That’s interesting. Shouldn’t have to have a permit to exercise one’s 2nd Amendment rights but that’s another issue. I was looking at some very nice very expensive OTF (out of the front) automatic knives on the web recently. They only sell to LE and the military.
I agree totally about the permit to exercise a right.
I currently own 18 various switchblades. Some are traditional, one is an out the front, a few are very hard to come by. You can find them for sale at many of the gun shows around here. Check your local gun shows and see if there are any for sale there. I have a couple of friends who sell knives at the gun shows and one gets his hands on all of the various models. Even those that are supposed to only go to law enforcement. I bought one off of him a number of years back that was made only for the Navy Seals. It is a big brute with no markings. Completely sterile so that it can’t be traced back to country of origin.
Check out some of the on line knife auctions and you’ll find some of the ones you are talking about.