no they're not
They Are ILLEGAL in New York State. They are classified as a
gravity knife which includes centrifugal force to open it. nys
penal law 265.00 sub 5.
Correction:
Several court cases have ruled that a buttefly knife does not
match the legal definition of a gravity knife, therefore they are
legal:
In People v Zuniga, 303 AD2d 773, 759 NYS2d 86 (2d Dept 2003),
the Appellate Division held that possessing a "butterfly knife" did
not constitute a "gravity knife." The butterfly knife requires
manual locking and thus does not come within the definition of
"gravity knife."
Similarly, in People v Mott, 137 Misc2d 757, 522 NYS2d 429
(County Ct 1987), the judge inspected the knife and recorded his
observations: "Such a knife is a folding knife with a split handle.
In the closed position, the knife is covered on each side and at
the point by two metal guards attached to the blade's base. To open
the knife, the metal guards are folded back until they meet and are
clasped and thereby form a handle for the blade." Again, the court
held that the butterfly knife did not constitute a "gravity
knife."
In People v Dolson, 142 Misc2d 779, 538 NYS2d 393 (County Court
1989), the judge stated: "While this appears to meet the first part
of the statutory definition of a gravity knife, an important
difference exists here. The blade of the knife recovered from
Appellant does not lock into place 'when released' from its
cover."
