switchblade
Button-activated blade
A switchblade is a knife with a blade that springs open at the press of a button, designed for quick one-handed deployment.
The mechanism made switchblades popular in mid-20th-century gang iconography, leading to legal restrictions in many jurisdictions: He pulled a switchblade from his pocket.
Also called a flick knife in British English.
Thin-bladed knife or heel
- spring-loadedPowered by compressed coil
- automaticOperating without intervention
- flick-knifeSpring-loaded folding blade
- pocketknifeFolding blade with handle
jackknife · tang · handle · edge · point · sheath · steel · sharp
Small enough to carry
- compactTightly packed together
- hiddenKept out of sight
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
- covertIntentionally concealed
concealable · stealthy · furtive · tucked · palmed · sleeve · waistband · ankle
Machinery lubricator or fifties tough
- rockabillyHillbilly-influenced early rock
- 1950sDecade after WWII
- pompadourHigh-fronted upswept hairstyle
Forbidden by statute
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- outlawedForbidden by law
illicit · smuggled · black-market · confiscated · felony · arrest · gangster · hoodlum
Expressing intent to harm
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- deadlyAble to cause expiration
- violentInvolving physical force
intimidating · aggressive · hostile · sinister · vicious · treacherous · glinting · brandished
stiletto
Thin-bladed knife or heel
- spring-loadedPowered by compressed coil
- automaticOperating without intervention
- flick-knifeSpring-loaded folding blade
pocketknife · jackknife · tang · handle · edge · point · sheath · steel · sharp · bolster
pocketable
Small enough to carry
covert · concealable · stealthy · furtive · tucked · palmed · sleeve · waistband · ankle · undetectable
greaser
Machinery lubricator or fifties tough
- rockabillyHillbilly-influenced early rock
- 1950sDecade after WWII
- pompadourHigh-fronted upswept hairstyle
illegal
Forbidden by statute
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- bannedOfficially disallowed
outlawed · illicit · smuggled · black-market · confiscated · felony · arrest · gangster · hoodlum · thug
threatening
Expressing intent to harm
violent · intimidating · aggressive · hostile · sinister · vicious · treacherous · glinting · brandished · drawn
- kniveschef's knife, pocket knife, utility knife, steak knife, boning knife
- weaponsknife, gun, sword, swords, rifle
- bladed weaponsdagger, sword, stiletto, sabre, dirk
- contrabandheroin, cocaine, narcotics, illegal drugs, illicit drugs
- folding kniveshandle, slip joint, tang, bolster, pocket clip
- Motorcycle Trickswheelie, stoppie, backflip, superman, no-hander
switchbladefixed blade
Knife without hinge mechanism
sheath knife · hunting knife · kitchen knife · butter knife · Swiss Army knife
switchblademachete
Heavy broad-bladed knife
cleaver · hunting knife · survival knife · combat knife · kukri
- switchblade knifeSpring-deployed folding blade