www.akti.org/PDFS/U.S.CustomsProposedRuling.pdf

U.S. Customs Proposal would characterize assisted-openers as switchblade knives.  Our fear is this could potentially jeopardize all folding pocket knives owned and used daily by more than 35 million law-abiding Americans.

AKTI

What is an assisted-opener?

So... we're starting our own silent protest. I carry a Kershaw Blur everyday, mostly to aid in cutting open boxes of new merchandise and removing the plastic tags from sold items. I also use it to cut up my tomatoes when I eat salad for lunch. Yes, very scary knife, that. The Kershaw Blur is an assisted-opener.

So the silent protest we decided to hold - and if you wish, please take part - is to leave our assisted-openers at home and replace them with fixed blade knives. It is in defense of all folding knives, what the government likes to call gravity knives because they can be opened either with the use of a spring loaded blade or simply by flipping the wrist slightly and snapping the knife open. This will be an on-going silent protest. I say this because we will not be drawing attention to the fixed blades blatantly, but instead letting people notice them themselves - and they will, believe me! - and ask why we are carrying "a knife like that." And we'll clue them in.

This means for a little while I will be carrying my Ka-bar fighting knife in it's leather sheath. I never carry this knife. Ever. But I will start to. I collect Ka-bar fighting knives, mostly the commemorative ones, but I have one that is just a plain old knife, which is the one coming along for the silent protest.

Like I said, if you decide to take part, it is a silent protest. Wear a fixed blade knife on your belt, open carry (if your state allows it) and feel free to fill people in on this proposal when they ask why you carry a knife like that. Do it for as long as you wish to, or until this is over. Have fun!