Automatic Knife Laws in the USA - Know Before You Carry

Understanding the Legal Landscape

Most states do not prohibit automatic knives for non-law-enforcement citizens, but possession, carry (open vs. concealed), sale, manufacturing, and blade length can be regulated differently from state to state.

For detailed information on your state’s knife laws (including criminal code and blade length rules), click the links below:

State Automatic Knife Status Official or Reputable Law Resource
Alabama Legal (no state ban) Alabama Knife Laws – AKTI (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Alaska Legal AKTI Alaska Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Arizona Legal AKTI Arizona Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Arkansas Legal AKTI Arkansas Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
California Legal w/ blade < 2″ California Knife Laws – TektoKnives (Tekto Knives)
Colorado Legal w/ concealed carry blade max ~3.5″ AKTI Colorado Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Connecticut Legal with ≤1.5″ blade AKTI Connecticut Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Delaware Illegal AKTI Delaware Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
D.C. Illegal AKTI Washington D.C. Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Florida Legal AKTI Florida Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Georgia Legal AKTI Georgia Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Hawaii Legal, no concealed carry AKTI Hawaii Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Idaho Legal AKTI Idaho Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Illinois Legal with FOID Card AKTI Illinois Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Indiana Legal AKTI Indiana Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Iowa Legal AKTI Iowa Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Kansas Legal AKTI Kansas Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Kentucky Legal ≥21 AKTI Kentucky Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Louisiana Legal AKTI Louisiana Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Maine Legal AKTI Maine Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Maryland Legal w/ restrictions AKTI Maryland Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Massachusetts Legal (ban invalidated) AKTI Massachusetts Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Michigan Legal AKTI Michigan Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Minnesota Illegal AKTI Minnesota Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Mississippi Legal AKTI Mississippi Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Missouri Legal AKTI Missouri Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Montana Legal AKTI Montana Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Nebraska Legal AKTI Nebraska Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Nevada Legal AKTI Nevada Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
New Hampshire Legal AKTI New Hampshire Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
New Jersey Possession legal; commerce/manufacturing restricted AKTI New Jersey Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
New Mexico Not allowed outside private property AKTI New Mexico Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
New York Restricted (exceptions for hunting/fishing) AKTI New York Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
North Carolina Legal but concealed carry may be restricted AKTI NC Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
North Dakota Legal with ≤5″ blade AKTI North Dakota Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Ohio Legal AKTI Ohio Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Oklahoma Legal AKTI Oklahoma Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Oregon Legal AKTI Oregon Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Pennsylvania Legal AKTI Pennsylvania Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Rhode Island Legal AKTI Rhode Island Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
South Carolina Legal AKTI South Carolina Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
South Dakota Legal AKTI South Dakota Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Tennessee Legal AKTI Tennessee Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Texas Legal AKTI Texas Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Utah Legal AKTI Utah Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Vermont Legal AKTI Vermont Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Virginia Legal AKTI Virginia Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Washington Limited (possession usually restricted) AKTI Washington Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
West Virginia Legal ≥21 AKTI West Virginia Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Wisconsin Legal AKTI Wisconsin Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)
Wyoming Legal AKTI Wyoming Knife Law (American Knife and Tool Institute)

 

Additional Resources

  • 📚 Federal Switchblade Knife Act Overview – Learn how federal restrictions affect interstate commerce and federal lands.

  • ❓ Automatic Knife FAQs – Answers to common questions about ownership, carry, and legality across states. (Link to your own FAQ page)

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