Why is the butterfly knife illegal in Ohio, but spring-loaded pocket knives are legal?

Question

Those spring-loaded pocket knives open faster than a butterfly knife, so why are those legal and butterfly knives are illegal? I have a dull butterfly knife that I use to practice, but I don't understand why I'm not allowed to buy a real one. Yet my friends carry spring-loaded pocket knives that they can flick open in a fraction of a second. I don't get it.

Answer 1

big blade  

Answer 2

Speed of action is not necessarily a deciding factor in illegality, nor is size.  Most legislation is based on very imprecise measurements.  The first is a knife's usefulness as a "weapon" vs. as a "tool."  Balisongs (butterfly knives) are primarily designed to be used as weapons, even if they're not that good at it.  You don't see carpet and wallpaper workers using them on the job, do you?  The lack of stability of the grip makes them too dangerous for serious work.

Another factor is reputation.  Balisongs are associated with an element of thuggery and violence, likely a result of their offensive orientation.  Movies and TV about gangs and other hoodlums only make this worse, so they get banned just on popular reputation.  I feel there's a teeny bit of racism at work here too, as balisongs are often popular with Latino and Filipino cultures.

A spring-loaded knife (I think you are referring what are known as "assisted-opening" knives) are fast, but not inherently weapon-like.  Some are quite small and utilitarian.  Their main use is that they can be put in a pocket, but opened one-handed when your other hand is holding onto a ladder or something.

Mind, a true hardcore knife fighter doesn't use either of these.  They use a fixed blade.  Even spring-blades aren't as fast as a knife that's already open!

Answer 3

Probably because whoever wrote the law did not know what he was doing. You see politicians (most of them) are not criminals.On another note, why not practice something that will make the world a better place?

Answer 4

pocket knives are a legal as long as the the blade does'nt pass your 4 fingers when its on your palm. Butterfly knives are illegal because its a long blade, it its sharp on "both" sides, unlike the pocket knife.

Bascially, the butterfly is a dangerous knife, and you can cut yourself or hurt others in error...thats why its illegal. But I have one. lol Just dont go  flashing it around and you'll be alright..

Answer 5

well a butterfly knife is illegal because of a few things, its considered a dangerous weapon, You do not have to touch the blade when it opens, making it illegal,  Thats the most basic and simple rule to follow to know if a blade is legal or not.  (same reason a switchblade is illegal)  also a blade on butterfly knives is over 4" generally.  The other thing is they arnt "Safe" to be swinging around and if held backwards in dim light or something you can cut your hand (trust me) but a spring loaded knife CAN be illegal too and more often than not they are illegal.   The reason some spring loaded knives arent illegal is because you are touching the blade to open it,  or a k**b attached to the blade.  Gravity knives and anything that uses a trigger on the handle keeps you from touching the blade and make them illegal, but as long as you stick to a 3" blade and one that has a k**b on the blade or connected directly to it, it will be legal.

(visit my new site, im trying to get reviews for a lot of knives all in one place www.KnifeReview.tk)