


The invention of a knife that could be opened quickly with one hand. There was also the risk that theyĬould be caught by Allied forces before they could free themselves. Most knives at that time required two hands to open, which made War II, German paratroopers would sometimes get tangled in their parachutes as However, switchblades, pilum ballistic knives, and knuckle knives including trench knives are still banned in that state. New York State has now overturned its ban on gravity knives. In 2019, a federal District Court also ruled that the New York ban on gravity knives was too vague, making it unconstitutional. In most states, citizens can now carry auto-open knives such as automatic, switchblade, or switch knives. To reduce grey areas, some states have amended their laws while states such as Colorado have repealed their bans on switchblade and gravity knives.Īccording to the American Knife and Tool Institute, state knife laws have been changed across the country. But the most common arrests have been citizens using these knives as utility tools. Legislators advocating for bans thought that only gang members and criminals carried these knives. Some states followed their example, believing small pocket knives to be too dangerous for individuals to carry around.

Though New York was the first state to ban these knives, it wasn’t the only one. A number of states have also tried classifying lock-blade folding knives as gravity knives.

New Your State passed a law in 1958 making switchblades, gravity and other small knives illegal. Knife laws have also been introduced at a state level. However, the Act does not prohibit ownership or carrying these knives within state lines. The Act also prohibits possession of automatic knives or switchblades knives on federal lands. The US federal Switchblade Knife Act 1958 prohibits the importing, manufacture, and commercial sale of switchblade knives. After this period, gravity knives, switchblades, and other small pocket knives became increasingly popular among youth street gangs and laws were introduced to ban or restrict their use. Up to 1950 it was legal in the US to carry the knife for personal and military uses. The knife’s popularity spread to other countries during the war. The gravity knife was invented out of military necessity during World War II to help German parachutists untangle themselves from their rigging.
