"Gravity Knife" problem solved

[madhaha]

Since we can't guarantee that a pivot on our folders will ever be tight enough for custom, would it be simpler to ask for the knives to be shipped disassembled and declared as "parts"?

[Andy]

I can't see them having a problem with that. I disasembled knife wont appeal to theiving gits they have as well so two birds with one stone. Only trouble is that not everyone could reasemble them

[Underhay]

Am I correct in thinking the problem is that Customs don't like a knife that can be opened just by jerking the handle hard enough for the blade to fly out?

If this is the problem, then the maker just has to ensure that the small retaining peg on a liner lock, or the resting spring pressure on a conventional lock requires reasonable pressure to release the blade. If the blade is too loose it becomes a hazard to the user, so there is no advantage to having a knife which can be adjusted so the blade just falls open.

Apologies, if I have misunderstood the problem, but I have a nasty feeling Customs would be highly suspicious of knife parts and would probably assemble them in the wrong way!

[Tantalus]

Manufacture of gravity knives is also illegal

which is what they would charge if it was found in your posession and asked where it had come from

as well as posession :yikes:

sorry but i don't think ya found a loophole

Tant

[Chux]

Manufacture of gravity knives is also illegal

which is what they would charge if it was found in your posession and asked where it had come from

as well as posession :yikes:

sorry but i don't think ya found a loophole

Tant

But it wouldn't be a disassembled gravity knife, just a disassembled one handed opener (or not even that).

Probably easier for the pivot to be tightened before shipping to ensure it can't be flicked open. Maybe even threadlock it; boiling a knife is easier than assembling it.

[Tantalus]

yes a disassembled gravity knife or whatever woud just be a box of bits

but assembling them is manufacture

:( sorry

Tant

[Andy]

I a few people are confused. I think what he was talking about was the case of customs ceasing knives that have a screw to tighten up the pivot and not real gravity knives. IIRC this happened with a BM griptilian.

[Tantalus]

oops yeah thanks andy

http://games.bg/forums/images/smiles/Slap.gifTant

see these threads for suggestions of dealing with siezures

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5923&highlight=customs

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5980&highlight=customs

Tant

[Chux]

I a few people are confused. I think what he was talking about was the case of customs ceasing knives that have a screw to tighten up the pivot and not real gravity knives. IIRC this happened with a BM griptilian.

That what I had assumed anyway

[madhaha]

Yes I was suggesting a workaround for the seizure of non-gravity knives. Since its impossible to say how tight "tight enough" is for customs, would disassembly be the safer option?

[drmike]

The reply that I got from customs when my seized knife was returned stated that the adjudicator decided that a knife having been manufactured with a button stud or hole on the blade to allow opening was not a gravity knife... as opposed to say a Boker Magnum tanto which almost certainly is!

If your knife is seized write to them and ask for them to have it examined by their specialists before the time limit for challenging the seizure expires. After all you have nothing to lose other than your knife!

[Danzo]

Hi folks

I would just like to clarify how we stand on this.

Dr Mike was importing a Benchmade AXIS lock knife. An AXIS lock knife is designed to not open under gravity. If it does the lock is broken.

I would refer you all to Dr Mikes letter to HM Customs which is in the Law Library. It is a perfect template of how to deal with HM Customs or any other authority. I won't presume to add anything to it.

However, a 'gravity knife' is illegal. These are knives where the blade drops out of the handle and were added on to the Restriction of Weapons Act [1959] as a response to one or two incidents where a Teddy Boy had used one, probably an old paratrooper/aircrew knife. The old familiar thing of the media leading opinion and then politicians deciding action. A gravity knife is a pretty daft thing though.

:rolleyes:

The legislation actually confuses them with assassination weapons developed by SOE which is why the phrase 'gravity gun' is also used. This refers to an SOE weapon which uses a gun cartridge to fire a blade out of something that wouldn't normally contain a blade.

Remember James Bonds briefcase?

;)

So, there will be no defence of anyone with a proper gravity knife here. It's an illegal and rather stupid weapon. I will defend anyone who's AXIS lock knife is accused of being a gravity knife. But Dr Mike says it better than I can and that is why the post is in the Law Library.

:biggthump

Danzo

[palacio]

Since we can't guarantee that a pivot on our folders will ever be tight enough for custom, would it be simpler to ask for the knives to be shipped disassembled and declared as "parts"?

I have done that several times and I find it very effective :biggthump

[Danzo]

I have done that several times and I find it very effective :biggthump

It's a good idea Palacio but only if it doesn't void the warranty. Some companies say if you dismantle the knife then they won't fix it for you.

Before I forget to mention it I like your site very much. Lots of interesting stuff! Even though balisongs are illegal here it is interesting to read and learn about them.

:biggthump

Danzo

[stonehard]

are gravity knives illegal on the moon?

[madhaha]

If they were, who would enforce the law there?

[palacio]

It's a good idea Palacio but only if it doesn't void the warranty. Some companies say if you dismantle the knife then they won't fix it for you.

Before I forget to mention it I like your site very much. Lots of interesting stuff! Even though balisongs are illegal here it is interesting to read and learn about them.

:biggthump

Danzo


Danzo, if you would read my customers comments some them are from UK. Never had an item seized there :biggthump

[Roger Gregory]

Danzo, if you would read my customers comments some them are from UK. Never had an item seized there :biggthump

Palacio

It is illegal for people in the UK to buy, sell, trade or give away balisongs or gravity knives.

However odd some of the laws may be, here at British Blades we do not condone methods people may devise for wriggling around sections of the law.

Please don't suggest to people that they are not breaking the laws here in the UK if they buy balisongs or gravity knives.

Thanks

Roger