Question about a knife I own

[jphillips63]

Several years ago I purchased a Benchmade ATS 34 which is an automatic knife. Not sure if switchblade is the proper term since the blade flips open rather than pushes out the front.
Anyhow I purchased the knife from Murfreesboro Outdoors. My question is is this knife legal to carry? I assume it is since it was a direct purchase from a business but I also don't want to assume wrong and have it on me and it be illegal to carry.
Thanks in advance
James
sent from my RAZR Maxx HD using Tapatalk 2

[TripleDigitRide]

Unless you are LEO, EMT, military, etc., automatic knives are NOT legal to carry in the state of TN. 

Edited August 2, 2013 by TripleDigitRide

[jphillips63]

Unless you are LEO, EMT, military, etc., automatic knives are NOT legal to carry in the state of TN.

Thanks for the answer I guess I best put it away. I sure don't want any unwanted trouble over a knife.

[TripleDigitRide]

Thanks for the answer I guess I best put it away. I sure don't want any unwanted trouble over a knife.

It's perfectly legal to own for "collectible" purposes, just not to carry. 

[jphillips63]

Thanks for the info

sent from my RAZR Maxx HD using Tapatalk 2

[Guest The Itis]

By what mechanism does it open? Is there a button or a switch? Or do you start pushing it out yourself?

[mikegideon]

Unless you are LEO, EMT, military, etc., automatic knives are NOT legal to carry in the state of TN. 

 

Which is one of the dumbest damn laws in the history of dumb. Most of my knives deploy as easily and as fast as an automatic.

[piercedan]

If I can carry multiple concealed handguns, why should my knife matter? I should be able to carry a machete. I agree, dumb law.

[Oh Shoot]

Unless you are LEO, EMT, military, etc., automatic knives are NOT legal to carry in the state of TN. 

 

You know, everybody "says" that, but the TN statute does not say EMTs can carry auto knives.  39-17-1302 only mentions EMTs in regard to legal manufacture and sales. Nowhere are they sanctioned to carry them.

 

The only defense to carrying one by profession is that it:

 

"Was incident to the performance of official duty and pursuant to military regulations in the army, navy, air force, coast guard or marine service of the United States or the Tennessee national guard, or was incident to the performance of official duty in a governmental law enforcement agency or a penal institution;"

 

- OS

Edited August 2, 2013 by Oh Shoot

[TripleDigitRide]

You know, everybody "says" that, but the TN statute does not say EMTs can carry auto knives.  39-17-1302 only mentions EMTs in regard to legal manufacture and sales. Nowhere are they sanctioned to carry them.

 

The only defense to carrying one by profession is that it:

 

"Was incident to the performance of official duty and pursuant to military regulations in the army, navy, air force, coast guard or marine service of the United States or the Tennessee national guard, or was incident to the performance of official duty in a governmental law enforcement agency or a penal institution;"

 

- OS

That's kind of what I thought, but all the EMTs who work out of a building next to my place of employment have convinced me that they are legally allowed to carry them, and do.  :shrug: 

[Oh Shoot]

That's kind of what I thought, but all the EMTs who work out of a building next to my place of employment have convinced me that they are legally allowed to carry them, and do.  :shrug: 

 

Kwik needs to make an issue of it, I guess.

 

- OS

[mikegideon]

Kwik needs to make an issue of it, I guess.

 

- OS

 

Yes. He needs to sever the tissue that connects the testicles to the main douchetard, and then sue the knife company for violating his reproductive rights. Oh yeah... and he needs to put the whole thing on Youtube.

[Oh Shoot]

Yes. He needs to sever the tissue that connects the testicles to the main douchetard, and then sue the knife company for violating his reproductive rights. Oh yeah... and he needs to put the whole thing on Youtube.

 

:rofl: Ya got me rolling on that one. You really really don't like him do ya?

[jphillips63]

By what mechanism does it open? Is there a button or a switch? Or do you start pushing it out yourself?

I push a button and the blade flips open and locks.
A good knife handler can open a manual knife probably quicker than an auto knife to be honest. I actually have a friend who can pull a knife and have it opened before I could begin to think to open mine.
Kinda same concept a pump shotgun can be shot and emptied faster than a semi auto.

sent from my RAZR Maxx HD using Tapatalk 2

[mikegideon]

:rofl: Ya got me rolling on that one. You really really don't like him do ya?

 

Not one bit

[Ted S.]

Can't carry it. If you want something with similar action go with a spring assist. I just got my third SA knife. Just as fast as an auto and from what I understand, this is because the only difference is in the deployment method.

 

 

If you ever do decide to get a SA for EDC, please ensure it has a solid locking mechanism. My first SA did not. As it turned out, one day not having the lock ended up sucking.....

 

 

:usa:

[JAB]

Can't carry it. If you want something with similar action go with a spring assist. I just got my third SA knife. Just as fast as an auto and from what I understand, this is because the only difference is in the deployment method.

 

 

If you ever do decide to get a SA for EDC, please ensure it has a solid locking mechanism. My first SA did not. As it turned out, one day not having the lock ended up sucking.....

 

 

:usa:

 

My first spring assist was a Kershaw - a Chive, I think it is called.  Great little knife but the lock would disengage extremely easily and accidentally in my pocket.  It happened more than once.  I kind of came to the conclusion that, for pocket carry, I'd just as soon have a good, one-hand-opening non-spring assisted knife.  Between the risk of injury from the lock failing/accidentally disengaging and the time it takes to disengage the lock before opening (meaning I can get some non-assisted knives open faster) it just didn't seem worth it for pocket carry.  Now, if I were going to sheath carry a larger one then that might be another story as, in a sheath, I probably wouldn't even need to use the lock.  I can't really sheath carry a knife in my day to day life, though.

Edited August 5, 2013 by JAB

[RED333]

I carried an auto knife till I found out you cant carry one, put up now.

I push a button and the blade flips open and locks.
A good knife handler can open a manual knife probably quicker than an auto knife to be honest. I actually have a friend who can pull a knife and have it opened before I could begin to think to open mine.
Kinda same concept a pump shotgun can be shot and emptied faster than a semi auto.

sent from my RAZR Maxx HD using Tapatalk 2

Ya aint seen my Saiga 12 run yet. :wave:

Edited August 6, 2013 by RED333

[Guest CCPT]

I can't speak for everyone, but I would NEVER jam up a law-abiding citizen over an auto knife. Edited August 14, 2013 by CCPT

[whitewolf001]

I can't speak for everyone, but I would NEVER jam up a law-abiding citizen over an auto knife.

 

You're not the first I've heard that from. Pretty much every LEO I've asked from my area has said that while technically illegal, if you have a carry permit they wouldn't give two hoots about it, that is unless you gave THEM a hard time first. Easy come, easy go I guess. :p

[mikegideon]

You're not the first I've heard that from. Pretty much every LEO I've asked from my area has said that while technically illegal, if you have a carry permit they wouldn't give two hoots about it, that is unless you gave THEM a hard time first. Easy come, easy go I guess. :P

 

Yep. "If you're Voldemort, we taking your knife AND your gun" :)

[whitewolf001]

Hide yo guns, hide yo knife.

Edited August 14, 2013 by whitewolf001

[Guest CCPT]

Hide yo guns, hide yo knife.

Thanks...you just made me watch that again.

[whitewolf001]

Thanks...you just made me watch that again.

 

Glad I could help.

[Guest Emtdaddy1980]

I just carry a small fixed blade to forego the confusion.