Psycho Fonzie types back in the 50’s were the reason for the switchblade ban.Everybody forgets about those vicious punks.
I think part of the original fear was based on “Puerto Rican street gangs”.
I guess we have no equuivalent concern today.
re: The icon of the switchblade ban was “Westside Story”, of the “Assault Weapons” ban “Miami Vice”.
One of the very few times, I must disagree with Mr. Weingarten. I would have said “Blackboard Jungle” instead of “Westside Story”. As a movie, “Blackboard Jungle” preceded “Westside Story” by several years. With no singing and dancing.
But this is really just quibbling.
When a switchblade is opened in the movies, there is always a dramatic pause for everyone to be shocked and/or scared.
Which ironically would be enough time to slowly open an ordinary lock blade knife, which (when you think about it) could be made just as scary with the right music! I always cracked up about that.
A good argument for both switchblades and gravity knives has been that they are needed for those who only have the use of one hand, and even that one hand might be compromised, such as by arthritis.
But knife makers seem to be missing a market segment by not specifically designing switchblades and gravity knives to be of particular utility to the handicapped. Instead their focus is on fixed blade “adaptive knives”, mostly for kitchen use.
http://products.disabled-world.com/product_list.php?category=659
Yet knives remain a primary tool no matter where you are. To date the handicapped are limited to switchblades and gravity knives that are more stylish than practical. Many use lower quality steel and have fairly dull blades.
Fonzie and Happy Days......meet Charles Bronson and Death Wish.
Do you want to see some bizarre knife laws? Look at Maryland.
Bowie knives are illegal. Can you define a “Bowie” knife? Me neither, but apparently they know one when they see it.
A youth cannot carry a knife past dusk, unless they are part of an organized youth outdoor adventure group.
Switchblades cannot be carried with the intent to do harm. Huh? I’ve got a great Gerber automatic that I’m afraid to ever carry. Can they determine my intent?
When it comes to switchblade knives I have an interesting observation.
The Federal Government authorized a very large class of people to carry switchblade knives as part of their duty uniform.
As a flyer I was required, and authorized, to carry an orange survival knife. On one end was a hooked blade used to cut malfunctioning parachute risers in an emergency. On the other end was a switchblade knife. The blade was small - maybe 4 inches. But you can still do a lot of damage with it.
I was issued and carried that knife on every flight from September 1970 through April 1990. In fact, my instructors and flight examiners checked my possession of it on a regular basis.
Just an interesting observation.
Except why do Bench Made knives have to be so darned expensive?
Suppressors are the next item to de-regulated. Hell, you can buy them at hardware stores in Europe. A knee-jerk ban, similar to switchblades.
Taking back the 2nd Amendment, one weapon (”arm”) at a time.
It always seemed to me that a sheathed knife would be much more usable and reliable than a switchblade.
Silly liberals. When criminals faced severe penalties for carrying switchblades they simply started carrying guns.
His boss says something like, 'Why does a cop need a weapon like that?'.
In the '80s, a friend did a little tour with a music group in Europe, and smuggled back a switchblade in his trumpet case.
Total POS, obviously made to sell to tourists. Press the button, the thing would just disintegrate. Spring flying one way, blade just kinda dangling... Definitely not a Benchmade.