Are knifes that have an assisted opening blade legal in Ma. ? Not a switch blade of course but knives that you use a thumb stud or tang to start the opening and then a spring bar opens the blade.
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Yes, but that doesn't mean an officer will know that. I'm not sure if any cities or towns have specific bylaws or ordinance on it.
You don't need a mechanical assist, all you need is a Spyderco with the Emerson Wave feature. They are readily available on Ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/dsc/Knives-Swor....TR0.TRC0.H0&_osacat=1401&_odkw=spyderco+wave
I have an Endura. They can be set up for right hand or left hand pocket carry. (Obviously handy if you are left handed or carry your pocket pistol in your right pocket.) Of course the blade is tip up in the pocket so that you can use the wave feature. Spyderco makes at least five other knives with the wave feature. The Delica is smaller but not small enough for full retard city knife ordinances. Matriarch has an interesting s curved blade and is available in a fully serrated version. The Karahawk has a 2.35" blade length that is legal in (2.5") knife length cities. Here is a picture next to a non-waved Endura for size comparison:
If you look really hard, you can find an earlier generation waved Endura with the Spyderedge. Just don't buy one where they cut the hole. Of course many people prefer the plain edge... Here is a short video (not me)where the wave feature is demonstrated:
I love mine:
View attachment 100048
White Feather
And the Wave feature is what will actually get you jammed up in MA.
Been carrying Kershaw assisted openers daily for many years now.
And the Wave feature is what will actually get you jammed up in MA. It falls afoul of the wording in the legislation that states that you can't carry any "device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position". That one could get you in trouble. You could argue that the Wave is a feature, not a device, but I wouldn't want to be in court in MA arguing that point while facing a 2 1/2 year sentence. Assisted openers should be fine, however. There is case law out there stating that they are not switchblades. Don't flip it open in front of a cop with time on his hands and you'll most likely be ok.
What am I missing about the Wave?
It looks like the knife exited the pocket and he was able to open it instantly. I put a pull tab on my SOG and as soon as the end clears my pocket I can have it open.
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On a wave-type knife, simply removing it from your pocket opens and locks the blade. MA says that's a no-no.
An assisted opening knife requires the user to actuate the blade with a thumb or finger. See the difference?
On a wave-type knife, simply removing it from your pocket opens and locks the blade. MA says that's a no-no.
An assisted opening knife requires the user to actuate the blade with a thumb or finger. See the difference?
This is absolutely correct.
The big problem with knives in MA is that the knife laws are, if its even possible, less clear than the gun laws are. There are also tons of people out there who work at places that sell knives who willingly spread information that is just absolutely wrong.
Think about this one: my wife works in Beverly and occasionally I have to go pick her up from work. I can carry my pistol with 10 rounds of 9mm loaded in it with absolutely no concerns. I cannot, however, legally carry my Spyderco Delica at the same time. That is a very odd deal.
Citation please?
I'll give you a clue. MGL C. 269 S. 10 has the ban on automatic knives. Be very careful quoting exact words as they have meaning. I think many here (and many LEOs) like to read between the lines and "interpret" intent when they say that something is illegal.
Citation please?
Been carrying Kershaw assisted openers daily for many years now.
"Whoever, except as provided by law, carries on his person, or carries on his person or under his control in a vehicle, any stiletto, dagger or a device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position, any ballistic knife, or any knife with a detachable blade capable of being propelled by any mechanism, dirk knife, any knife having a double-edged blade, or a switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which the blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches, or a slung shot, blowgun, blackjack, metallic knuckles or knuckles of any substance which could be put to the same use with the same or similar effect as metallic knuckles, nunchaku, zoobow, also known as klackers or kung fu sticks, or any similar weapon consisting of two sticks of wood, plastic or metal connected at one end by a length of rope, chain, wire or leather, a shuriken or any similar pointed starlike object intended to injure a person when thrown, or any armband, made with leather which has metallic spikes, points or studs or any similar device made from any other substance or a cestus or similar material weighted with metal or other substance and worn on the hand, or a manrikigusari or similar length of chain having weighted ends; or whoever, when arrested upon a warrant for an alleged crime, or when arrested while committing a breach or disturbance of the public peace, is armed with or has on his person, or has on his person or under his control in a vehicle, a billy or other dangerous weapon other than those herein mentioned and those mentioned in paragraph (a), shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two and one-half years nor more than five years in the state prison, or for not less than six months nor more than two and one-half years in a jail or house of correction, except that, if the court finds that the defendant has not been previously convicted of a felony, he may be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two and one-half years in a jail or house of correction."
I bolded the applicable section of the law you referenced. Is a Wave feature a device? As I said earlier, I would argue that it's a feature, but I also wouldn't want to be in court facing a 2 1/2 year misdemeanor arguing that point. The law as it was originally written was used to address the cases that were briefly popular years ago that allowed one to draw a Buck 110, opening it as it came out of the case. Here's a link to a guy that currently makes those sheaths. It's hard to picture without seeing one in action. http://www.quickdrawsheath.com/Quick_Draw_Store/HOME.html
And the Wave feature is what will actually get you jammed up in MA. It falls afoul of the wording in the legislation that states that you can't carry any "device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position". That one could get you in trouble. You could argue that the Wave is a feature, not a device, but I wouldn't want to be in court in MA arguing that point while facing a 2 1/2 year sentence. Assisted openers should be fine, however. There is case law out there stating that they are not switchblades. Don't flip it open in front of a cop with time on his hands and you'll most likely be ok.