Why Are Butterfly Knives Illegal?
Butterfly knives, also known as Batangas knives or balisongs, are folding pocket knives that originated in the Philippines. Because of the dangerous qualities of the knives, they have been banned in many Western nations, including parts of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Germany.
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Significance
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When butterfly knives are closed, their blades are completely concealed. They have two handles that counter-rotate around the tang that, when closed, cause the blades to be hidden in the handle grooves. Because of these factors, butterfly knives can practically be as strong as fixed blade knives.
Expert Insight
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Because of the unique and interesting design of butterfly knives, they can be opened or closed very rapidly using just one hand. This can be done with a flair that is both exciting and fascinating to watch. However, because the opening and closing of the butterfly knife is so unusual, it was portrayed a lot in films and TV programs in the 1970s and 1980s, often being depicted as very dangerous. They were usually carried by villains and criminals.
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Geography
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Balisongs have been strictly banned only in the states of Massachusetts and California, though it is popularly believed that they are banned in the entire United States. They were almost made illegal in the state of Oregon, but a 1980s court case argued that using a butterfly knife required skill, and that removed them from the "Gravity Weapons" list in the state of Oregon.
History
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Butterfly knives were first mentioned back in 1710 in a French book called "Le Perret," which described them as being used in the 1500s as a utility knife. Referred to as "Balisong" in the Philippines, the word is thought to have come from the Tagalog words "baling sungay" (broken horn). The original balisongs were made out of carved animal horns.
Warning
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It is also illegal to send butterfly knives through the U.S. Postal Service. Spyderco, a knife manufacturer, pleaded guilty in a U.S. Federal court case for sending butterfly knives in the mail between June 2005 and January 2007, and the company was fined $75,000.
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Resources
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Comments
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Relly wish they were legal, but i think the reason they're not, is because of two reasons: "When butterfly knives are closed, their blades are completely concealed...they can be opened or closed very rapidly using just one hand" Because they're concealed and can be quickly opened with one hand, i guess that makes them surprise weapons, like a gun in an umbrella. Having a normal knife would atleast show the blade and warn people, but pulling out two steel rods and then suddenly having it transform into a knife, certainly shocks people. Furthermore, the article says: "...often being depicted as very dangerous. They were usually carried by villains and criminals..." Since many people have seen those TV shows (or played spy in TF2), the balisong has gotten a somewhat bad reputation. To worsen the case, some criminal gangs actually use balisongs as a surprise weapon. To sum it up, i think the reason balisongs are illegal is because it's a surprise weapon, and it has a bad reputation. While waiting for the government to change their laws, either move, or get a trainer blade, as trainer blades are completely legal :D (You might have to fight your case to get it through customs, though)
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why do u need a knife sailing a laser?
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I'm a sailor and have to carry a knife while sailing I use oardenary pocket knives but they are too slow ( I have been in may casees when I have had to use it and it has been difficult to get the blade ou)t but I saw these butterfly knives and how quick it is to access the blade would it still be illegal for safty pourposes to cut myself free of ropes or what?
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When it comes down to it, their illegal because the people who make the laws are ether idiots or people who would prefer a less armed civilian population.
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But Why exactly are they illegal its the same as any other knife all knives can kill so why is it tht the best knife is banned itsa the same to all other knifes.
