TexasCHLforum.com

As I understood it in the recent 81st Texas legislature assisted opening knives are now clearly defined as non switchblade knives. Correct? As such they are legal to carry? A buddy has a cop for a brother and he says they are still illegal. I am assuming the officer is not up to date with current law? He is new to law enforcement within the last year but I thought I would check here to make sure I am not misunderstanding the new law. Copied from DPS CHL handbook 2009-2010.

(11) "Switchblade knife" means any knife that has a blade that
folds, closes, or retracts into the handle or sheath and that opens automatically
by pressure applied to a button or other device located on the
handle or opens or releases a blade from the handle or sheath by the
force of gravity or by the application of centrifugal force. The term does
not include a knife that has a spring, detent, or other mechanism
designed to create a bias toward closure and that requires exertion
applied to the blade by hand, wrist, or arm to overcome the bias
toward closure and open the knife.

Correct. As I understand it, a Texas judge handed down a ruling which classified assisted opening knives as switchblades, thereby forcing the issue with the legislature. The legislature, realizing that it would not do to instantly criminalize thousands of law-abiding Texans, did the right thing.

I love my Kershaw Assisted openers and carry one daily. nothing like the thnick of a assisten opening knife.

7075-T7 wrote:

I love my Kershaw Assisted openers and carry one daily. nothing like the thnick of a assisten opening knife.

Same here, always have one on me. Great knives, and by no means a switchblade. I do not see how they could be outlawed as I can open a regular pocket knife just as fast as these, just not as easy.

clbryant1981 wrote:

7075-T7 wrote:

I love my Kershaw Assisted openers and carry one daily. nothing like the thnick of a assisten opening knife.

Same here, always have one on me. Great knives, and by no means a switchblade. I do not see how they could be outlawed as I can open a regular pocket knife just as fast as these, just not as easy.

or opens or releases a blade from the handle or sheath by the force of gravity or by the application of centrifugal force.

I interpret the above quote from the switchblade definition to include knives, like old lockblade knives, that are so worn that they can be opened with a flick of the wrist. I wasn't sure if your last statement referred to a similar knife. I have a decades old Buck 110 that fits that description.

Opinions?