Laws by State

Switchblade Legal States 2025

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Switchblades Legal to Own

Illegal
Legal
Legal if blade is < 3"
Legal with FOID Card
Vague
State
Switchblades Legal to Own
Switchblades Legal to Sell
New Jersey Flag
New JerseyVagueIllegal
New York Flag
New YorkVagueIllegal
Illinois Flag
IllinoisLegal with FOID CardLegal
Vermont Flag
VermontLegal if blade is < 3"Legal if blade is < 3"
Alabama Flag
AlabamaLegalLegal
Alaska Flag
AlaskaLegalLegal
Arizona Flag
ArizonaLegalLegal
Arkansas Flag
ArkansasLegalLegal
California Flag
CaliforniaLegalLegal if blade is < 2"
Colorado Flag
ColoradoLegalLegal
Connecticut Flag
ConnecticutLegalLegal
Florida Flag
FloridaLegalLegal
Georgia Flag
GeorgiaLegalLegal (if over 18)
Idaho Flag
IdahoLegalLegal
Indiana Flag
IndianaLegalLegal
Iowa Flag
IowaLegalLegal
Kansas Flag
KansasLegalLegal
Kentucky Flag
KentuckyLegalLegal
Louisiana Flag
LouisianaLegalLegal
Maine Flag
MaineLegalLegal
Maryland Flag
MarylandLegalIllegal
Massachusetts Flag
MassachusettsLegalLegal if blade is ≤ 1.5"
Michigan Flag
MichiganLegalLegal
Mississippi Flag
MississippiLegalLegal
Missouri Flag
MissouriLegalLegal
Montana Flag
MontanaLegalLegal
Nebraska Flag
NebraskaLegalLegal
Nevada Flag
NevadaLegalLegal
New Hampshire Flag
New HampshireLegalLegal
North Carolina Flag
North CarolinaLegalLegal
North Dakota Flag
North DakotaLegalLegal
Ohio Flag
OhioLegalLegal
Oklahoma Flag
OklahomaLegalLegal
Oregon Flag
OregonLegalLegal
Pennsylvania Flag
PennsylvaniaLegalLegal
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode IslandLegalLegal
South Carolina Flag
South CarolinaLegalLegal
South Dakota Flag
South DakotaLegalLegal
Tennessee Flag
TennesseeLegalLegal
Texas Flag
TexasLegalLegal
Utah Flag
UtahLegalLegal
Virginia Flag
VirginiaLegalLegal
West Virginia Flag
West VirginiaLegalLegal
Wisconsin Flag
WisconsinLegalLegal
Wyoming Flag
WyomingLegalLegal
Delaware Flag
DelawareIllegalIllegal
District of Columbia Flag
District of ColumbiaIllegalIllegal
Hawaii Flag
HawaiiIllegalIllegal
Minnesota Flag
MinnesotaIllegalIllegal
New Mexico Flag
New MexicoIllegalIllegal
Washington Flag
WashingtonIllegalIllegal
  • A balisong is a type of foldable knife, better known in the US as a butterfly knife, which is sometimes regulated alongside switchblades (also known as automatic or OTF knives) and sometimes regulated separately.
  • Michigan’s ban on switchblades was repealed as of Oct. 10, 2017. However, the legality of carrying a switchblade, either openly or concealed, is murky due to legal language regarding “other dangerous weapons”.
  • New Jersey allows possession of a switchblade for an “explainable lawful purpose”, but fails to provide any examples of such a purpose, thereby rendering switchblades effectively illegal.
  • New York law allows possession of a switchblade is the holder is hunting, fishing, or trapping with a valid license—however, the law says nothing regarding the legality of carrying or selling switchblades.
  • Pennsylvania removed restrictions on switchblades as of January 2023.