Liko81 wrote:In addition, switchblades are also illegal knives, and are defined as the following:
"Switchblade knife" means any knife that has a blade that folds, closes, or retracts into the handle or sheath, and that:
(A) opens automatically by pressure applied to a button or other device located on the handle; or
(B) opens or releases a blade from the handle or sheath by the force of gravity or by the application of centrifugal force.
Two big keys here:
* It is NOT a switchblade if, in order to open the knife, pressure must be applied to the blade. This means "spring-assisted" knives are legal in Texas. Utility knives, though they do have a "button", do not open "automatically" as per the definition; the button allows the user to slide the blade out by the amount the button is moved.
* However, practically any knife designed to be opened with one hand can be made to open by a flip of the wrist without touching the blade. This means pretty much any knife with a thumb stud, hole, or other opening device facitating fast deployment can get you in trouble with a cop looking for an excuse to haul you in.
The TDI is a fixed blade knife.