Gravity knife

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A gravity knife is a knife [1] which can be opened solely by the forces of gravity or centripetal force. One method of opening is where the blade exits out the front of the handle point-first and locks into place. Another form is like a switchblade, but instead of a button or spring, the knife is "flipped" out of the handle, and locked into place. To retract the blade back into the handle, a release lever, or linerlock is pressed. Should the knife be equipped with a spring to open the blade, it is then referred to as an Out-The-Front Automatic knife or OTF for short, or a switchblade if it exits out of the side. Knives commonly mistaken for gravity knives include OTF automatic knives OTF knife, the switchblade Italian switchblade stiletto and the butterfly knife (or balisong)Balisong knife, and occasionally common folding knives (see penny knife).

During World War II, German paratroopers were issued gravity knivesGerman Paratrooper knife in case they had to cut themselves free from a parachute that had become tangled in a tree or other obstruction.

[edit] What constitutes a gravity knife

A "gravity knife" [2] is defined as 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 which, when released, is locked in place by means of a button, spring, lever or other device. The type of weapon which may commonly be called a butterfly knife may or may not fall into the category of a gravity knife. Most butterfly knives fail to qualify as a gravity knife as they usually have a latching mechanism which must be manually operated in order to latch the knife in a closed or opened position.

Decisions of New York State courts addressing possession of the type of knife commonly known as a butterfly knife hold that it does not come within the definition of "gravity knife."

In People v Zuniga, 303 AD2d 773, 759 NYS2d 86 (2d Dept 2003), the Appellate Division held that possessing a "butterfly knife" did not constitute a "gravity knife." The butterfly knife requires manual locking and thus does not come within the definition of "gravity knife."

In People v Mott, 137 Misc2d 757, 522 NYS2d 429 (County Ct 1987), the judge inspected the knife and recorded his observations: "Such a knife is a folding knife with a split handle. In the closed position, the knife is covered on each side and at the point by two metal guards attached to the blade's base. To open the knife, the metal guards are folded back until they meet and are clasped and thereby form a handle for the blade." Again, the court held that the butterfly knife did not constitute a "gravity knife."

In People v Dolson, 142 Misc2d 779, 538 NYS2d 393 (County Court 1989), the judge stated: "While this appears to meet the first part of the statutory definition of a gravity knife, an important difference exists here. The blade of the knife recovered from Appellant does not lock into place 'when released' from its cover."