In this day and age, it can be difficult to determine the legality of owning certain weapons. A complex web of state and federal laws dictates what is and is not acceptable in terms of possession. As far as knives go, it’s important to note the difference between a folding knife and a switchblade. Tactical knives that fold manually are widely used on hiking trips, while hunting in the woods, and even on job sites across the country.

Switchblades operate very differently in that their blades pop out manually. Fairly or not, they are often associated with acts of violent crime. For that reason, switchblades are banned in many areas while tactical knives are not. A manually folding knife comes in handy in a number of legitimate situations, so the owner shouldn’t worry about weapons restrictions.