If there is nothing blocking the blade and it stays closed, the knife is an assisted opener (assuming it has a mechanism to help open the knife).Īnother way to look at it: If you are able to open the blade without exerting any effort on the actual blade, it's a switchblade. If the blade's natural inclination is to open without the presence of a hindrance, it's a switchblade. How to Tell the DifferenceĪ good indicator of whether a knife is considered a switchblade or an assisted opening knife is what the resting position of the blade is. For a more detailed look at how the torsion bar works in an assisted opening knife, check out this great video that dissects a Kershaw assisted opener. As the user begins opening up the blade with a thumb stud or flipper lever, which has some resistance, the spring or torsion bar catches the knife and propels it open where it locks into place. Unlike the switchblade, nothing holds down the assisted opening knife when it's in the closed position. How an Assisted Opening Knife WorksĪn assisted opening knife, sometimes called a spring-assisted knife, is a knife that springs open only after the blade is slightly pushed open with force. The opening mechanism functions the same way the knife engages when a button releases the tension of the spring onto the blade. The second type of switchblade is called the OTF (out the front) switchblade because the blade comes out at the top of the handle, like a pen. When the button is pressed, the tension of the spring is released back onto the blade and it flicks open without any effort. When fully closed, the tension is separated from the knife by a button. But when the knife is being closed, tension from an inner spring is put on the blade. The typical switchblade, which is also known as an automatic or flick knife, looks like a regular folder, rotating around a hinge. In basic terms, a switchblade is a knife featuring a blade that springs out of the handle when a button is pressed. This, along with fear of youth violence during an economic downturn, led to the creation of the Switchblade Act of 1958 effectively banning interstate commerce of switchblades. Invented around the 1850s, the switchblade gained notoriety in 1950s American culture thanks to movies featuring young fictional gangs using switchblades as weapons. If there’s something you don’t see on please feel free to ask and we can try to locate it for you.Before venturing into the details, it's important to first look at the background of the switchblade. We do have some custom fixed blades and folders. We carry custom high-end “knife art” switchblades as well, from such makers as: Jeff Harkins, Paul (Burn) Panak, Reese Weiland, Jim and Joyce Minnick, Bill Saindon, and Anthony Marfione. We carry switchblades from many places around the globe including: Russia, The U.S, Czechoslovakia, as well as asian imports. Here at we carry more than just Italian switchblades. Sizes also vary anywhere from 5’’ OAL (Overall Length) to 18’’ OAL generally. For example colored acrylic handles, abalone, mother of pearl, etc are now available. But as technology evolved so did the handle options. For example, there are multiple blade styles such as: bayonet, dagger, kriss, and flat grind just to name a few.Ĭlassic handle materials were mostly, wood, buffalo, stag, and blonde horns. In Italian stiletto and lever lock switchblades alone, there are many variations. (However laws do vary by state and sometimes county). Some states such as Arizona or Florida allow them to be carried whilst other states limit them to being collectibles only. Switchblade knives are becoming increasingly popular while more and more states are removing the legal limitations on these items. Nowadays they are mostly considered a “collectable” or Curios. Even the US Military realized their potential & had them issued for our soldiers, especially for the purpose of cutting shroud lines on Parachutes in case of tree landings or hang-ups. The Italian stiletto switchblades became very popular in the United States after many G.I.`s brought them home after World War 2 from Italy & other European countries. They have become very popular with Law enforcement, Military Personnel, Emergency Medical Technicians, and many other professions…such as Fisherman who used these almost exclusively for their ease of use with one hand while tending their nets from snags, minimizing their net damage and financial losses. Switchblade knives have been around for well over a hundred years, and they’re here to stay.
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