I took my wife's car to have some work done on it this morning, and I stopped into a cutlery store to pass the time. There I heard that the Kershaw "Speed Safe" knives are now ILLEGAL TO SELL in California, per the latest edict from the Caliban in their infinite stupidity.

They just learned about this new amendment two days ago and took the Kershaw knives off the shelves. I have no other information about this new law or if whether or not possession is legal, just that they can't sell them anymore. I have no information on an effective date, if any.

There is also a rumor that the CRKT knives may be next on the chopping block because of the "Carson flipper" design. That includes the AR15.COM group purchase CRKT M16 knives!

The Kershaw knives may still be available in some knife stores from dealers who haven't heard about the new amendment, so if you're in the market for a Kershaw Speed Safe or a CRKT with Carson flipper, you might think about acting in accord with your own discretion before they're gone. (That's a disclaimer meaning "I'm not responsible for your actions.")

For those of you who say "move to another state," spare me. I've already heard it a thousand times. [rolleyes]

[b]ONE THOUSAND THREE !!![/b]

What?!? Just three of you say move? Y'all disappoint me boys. I had a feeling I'd get that response. Do I know this board or what? [;)]]

Seriously, I can't find any new legislation. All I could find that may be relevant was this definition under the switchblade penal codes...

"Switchblade knife" does not
include a knife that opens with one hand utilizing thumb pressure
applied solely to the blade of the knife or a thumb stud attached to
the blade, provided that the knife has a detent or other mechanism
that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade,
or that [i]biases the blade back toward its closed position.[/i] [italics added]

I think that last part is the catch. It means if you pull the knife blade out away from the handle it has to have resistance or spring back towards the closed position. The Kershaw Speed Safes spring open soon after you start moving the blade out with the thumb stud.

This definition has been there in the penal code all along. I think maybe they just identified the Kershaws as not meeting this definition, and issued an amendment or clarification or something.

If anyone has any further info I'd like to hear it.

Caliban definition of a "dirk" or "dagger"...

[i]As used in this section, "dirk" or "dagger" means a knife or other instrument with or without a handguard that is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death.[/i]

Clear as mud, ain't it? [rolleyes]