So I got this present...

[Guest mosinon]

This year I was fascinated by knives and my wife got me a kershaw baby boa.

Nice knife, American made, blah, blah, blah

Here's the thing. I know this knife is not considered an auto knife but I'm hard pressed to figure out why. It snaps open with one finger just like pressing a button.

I'll admit I don't understand the prohibition of automatic knives (you know what is faster than a 3 inch switch blade? A three inch fixed blade) or the laws about blade length.

Can anyone educate me on exactly what constitutes an automatic knife? I'm not worried about carrying the baby boa or anything, I just don't get the law.

Edited December 28, 2010 by mosinon
added not

[Loon160T]

The Kershaw is a assisted opening knife and, from my understanding, is legal to carry in Tennessee (I carry a Ken Onion Leek every day with the same opening mechanics). Assisted opening knifes require the user to manipulate the blade via a stud or extension of the blade itself. Automatic knifes, on the other, will open without the user touching the blade at all (i.e. button, switch and perhaps gravity).

I'm not a blade expert by any means so, if I misstated anything, please correct me.

Edited December 28, 2010 by Loon160T

[Guest mosinon]

ah, thanks Loon. Now I get it.

[BigK]

Laws are weird huh? We can get a permit to carry a loaded gun, but the knife in your pocket can't open itself or be over a certain length and we can't carry any form of club/baton either. Go figure!