Gravity knife definition?

[nuphoria]

So my SOG Flash I is now in the hands of the bloody border agency who claim it is a gravity knife and has been seized accordingly. Needless to say, I'm not very happy about this 

Here's what I have found quoted regarding the SAT technology that SOG uses:

Gravity or Switch Blade knives feature a button, level, or other type of switch that releases a spring pressure to automatically open the blade. On a Spring Assist knife, there is no separate button or switch. Instead, you apply pressure to part of the blade to begin the opening process. This is usually a small bump of metal which sticks out under the knife, making it fast and comfortable to use. Once you press on that part of the blade, it automatically opens and locks into place. Since the action of opening the knife is started by pressing the blade metal, instead of a button or switch, it is considered to bypass the laws which ban Switch Blade knives.


Is this information correct? I would like to know if anyone has any info on whether the UK legally considers a SOG Flash to be an offensive weapon, or should I start writing letters demanding it back. Rotten sonsofbitc.... grrr......

Help 

Yours,
Peeved of Birmingham

[Neil]

I'd love to offer some help but all I can offer are my sympathies

UK customs class anything that can be dropped open or flicked open (i.e. centrifugal opening) as a gravity knife.  I don't think you've got a prayer of getting it off them.

[nuphoria]

Arse bandits 

I can't find a definition which covers it legally... it's such a piss take if you ask me. Why you can't pay to have it sent back for a refund, I don't know. That would make sense to me anyway.

[Benner]

As I said when I lost that Buck, if it can be opened with inertia alone (and that can be, very easily) it's a gonna I'm afraid.

[Benner]

BTW, that quote may get you round the switchblade angle, but not the Gravity knife one.

[nuphoria]

As I said when I lost that Buck, if it can be opened with inertia alone (and that can be, very easily) it's a gonna I'm afraid.

Yeah, I get that but I thought you actually had to touch the blade itself to get it open 

Oh well, it wasn't expensive. On the plus side, our usual posty is back so I won't have to kill the bloody awful temp ones. He brought me other small trinkets along with bad tidings from the border arse monkeys, so it could be worse!

[Neil]

Arse bandits 

I can't find a definition which covers it legally... it's such a piss take if you ask me. Why you can't pay to have it sent back for a refund, I don't know. That would make sense to me anyway.

That would be good but I guess this way they see it as a means of putting people off knowing they won't be able to get their money back.

I believe they have even tried to seize loose UKPKs like this in the past! (that can be appealed as it has no lock).   

I've been offered a couple of nice knives over the past few years that I just dare not pass through customs.  Even though they are models legally purchasable over here 


I'd go order yourself a nice SAK to cheer yourself up, but then that's me

Or order yourself a sodding great big fixed blade; the irony is that they sail through customs

[Benner]

As I said when I lost that Buck, if it can be opened with inertia alone (and that can be, very easily) it's a gonna I'm afraid.

Yeah, I get that but I thought you actually had to touch the blade itself to get it open 

Oh well, it wasn't expensive. On the plus side, our usual posty is back so I won't have to kill the bloody awful temp ones. He brought me other small trinkets along with bad tidings from the border arse monkeys, so it could be worse!

Nope, as with probably most AO's, give it enough umph and the blade will easily fly open.  In fact, you can do this with the majority of tac folders.  I know I can do it with all of mine now.

[Craig]

That a rotten thing to happen
You'd think with the volume of drugs and illegal guns that apparently get across our borders they would have something more important to do with their time. They must think you're a menace to society

[Styerman]

The deffinition is based on New York City case law , it's made outta rubber . it can be stretched to cover just about anything that an officer doesn't like the look of .

Chris

[Neil]

That a rotten thing to happen
You'd think with the volume of drugs and illegal guns that apparently get across our borders they would have something more important to do with their time. They must think you're a menace to society

 



<runs>

[GraysonK]

Do they actually open your package, take out the knife and test it out?  And I have a question, if someone were to send an AO knife that has the spring like that, could they take it out, tighten up the pivot screw so the knife doesn't open easily and send it that way?  I don't know if it's possible to remove the spring of of the Flash but I know it is with the AO Kershaws.  Just a question.

Nuph, that truly sucks.  I'm sorry, darlin'. 

[Benner]

Do they actually open your package, take out the knife and test it out?  And I have a question, if someone were to send an AO knife that has the spring like that, could they take it out, tighten up the pivot screw so the knife doesn't open easily and send it that way?  I don't know if it's possible to remove the spring of of the Flash but I know it is with the AO Kershaws.  Just a question.

Nuph, that truly sucks.  I'm sorry, darlin'.  

Yes they do test them.  And yes, if you could tighten that pivot enough that would be fine (in theory).

[Benner]

BTW, I just want to point out that the spring makes no difference to it being classified as a gravity knife.  Spring or no spring, if it can be opened with inertia it can be classified as a gravity knife.

Having said that, I wouldn't chance any AO anyway.

[Styerman]

BTW, I just want to point out that the spring makes no difference to it being classified as a gravity knife.  Spring or no spring, if it can be opened with inertia it can be classified as a gravity knife.

Having said that, I wouldn't chance any AO anyway.

I have always thought tha assisted openers are just a prosecution waiting for a place to happen , even in fairly lenient Canada . Doubly so, in blade unfriendly England .

Chris

[Benner]

They are indeed. 

I hate to try and predict our stupid future laws, but I'd imagine AO's are next on the block.

[nuphoria]

1.Yes I am most definitely a menace.

2.I think I should get a massive chopper and/or a SAK - ha!

3.I accept this is a lost cause and shall chalk it up to experience.

4.Voyager's on so I'm not feeling quite so mardy about it now 


Thanks for all your comments though... glad I'm not the only one who thinks it's bloody stupid!