A Pyrrhic Knife Victory

Gravity knives are legal in New York due to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signing a bill in late May repealing the state’s gravity knife ban, but the pro-knife win comes with several label warnings.

Basically, in this instance at least, in addition to the old German paratrooper’s knives, gravity knives refer to any locking folders that can be opened by the flick of a wrist.

Nonetheless, the repeal is unlikely to be the end of knife owners being harassed by the New York City Police Department. For instance, gravity knives—or any knife, for that matter—with blades 4 inches or longer remain illegal in New York City. Also, a recent state case has redefined to include assisted openers. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who strongly opposed the repeal of the gravity knife ban, reportedly said he would not stop the arrests and prosecutions of people who carry what are basically common folding