HB 55 Defines Some Pocket Knives Separate from Switchblades

(Juneau) – Owners of everyday pocket and utility knives stand to gain greater legal protection under a bill passed by the Alaska House Monday.

House Bill 55, sponsored by Rep. Mark Neuman, clarifies the definition in state statute of which knives do not qualify as switchblades, which are illegal.

“Spring-loaded knives and other one-handed knives that have a bias towards closure are an important tool for Alaska hunters, anglers and many craftsman,” Neuman, R-Su-Valley, said. “Many of us carry and use knives every day, and some mechanisms like being spring-loaded don’t make our knives switchblades. We shouldn’t be punished nor have our tools, which can be just as expensive as other implements, subject to seizure or forfeiture.”

Neuman said the bill’s goal is to provide clarity for the courts, who’ve struggled in cases in the past when defining certain knives. The bill also includes pre-emptive language reserving the state’s right to regulate the issue and guard against local laws as pocket knife owners travel around the state.

HB 55 now moves to the Alaska Senate for consideration.