EXPLODING THE W different


MYTHS OF


story, I developed an immediate fascination with switchblades. Unfortunately, that was the early ’70s, and I was stuck in the vacuum between the 1958 Federal switchblade ban and the modern era of automatic knives. As such, the simple act of buying a switchblade wasn’t really an option.


Never one to accept defeat easily,


I invested in the next best thing — a switchblade comb — and a similarly- sized pocketknife. A few hours and a lot of elbow grease later, and I had successfully shaped the blade to re- place the comb to render a working switchblade — kind of. At least it was enough to placate me for a while. I later managed to score several switchblades


from family


friends on cleaning sprees. I bought one from a classmate desperate for party money and even managed to sneak a few blades back after pilgrim- ages to Tijuana and Acuña, Mexico. One day, reasonably content with my burgeoning switchblade collection, I sat down and gave them all a careful, thoughtful review. When I waxed nos- talgic and considered them through the wide eyes of an impressionable kid, they were all incredibly cool. From the


vintage 1950s’-era Shur-Snap fi shtail switch through the classic Italian picklock, they were all great fun to play with. However, when I viewed those


knives with the same standards I applied to conventional folding knives and blades I would really trust in a fi ght, it was clear traditional switchblades were novelty items or, at best, light-duty utility knives, not the fearsome weapons they are typically be- lieved to be. Although I will admit that I was a little crestfallen


with this realization, it didn’t do much to stop me from collecting and enjoying switchblades. During the 1980s when “kit” switchblades came into vogue, I took advan- tage of the opportunity and added the coveted out-the-front models to my collection. In the process, I realized they were even less capable knives than their side-opening brethren and destroyed yet another switchblade myth in my mind. Living in Asia for a few years gave me direct access to their pipeline of automatic knives. That bolstered my collection,


hen I was in fi fth grade, I read the classic novel The Outsiders. As a byproduct of my enjoyment of the


AUTOMATIC KNIVES Michael Janich


These state-of-the-art autos feature well-designed sliding safe- ties that prevent accidental opening and closing of the blade.


62


A properly designed safety is easy to locate by tactile sense and offers ergonomic operation.


AMERICAN HANDGUNNER TACTICAL • 2011 SPECIAL EDITION


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