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Legal
Illegal
6
Vague
2
Legal with FOID Card
Legal if blade is < 3"

Switchblade Legal States 2024

Switchblade Legal States 2024

Switchblade Legal States 2024

  • 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  • Michigan's ban on switchblades was repealed as of Oct. 10, 2017.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.

51 states

State
Legal to Own
Legal to Sell
Open Carry
Concealed Carry
Balisong Considered Same
AlabamaLegalLegalLegalLegal
AlaskaLegalLegalLegalLegal
ArizonaLegalLegalLegalLegal if carrier age is 21+
ArkansasLegalLegalLegalLegal
CaliforniaLegalLegal if blade is < 2"Legal if blade is < 2"Legal if blade is < 2"
ColoradoLegalLegalLegalLegal if blade is < 3.5"
ConnecticutLegalLegalLegal if blade is ≤ 1.5"Legal if blade is ≤ 1.5"
DelawareIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegal
District of ColumbiaIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegal
FloridaLegalLegalLegalLegal if carrier has gun carry permit
GeorgiaLegalLegal (if over 18)Legal if blade is ≤ 5" (any length with gun carry permit)Legal if blade is ≤ 5" (any length with gun carry permit)
HawaiiIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegal
IdahoLegalLegalLegalLegal if blade is ≤4"
IllinoisLegal with FOID CardLegalLegal with FOID CardLegal with FOID Card
IndianaLegalLegalLegalLegal
IowaLegalLegalLegalLegal if blade is ≤5"
KansasLegalLegalLegalLegal
KentuckyLegalLegalLegalLegal if carrier has gun carry permit
LouisianaLegalLegalLegalLegal
MaineLegalLegalLegalIllegal
MarylandLegalIllegalLegalLegal if carrier has gun carry permit
MassachusettsLegalLegal if blade is ≤ 1.5"Legal if blade is ≤ 1.5"Legal if blade is ≤ 1.5"
MichiganLegalLegalVagueVague
MinnesotaIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegal
MississippiLegalLegalLegalIllegal
MissouriLegalLegalLegalLegal if carrier has gun carry permit
MontanaLegalLegalLegalLegal
NebraskaLegalLegalLegalLegal if blade is ≤ 3.5"
NevadaLegalLegalLegalLegal
New HampshireLegalLegalLegalLegal
New JerseyVagueIllegalIllegalIllegal
New MexicoIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegal
New YorkVagueIllegalIllegalIllegal
North CarolinaLegalLegalLegalIllegal
North DakotaLegalLegalLegalIllegal
OhioLegalLegalLegalLegal
OklahomaLegalLegalLegalLegal
OregonLegalLegalLegalIllegal
PennsylvaniaLegalLegalLegalLegal
Rhode IslandLegalLegalLegalLegal if blade is ≤ 3"
South CarolinaLegalLegalLegalLegal
South DakotaLegalLegalLegalLegal
TennesseeLegalLegalLegalLegal
TexasLegalLegalLegalLegal
UtahLegalLegalLegalSituational
VermontLegal if blade is < 3"Legal if blade is < 3"Legal if blade is < 3"Legal if blade is < 3"
VirginiaLegalLegalLegalIllegal
WashingtonIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegal
West VirginiaLegalLegalLegalLegal if carrier age is 21+
WisconsinLegalLegalLegalLegal if carrier can legally possess a firearm)
WyomingLegalLegalLegalSituational

Sources