b6b60d06   
   XPost: alt.religion.kibology, alt.slack, rec.sport.pro-wrestling   
   XPost: alt.drugs.hard   
   From: charlesanderson@optushome.com.au   
      
   sk3tchA wrote:   
   > I agree with you guys, this law is totally fucked. Here in Mass, we   
   > have a law banning "dagger knives" which is any knife with a double   
   > edge blade. What's so fucked about it is that you can buy one right   
   > over the counter in just about any hardware or sporting goods store   
   > (without showing any ID or special permit) then carry it outside and   
   > get arrested for having it. I agree also that switchblades aren't more   
   > dangerous than any other type of knife, folding or not. In fact, most   
   > folding knives (including switchblades and flick knives) actually suck   
   > for knife fighting, because of the construction of the handle. Any   
   > knife without a stout crossbar seperating the blade from the handle is   
   > actually very dangerous to the user of it. Blood is slippery stuff,   
   > and once you strike the first blow, the weapon will be difficult to   
   > keep hold of. What's likely to happen is that your hand will slide off   
   > the handle and onto the blade, cutting yourself. In the slam the best   
   > shanks aren't the ones you see in the movies, with a sharpened point   
   > sticking out the end of a handle, but what we called a "punchknife".   
   > This is made by having the blade run perpendicular to the handle, so   
   > it protrudes from between your knuckles. This is much better for a   
   > variety of reasons. It's deadlier (normal boxing blows make you an   
   > expert) and It's easier to keep hold of when wet. Most skilled,   
   > experienced bladefighters would tell you that the two best knives of   
   > all time for actual combat are the bowie, and the sykes-fairbain   
   > commando knife, made famous by the SAS. Personally, I'd take a   
   > punchknife with a little 3 or 4 inch blade over a switchblade or buck   
   > knife anyday.   
   >   
   > regards,   
   > sk3tch   
      
      
   Well, you have to live within the law, to do otherwise would make you a   
   criminal.   
      
   However, there are usually ways around such laws, as long as you do a   
   little research.   
      
   In Australia, a lot of toys that the Americans play with are not   
   available to the general public.  You will never be able to walk the   
   street with these items in your pocket (and in Australia we don't need   
   to), but you can own them for private collections if you get the proper   
   licenses.   
      
   The argument for a switch blade in Australia is that it's a concealed   
   weapon (it's a poor argument, and technical at best).   
      
   Defending yourself by force of arms is okay in Oz, and that's as bad as   
   it usually gets.  We have more than enough Police to keep us safe.   
      
   Punch knives are also on the prohibited weapons list.   
      
   The best weapon is a good Police force ;-)   
      
   I've been knife fighting for more than 25 years (sparring), and I've   
   never had to use any of it in a real fight.   
      
   Knife fighting isn't really about the knife, it's about the fighter.   
      
      
      
   Regards Charles   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)