What Is a Ballistic Knife? Why it is illegal worldwide


Knife

In today’s society, there are many deadly weapons. Many militaries worldwide use these weapons to protect their operators. However, these lethal threats are amongst us. Your neighbor can own a knife or even a gun. However, some of these deadly tools are so powerful and extreme that they became illegal. 

Because of their force or sharpness, regulated governments worldwide decided to unite against them. Anyone can make them at home. Though, if you move around with them in public and get caught, you will be behind bars for many years to come. 

One of these deadly weapons is the ballistic knife. It’s such a powerful tool that it’s illegal to use or carry worldwide. Ensure you never come across one, or you will take heavy punishment. 

What is a ballistic knife? 

Essentially, a ballistic knife is a knife with a detachable blade, that in a press of a trigger, launches into a target. Because many incidents involved ballistic knives, regulated governments banned them eternally. It’s such a deadly and sharp weapon that if you come across one, you ought to stay away from it. 

Worldwide, people started to use a ballistic knife when they realized the power behind it. Its sharpness and overall force are astounding. Because of that, terrorist organizations began using these types of knives. There is no regulation in these areas. Thus, terrorists can use them to their fullest. 

First, the Soviet Union began using ballistic knives for their militaries. Because they thought they’re powerful, They gave their operators these weapons. In the 1970s, the KGB and the USSR used these knives often. Ever since militaries worldwide started to use ballistic knives for their advantage. 

In the 1980s in the US, ballistic knives became popular amongst knives enthusiasts. Moreover, people tested this weapon against body armor that police officers wear and saw the effects. They realized that it regularly breached the body armor. You can imagine the crisis that followed these results. 

To summarize, a ballistic knife is a sharp and deadly type of knife. In regulated countries, it is illegal from any use. As of today, terrorist organizations use these lethal tools, and they rise in popularity amongst them. 

How does a ballistic knife work?

Generally, there are a few ways people constructed ballistic knives. But, there is one manageable way that most people who use a ballistic knife prefer to have. In this way, you press a trigger, usually a button, and the blade of the knife launches horizontally. 

The Russian military used this technique since they started using these knives. Additionally, most of the ballistic knives you will stumble upon will work this way. There are plenty of videos on youtube that will show you exactly how it works. 

The ballistic knife mechanics is similar to the one of a gun. While a gun is more complicated, the process by which the blade receives its force is the same. It all comes down to a spring. In a press of a trigger, the spring gets his force. That way, the blade can launch itself in such velocity and energy. 

Because of the energy that the blade possesses in the launch, it is lethal. Most of the fatal weapons that are currently or were in use work this way. That is the reason most regulated countries banned ballistic knives from civilian usage.  

Who uses ballistic knives?

guy pointing a gun
Image by Thomas Rüdesheim from Pixabay

Because ballistic knives are illegal for civilian usage, people who use them are not civilians. As such, mercenaries and some militaries use them. Russia is the most known military that used ballistic knives for its operators. Additionally, most personnel who use them use them illegally. If they get caught, they will be behind bars for many years to come. 

Because the popularity of the ballistic knife rose in the last few years, more companies started to notice the rising trend. Thus you will see the ballistic knife in many video games. Such as Fortnite and Call of duty. Of course, people who play these games might be more interested in having a ballistic knife at their homes. 

Lastly, private armies internationally use ballistic knives. There are little pieces of evidence to the usage of ballistic knives in unregulated countries. Because they are so simple to produce at home, terrorist organizations in these countries use these knives in their wars. Now, I don’t think I have to explain why that is super dangerous and illegal. 

Why are ballistic knives illegal?

As previously discussed, the primary reason that ballistic knives are illegal is their potential to injure people. Because of the velocity at which the blade launches and the energy it has, the possibility of someone getting harmed is higher than average. Additionally, these types of knives cost very little compared to their competition, guns. 

In most regulated countries, ballistic knives are illegal. I’ll include a list further down to show you which countries it’s illegal to own a ballistic knife in.

Country Legal/Illegal to carry a ballistic knife in it USIllegal to ownUKIllegal to ownSwedenIllegal to ownSpainIllegal to ownIsraelIllegal to ownNetherlandsIllegal to ownFranceDepends upon circumstances. Mostly illegal
RussiaMilitary usage. Illegal to own
ItalyRestricted
BelgiumIllegal to own

In the late 1970s, the ballistic knife became a popular weapon. It appeared in books, and many people became interested in this knife. Worldwide, it became clear that the current situation is risky. This new weapon can kill someone in a press of a trigger. Additionally, because of its size, you might not notice when someone is carrying such a threat. 

To use it, you didn’t have to get a license. All you had to do is get your hands on these. It doesn’t require any skill use or a particular aim method. Contrary to that, to own a gun, the government has to know you have one. Moreover, you need enough skill to carry one and constantly shoot more at shooting ranges. For that reason, it became clear worldwide that this cannot go longer. As a result, it became illegal a few years following that.

To summarize, a ballistic knife holds a vast amount of force. As a result, many countries applied many restrictions on the matter. The rules that apply to carry a gun apply to the ballistic knife. Because of their potential to injure, to have one, you have to be responsible. Because of that, it became illegal to carry in all regulated countries.

Does the military use ballistic knives?

ukrainian special forces, operator, member-2536282.jpg

As mentioned previously, some militaries in the world use ballistic knives. However, the US military does not provide its operators with ballistic knives. Russia’s military was using these knives in the late 1970s. Currently, most armies worldwide provide their operators with pocket knives exclusively. 

As of today, the US military uses pocket knives as their primary close-range weapon. Moreover, this weapon is not morally right to use. As a result, most militaries internationally don’t recognize the ballistic knife as a righteous weapon. Thus they don’t use it. 

Conclusion 

The ballistic knife is a knife with a detachable blade. With a press of a trigger, it launches forward. This weapon holds plenty of force. As a result, it became illegal to use in most regulated countries. In addition, if you’ll move around with one in public, you’ll stay in prison for a long time. Because of it not being moral, most militaries worldwide don’t use the ballistic knife. 

Levi

I've served in the military as a special forces operator for 4-years. In that period, I've trained in many martial arts, including karate, MMA, BJJ, boxing, and even Krav Maga. I want to share my passion with you, so here it is!

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