Automatic Knife Release Form

You must read and fill out this form before Kai USA, Ltd. can sell to you, or ship to you, any Automatic or Butterfly Knives. By electronically signing this online form, you confirm that you are in compliance with the federal statutes shown below as well as any applicable state and local regulation.

By placing an order or receiving a product service (such as warranty repair service) from us, you agree that you meet any or all of the following criteria:

APPLICABLE FEDERAL STATUTES

18 U.S.C. § 1716 (G) (2) (1-4) provides, in summary:

Switchblade (automatic) knives can be shipped to civilian and armed forces supply or procurement officers and employees of the federal government ordering or procuring or purchasing such knives in connection with activities of the Federal government; to supply or procurement officers in the National Guard, the Air National Guard or militia of the state or territory of the District of Columbia ordering, procuring or purchasing such knives in connections with the activities of such organizations; to supply or procurement officers or employees of the municipal government of the District of Columbia or the government of any state or territory of any county, city or other political subdivision of a state or territory ordering, procuring or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such government.

15 U.S.C. § 1244 provides, in summary:

Knives can be shipped by common carrier; that sale, transportation or distribution, possession or introduction into interstate commerce of switchblade knives is authorized if it is pursuant to a contract with the armed forces; or, any member or employee thereof acting in the performance of his or her duty may possess switchblade knives and may have them shipped to him and sold to him or her. The possession and transportation upon his or her person of a switchblade knife or a blade 3 inches or less is authorized to any handicapped individual who has the use of only one arm.

STATE LAW PROVISIONS

It would be impossible to provide an exhaustive review of the laws that may apply in the various fifty states and in the various counties, parishes, municipalities, and other political subdivisions within each state. By signing this form below, you will be certifying that in addition to complying with federal law, you have determined which, if any, state or local laws apply to you, and that you are acting in compliance with those laws.

No Post Office Box addresses can be used on this form. Item(s) must be sent in going UPS or Fed Ex. No USPS shipments will be accepted. If the address that you have filled out on this form is no longer a valid address, you must contact us and fill out a new form.

Customer Information

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Lock Types

Generally, a locking system on a folding knife is designed to keep the blade locked open until the user releases it—so there’s no danger of the blade folding back. In addition, most ZT knives have a detent to bias the knife toward the closed position for safe carrying. Learn about ZT locking systems and how to use them, as well as read more about detent below.

Frame Lock

In a frame lock knife, the knife handle—its “frame”—consists of two plates of material on either side of the blade. When the knife is opened, the metal side of the frame, the lockbar, butts up against the backend of the blade (the tang) and prevents the blade from closing.

To unlock a frame lock:

  1. Hold the knife handle in one hand.
  2. Turn the knife so that you can see the interior of the handle.
  3. On the left side of the handle, you will see that one side of the handle (also called the “frame”) is positioned behind the blade. This is the lock.
  4. With your thumb, press the lock to the left so that it is no longer blocking the blade.
  5. With your other hand, hold the back of the blade (away from the edge) and begin to guide the blade back into the handle.
  6. Move your thumb out of the way as you finish guiding the blade back into the handle.

Inset Liner Lock

The inset liner lock is a variation on the liner lock that enables ZT to provide the security of a locking liner in a knife that’s slimmer and lighter. We inset a sturdy steel plate on the inside of the knife’s handle. This partial liner is riveted into place in a machined cutout on the interior of the handle. We don’t need a complete steel liner on both sides of the handle, so  the knife can be lighter, thinner, and easier to carry.

To unlock an inset liner lock:

  1. Hold the knife handle in one hand.
  2. Turn the knife so that you can see the interior of the handle.
  3. On the left side of the handle you will see an inset piece of steel is positioned behind the blade. This is the lock.
  4. With your thumb, press the lock to the left so that it is no longer blocking the blade.
  5. With your other hand, hold the back of the blade (away from the edge) and begin to guide the blade back into the handle.
  6. Move your thumb out of the way as you finish guiding the blade back into the handle.

Liner Lock

The liner lock is the most common of today’s blade-locking systems. In knives with locking liners, the handle consists of two metal plates (the “liner”) on either side of the blade. Handle scales, which can be made from a variety of materials, such as G10, cover the plates.

To unlock a liner lock:

  1. Hold the knife handle in one hand.
  2. Turn the knife so that you can see the interior of the handle.
  3. On the left side of the handle, you will see the steel liner is positioned behind the blade. This is the lock.
  4. With your thumb, press the lock to the left so that it is no longer blocking the blade.
  5. With your other hand, hold the back of the blade (away from the edge) and begin to guide the blade back into the handle.
  6. Move your thumb out of the way as you finish guiding the blade back into the handle.

Sub-Frame Lock

The ZT Sub-Frame Lock is our patented variation on the traditional frame lock that lets us make a slimmer knife while providing a strong, secure lock. In this case, a piece of the lighter weight frame, often carbon fiber, is machined out and a piece of steel is riveted into its place. This piece of steel acts just like a standard frame lock. When the blade is open, it moves into position behind the blade tang, locking it open.

To unlock a Sub-Frame Lock:

  1. Hold the knife handle in one hand.
  2. Turn the knife so that you can see the interior of the handle.
  3. On the left side of the handle you will see part of the frame is positioned behind the blade. This is the lock.
  4. With your thumb, press the lock to the left so that it is no longer blocking the blade.
  5. With your other hand, hold the back of the blade (away from the edge) and begin to guide the blade back into the handle.
  6. Move your thumb out of the way as you finish guiding the blade back into the handle.
  7. The Sub-Frame Lock is covered under US Patent 9,120,234.

Slipjoint

A slipjoint knife is a knife with no lock. However, these knives use other mechanisms to ensure safe use.

ZT slipjoints use a ball detent. There is a small indentation on the blade into which a tiny steel ball on the frame or liner lock fits as the knife is opened or closed. This provides friction and a light "stop" that biases the knife to the closed position and ensures controlled open and close.

To close a slipjoint:

  1. Hold the knife handle in one hand.
  2. Hold the back of the blade (away from the edge) with the other hand.
  3. Slowly guide the blade back into the handle, making sure to keep your fingers out of the path of the blade as you close it.