All About Pocket Knives

I knew about switchblades but thought butterfly knives were a novelty item. 300 on eBay for sale today and dozens in AAPK stores. You guys with the high dollar knives, be wary.' Maybe in most cases you can slide by, but if they catch you, they confiscate the knife. Mine was sent to NYC.

USPS Regulations
The United States Postal Service (USPS) classifies butterfly knives as "switchblade" or "gravity" knives because they can be opened by gravity or inertia.

No, it is not legal to ship a butterfly knife to New York City, as both federal and state laws prohibit the transportation and possession of butterfly knives within the state. The penalties can be severe, potentially including a year or more in jail and/or fines, especially if the shipment is part of a business transaction or involves unlawful intent.

Why does AAPK allow people in NYC to purchase these knives if they can't be legally shipped? Maybe AAPK can add filters.

Maintaining a constantly evolving filter list for the diverse set of rules and regulations associated with all of our country's states and locations would require resources beyond our means.

Our current policies put the onus on the buyers and sellers to adhere to all applicable state and local laws regarding the purchase, sale, possession, and use of items you sell or buy on the AAPK store platform.

Caveat emptor.

Something else to add to this discussion. PayPal can suspend or cancel your ability to collect payments through them if a seller sells a knife that is restricted by their policy. I know that switchblades and butterfly knives are banned on their platform. Probably other payment methods have similar restrictions.
The very few times I sold an automatic knife I required a money order instead of PayPal payment. Just FYI.

just bob wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 7:23 pmWhy does AAPK allow people in NYC to purchase these knives if they can't be legally shipped?

The Federal Switchblade Act does not restrict the use of private carriers like UPS or FedEx for shipping automatic knives, only USPS. My recommendation is to avoid USPS for these shipments to avoid potential confiscation.

I used to work with the founder of Hom Knives - he exclusively makes high end balisongs. https://www.homdesign.com/. He was always located in NYC - never quite could figure out how he made his business work out of NYC ... now I see he's in Long Island - probably less hassle.

Bryan wrote: ↑Sat Nov 15, 2025 1:51 pm Maintaining a constantly evolving filter list for the diverse set of rules and regulations associated with all of our country's states and locations would require resources beyond our means.

Our current policies put the onus on the buyers and sellers to adhere to all applicable state and local laws regarding the purchase, sale, possession, and use of items you sell or buy on the AAPK store platform.

I do understand that and that is also good advice to use another carrier other than USPS. Here is a question. When a new member comes to AAPK and fills out the form is there any age verification at all or is it just based on what the applicant puts on the form? I noticed Dale adds this disclaimer to the knives in his AAPK store, but I doubt that would hold water. Or should we all be adding these kinds of restrictions? If a buyer in NY orders a switchblade knowing it is not legal for him to order it, haven't they violated this restriction or store policy? Should they be barred?

*By Purchasing, The Buyer Confirms It Is Legal for Them Purchase and Own This Knife

In regards to age, our terms of service states the following:

2. User Eligibility

To register, post, or participate in commerce on AAPK, you must be at least 18 years old and legally capable of entering into binding contracts. By using our platform, you represent and warrant that you meet these requirements.

If someone tries to buy an item that you know to be restricted in the ship to location, you can cancel the order. We plan to implement a "block buyer list" sooner than later that will enable sellers to effectively ban a buyer from buying from them as well if needed.