State Laws Regarding Automatic Knives

The following states do NOT prohibit auto-open (also called automatic, switchblade, or switch knife) for non-law enforcement citizens.  Check State Knife Laws for specific details on possession, carrying, manufacturing, or sale, as some restrictions may apply in a specific state.  See the list below for blade length restrictions.

1. Alabama*
2. Alaska
3. Arizona*
4. Arkansas*
5. California (less than 2″ blade length limitation)
6. Colorado (effective approximately Aug. 9, 2017; concealed carry maximum length 3-1/2″)
7. Connecticut (maximum 1-1/2″ blade length limitation)
8. Delaware (unlawful since 1953)
9. Florida*
10. Georgia*
11. Hawaii (effective May 2024, allowed but no concealed carry)
12. Idaho*
13. Illinois (effective Aug. 11, 2017, with valid Firearms Owner’s Identification Card FOID)
14. Indiana
15. Iowa*
16. Kansas (since 2013)
17. Kentucky (if at least 21 years old)*
18. Louisiana (effective August 1, 2018)
19. Maine (effective October 15, 2015)
20. Maryland – (can legally possess if not concealed)
21. Massachusetts (effective August 27, 2024, all restrictions removed perMassachusetts Supreme Court ruling)
22. Michigan (effective October 10, 2017)
23. Minnesota (forbidden)
24. Mississippi*
25. Missouri (since 2012)
26. Montana (maximum 1-1/2″ blade length limitation – removed 2019)
27. Nebraska*
28. Nevada (effective July 1, 2015 – 2″ blade length limitation removed)
29. New Hampshire (since 2010)
30. New Jersey (possession, but commerce and manufacturing unlawful)
31. New Mexico (not allowed outside one’s real property)
32. New York – (exception for hunting, trapping, and fishing – seeNew York Knife Laws)
33. North Carolina  (concealed carry not recommended – seeNorth Carolina Knife Laws)
34. North Dakota (maximum 5″ blade length limitation)
35. Ohio (effective April 12, 2021 – seeOhio Knife Laws)
36. Oklahoma (effective November 1, 2015)
37. Oregon (repealed 1985)
38. Pennsylvania (effective January 2, 2023)
39. Rhode Island*
40. South Carolina*
41. South Dakota (repealed 1975)
42. Tennessee*
43. Texas (since 2013)
44. Utah*
45. Vermont (less than 3″ blade length limitation)
46. Virginia (effective July 1, 2023)
47. Washington (manufacture allowed, limited possession to law enforcement and emergency personnel – see Washington Knife Laws)
48. West Virginia (must be 21 years of age)
49. Wisconsin (effective February 2016)
50. Wyoming*

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