It's the Village Voice, which is a pretty bad source, but I've read most of the article anyway, expecting a definition of 'gravity knife' at some point and now given up.
But you're giving up after two paragraphs, badmouthing the publication, and the author, because they don't start with the glossary?
FWIW, "gravity knifes" are defined when the article turns to the legal situation. In making readers wait a bit, the article may actually be trying to recreate the thoughts of these people caught up in the law: "WTF is a gravity knife?"
But, wow, it must suck to be a good journalist these days with these sorts of readers.
No. As other posters have mentioned the definition appears at 3,376 words through. Have you read the article for yourself, or did you just make up 'two paragraphs' to attack others?
It's not a 'well written expose'. It's clickbait hiding the meat of the article 3000 words deep for more ad views at the expense of a working narrative. You could happily title it 'guess what this obscure new york law is' and then made a series of slides hiding the answer on the tenth.
I went to NY last year. I could have been prosecuted under this law.
Courts have interpreted that to mean that any knife that can be opened with a “wrist flick” — a movement something like what a fan dancer might do — qualifies as a gravity knife. A long list of court cases have turned on exactly that question, which seems straightforward enough."
I think spring assisted folding knives do meet this definition, and the article also does mention many folding knives sold in the city also meet this definition
"Courts have interpreted that to mean that any knife that can be opened
with a “wrist flick” — a movement something like what a
fan dancer might do — qualifies as a gravity knife.
A long list of court cases have turned on exactly
that question, which seems straightforward enough."Under Penal Law 265.01, a gravity knife is defined as any knife that opens with “the force of gravity or the application of centrifugal force” and has a blade that locks into place by means of a “button, spring, lever, or other device.”
This would be a "gravity knife": https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Swiss-Trekker-Pocket-Knife...
For context, I carried one of these throughout college for random boxes, cutting wires, etc.
One handed would be okay, so long as it can't be flicked open by officers who practice flicking knives open on a regular basis and have pretty much perfected the art.
But, yes, the flicking is a requirement - according to the article.
https://www.swiss-knife.com/media/catalog/product/0/_/0.9523...
When the blade is folded, only the little notch sticks out. Very hard to open.
This would include things like box cutters (utility knifes).
It's dangerous to mix and match words when describing an item that could or could not get you in a heap of trouble for carrying and or possessing in your particular jurisdiction.
Wikipedia:
A switchblade is a type of knife with a folding or sliding blade contained in the handle which is opened automatically by a spring when a button, lever, or switch on the handle or bolster is activated. Most switchblade designs incorporate a locking blade, in which the blade is locked against closure when the spring extends the blade to the fully opened position. The blade is unlocked by manually operating a mechanism that unlocks the blade and allows it to be folded and locked in the closed position.
Wikipedia itself contrasts gravity knife with switchblade (as of time of this comment):
A gravity knife is a knife with a blade contained in its handle, and which opens its blade by the force of inertia or gravity. As the gravity knife requires gravity or spinning motion to propel the blade out of the handle, it differs fundamentally from the switchblade, which opens its spring-propelled blade automatically upon the push of a button, switch, or fulcrum lever.
I’d think the distinction should be design intent: the Buck knife and Home Depot knife shown in article photo are not designed to actuate through a spring or gesture. A gravity knife, like a switchblade, is. So certainly closer to a switchblade without a spring rather than a locking blade folding knife.
In Africa we called these knives that were not fully automatic but required a gesture “flick blades”. Some of them are not folding, they slid straight out (or down, gravity assisted) and had a double edge like a dagger. Many of these could become switchblades again if you disassembled them and added a spring.
I also agree with you the enforcement interpretation sounds like they want it to mean any knife you could possibly shake to an open and locked position.