PA "Switchblade" ban repeal in effect 1-2-2023

[alucard0822]

Have contacted reps and gave a couple bucks to kniferights over the years, but finally HB1929 was signed into law last month by the Governor after passing both houses with only a single rep opposing it. As of Jan 2nd Auto knives aka "switchblades" will no longer be considered a "prohibited offensive weapon", and the defacto ban on purchase, possession and carry will be repealed.

Previously the only way to own one for non LEO was as a narrow "posessed soley Curio or relic or for a dramatic performance" exception to the law. It is still unlawful to posses it with the intention to use it in a crime. Will be awesome to carry my formerly theatrical autos.

Kniferights HB1929

 

[smokey]

Excellent

 

[Doctor_M]

Common sense. Glad to see it!

 

[alucard0822]

Common sense. Glad to see it!

Kniferights, and the PA ACLU pushed it. Ended up passing the house 202-1, then 50-0 in the senate, and signed into law by the Dem Governor. True near unanimous support for a restoration of rights, except for Chris Quinn(R), he got voted out in the last election.

 

[Threeband]

Blood will flow in the streets.

 

[eruby]

Blood will flow in the streets.

Drink will flow and blood will spill
And if the boys want to fight you better let them

 

[Squaregrouper]

Drink will flow and blood will spill
And if the boys want to fight you better let them

The knives are back in town.

 

[Threeband]

'Tis not so deep as a well, nor wide as a church door, but 'tis enough. Call on me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man.

 

[eruby]

'Tis not so deep as a well, nor wide as a church door, but 'tis enough. Call on me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man.

Mercutio approves

 

[hdatontodo]

Won't have to go to Vienna Arsenal.

Maybe Freedom Armory in Glen Rock?

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using Tapatalk

 

[wreckdiver]

Freedom armory has microtech autos. But the prices are well above full retail.

 

[teratos]

Plenty of online retailers ship autos.

 

[alucard0822]

Won't have to go to Vienna Arsenal.

Maybe Freedom Armory in Glen Rock?

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using Tapatalk

Maybe, have been chatting with Lanco Tactical folk, they have some stuff in stock, usually Benchmade and Microtech. It seems everyone is trying to get the details right before Monday. They were initially told autos are now OK, but dagger/double edge are still prohibited, but that is wrong. The law basically removed edged weapons entirely from the ban list aka "prohibited offensive weapons", so double edged autos are lawful to own/carry. Some shops still trying to verify legal stuff, but come Monday, should be able to buy/own/carry just about anything with an edge. The Great outdoor show in February should be a good place to get decent stuff. A lot of shops and gunshows sold autos anyway before under the "curio and relic" loophole provided you simply told them you were buying it to add to a collection at home. Of course most of the big knife companies have MAP pricing BS, so any "dealer" has to sell above the minimum price, so almost doesn't matter where you buy, in person or online. The only real "deals" are on knife forums and trading groups on facebook.

 

[brownspotz]

Good news, I've been carrying my otf knife in pa and didn't even know it was illegal

 

[alucard0822]

Next is state pre-emption to end Philly's absurd law. ALL knives are banned-everywhere with a maximum penalty of 10K in fines and 5 years in prison

10-820. Cutting Weapons in Public Places

(1) Definition.

Cutting Weapon. Any knife or other cutting instrument which can be used as a weapon that has a cutting edge similar to that of a knife. No tool or instrument commonly or ordinarily used in a trade, profession or calling shall be considered a cutting weapon while actually being used in the active exercise of that trade, profession or calling.

(2) Prohibited Conduct. No person shall use or possess any cutting weapon upon the public streets or upon any public property at any time.

(a) Exception: This restriction shall not apply to the use and possession of cutting tools by emergency personnel of the Philadelphia Fire Department, whether on or off duty.

(3) Penalty. The penalty for violation of this Section shall be a fine of not less than three hundred (300) dollars and imprisonment of not less than ninety days.

 

[John from MD]

Kniferights, and the PA ACLU pushed it. Ended up passing the house 202-1, then 50-0 in the senate, and signed into law by the Dem Governor. True near unanimous support for a restoration of rights, except for Chris Quinn(R), he got voted out in the last election.

The ACLU pushed a bill to legalize something?

 

[alucard0822]

Happy PA switchblade day. Carrying my Casbah today, and managed to snag a $320 Infidel over the weekend on BHQ clearance that includes $40 in rewards for the next one. Most local shops are on board and will sell autos without LEO creds now, and found a couple online shops that didn't, are now shipping to PA. The bill signed into law strikes the following from the definition of banned "offensive weapons" :"daggers, knives, razors or cutting instruments, the blades of which are exposed in an automatic way by switch, push-button, spring mechanism, or otherwise." So while the big news is that Autos are now lawful to buy/own/carry, the "dagger" definition formerly was interpreted as a ban on double edged blades, which also have been removed from the ban list. Now that 45 states no longer prohibit autos, well past time for the feds to drop their BS(and seldom enforced) ban.

 

[wreckdiver]

Unfortunately they still won’t ship autos to md. Plenty of other shops will.

 

[John from MD]

Is the speed of a push button faster that my assisted Kershaw? I have to push a button or push a stud right? I can deploy my Kershaw Blur pretty fast almost as fast as my Emerson "Wave".

 

[alucard0822]

Is the speed of a push button faster that my assisted Kershaw? I have to push a button or push a stud right? I can deploy my Kershaw Blur pretty fast almost as fast as my Emerson "Wave".

I made this a few years ago comparing a ZT0452(non assisted on Kershaw's KVT bearings) to a Benchmade Casbah, pretty much the same speed to deploy, and takes about the same effort to go from pocket, to cutting. Wave equipped are about as fast as it gets, as fast as drawing a fixed blade. Not a huge difference in carrying/deploying most side folding push button autos vs a decent manual or assisted folder with a flipper/stud/spyderhole. Most of the time a manual folder is easier to close, and autos are somewhat limited in the lock designs.

Auto piston/push button locks are not all that strong, it's just a small pin with a cutout, push to the side and the spring depolys the blade, push it while closing to disengage the lock. Most modern locks are stronger, framelocks, axis locks, compression locks are all very tough. There are some autos with stronger locks like Benchmade's axis autos, but it's about the same to pull the lock, and swing out the blade vs pull the lock and deploy with a spring. When retracting though, I can pull the lock, and the blade drops shut in the handle, with an auto(or assisted), you have to push against a spring to close it.

Autos only really have a couple benefits for me, many can lock closed, nice when riding a motorcycle or dirtbike. Some folders with a light detent like Benchmade axis knives can pop open in a fall or when moving around, nice to have a safety lock to keep it secure when needed, or keep it off and just hit the button most of the time. They can also be easier to deploy with gloves. OTFs allow a skinny shape, large blades, carry securely, and can allow things like double edged blades that are not practical in side folders. Then of course they are F-ing cool. Nice that it is my choice what is practical for me to carry, and not the governments based on outdated misinformation and unfounded fears.