legalese translation needed. [Archive] - Glock Talk


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03-29-2010, 16:25
i've tried reading the texas penal code concerning assisted opening knives a couple of times now and it's making my brain fuzzy.

are assisted opening knives legal for civilian carry in the state of texas? or are they classified as automatic/switchblade knives?

03-29-2010, 17:58
The laws in most states are vague to say the least on knives.

This is from Texas penal code chapter 46.

(11) "Switchblade knife" means any knife that has a blade that folds, closes, or retracts into the handle or sheath and that opens automatically by pressure applied to a button or other device located on the handle or opens or releases a blade from the handle or sheath by the force of gravity or by the application of centrifugal force. The term does not include a knife that has a spring, detent, or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward closure and that requires exertion applied to the blade by hand, wrist, or arm to overcome the bias toward closure and open the knife.

Based on that I would say that assisted openers are legal in your state as long as it doesn't have a button to release the blade, and you have overcome the bias toward closure before the spring kicks in and opens the blade. But you still might check with law enforcement or and attourney.