States Where Switchblades Are Legal (2026)
The legal landscape for automatic knives has shifted dramatically over the last decade. Once banned across most of the country, switchblades are now legal in the majority of U.S. states — but the rules are complicated, and the penalties for getting it wrong range from misdemeanors to felonies.
19 fully legal
17 restricted
14 banned
The Blade Length Trap
The most common legal trap isn't a total ban — it's a blade length restriction. California allows switchblades, but only if the blade is under 2 inches. A 1.9-inch blade is a legal tool. A 2.1-inch blade is a misdemeanor carrying up to six months in jail. Unless you've measured your knife with a ruler, you might be committing a crime without realizing it.
All 50 States: Switchblade Legal Status (2026)
| State | Status | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Banned | In Alabama, switchblades (automatic knives) are generally prohibited under Ala. Code § 13A-11-50. Possession and sale of switchblades are illegal exce... |
| Alaska | Restricted | Switchblades are legal to possess and carry for adults in Alaska, but it is a felony to provide a switchblade to a person under 18. Concealed carry of... |
| Arizona | Restricted | Switchblades are legal to possess and carry in Arizona for adults 21 and older. Persons under 21 may not carry a concealed switchblade. |
| Arkansas | Banned | Arkansas prohibits the possession, sale, or manufacture of switchblades under Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-120. Exceptions exist for law enforcement and mili... |
| California | Restricted | California prohibits possession, sale, and manufacture of switchblades with blades longer than 2 inches under Cal. Penal Code §§ 17235 and 21510. Swit... |
| Colorado | Legal | Colorado does not prohibit switchblades or automatic knives. Possession, sale, and carry are legal for persons 18 and older under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 1... |
| Connecticut | Banned | Connecticut prohibits switchblades under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-206d. Possession, sale, and manufacture are illegal except for law enforcement and mili... |
| Delaware | Banned | Delaware prohibits switchblades under 11 Del. C. § 1448. Possession, sale, and manufacture are illegal except for law enforcement and military. |
| Florida | Legal | Florida law permits the ownership and open carry of most knives, including switchblades and other automatic knives. The only explicitly banned type of... |
| Georgia | Banned | Georgia prohibits switchblades under O.C.G.A. § 16-11-121. Possession, sale, and manufacture are illegal except for law enforcement and military perso... |
| Hawaii | Banned | Hawaii prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of switchblade knives under Hawaii Revised Statutes §134-51. Switchblades are classified as dan... |
| Idaho | Legal | Idaho law does not specifically prohibit switchblade knives. According to Idaho Code §18-3302, switchblades are not listed among prohibited weapons, m... |
| Illinois | Banned | Illinois prohibits switchblade knives under 720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(10). Possession, sale, and manufacture of switchblades are illegal except for law enfor... |
| Indiana | Restricted | Indiana law (IC 35-47-5-2) prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of switchblade knives with blades over 3 inches. Switchblades with shorter ... |
| Iowa | Restricted | Iowa Code §724.4 prohibits switchblade knives with blades over 3 inches. Possession and sale of switchblades exceeding this length are illegal, but sm... |
| Kansas | Legal | Kansas law does not specifically prohibit switchblade knives. Under K.S.A. 21-6301, switchblades are not listed as prohibited weapons, so possession a... |
| Kentucky | Restricted | Kentucky law (KRS 527.020) prohibits switchblade knives with blades longer than 3 inches. Possession, sale, and manufacture of such knives are illegal... |
| Louisiana | Restricted | Louisiana Revised Statutes §14:95.6 prohibits switchblade knives with blades longer than 2 inches. Possession, sale, and manufacture of such knives ar... |
| Maine | Legal | Maine law does not specifically prohibit switchblade knives. There are no state statutes banning possession or sale of switchblades, making them gener... |
| Maryland | Banned | Maryland Criminal Law Code §4-101 prohibits switchblade knives. Possession, sale, and manufacture of switchblades are illegal except for law enforceme... |
| Massachusetts | Banned | In Massachusetts, switchblades (automatic knives) are generally prohibited under M.G.L. c. 269, § 10(h), which bans possession of certain dangerous we... |
| Michigan | Restricted | Michigan law (MCL 750.224) prohibits the possession, sale, or manufacture of switchblade knives with blades longer than 3 inches. Switchblades with bl... |
| Minnesota | Restricted | Minnesota Statutes § 624.712 restrict possession and sale of switchblade knives. Switchblades with blades over 2.5 inches are illegal to possess or se... |
| Mississippi | Legal | Mississippi law does not specifically prohibit the possession, sale, or carry of switchblade or automatic knives. There are no state statutes restrict... |
| Missouri | Legal | Switchblades are legal to possess and carry openly or concealed in Missouri. Unlawful use of a switchblade is a Class E felony. |
| Montana | Legal | Montana law does not specifically restrict switchblade knives. Possession, sale, and carry of automatic knives are legal under state law, with no expl... |
| Nebraska | Banned | Nebraska law (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-1205) prohibits the possession, sale, or manufacture of switchblade knives. Automatic knives are classified as proh... |
| Nevada | Legal | Nevada law does not prohibit the possession, sale, or carry of switchblade knives. Automatic knives are legal to own and carry, with no state restrict... |
| New Hampshire | Restricted | New Hampshire RSA 159:3 prohibits the possession and sale of switchblade knives with blades longer than 1.5 inches. Automatic knives with blades short... |
| New Jersey | Banned | New Jersey law (N.J. Stat. § 2C:39-3) prohibits possession, sale, and manufacture of switchblade knives. Switchblades are classified as illegal weapon... |
| New Mexico | Restricted | In New Mexico, switchblades or automatic knives are legal to possess and carry. There are no specific state statutes prohibiting the ownership or sale... |
| New York | Banned | New York prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of switchblade knives under Penal Law § 265.01(1). Switchblades with blades longer than 4 inc... |
| North Carolina | Legal | North Carolina law does not specifically prohibit switchblades or automatic knives. Possession, sale, and carry of switchblades are legal under state ... |
| North Dakota | Legal | North Dakota does not have any specific laws banning switchblades or automatic knives. Possession and sale are legal, and there are no age restriction... |
| Ohio | Legal | Ohio law does not prohibit the possession, sale, or carry of switchblades or automatic knives. Ohio Revised Code § 2923.11 excludes switchblades from ... |
| Oklahoma | Legal | Oklahoma law permits the possession, sale, and carry of switchblades and automatic knives. There are no state statutes restricting these knives, and t... |
| Oregon | Banned | Oregon law prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of switchblade knives under ORS 166.240. Switchblades with blades longer than 3 inches are ... |
| Pennsylvania | Legal | Pennsylvania repealed its ban on possession and carry of switchblades in 2023. Switchblades are legal to own and carry, openly or concealed. However, ... |
| Rhode Island | Banned | Rhode Island prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of switchblade knives under R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-42. Switchblades are illegal to posses... |
| South Carolina | Legal | South Carolina law does not specifically prohibit switchblades or automatic knives. Possession, sale, and carry of switchblades are legal under state ... |
| South Dakota | Restricted | South Dakota law does not specifically prohibit the possession, sale, or carry of switchblades or automatic knives. There are no state statutes restri... |
| Tennessee | Restricted | Tennessee law restricts switchblades under its knife laws. Switchblades with blades longer than 4 inches are illegal to carry, but possession and sale... |
| Texas | Legal | Texas law allows possession, sale, and carry of switchblades (automatic knives) without restriction. The Texas Penal Code § 46.01(6) excludes switchbl... |
| Utah | Legal | Utah law restricts the possession and carry of switchblades with blades longer than 3 inches under Utah Code § 76-10-507. Possession is allowed, but c... |
| Vermont | Legal | Vermont does not have specific laws restricting switchblades or automatic knives. Possession, sale, and carry of switchblades are legal under Vermont ... |
| Virginia | Restricted | Switchblades are legal to possess in Virginia. Code § 18.2-308.1. Switchblades with blades over 3 inches are illegal to carry concealed, but possessio... |
| Washington | Restricted | Switchblades are legal to possess in Washington under RCW 9.41.250. Switchblades with blades longer than 3 inches are illegal to carry concealed but l... |
| West Virginia | Restricted | West Virginia law restricts switchblades under W. Va. Code § 61-7-11. Switchblades with blades longer than 3 inches are illegal to carry concealed but... |
| Wisconsin | Restricted | Switchblades are legal to possess in Wisconsin. Stat. § 941.24. Switchblades with blades longer than 3 inches are illegal to carry concealed but legal... |
| Wyoming | Legal | Wyoming law does not specifically restrict switchblades or automatic knives. Possession, sale, and carry of switchblades are legal under Wyoming statu... |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many states allow switchblades?
As of 2026, switchblades are fully legal in 19 states, restricted (usually by blade length or concealed carry rules) in 17 states, and completely banned in 14 states.
Are switchblades legal in California?
Switchblades are legal in California only if the blade is under 2 inches. A blade of 2 inches or longer is a misdemeanor under Cal. Penal Code § 21510, punishable by up to 6 months in county jail and a $1,000 fine.
Are switchblades legal in Texas?
Yes. Texas legalized switchblades in 2013. There are no blade length restrictions, and you can carry them openly or concealed. Texas treats automatic knives the same as any other folding knife.
What is the difference between a switchblade and an assisted-opening knife?
A switchblade deploys the blade automatically via a button or switch on the handle. An assisted-opening knife requires physical pressure on the blade itself (a thumb stud or flipper) to initiate opening, after which a spring assists the rest of the motion. Assisted-opening knives are generally legal everywhere, even in states that ban switchblades, because the blade does not deploy automatically.
Can I order a switchblade online and have it shipped to my state?
The Federal Switchblade Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. §§ 1241-1245) prohibits the commercial introduction of switchblades into interstate commerce via the USPS. Many online retailers use private couriers (UPS, FedEx) to ship switchblades, but this is a legal gray area. Even if a vendor ships to your state, you are responsible for knowing whether possession is legal where you live.
What Happens If You Get Caught?
Penalties range from a $50 fine in Massachusetts to a Class E felony in Connecticut. See the full breakdown of penalties, charge levels, and first-offense consequences.
Switchblade Penalties by State →