Let’s end the 67-year scourge of the Switchblade Act.
There are knives more American in terms of historic origin but none more American in terms of being persecuted by the federal government than automatics. As such, the effort underway by Knife Rights and its fellow plaintiffs challenging the constitutionality of portions of the Federal Switchblade Act should be of special interest to knife enthusiasts.
Originally enacted in 1958 with the help of Sen. Estes. Kefauver (TN) and other elected leaders apparently more interested in suppressing rights than upholding them, the Act restricts the introduction into interstate commerce of common automatically opening knives, popularly known as switchblades.
It also bans the knives’ possession on Native American reservations and in U.S. territories and on U.S. lands. The Act’s definition of a “switchblade knife” includes gravity knives and butterfly knives/balisongs, despite the fact that few if any balisongs operate according to the Act’s definition of doing so “automatically.”
In fact, since the original Act targeted knives that were blackballed at the time of the Act’s passage as those used by gang members, a significant percentage of whom were minorities, a strong case can be made that the Act is patently racist. Moreover, also racist is the Act specifically targeting the approximately 5 million people of color on 326 Native American reservations and in U.S. territories and U.S. lands that include Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In the two most recent developments in the case, on Dec. 9 KR and its fellow plaintiffs filed a Motion for Summary Judgement requesting the Court to find the Act unconstitutional, and that the portions restricting the knives in interstate commerce and on Native American reservations, U.S. territories and U.S. lands be permanently enjoined. Meanwhile, the Act’s existing import ban of autos would not be disturbed. In response, on Jan. 13 the Department of Justice filed a Reply Brief and Motion to Dismiss the plaintiffs’ federal lawsuit challenging the Act.
Among the DOJ’s reasons for the motion to dismiss is that the Plaintiffs’ claim has no standing because the Act “is not enforced.” This DOJ reason for dismissal is contradicted by the facts. As KR noted in an entry on its website dated Sept. 27, it was as recently as 2020 that federal agents staged a violent raid on a business, a raid that included forced entry into the home/business.
The upshot of it all: authorities seized/confiscated approximately $2.8 million worth of automatics and automatic parts and shut down multiple retail websites, forcing the business to close. Of course, even if the Act were not enforced, its mere presence serves to intimidate knife entrepreneurs who are or may be considering the manufacture or sale of automatics from doing so.
BLADE® will continue to follow the effort by KR and its fellow plaintiffs to rescind portions of one of the longest running federal acts of oppression and racism in U.S. history. While it is hoped the new administration will be more amenable to the effort, please take nothing for granted.
Contact your elected federal representatives—and anyone you know who may have pull with any and all federal reps—and urge them to help free automatics from the 67-year scourge that is the Federal Switchblade Act.
Breaking from the boxy OTF autos, the Benchmade Infidel cuts a unique profile that’s made it a hit among high-end knife lovers.
Out-the-front (OTF) automatic knives have long been popular with knife enthusiasts because they are different enough to be unique but not so odd as to be useable. OTF’s main mechanism of action is propelling the blade fore and aft in relation to the handle, as opposed to out the side in a radial fashion as most known automatic folding knives operate. Presently a few knife companies offer OTF automatics but there is one drawback to most designs (if you see it as such)—most have boxy handles.
This is primarily out of necessity. The handle shape in generally needs parallel sides to facilitate the fore and aft motion of the blade as it extends and retracts into the handle. And with the sliding switch actuation located on the spine, there isn’t much that companies can do with handle shape changes.
Enter the Benchmade Infidel, a high-end USA-made OTF with a curvy handle.
How did the company accomplish this? By relocating the actuation slide switch from the handle spine to the handle scale. Moving the switch opened up possibilities of experimenting with different handle shapes, even ones that enhance user grip and safety as well. The Infidel’s handle is curvy, yet symmetrical and sports a three-dimensional texturing pattern to boost hand traction.
Infidel Blade
The Infidel’s dagger-shaped blade measures 3.9 inches in length and sports a traditional grind for this style of knife and a symmetrical appearance. This truly is a dagger blade with edges sharpened fully on both sides. Benchmade opted for D2 steel for the blade, selected for its known edge retention and toughness.
A fuller is machined down the centerline of the blade, enhancing the appearance and giving it a bit of an edgy attitude. The blade is finished with a black coating, serving as an additional layer of corrosion resistance, as well as a low profile, non-glare finish. For those who might not be aware, D2 is not stainless steel and requires a little extra care. This coating accomplishes this job.
Infidel Handle
The handle measures 4.8-inches long and it is machined from aircraft-grade aluminum for both strength and weight reduction. The overall handle shape is inviting with its multiple curves that define a forward guard of sorts to park your hand in place. Moving towards the middle, there is a slight contour that helps to fill your grip more, and the expanded section at the rear of the handle aids in preventing rearward sliding.
Like the blade, the handle shape is symmetrical and very pleasing in appearance when you factor the blade’s uniformity. The handle sports bi-directional machining patterns helping to hold your hand in place. If the machining pattern look familiar, it should. It is the same style used on Benchmade’s Presidio automatic folder.
To fire the blade, there is a stepped slide switch on the presentation side of the handle. The machining pattern on the switch allows for positive thumb engagement to deploy and retract the blade. The reverse side of the handle is smooth and you find a deep carry, fold-over style pocket clip affixed to the handle to carry the Infidel tip down in the pocket. The clip easily attaches to your pants pocket and holds the knife securely.
Using The Infidel
While it is possible to EDC a dagger blade OTF (though, be sure to check your local laws first on knife carry), I will have to caution against the fact that its use as a working knife is rather limited given the blade design. The dagger grind makes the tip devastatingly sharp and pointy (a good thing), it also leaves the tip more susceptible to damage or even breakage if the knife is used heavily. This is especially true when prying or twisting while cutting actions may be involved.
With certain tasks where puncturing and cutting—such as opening bags of mulch or topsoil—the Infidel definitely excels. Push the blade through the bag and pull it to the side to slice the top open. It all happens effortlessly. Opening mail, opening packages, cutting cardboard, breaking down cardboard boxes, and cutting shrink wrap are some tasks that the Infidel can also handle with aplomb.
The ease of extending and retracting the blade simply by moving the slide switch forward or backward makes using the knife easy. One thing to note regarding the handle ergonomics in general, the Infidel is glove-friendly. With some knife handles, the handle feels lost in your gloved hand. You cannot manipulate it easily, it feels too thin. With the Infidel, the handle design translates well to gloves.
The D2 steel is respectable in performance, offering enhanced edge retention and toughness against wear and impact. It’s a well-known steel, especially in the outdoor knife market, where large camp knives and choppers may be made from D2 for these very reasons. While you are certainly not going to do any chopping or batoning with an OTF, it’s nice to know the blade is that tough and can take a fair amount of abuse before it needs to be sharpened.
I have always had good luck with D2 and found it to be a very good-performing steel for its price. Since you’re not going to be engaged in heavy work with the Infidel, D2 is perfect and when it does come time for a resharpening, D2 sharpens up quicker than all your high-performance steels. Another plus!
Infidel Variations
For those of you who wish for a smaller Infidel, there is the Mini Infidel which has a 3.1-inch long dagger blade. All the material specs are the same as the full-size Infidel. The overall length is 7.1 inches, and the Mini Infidel is a very pocket-friendly design. It’s sized right for daily carry and for those with smaller hands. Size wise it’s not as imposing as the full-size Infidel but its smaller size allows it to get in and out of more daily carry tasks like opening packages, mail, and some general cutting tasks as you work around the home, yard, and garage.
Additionally, there is an upgraded model with a few bells and whistles. Benchmade dressed up the Infidel by offering three shades of nature-inspired colors: Crater Blue, Woodland Green, and Flat Dark Earth. These limited edition knives come out in 1,000 batches, and are also equipped with upgraded blade steel to satin-finished, premium CPM S30V. This is a long-time standard steel in the knife industry, known for its toughness and extreme wear resistance.
Final Cut
The Infidel is one of the more interesting OTF automatic knives on the market. It combines style, function and quality materials to equate to a long-lasting tool that will stand the test of time.
The Benchmade 3300BK Infidel has an MSRP of $550.00. The 3350BK Mini Infidel has an MSRP of $500. The Flat Dark Earth, Woodland Green, and Crater Blue full-size Infidel have an MSRP of $650.00 each. The same colors for the Mini Infidel are $600.00 each.
Repealing the prohibition on concealed carry switchblades marks the second major knife rights win in Virginia in as many years.
Chalk up another win for knife and Second Amendment rights in Old Dominion. On the heels of last year’s repeal of Virginia’s ban on switchblades or automatic knives, the state has now removed them from the list of weapons that cannot be carried concealed.
Cavaliers shouldn’t go throwing their OTF blades into their hip pockets just yet. While Governor Glen Youngkin (R) may have inked the repeal (HB 2298) on March 27, the law doesn’t go into effect until July 1. Until then, the knives remain illegal to carry in the state.
The latest legislation marks a sea-change in Virginia knife right under Youngkin, who broke what was a frustrating stalemate between the state’s legislative and executive branches. Despite legislators’ efforts to temper the state’s longstanding ban on switchblades, the Governor’s two predecessors vetoed the bills leading in that direction—Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam, both Democrats. The 2022 repeal not only saw the executive’s support but passed with overwhelming support from a politically divided General Assembly.
The removal of switchblades from the list of prohibited concealed carry items also proved extremely popular, passing unanimously in the Virginia Senate and with close to ¾’s of the House’s support. In addition to further safeguarding valuable civil liberties, the legislation also shows changing attitudes concerning switchblades.
Why Switchblades Are Illegal
A witch-trial panic swept mid-century America concerning switchblades, sparked by an article by an article titled The Toy that Kills and backed up by movies such as Rebel Without A Cause and Blackboard Jungle.
Aside from stigmatizing paten-leather jackets, politicians and social crusaders squarely set their sights on switchblades as a tool of the country’s wild youth. Despite essentially being a silver-screen fantasy, draconian laws that pushed switchblades to the margins of society were passed and in many corners of the country the tools became so rare as to be considered oddities. Though, before this era, auto knives were quite common.
Before the mid-century switchblade panic, the knives were quite common, such as the World War II-vintage Schrade Cutlery Co. examples above.
“I grew up in Washington D.C. in the 40s and 50s and almost every school kid had a switchblade knife. And you played mumblety-peg, throw it to stick in trees. I don’t ever remember anybody being stabbed by a pocket switchblade knife,” Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw (D) said in a 2022 interview with Virginia Mercury.
Prohibition On Other Edged Weapons
The concealed carry repeal is a step in the right direction, but the law still maintains the prohibition on several other edged weapons for carry. Bowie knives, dirks, throwing stars and “oriental darts” remain verboten for everyday carry and continue to carry stiff penalties if the law is enforced. A first offense is a Class 1 misdemeanor which is punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. A second offense could earn a Class 6 felony, which carries a 1-5 prison stretch and a $2,500 fine. And a third offense could net a Class 5 felony, with a 1-10 prison stretch and a $2,500 fine.
While there is scant evidence the prior concealed carry switchblade ban was ever exercised to the full extent of the law, its repeal is likely a load off knife owners’ minds. For a tool that’s used more by first responders than in gangland rumbles, it’s also a big victory.
A Switchblade Comb Is A Fun Take On The Knife Design. Unlike The Knife, The Switchblade Comb Can Be Taken On A Plane.
The switchblade looks cool. The blade firing out at speed and satisfyingly clicking into place is one of the great joys of the knife world. However, many legal codes of countries around the world don’t look fondly on the fast-moving blade. But that cool factor has endured and can be seen in switchblade combs. And they have the added benefit of being far, far cheaper than even the lowest-quality stiletto.
Switchblade combs?
Yes. It’s a comb that deploys like a switchblade. Maybe you’re looking for a comb with a burst of excitement, or a comb that isn’t made of cheap, flimsy plastic. Or maybe you’re a Jet or a Shark that needs to look good for their next rumble.
No matter what the reason, the switchblade comb is a fun little tool to have. This knife… I mean comb shows what the switchblade comb is all about.
Etrading Italian-Style Automatic Comb
This comb is a perfect example of what a switchblade comb can be. The handle is made from pearl-toned polymer, and the blade is made from 440 stainless steel that’s built to last. At nine inches in length, with a five-inch handle, the comb sits well in the hand and feels good to use.
The stainless bolsters help take the look to the next level, and it all comes together thanks to the push-button deployment that sends the comb out in a blink. Additionally, there is a trigger lock-out that prevents the comb from opening in your pocket or bag.
This is a fun piece that you can show off to friends and keep your hair well-coiffed too.
MSRP: $10.50
Tops Knives Tac-Rake
For something a bit more robust there is the Tac-Rake from TOPS Knives. This beard comb is of the fixed-blade variety (yes, not a switchblade but it’s so good) that’s made from black traction-coated steel meted to a tan canvas micarta handle.
It’s only 5.88 inches in total length so it’s probably not the best comb for a full head of hair, but it is specially made for a beard and will keep your facial hair looking clean and sharp. The fact that you’ll feel like a champ while using it is just an added bonus.
The included leather sheath makes traveling with the comb easy and stress-free.
MSRP: $105
Microtech UTX-85
This OTF comb is the Cadillac of combs. The blade is stainless, and the handle is anodized aluminum. It’s luxurious to use, and the dual-action mechanism deploys and retracts the knife in the blink of an eye.
The teeth are nice and fine so it’ll brush your hair and your beard with ease. Adding to the tactical nature of the comb, the glass breaker at the butt of the piece is a handy tool to have on your person. And, since this isn’t a proper sharpened knife, you can take this with you wherever you go from a baseball game to a restaurant and even on a plane.
MSRP: $340
BeardAir Tactical Beard Comb
For a tactical combing experience, there is this sleek comb from BeardAir. With a blade made from 17-4PH steel, and a handle made from aviation aluminum. It’s light and strong, and the automatic open/close function deploys the comb with speed and style.
Unlike the other combs on this list, the Tactical Beard Comb comes in all sorts of different colors so you can find the one that fits your aesthetic the best whether it’s a more traditional black knife with red accents or something more wild like the olive green and pink one above.
There Are Few Knives More Controversial Than The Stiletto Switchblade. This Automatic Knife Is Outlawed In Numerous States And Countries.
Certain knives get the interest of lawmakers and not for good reasons. The stiletto switchblade is extremely controversial because owning one is completely outlawed in seven states and heavily restricted in another eight.
The stiletto endures because of its use in movies and television and because it opens unlike other types of knives.
Why Is The Stiletto Switchblade Banned?
In the states where the knife is completely outlawed, a big reason is due to the way the blade deploys. The blade flips out due to a button, or other assisted means, much faster than most knives that open with a nail nick or a thumb stud. This has earned it a classification as a “dangerous knife” in many states, thus leading to its ban or restriction.
This short video shows how quickly a stiletto can be opened.
Remember though, the stiletto is only banned or restricted in 16 states and is legal in states from coast to coast, between the borders, and even in Alaska. It’s just important to check your local knife laws to make sure they are allowed to be owned and carried.
What Even Is A Stiletto Switchblade?
A stiletto is a long, narrow blade used historically in Italy and around Europe with a needle point. It GAINED POPULARITY IN THE 15th century and was used by knights and assassins alike throughout the Middle Ages as a fixed-blade knife.
Stilettos evolved throughout the ages into well-honed COMBAT knives used throughout the world. In the 1950s, large numbers of switchblades began to be imported to America from Italy that featured a stiletto blade, and the name “Stiletto Switchblade” stuck over the ensuing decades.
The knives are still made in Italy and in other countries as well.
Best Stiletto Switchblade To Buy
If you live in a state where it is legal to own a stiletto, there are many on the market today. HERE ARE A FEW NOTABLE EXAMPLES.
Timber Wolf Mosaic Damascus Stiletto
A beautiful and durable knife, this stiletto from Timber Wolf would be a great conversation starter with other knife lovers.
The blade and the handle are both made from damascus steel with inlaid wood and brass pins accenting the handle. The BLADE is four inches when deployed and nine inches in total length. The brass liners and stud contrast nicely with the rich, dark color of the blade material.
Just be careful when closing the KNIFE. The double-edge BLADE means there’s no dull spine to push the knife closed so it’s important to be diligent in closing so you don’t slice your hand.
Is this the most utilitarian stiletto? No. Is this a beautiful knife that you’ll want to show off to everyone you know? Absolutely.
MSRP: $61.99
PRO-TECH 720 Godson Auto Folder
This small, nimble knife won THE BLADE MAGAZINE 2014 Investor/Collector Knife Of The Year® and it’s easy to see why. PRO-TECH has made a versatile stiletto in the Godson that’s used by both military and civilian folks alike.
The stiletto-inspired blade is 3.15 INCHES OF 154CM STAINLESS STEEL ground to a spear point with a blasted finish. It OPENS via a push button from the 6061-T6 aluminum handle.
It deploys in a flash and is an excellent self-defense knife or just as your regular EDC. There are no bells and whistles on this knife; it’s just well-constructed and well thought out to be one of the best and easiest-OPENING switchblades on the market.
MSRP: $200
Kershaw Launch 8
From one of America’s biggest factory KNIFE COMPANIES, the Kershaw Launch 8 takes inspiration from the traditional stiletto and repackages it in a modern way.
The blade of CPM 154 STEEL is corrosion resistant and holds its edge. The push button release and lock ALLOW for lightning fast deployment and a secure lock that keeps everything firm when open. The button is low profile to help prevent accidental deployment while in your pocket. The pocket clip is ambidextrous and can also be fitted so the knife carries tip up in your pocket.
The anodized aluminum handle with carbon fiber insert is strong and light. The whole piece weighs just 2.4 ounces.
MSRP: $155.99
Viper-Tec VT Don Italian Stiletto OTF
This stiletto from Viper-Tec is the lone OTF (OUT-THE-FRONT) knife on the list and opens with a mechanism that both deploys the knife and brings it back into the handle.
The blade itself is made from a ridiculously sharp stainless steel that is 3.75 inches long with a flat grind. The satin finish gives the blade a classy, elegant look, and the handle is available in both wood and marble.
At 5.25 inches in length when closed, it sits easily in a pocket or a bag.
The Don Italian is a smart knife. Everything has been thought through to make an easy-to-use stiletto that can last you for years.
