Is the term "switchblade" derrogatory?

[Fishtail Picklock]

It seems to me that anyone that has any hoplophobic attitude calls an automatic knife a switchblade in a sneering fashion. I have taught my wife NEVER to call an automatic knife a "switchblade" because of the negative inferences/connotations.

I fully understand that the movies and media were resposible for the sensational furor over the "Switchblades... scourge and killer of youth" mantra, from about 1947-1956 with was responsible for the Federal Switchblade Importation Prohibition.

Would anyone else care to comment on this sociocultural phenomena?

Scott

[Phil Elmore]

There's nothing derogatory about the term; everybody who hears the word knows what it means, just as most folks from the UK associate the same images with the term "flick knife." It's the object the hoplophobes fear; the terminology makes little difference.

[jarvis]

I like the word and use it.

[Jeff]

I love the word and try to use it frequently,
Page 34 in The Switchblades of Italy in paragraph 1 halfway down the page says some knife historians blame the Black Beauty Italian Stiletto ads for the 1958 US ban and the rise of the word "switchblade" (but they were bound to blame it on anything) they just picked the coolest word to pick on.

[chopper561]

I am deeply offended by the word, the good news is I get a beer at the White House for my pain.

[redeye]

I am deeply offended by the word, the good news is I get a beer at the White House for my pain.

and a free concert too huh? lol have fun bro.

[tr4252]

I like the word, but use automatic too.

Tom

[JerrBear]

"Political Correctness" run amok...

[javacupper]

I sorta like automatic toad sticker myself.

[JerrBear]

I sorta like automatic toad sticker myself.

Likewise 'UN-P.C.'

The crazy PETA people would be up in arms! HO! HO!

[redeye]

i "toad" you this was gonna happen. we better just "frog it" about it. and ill send PETA a letter explaning my passion for charred mammal flesh yum yum . and i also like the term "switchblade" and will continue to use it.

[xlr8]

2 years ago, I was doing some contract work for our local power company. If you guys could see the cutbacks I had to make on the cable, you'd imediately understand why I was using my Leverletto. At one point, the project coordinator from the power company saw me open it. He says "Hey, that's a switchblade. That's a weapon!" I quickly pulled out my non-auto case cheetah and asked him how much less of a weapon this one was. I asked him sarcastically how the lever made my "switchblade" any more of a weapon than the hammer in my bag. He just laughed and I could tell he'd never thought about it logically before.

Most folks I've talked to think of a menacing looking Italian stiletto when the word "switchblade" comes up. Show those very same folks a nice old schrade double button or something similar and they change their tune. It's so sad than our infinitly wise congress men and women cannot seem to see logic staring them in the face. They make me feel much smarter than I actually am!

[jim d,]

Good analogy xlr8, and as I have stated here before I have a Pampered Chef grilling tool, a.k.a. "burger flipper" that is much more of a weapon than any of my switchblades. But to many individuals, switchblades are weapons and burger flippers are grilling tools so I guess it is just a stigma that will be around for some time.

Jim

[xlr8]

I wonder if I went on a rampage with a shovel, would the word "shovel" ever be demonized? I could do much more damage with a shovel than with any puny little "switchblade" and it would be my defensive weapon of choice when working in or around Atlanta. I base this on legality, availability, simplicity and the severe damage that can be inflicted with said "weapon".

[Jeff]

When you get a kit made Leverletto the blade has never been sharpened so it's a letter opener or Leverlettro. I've never considered pulling a flashy noticable knife out on site anywhere. I had a hidden top bolster release dual action clone knife a long time ago that was in one of my work bags that seemed like a well made knife. It was brass w/ a wooden handle and resembled a Buck knife. The only givaway to the dual action was if someone were to drop it because it will switch open Nobody ever bothered me about it, somebody actually bought it off me and I bet if I looked it up it would be about $20.