New York Penal Law
Article 265
265.00 Weapons Crimes - Firearms and Other Dangerous Weapons
Definitions
As used in this article and in article four hundred, the following
terms shall mean and include:
...
4. "Switchblade Knife" means any knife which has a blade which opens
automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device
in the handle of the knife.
...
265.01 Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree
Class A Misdemeanor
A person is guilty of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth
degree when:
(1) He possesses any ... switchblade knife
...
265.10 Manufacture, Transport, Disposition and Defacement of Weapons
and Dangerous Instruments and Appliances
Class D Felony and Class A Misdemeanor
1. ... Any person who manufactures or causes to be manufactured
any switchblade knife ... is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
2. ... Any person who transports or ships as merchandise any ... switch-blade
knife ... is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
...
4. Any person who disposes of any of the weapons, instruments or appliances
specified in subdivision one of section 265.01, except a firearm, is guilty
of a class A misdemeanor, and he is guilty of a class D felony if he has
previously been convicted of any crime.
...
265.15 Presumption of Possession, Unlawful Intent and Defacement
...
3. The presence in an automobile, other than a stolen one or a public
omnibus, of any ... switchblade knife ... is presumptive evidence of its
possession by all persons occupying such automobile at the time such weapon,
instrument or appliance is found, except under the following circumstances:
(a) if such weapon, instrument or appliance is found upon the person of
one of the occupants therein ...
4. ... The possession by any person of any ... dangerous knife or any
other weapon, instrument, appliance or substance designed, made or adapted
for use primarily as a weapon, is presumptive evidence of intent to use
the same unlawfully against another.
...
265.20 Exemptions
a. Sections 265.01, ... 265.10, ... 265.15, ... shall not apply to:
1. Possession of any of the weapons, instruments, appliances or substances
specified in sections 265.01 ... by the following:
(a) Persons in the military service of the state of New York when duly
authorized by regulations issued by the adjutant general to possess the
same.
(b) Police officers as defined in subdivision thirty-four of section
1.20 of the criminal procedure law.
(c) Peace officers as defined by section 2.10 of the criminal procedure
law.
(d) Persons in the military or other service of the United States,
in pursuit of official duty or when duly authorized by federal law, regulation
or order to possess the same.
(e) Persons employed in fulfilling defense contracts with the government
of the United States or agencies thereof when possession of the same is
necessary for manufacture, transport, installation and testing under the
requirements of such contract.
(f) A person voluntarily surrendering such weapon ... [to the police].
2. Possession of a ... switchblade knife ... by [certain prison/corrections
personnel on the job].
...
6. Possession of a switchblade or gravity knife for use while hunting,
trapping or fishing by a person carrying a valid license issued to him
pursuant to section 11-0713 of the environmental conservation law.
...
8. The manufacturer of ... switchblade or gravity knives ... as merchandise
and the disposal and shipment thereof direct to a regularly constituted
or appointed state or municipal police department, sheriff, policeman or
other peace officer, or to a state prison, penitentiary, workhouse, county
jail or other institution for the detention of persons convicted or accused
of crime or held as witnesses in crimnal cases, or to the military service
of this state or of the United States.
...
Relevant to NY switchblade law is Federal switchblade law. Key point: NY does not prohibit an individual from importing a switchblade from another state, but Federal law does - in a big way.
United States Code
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 29 - MANUFACTURE, TRANSPORTATION, OR DISTRIBUTION OF SWITCHBLADE
KNIVES
Sec. 1241. Definitions
As used in this chapter -
(a) The term ''interstate commerce'' means
commerce between any State, Territory, possession of the United States,
or the District of Columbia, and any place outside thereof.
(b) The term ''switchblade knife'' means any
knife having a blade which opens automatically -
(1) by hand
pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife,
or
(2) by operation
of inertia, gravity, or both.
Sec. 1242. Introduction, manufacture for introduction, transportation
or distribution in interstate commerce; penalty
Whoever knowingly introduces, or manufactures for introduction, into
interstate commerce, or transports or distributes in interstate commerce,
any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned
not more than five years, or both.
Sec. 1243. Manufacture, sale, or possession within specific jurisdictions;
penalty
Whoever, within any Territory or possession of the United States, within
Indian country (as defined in section 1151 of title 18), or within the
special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as
defined in section 7 of title 18), manufactures, sells, or possesses any
switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not
more than five years, or both.
Sec. 1244. Exceptions
Sections 1242 and 1243 of this title shall not apply to -
(1) any common carrier or contract carrier,
with respect to any switchblade knife shipped, transported, or delivered
for shipment in interstate commerce in the ordinary course of business;
(2) the manufacture, sale, transportation,
distribution, possession, or introduction into interstate commerce, of
switchblade knives pursuant to contract with the Armed Forces;
(3) the Armed Forces or any member or employee
thereof acting in the performance of his duty; or
(4) the possession, and transportation upon
his person, of any switchblade knife with a blade three inches or less
in length by any individual who has only one arm.