with the willful ignorance of those who push for more and more legislative restrictions on firearms are obvious. Even the 100 year gap in their references to technological advances is similar:
Congressman Delaney's mind was made up, so it probably would have been pointless to confuse him with the facts. Switchblades came into common use in the United States, not around 1950 as he stated, but around 1850. After the turn of the century, thanks to the inventive genius of George Schrade (and the "protection" of the Tariff Acts of 1891 and 1897), American made switchblades of all sizes became popular and commonplace.It will come as no surprise that the principle push for the switchblade ban was a representative from New York City, James J. Delaney. New York is noted for its nannystate policies. Levine goes into detail about the philosophical basis for this desire to control every aspect of a persons life.
During the 1950s, established U.S. newspapers as well as the sensationalist tabloid press joined forces in promoting the image of a young delinquent with a stiletto switchblade or flick knife. While the press focused on the switchblade as a symbol of youthful evil intent, the American public's attention was attracted by lurid stories of urban youth gang warfare and the fact that many gangs were composed of lower class youth and/or racial minorities.[4] The purported offensive nature of the stiletto switchblade combined with reports of knife fights, robberies, and stabbings by youth gangs and other criminal elements in urban areas of the United States generated continuing demands from newspaper editorial rooms and the public for new laws restricting the lawful possession and/or use of switchblade knives.[4] In 1954, the state of New York passed the first law banning the sale or distribution of switchblade knives in hopes of reducing gang violence. That same year, Democratic Rep. James J. Delaney of New York authored the first bill submitted to the U.S. Congress banning the manufacture and sale of switchblades.
There never was a logical reason to ban them. I see it as almost a test case of media power.
Like gun laws, they were never intended to stop the evildoer, but to get non-violent law-abiding citizens.
...USAF had one like this..
Many more at JerzeeDevil auto picture thread.
Half a century later they used the same process to take away our light bulbs.
I blame West Side Story.
They are trying to use it to take away electricity and cars.
The scare tactic now is global warming, er, ‘climate change’. It is one of the biggest scams out there.
One nice result of this is that assisted-opening knives have experienced something of a design renaissance the last few years. I carry a Ken Onion Kershaw that opens very nicely with one finger, which is a good thing, because I’m usually holding something in the other hand when it turns out I need it. It is not a fighting knife. I do not dance in a chorus line before gang fights. “When ya a Jet ya a Jet all da way, from yer first cigarette to ya last dyin’ day...”
Back in the mid 90’s, I ordered a switchblade from a magazine advert, it was to come as a kit requiring final assembly of the mainspring. When it showed up, I shook it out of its bag and it was complete and ready to go—needed a drop of oil on the hinge, though... Used it at work to slit shrinkwrap when depalletizing product.
Some of those switch blades a truly beautiful, I must say. For my own cutlery though, I prefer a well made large fixed blade. SOG Seal team Elite is fantastic! For a small and very useful folder, I prefer the Spyderco Harpy made of vg-10 stainless. And for throwing (yep throwing!) I prefer these Gil Hibben knives once their corded handle is removed. Perfect for the no flip throwing method.
First, they were labelled “assault weapons” and then they started on automatic and semi-automatic blades....
That switchblade & shroud knife was also in the Army’s life support vest for aviators, then one year they were ordered to be turned in.
My wife acquired one in the 1970’s, then gave it to me when we got married. Now that’s love!
;^)
Deep in the recesses of my gun safe I have an original SOG Trident, it's possibly the stoutist knife I own. I believe the blade stock is > 1/4". It's absolutely fantastic fit and finish, and so nice I've never been able to bring myself to use it.
I also have a SOG Tomcat Jr.
I love Spyderco's and have three or four of them, too. This one's a fave:
The VALLOTTON SUB-HILT FOLDER.
Cheers!
LOL!
That is a beautiful Spyderco! They make such high quality knives.
The SOG Trident is a gorgeous knife. SOGs in general are of such incredible quality. The Seal Team Elite I have has got to be the sturdiest knife I have ever seen in my life, and what really blows my mind about it is that looking at the list of their products, mine is on the cheaper end.
I would love to look at some of their more expensive gear, but that stuff is out of my price range.
If you look at the M42 Paratrooper jacket there is a little ambidextrous zippered pocket in the mid-chest area made to hold this knife with the express purpose of cutting yourself out of tangled shroud lines should a paratrooper get stuck in trees, powerlines, etc. It was critical that the knife, and the pocket it was kept in be accessible by either hand for obvious reasons...
“Ken Onion Kershaw”
I carry a black Ken Onion Leek (1660CKT). It’s a great tool...have it out 6-8 times a day. Very, very handy.
I also have the Shallot. While it’s a little big for constant carry, when it swings open and locks in place, you KNOW you’re holding on to a substantial piece of equipment.
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