History Main / SinisterSwitchblade

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' episode "Schoolhouse Rocked": When the Gangreen Gang are forced to attend Pokey Oaks kindergarten, the girls tackle Lil' Arturo when he shows off what looks like a switchblade. Turns out it was just a switchblade-style ''[[ShootHimHeHasAWallet comb]]''.

* Wrestling/JayWhite from NJPW is nicknamed the "[[TheyCallHimSword Switchblade]]" and is certainly sinister enough, considering his ManipulativeBastard tendencies.

* Played with in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker'', where Batman keeps a serrated switchblade for use in escaping traps, but actually throws at the Joker's head (just barely missing) when he finds out [[spoiler: the Joker tortured Tim Drake into insanity]]. The weapon marks the first and only time in [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries this Batman's]] timeline that he was willing to use lethal force.

-->'''Juror #4''': It's ''against the law'' to buy or sell switchblade knives.

* In ''Film/Halloween2018'', Dr. Sartain has a retractable blade inside his pen. While this is ostensibly because he spends most of his time looking after [[AxCrazy Michael Myers]], [[spoiler: he turns out to have been EvilAllAlong and he stabs Sheriff Hawkins with it]].

* The primary weapon of Henry Bowers in ''Film/It2017'' is a switchblade. [[spoiler: His fall to madness is punctuated by him killing his father with it.]]
* In ''Film/JohnWick'', mob boss Viggo Tarasov owns a stileto with pearl grips. [[spoiler: He uses it in his final fight with John, who takes a stab so he can withdraw it and stab Viggo back]].

-->'''Chorus''': You knew he was a no-good kid, but when he threatened your life with a switchblade knife...

* In ''Literature/{{Christine}}'', school bully and delinquent Buddy threatens Arnie with a giant switchblade, which leads to Buddy being expelled when a teacher intervenes (particularly ''because'' it's a switchblade). In the film, he uses it to stab Arnie's lunch.

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]

* In the ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'' bonus case ''Rise from the Ashes'', the SpreeKiller Joe Darke's weapon was a switchblade. It was also the [[spoiler: true murder weapon of Bruce Goodman before a second knife was used as a decoy]].

-->'''Ms. Keane''': Girls! Girls! No fighting!\\
'''Blossom''': But Ms. Keane! Arturo's holding a deadly--\\

'''Blossom''': --comb.

* ''Film/DraculaAD1972''. As per the SettingUpdate, Johnny Alucard uses a switchblade instead of an ornate dagger to take blood for the ritual to resurrect Dracula. He flicks it open over the throat of the woman lying on the altar, but cuts his wrist instead of her throat (though she is intended as a sacrifice).

* ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' again features a switchblade in the [[https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALiCzsZhx3lCwx8Q_609MLMMxWQ7iXtBPw:1671191990117&q=swinguard+switchblade&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLibCni_77AhUSk2oFHekNBm4Q0pQJegQICRAB&biw=412&bih=767&dpr=1.75#imgrc=MaUK0UMWEmlrCM "swinguard" style]] commonly seen in movies as a basic melee weapon sometimes carried by Raiders. It's possible to modify them with a serrated blade that inflicts extra bleeding damage, making them somewhat more useful than typical straight-edged one.

In real life, a lot of countries ban or severely restrict switchblades, flick knives, and similar weapons such as butterfly knives. These weapons have such a bad reputation that even countries that allow more conventional knives to be carried without restriction have laws against them. The actual effects of the legislation range from prohibiting the use of switchblades to anyone outside the military (Hungary) to banning all switchblades with blades longer than a few centimeters (Japan) to adding specific clauses to laws that distinguish between "tools" and "weapons" that always prohibit them no matter what (Canada) to banning the sale, use, or transport of the knives altogether (The Netherlands). It's to the point that even countries that allow you to own and even carry blades that could be far more deadly like butcher's knives or used in the exact same manner like straight razors nevertheless ban switchblades.[[note]]Some U.S. states, apparently noticing that faster-opening and deadlier knife designs were perfectly legal, have relaxed their laws on switchblades, either by removing restrictions altogether, or permitting possession (e.g. for collectors) but disallowing them to be carried around.[[/note]]

A SubTrope of PsychoKnifeNut and RetractableWeapon. See also DeviousDagger, SinisterScythe and SinisterShiv, which are also bladed weapons associated with unsavory people.

A SubTrope of PsychoKnifeNut and RetractableWeapon. See also SinisterScythe and SinisterShiv, which are also bladed weapons associated with unsavory people.

* In the 1980 war movie ''The Sea Wolves'', a beautiful German spy uses an automatic knife hidden in her purse for assassinations.

* ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' again features a switchblade in the [[https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALiCzsZhx3lCwx8Q_609MLMMxWQ7iXtBPw:1671191990117&q=swinguard+switchblade&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLibCni_77AhUSk2oFHekNBm4Q0pQJegQICRAB&biw=412&bih=767&dpr=1.75#imgrc=MaUK0UMWEmlrCM "swinguard" style]] commonly seen in movies as a basic melee weapon sometimes carried by Raiders. It's possible can modify them with a serrated blade to inflict extra bleeding damage, making them somewhat more useful than typical straight-edged one.

* Edmund Slate tries to kill James Bond with an automatic knife in ''Film/QuantumOfSolace'', but 007 fends him off and kills him with a pair of nail scissors.

** ''Film/QuantumOfSolace''. When Slate catches Bond trespassing in his apartment he tries to kill him with an automatic knife, leading to an extensive brawl.

As the above states, when this trope is applied, almost always expect it to be the iconic Italian stileto Switchblade.

As the above states, when this trope is applied, almost always expect it to be the iconic Italian Stilleto Switchblade.

* In ''Film/JohnWick'', mob boss Viggo Tarasov owns a stilleto with pearl grips. [[spoiler: He uses it in his final fight with John, who takes a stab so he can withdraw it and stab Viggo back]].

* At the start of ''Film/LiveAndLetDie'', a seemingly respectable man in suit and tie stands next to a surveillance agent watching a funeral procession. The man produces a switchblade from under his clasped hands and flicks out the blade.
-->'''Agent:''' Who's, ah, funeral is it?
-->'''Suit-wearing man:''' [[PreMortemOneLiner Yours.]] ''(stabs him)''