I know this is a bit off topic, so mods, if I'm out of line please delete.

 

Anyway, I just wanted to know if a lever-assisted pocket knife is legal in New Jersey. I know that a spring activated/spring assisted knife is ILLEGAL, but how about a lever assisted?

 

A lever assisted knife is one that has a small potrusion on the back of the handle, which when pressed will fling the blade open much quicker than rolling it out by hand or a single thumb. I may have the actual term incorrect, but it is definitely an "assisted" knife.

 

Just curious.

 

Thanks,

MSax

I know what your talking about. I used to have one.

 

AFAIK, they are OK.

 

I'm pretty sure the knife laws in NJ are pretty vague. There really isn't a "Yes/No" list, just that you need to have a lawful purpose for carrying the knife. I think it gets more complicated if you commit a crime with it.

 

There was a thread on here not too long ago about knife laws.

 

Edit: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4056

I know that a spring activated/spring assisted knife is ILLEGAL

Does anyone know if this is actually on paper (i.e. law) somewhere? Or is it one of those "intent" type deals where it is assumed that the only purpose for an assisted opener is nefarious?

New Jersey - Code of Criminal Justice

 

- 2C:39-3 Prohibited Weapons and Devices...

 

e. Certain weapons. Any person who knowingly has in his

possession any gravity knife, switchblade knife, dagger,

dirk, stiletto, billy, blackjack, metal knuckle, sandclub,

slingshot, cestus or similar leather band studded with

metal filings or razor blades imbedded in wood, ballistic

knife, without any explainable lawful purpose, is guilty

of a crime of the fourth degree.

 

- 2C:39-1 h. "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... p. "Switchblade knife" means any knife or similar

device which has blade which opens automatically by hand

pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in

the handle of the knife... u. "Ballistic knife" means any

weapon or other device capable of lethal use and which can

propel a knife blade.

 

- 2C:39-4. Possession of weapons for unlawful purposes...

d. Other weapons. Any person who has in his possession any

weapon, except a firearm, with a purpose to use it

unlawfully against the person or property of another is

guilty of a crime of the third degree.

 

- 2C:39-5. Unlawful Possession of Weapons... d. Other weapons.

Any person who knowingly has in his possession any other

weapon under circumstances not manifestly appropriate for

such lawful uses as it may have is guilty of a crime of

the fourth degree.

- - e. Firearms or other weapons in educational institutions...

(2)Any person who knowingly possesses any weapon enumerated

in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection r. of N.J.S.2C:39-1

or any components which can readily be assembled into a

firearm or other weapon enumerated in subsection r. of

N.J.S.2C:39-1 or any other weapon under circumstances not

manifestly appropriate for such lawful use as it may have,

while in or upon any part of the buildings or grounds of any

school, college, university or other educational institution

without the written authorization of the governing officer

of the institution is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

 

- 2C:39-6. f. Nothing in subsections b., c. and d. of N.J.S.2C:39-5

shall be construed to prevent... (2) A person carrying a firearm

or knife in the woods or fields or upon the waters of this State

for the purpose of hunting, target practice or fishing, provided

that the firearm or knife is legal and appropriate for hunting

or fishing purposes in this State and he has in his possession

a valid hunting license, or, with respect to fresh water fishing,

a valid fishing license;

 

(3) A person transporting any firearm or knife while traveling:

(a) Directly to or from any place for the purpose of hunting or

fishing, provided the person has in his possession a valid

hunting or fishing license; or

 

- 2C:39-9. d. Weapons. Any person who manufactures, causes to

be manufactured, transports, ships, sells or disposes of

any weapon including gravity knives, switchblade knives,

daggers, dirks, stilettos... is guilty of a crime of the

fourth degree.

 

- 2C:39-9.1... Any person who sells any hunting, fishing,

combat or survival knife having a blade length of five

inches or more or an overall length of 10 inches or more

to a person under 18 years of age commits a crime of the

fourth degree...

 

New Jersey Case Law:

- "Concealment was not a necessary element of the offense of

carrying a dangerous knife." (1973)

- "Concealment of weapon at time of incident constituted

important factor of offense of possession of dangerous

knife." (1971)

Well, looking at the State's statues, a switchblade is defined as:

 

"Switchblade knife" means any knife or similar device which has a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle of the knife.

 

Moving on to Section 2C:39-3:

 

 

2C:39-3. Prohibited Weapons and Devices.

 

e.Certain weapons. Any person who knowingly has in his possession any gravity knife, switchblade knife, dagger, dirk, stiletto, billy, blackjack, metal knuckle, sandclub, slingshot, cestus or similar leather band studded with metal filings or razor blades imbedded in wood, ballistic knife, without any explainable lawful purpose, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

 

Based upon that, I would definitely consider a switchblade a "prohibited weapon/device". Furthermore looking at the definition of a switchblade I'm not certain I would want to face the judge and have to difference between a lever assisted device and that of a switchblade.

 

Look illegal to me.

 

MSax

IMO, and this is without looking into case law, and I'm not a lawyer.. is that you are reading too far into it.

 

The word "automatically" is what sticks in my head. What you are describing in your first post doesn't seem automatic.. simply assisted.

 

The other part is.. do you have an explainable lawful purpose? I always have a pocket knife on me, it is a tool I use all the time.

 

But.. my opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it.

A lever is quite mechanically different from how a switchblade works. Altho I agree - trying to make the distinction in a legal setting would probably not be a pleasant experience

I know this is a bit off topic, so mods, if I'm out of line please delete.

 

Anyway, I just wanted to know if a lever-assisted pocket knife is legal in New Jersey. I know that a spring activated/spring assisted knife is ILLEGAL, but how about a lever assisted?

 

A lever assisted knife is one that has a small potrusion on the back of the handle, which when pressed will fling the blade open much quicker than rolling it out by hand or a single thumb. I may have the actual term incorrect, but it is definitely an "assisted" knife.

 

Just curious.

 

Thanks,

MSax

I think the term you are looking for is speed safe.Kershaw,zero tolerance,and for sure a few others make them.I purchased one of mine at Meltzers so Im assuming they are jersey legal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KNIFE TECHNOLOGY: SpeedSafe

 

 

 

 

CrossFire Auto Lock

ZT Push Button Auto Lock

Automatic Knife

Quad Mounting System

SpeedSafe

Removable Pocket Clip

Ambidextrous Opening

Hawk-Lock

What is SpeedSafe

Bullpin,

 

I think what MSax is referring to is the "flipper" you find on some knives like the CRKT M16 http://www.1sks.com/store/media/coldste ... lipper.jpg

 

I have a Kershaw with speedsafe, which is why I was asked about the assisted openers being "illegal" since I wasn't aware they were in NJ.

 

I should probably just switch everything out for a swiss army knife and call it a day 8-)

How is the flipper different than a thumb stud or hole like on a spyderco?

 

That is certainly not automatic.

I should probably just switch everything out for a swiss army knife and call it a day

 

Yeah, but in NJ the spoon is probably illegal. Or you can't have a knife with at spoon and a pistol grip or it makes it an assault knife. Idiots.

 

How is the flipper different than a thumb stud or hole like on a spyderco?

 

That is certainly not automatic.

 

That is a good point. Hmmmm.... very confusing.

 

MSax