Background: Currently, every person who manufactures; sells; disposes of; or possesses any spring blade knife, any knife in which the blade is automatically released by a spring mechanism or other mechanical device, or any knife having a blade which opens, falls, or is ejected into position by the force of gravity or by an outward, downward, or centrifugal thrust or movement is guilty of a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to one year incarceration and/or a $5,000 fine. This does not apply to the possession of a spring blade knife by a law enforcement officer while the officer is on official duty; is transporting the knife to or from the place where the knife is stored when the officer is not on official duty; or is storing a spring blade knife.

There exists some confusion over the exact definition of a spingblade knife. The industry today uses the terms spring-assisted or assisted-opening knives to identify those knives with closure-biased springs that require physical force applied to the blade to assist in opening the knife. Spring-assisted knives are currently being sold in Washington. In contrast, switchblade knives are those with a blade that is automatically released by a spring mechanism or other mechanical device or any knife that opens, falls, or is ejected into position by the force of gravity or by an outward, downward, or centrifugal force or movement. Switchblade knives are illegal in Washington with the exception of possession by law enforcement officers.

Switchblade knives have been illegal in U.S. interstate commerce since 1958 under the Switchblade Knife Act. The 2010 Homeland Security appropriations bill; however, provides that the Switchblade Knife Act does not apply to spring-assisted or assisted-opening knives. Additionally under federal law, switchblade knives may be manufactured, sold, transported, distributed, possessed, or introduced into commerce pursuant to contracts with the armed forces; possessed by any member of the armed forces acting in the performance of their duty; or possessed and transported by an individual who has only one arm.

Summary of Bill: A switchblade knife is defined as any knife with a blade that is automatically released by a spring mechanism or other mechanical device or any knife having a blade which opens, falls, or is ejected into position by the force of gravity or by an outward, downward, or centrifugal thrust or movement. A knife that contains a spring; detent; or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward closure of the blade and that requires physical exertion applied to the blade by hand, wrist, or arm to overcome the bias toward closure to assist in opening the knife is not a switchblade knife.

Switchblade knives may be possessed by a general authority law enforcement officer, firefighter or rescue member, Washington State Patrol officer, or active military member, while the officer or member is on official duty; is transporting the knife to or from the place where the knife is stored when the officer or member is not on official duty; or is storing the switchblade knife. The manufacture, sale, transportation, distribution, or possession of switchblade knives pursuant to contract with a general authority law enforcement agency, fire or rescue agency, Washington State Patrol, or military agency is also allowed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Our current state law prohibits in-state knife manufacturers from participating in the marketplace. We have manufacturers who would create jobs and hire Washington citizens to work in their factory. Now, manufacturers go to Oregon to manufacture these tools for the military and law enforcement. We need to grow our economy and this is one simple way we can do it and support the needs of the military who are also economic drivers in Washington.