Happy new customer

ProfessorMartini · #1

After twenty years of exclusively carrying swiss army knives, I took the plunge recently and picked up a Spyderco Delica 4. Loved the knife. However, being somewhat naive I suppose, I was ignorant of NY state knife laws, particularly the liberal interpretation of the term "gravity knife."

And so, after searching around on this forum and other sites, I discovered the slipit models, and am now the proud owner of a Bob T slipit as well as an Urban Leaf. After carrying SAKs for so many years, I really don't miss a lock on the blade. But I am very glad Spyderco makes a line of products to fit all needs and legalities.

While my hope would be that knife laws get back to what the constitution intended, my second best hope is that Spyderco continues to expand its line of slipit knives. I've been carrying the Urban loose in my pocket and it's been more than enough knife for me. The Bob T, as of now, is too beautiful to cut with...

dbcad · #2

Welcome professor, You picked a good forum.

I love my plain jane delica 4 and bought a couple in ZDP and 2 FFG to round it out. The purple FFG is arriving tomorrow.... lolol, I also enjoy and use my Urban.

Spyderco's vision of what knives can be is truly outstanding, :D

Are you really a Professor??

Charlie

chuck_roxas45 · #3

Welcome to the forums and a spydie obssession. :)

Donut · #4

I'm pretty sure New York state doesn't outlaw all locks on knives. You might want to reread it.

The only discussions I've seen on the messageboard here about NY restrictions have been about blade length and having knives clipped to your pocket. (Apparently you can't have a knife exposed while carrying it in NYC.)

RedRunner · #5

Great choices. When I was a kid I loved Swiss Army knives. But the blades are so small. When I discovered Spyderco (when they only produced a Delica and Endura) I became an absolute fan. They are just so perfect. Bigger blade, fast opening, eroginomical, what more can you say. In the car I carry a Leatherman and a Spyderco. I don't need the knife blade on the Leatherman, just the tools. The Spyderco is the perfect knife.

knifedude · #6

Welcome!!! :D I hope the laws never get like that here in the midwest :eek:

Creepo · #7

Welcome to the forums and congratz on the new goodies.
As long as the blade cannot be flicked open with a flick of the hand without touching the blade it's not a gravity knife. And I sure as **** can't flick out my FFG Delica (Don't know about the saber ground one as it has more metal on the blade.

ProfessorMartini · #8

Thanks for the welcome, everyone. And yes, I am a professor. And I do drink martinis :D

chuck_roxas45 · #9

shaken, not stirred? :D

freeman7 · #10

Welcome to the forum. The BobT is (one of) my EDC; carry and use it....it really is a great knife.

The Deacon · #11

Bob T SlipIt is a very nice knife. However, unless you're talking New York City, which is a world of its own, there no chance your Delica would be classified as a gravity knife under New York State law.

Simsmac · #12

The Deacon wrote:Bob T SlipIt is a very nice knife. However, unless you're talking New York City, which is a world of its own, there no chance your Delica would be classified as a gravity knife under New York State law.

I agree, I don't think a Delica would be considered a gravity knife by the NY state law (check your local laws though, just in case).

Here's the NY state law:

§ 265.00 Definitions.
[...]
5. "Gravity knife" means any knife which has a blade which is released
from the handle or sheath thereof by the force of gravity or the
application of centrifugal force which, when released, is locked in
place by means of a button, spring, lever or other device.

ChrisR · #13

We have a very similar law here in the UK regarding gravity knives (it seems an almost exact copy of the NYC law) but notice that the law doesn't say where you should hold the knife to do the test. In the UK Customs are (apparently) holding the blade by the spydie-hole and then using the weight of the handle to flick it open ... not in the spirit of the law but it fits the literal reading of the law

Now if Customs open a parcel with a locking Spyderco knife they are seizing it as a gravity knife - every time :mad:

Dagon · #14

ChrisR wrote:We have a very similar law here in the UK regarding gravity knives (it seems an almost exact copy of the NYC law) but notice that the law doesn't say where you should hold the knife to do the test. In the UK Customs are (apparently) holding the blade by the spydie-hole and then using the weight of the handle to flick it open ... not in the spirit of the law but it fits the literal reading of the law

Now if Customs open a parcel with a locking Spyderco knife they are seizing it as a gravity knife - every time :mad:

Some customs guys must have a WONDERFUL knife collection...

Anyway, over here in Belgium (and I think also in a few other European countries), we're not even supposed to carry anything "without a valid reason"...

D1omedes · #15

Where do you teach, ProfessorMartini? I just graduated with my masters from SUNY Albany. :D

Oh, and you can still carry your Delica out of NYC. Just tighten the pivot screw a little bit so it doesn't swing when the lockbar is released and you're golden.

BIGJim223 · #16

If the Delica is illegal in New York state, I sure have a lot of illegal knives in my possession! The Delica is definitely not a gravity knife as described by NYS.
BIGJim223

2edgesword · #17

"any knife which has a blade which is released...[via] the application of centrifugal force which, when released, is locked in place by means of a button, spring, lever or other device."

Whether or not this can be done (inertial opening) is very much a matter of who is holding the knife. With practice it can be done with a Delica. The idea of holding the blade by the hole and swinging the handle "to release the blade", and claiming on that basis that a particular knife is a gravity, is a perversion of the law IMHO.

For the moment NYC seems to be the only jurisdiction making the claim that Delica's and similar knives fall under the definition of illegal gravity knives but I would not be surprised if that sentiment begins to propagate to other downstate counties.

Back to the OP, I just got a Urban Slipit and for someone with small hands like mine it is functional. I cannot do an inertial opening with it and I'm afraid the practice required to develop that skill would do serious and permanent injury to my wrist, elbow or shoulder :) . You can do an inertial opening with it by holding the blade hole but doing it that way then requires making what in my opinion are undesirable, time consuming adjustments to get a proper grip. For speed my recommendation would be the marble shoot opening. It's very fast and requires minimal adjustment to secure your grip.

And of course since the blade does not lock, even if an attempt is made to describe the knife as one capable of being opened inertially by holding the blade hold, it won't fall under the definition of gravity knife since the blade doesn't lock in place. Having said that keep it concealed in NYC. You don't want to pay a lawyer thousands of dollars to get your $100 knife back should it be confiscated.

2edgesword · #18

Just an FYI...

Being the obsessive, compulsive individual that I am I could not help but spend a few minutes giving my best effort at inertial openings with the Urban Slipit. My arm is still enact and I did manage to do some inertial openings with it. I'm inconsistent, about 50/50 with the Urban versus near 100% with a Delica.

And I did not monkey around with the pivot screw on either knife.

Urban Inertial Opening: http://s1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc5 ... lUrban.mp4

Delica Inertial Opening: http://s1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc5 ... Delica.mp4