The “Evil” Switchblade and the People (like me) who Love Them

“A couple of the sounds that I really like are the sounds of a switchblade and a motorbike”

-Elton John: Saturday night’s Alright for Fighting


Here’s a question for you. What makes a switchblade more dangerous than any other folding lock blade knife?

Answer: Nothing.

The “evil” switchblade is the “assault” weapon of the knife world. In reality a switchblade is only as “evil” as the intent of the person using it. Switchblades, dirks, daggers, nunchucks and brass knuckles should all be legal. Each can be effectively used for self-defense, even the nunchucks. Some of you may have seen a few police officers with nunchucks on their belt rather than a nightstick or PR-24. About ten years ago I saw a Monterey Police officer wearing both nunchucks and a nightstick on his belt

It would be accurate to say a switchblade is handier as a self-defense weapon than it is an “assault” weapon. A criminal intent on attacking someone will already have his weapon ready, whatever it is. A victim would lose precious seconds opening a Buck-type folding knife

An article in Wikipedia (I know Wikipedia isn’t the most reliable of sources) states that switchblades or automatic knives in one form or another has existed since the 1700s. The earliest forms were attached to flintlock pistols. Obviously, since the guns only held one shot and were extremely slow to reload, an edged back-up blade was highly prudent.

After the Civil War switchblades became more common and ranged from the combat/self-defense variety to small switchblades that were designed to be kept in a woman’s (or man’s I assume) sewing kit.

Switchblades have come a long way since then. Roughly 20 years ago or so, cheap switchblades with cheap blade metal and weak locking devices were the norm. Today it is fairly easy to get an excellent switchblade for about $150-200+.

There are two main types of switchblades, one which opens from the side like a basic lock blade and the “out the front” (OTF) type. The Wikipedia article breaks down the OTF models into the ingle and double action types.



The single action type open with the push of a button but has to be manually closed. The double action type open and retract with the push of a button. The OTF blade pictured in this post is the same type The Joker used in the latest Batman movie. The Joker (there’s no brand name or markings of any kind on the knife) switchblade is the single action type and has to be retracted manually. The blade is made of cheap metal, probably low-quality 440 stainless. The blade isn’t very sharp. Sharpening it to an acceptable level would be difficult and I doubt it would hold an edge for long anyway. It does look cool though.

A police officer friend of mine encountered one of these when he was searching a hit-and-run suspect. My friend found the knife in his pocket saw the button on the handle but didn’t think the knife was an OTF switchblade, or a switchblade at all for that matter. His hand was in the wrong place when he pushed the button, resulting in a small, shallow cut to his hand.



The other knife pictured here is another cheap switchblade probably from the 70’s or earlier. A friend gave it to me and about the only thing it’s good for is opening letters and even then only if the paper isn’t too tough. Presumably it was sharper and tighter when it was first sold.



The knife pictured above is a high-quality Benchmade. I bought this knife for just over $200. The blade steel is 154-CM, one of the better quality metals. Like many high quality switchblades, this one has a safety. Also as with most of the better switchblades, the button is recessed into the handle. In other words, you can lay the knife down on a table, button side down, press down on the knife and the blade won’t open. With the button recessed, it is less likely the knife will open in your pocket. Of course that depends on whether you keep anything in you knife pocket. (You shouldn’t)



These two knives are of the “California legal” variety. In California it is legal to carry a switchblade if the blade is shorter than two inches. These two have 154-CM steel for the blades and cost around $125-150.

What we knife enthusiasts need is an organization like Gun Owners of America or the NRA but whose main concern I knife rights.

There is NOTHING that makes a switchblade anymore dangerous than any other knife.

Robot

831-869-9932

Next: Assisted Opening Knives: the Politically Correct (and legal) Switchblades