It came, it came it came!

[Nonprophet]

Citadel came today and I love it! Crisp opening and sharp! When I first opened the box I couldn't get the lock to disengage so I could open the knife but after the first time the lock worked well! I did notice that the button seems to need to be pushed HARD to open. I know part of this is necessary as it's an auto but I have used the Embassy and it seemed much easier. Anyone know if this will break in a little as I use it or if I maybe got one that was a little tight? Anyway....here's the Spyderco porn for the knife nuts!

17863

[SpyderNut]

..."Anyway....here's the Spyderco porn for the knife nuts!"


Heh heh. Nice job on your buy. :)

I would have to assume that the locking mechanism would "loosen up" after you break it in.

Good luck!

[Nonprophet]

Well now it's got me scared..... I am a legal concealed carry permit holder and it covers auto knives in my permit to carry and I am able to buy them from authorized dealers as a member of Law Enforcement but now that I read the Federal Law it seems to say that unless I'm MILITARY I can't even own one. Am I in murky water or....jeez now I'm all worried:eek:

[wsdavies]

Is that the 92mm or the smaller one? I have one (a 92 mm) on the way. I'm excited to get it!

[Nonprophet]

The Smaller one

[wsdavies]

Planning on getting frisked by the FBI?


Well now it's got me scared..... I am a legal concealed carry permit holder and it covers auto knives in my permit to carry and I am able to buy them from authorized dealers as a member of Law Enforcement but now that I read the Federal Law it seems to say that unless I'm MILITARY I can't even own one. Am I in murky water or....jeez now I'm all worried:eek:

[Nonprophet]

No, but I'd hate to be carrying the thing and open it up to use it and have some Civvy call the cops and end up with a Federal charge I didn't know I could get. I ain't one of them thar law breakers:rolleyes:

[razorsharp]

make it an around home knife ;)

[wsdavies]

True, it just seems unlikely, especially if you don't whip it out in front of the sheeple. Seems ridiculous that an emerson opening knife is legal, which is by far faster to open, and assisted knives are legal, but not autos...Lame. In Wyoming I can carry it as long as it isn't concealed...Sweetttt. To think I grew up in Kalifornia with all the Kommies


No, but I'd hate to be carrying the thing and open it up to use it and have some Civvy call the cops and end up with a Federal charge I didn't know I could get. I ain't one of them thar law breakers:rolleyes:

[Slash]

No, but I'd hate to be carrying the thing and open it up to use it and have some Civvy call the cops and end up with a Federal charge I didn't know I could get. I ain't one of them thar law breakers:rolleyes:
Good thing about laws is that they can be amended.
better to be safe than sorry though.

[Nonprophet]

By Federal standards that I read even auto assist openers or the same as auto openers. Truth is, even a knife with a thumb assist without any other sort of spring is considered an auto knife. That's why I'm thinking there's GOT to be more to it right?

[Dr. Snubnose]

I think the bottom line for you is...The state of Iowa allows those defined as Peace Officers to purchase, possess and carry Switchblades. So if you meet that criteria I don't see any problems while being in your state. The laws are very funny specially the federal ones. I was talking to a friend who is an MP for the US Military and he had trouble a few years back while at the Pentagon. Both he and a fellow soldier who by the way, were both armed with handguns and one even had an MP5 with him, got into a major debate over the fact the guards would not let pass security checkpoint because one was carrying a Swiss Army Knife. The debate went on for some time but the bottom line was the soldier gave up the knife to gain entry....go figure only civilians in the pentagon can be armed with knives, military personnel cannot....but there isn't a problem if they have an MP5 or handgun....it makes about as much sense as the Federal Switch-blade Law, and all the other silly knife laws around the country.....Doc:)

[Slash]

Some laws will never make any sense. The day they outlaw passing gas in public in moving to canada or Mexico or somewhere.

[flash900]

Love the looks of Citadel and wish Spydie would make a manual for us civilians.

I don't suppose there's any way to convert it to a manual?

[Mud Shrimp Moe]

By Federal standards that I read even auto assist openers or the same as auto openers. Truth is, even a knife with a thumb assist without any other sort of spring is considered an auto knife. That's why I'm thinking there's GOT to be more to it right?

I make no claim to be an expert on knife laws. However, it can't be that simple. I live in Texas where the law says "switchblades" are prohibited weapons (illegal both to carry or to buy, sell, or AFAIK own). However, Texas law doesn't define what a "switchblade" actually is and I've read that different jurisdictions tend to interpret as they please. Walmart openly sells assisted openers, however. I can't imagine that the world's largest retailer would take the legal risk of selling illegal weapons. Ergo assisted openers are ok here. And if federal law says their not, then state law must prevail, except probably on federal property. Obviously I'd never carry an assisted opener to a federal courthouse or other federal building. Well, I probably wouldn't sweat it at the Post Office.

[Nonprophet]

Well it's that dang little paper they put in with them as sort of a disclaimer. It quotes some of the law but obviously not the whole law (probably be a book if it did) and it makes it sound that simple. At the end of the day, my CCW permits specifically states switchblades so I think I'm ok.

[Rwb1500]

Well it's that dang little paper they put in with them as sort of a disclaimer. It quotes some of the law but obviously not the whole law (probably be a book if it did) and it makes it sound that simple. At the end of the day, my CCW permits specifically states switchblades so I think I'm ok.

Hopefully. I'd never leave the state with the knife. Even if your permit gives you reciprocity to carry a gun in another state most don't for knives.

I don't know about your state, but most allow individual municipalities to determine their own knife law. So in my township it might be perfectly fine to carry an auto or large concealed fixed blade, but two miles away it might be completely illegal.

What a crock, eh?

I'd like to see preemption in knife law the way it's done with carry for handguns in most states. If it's legal in one part of the state it's legal everywhere. Don't see that happening anytime soon though.

[EricTheRed]

By Federal standards that I read even auto assist openers or the same as auto openers. Truth is, even a knife with a thumb assist without any other sort of spring is considered an auto knife. That's why I'm thinking there's GOT to be more to it right?


In October 2009 Congress passed and Obama signed into law clarifying that "assisted openers" are NOT "autos" and are thus legal (unless specifically prohibited by state law.)

as stated on kniferights.org...

"The President signed into law the FY2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill on October 28, 2009, protecting our pocket knives. The bill included our amendment to the Federal Switchblade Act that clearly exempts assisted and one-hand opening knives"

and here's the wording of the actuall amendment...

Sec. 562 . Section 4 of the Act entitled `An Act to prohibit the introduction, or manufacture for introduction, into interstate commerce of switchblade knives, and for other purposes' (commonly known as the Federal Switchblade Act) (15 U.S.C. 1244) is amended--

(1) by striking `or' at the end of paragraph (3);

(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and inserting `; or' and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

`(5) 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.'.


All that being said, I'm open to any updates or further clarifications. I've been wrong before and I know I'm not immune from being wrong again:p

[EricTheRed]

Awesome knife by the way. I wish I were able to EDC the Citadel myself.

PS. a while ago I had heard something about an auto called the "Samaritan". Is that something else that was in the works? or did that evolve into the Citadel?

[Nonprophet]

I don't know about the Samaritan but I do know that Citadel is an absolutely perfect fit to my hand! The ergonomics are amazing and that knife feels like I could do ANYTHING with it and not worry about losing the grip. I thought knife ergos were pretty simple but this one shows me a lot of thought goes into them. Love it and plan to EDC it as often as is possible!

[Half Sack]

Well now it's got me scared..... I am a legal concealed carry permit holder and it covers auto knives in my permit to carry and I am able to buy them from authorized dealers as a member of Law Enforcement but now that I read the Federal Law it seems to say that unless I'm MILITARY I can't even own one. Am I in murky water or....jeez now I'm all worried:eek:

Could this be read as, federal law states only military can carry auto knives *without* a conceal carry permit?

Your concealed carry permit could allow a civies to carry, being military may exempt you from needing the permit... Just a guess.
I know here in snow and beer land (Canada) I can't have autos (or balisongs), emerson is legal though :rolleyes:

[Nonprophet]

I think Half Sack has it right, or at least that's the way I see it thus far. I'm going to have to do more research.