Switchblade mechanism

[HWooldridge]

I once had a Trapper's model made by none other than Schrade back in the 1930's. It was a very large knife and opened to about 9-10 inches overall. I did a little research and was able to determine they marketed it expressly for the sportsman who might be be holding something with one hand and able only to use the other. The spring lock was a bar about 1/4" wide that engaged notches 180 degrees apart. The blade was under tension only when fully closed and if partially opened, could be locked with a flick of the wrist. The blade also had a hole in it where a guard pivoted that lay flat when closed and crossways to the handle when open.

In Texas, they've pretty much banned the open wearing of anything - including lock blades and fixed blades. Law enforcement usually don't hassle law abiding folks with one on their hips but it's illegal nonetheless.

[pete46]

mmm red tape can't even cut it w/a knife,OR LOGIC!

[Golden_eagle]

I can flick my Knives open faster than you can blink... (no joke) who needs Switchblades?

[Ian]

Thats 300 to 400 milliseconds or 3/10th to 4/10th of a second on average apparently.
I think I'd like to see that with my own eyes
Youtube?

[Pault17]

Golden eagle,
I have a little benchmade that I can flick open faster than my little bro's switch. He is an LEO and is allowed to have one.
when I first showed him, he thought he was gonna hafta take it away.

[Golden_eagle]

Ian, You can't see it... And by my watch i can open my knifes in 460 milliseconds,
(give or take a few milliseconds)

[Ian]

Thats not faster than someone can blink unless my Maths wrong. LOL. Drawing faster than your adversary can react is the real test, 460 milliseconds would likely do.

[Golden_eagle]

Just did the math; my total draw time is 600 milliseconds.

[agsolder]

Original question was How does a switchblade action work? As far as I can see, it works by violating the federal statute banning the manufacture, sale, carrying and mere possession of these knives. The slick knife mags clogged with ads and covers showing and selling them and the manufacturers of same all seem to glide blithely past this law, but the law is, as far as I know, still on the books, and it trumps any state or local law permitting them such as Idaho seems to have. The federal statute is waiting for some cop looking to make sergeant to throw it at whomever she catches with one. I would appreciate some enlightened comment on howcum this is. Thanks

[matt87]

Switchblade - Wikipedia
Federal laws are legally only able to affect interstate commerce/transfer and federally owned land. This law was enacted when an appreciable number of people still knew that...