TexasCHLforum.com

I am definitely not a legal scholar but I stand by my belief based on the wisdom of Google that unless one is an exempt individual or a legal knife dealer, the shipping of an automatic knife across state lines is a federal offense regardless of the carrier used. It is not illegal though to have an automatic knife shipped from a Texas dealer to a Texas resident. How often this law is followed is another question.

This is almost like the states that have legalized marijuana vs it's still illegal by federal law. Yes you can legally buy an automatic knife in Texas but be aware that these mail order deals from non-Texas firms are questionable and who knows where else it may not be legal to carry one. I don't even want to know about post office carry.

Abraham wrote:rotor,

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like you don't believe switchblades are legal in Texas.

They are.

Up until recently, they were illegal, but no longer...

I know they are legal. I own one. My point is that federal law prohibits shipping them from a non-Texas source. You can legally buy one in a Texas store. I don't believe it is legal for a non-Texas store to ship you an automatic knife unless you are LEO or other exempt person.

From BladeHQ site

8. Automatic Knife Laws & Assisted Knife Laws. The Switchblade Act, (Pub.L. 85-623, 72 Stat. 562, enacted on August 12, 1958, and codified in 15 U.S.C. § 1241–1245), as may be amended, (the “Act”) prohibits shipment of automatic knives across state lines, with the following exceptions:

(a) to civilian or Armed Forces supply or procurement officers and employees of the Federal Government ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of the Federal Government;

(b) to supply or procurement officers of the National Guard, the Air National guard, or militia of a state, territory or the District of Columbia ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in the connection with the activities of such organization;

(c) to supply or procurement officers or employees of the municipal government of the District of Columbia or the government of any State or Territory, or any county, city or other political subdivision of a State or Territory;

(d) to manufacturers of such knives or bona fide dealers therein in connection with any shipment made pursuant of an order from any person designated in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c).

Sections 1242 and 1243 of the Act shall not apply to:

(e) any common carrier or contract carrier, with respect to any switchblade knife shipped, transported, or delivered for shipment in interstate commerce in the ordinary course of business;

(f) the manufacture, sale, transportation, distribution, possession, or introduction into interstate commerce, of switchblade knives pursuant to contract with the Armed Forces.

(g) the Armed Forces or any member or employee thereof acting in the performance of his duty;

(h) the possession, and transportation upon his person, of any switchblade knife with a blade three inches or less in length by any individual who has only one arm; or

(i) a knife that contains a spring, detent, or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward closure of the blade and that requires exertion applied to the blade by hand wrist, or arm to overcome the bias toward closure to assist in opening the knife.

Blade HQ will not sell to any individual or group outside the State of Utah without the above conditions being met. This does not apply to automatic knives manufactured, distributed, purchased or sold within the State of Utah. Proper identification may be required before the order is shipped in cases where restricted items are purchased.

So, I would not advertise that they have shipped to you.

When I said not so easy to buy, I was referring to mail order sales. The stores can ship to LEO and EMT but apparently not to average people in Texas. You can buy at a retail store (and pay more). I believe this is a federal restriction.

True as of 9/1/13. May have city restrictions though. Also blade length. Not so easy to buy either.