Like just about everything else in life, politicians have gotten their messy hands into legislating knives.

While there is some uniformity, two-edged knives are almost universally restricted, for example, each state has certain nuances (evidence politicians have meddled.)

It is critical you know what those differences are, especially if you are visiting or traveling through a state – getting jammed up over a knife infraction can be time consuming and costly!

Alabama Knife Laws

What is Legal

Alabama has one of the best knife laws in the US.If you don’t like legal speak, here is the basics of what are legal under Alabama knife laws.
• Balisongs/butterfly knives are legal.
• Switchblades, gravity knives, automatic and assisted opening knives are legal.
• Stilettos, dirks, and toothpick knives are legal.
• All folding knives are legal.
• Bowies are legal if carried open (like on your hip).
• Bowies are legal to carry concealed if you are on your own property.
• Double sided knives are legal, no matter the size.
• If the knife fits in your pocket, it is legal.
• Out the front knives are legal.

What is Illegal

Here are notes on what kinds of knives are illegal under Alabama knife laws.
• Bowies and things that are like Bowies are illegal if concealed.
• Bowies are illegal to have in your vehicle.
• A machete might be classified as a Bowie and it would be illegal if you carry it concealed.
• A 11″ butcher knife has be found to be like a Bowie in court so don’t plan on using it in a crime.
• Selling Bowies to people under 18 is illegal.

California Knife Laws

Legal Knives in California
• Bowie knives are legal.
• Large knives are legal (no restrictions in size).
• Carrying knives in the open is legal in California.
• Carrying knives concealed is legal in California for most knives.

Illegal Knives under California Knife Law
• Misleading knives are illegal. These include: cane knives (and shobi-zues), lipstick knives, belt knives, pen knives, air gauge knives, and pen knives.
• All undetectable knives are illegal. These include knives that won’t set off metal detectors.
• Dirks, daggers, and stilettos are illegal.
• Ballistic knives are illegal.

What the law is trying to get at are knives usually used by criminals to commit crimes. These are knives that don’t look like knives or don’t have a use as a tool. For example, you can’t do much with a dagger besides stab things.

Massachusetts Knife Laws

What is Legal to Own
• Balisong knives, also called butterfly knives, are legal to own.
• Switchblades and automatic knives are legal to own.
• Ballistic knives are legal to own.
• Dirks, daggers, stilettos, and push knives are legal to own.
• Knives with brass knuckles are legal to own.
• Disguised knives like cane knives and lipstick knives are legal to own.
• Bowie knives and other large knives are legal to own.
• Throwing knives and throwing stars are legal to own.

There is no knife ban in Massachusetts.

Limits on Carry
• It is illegal to carry, open or concealed, switchblades, dirks, daggers, stilettos, ballistic knife, double edge knives, and knuckle knives.
• It is illegal to carry anything that is perceived as dangerous while disturbing the peace or being arrested.
• Folding knives, Swiss army knives, and kitchen knives are legal to carry as long as you do not behave in a way that makes them dangerous.

There are a few more details to the law that can’t be explained in bullet points. Read below for the full explanation.

Mississippi Knife Laws

What is Legal to Own
• It is legal to own Balisong knives, also called butterfly knives.
• It is legal to own dirks, daggers, stilettos, and other slim knives.
• It is legal to own disguised knives like belt knives.
• It is legal to own undetectable knives–knives that will not set off metal detectors.
• It is legal to own throwing stars and throwing knives.
• It is legal to own Bowie knives and other large knives.
• It is legal to own switchblades, gravity knives, and automatic knives.

Mississippi does not restrict ownership of any type of knife for those over the age of eighteen, who have not been convicted of a felony.

What is Illegal to Own
• It is illegal for a minor or a convicted felon to own a bowie knife
• It is illegal for a minor or a convicted felon to own dirk knife
• It is illegal for a minor or a convicted felon to own a butcher knife
• It is illegal for a minor or a convicted felon to own a switchblade

Limits on Carry
• It is illegal to carry concealed any bowie knife
• It is illegal to carry concealed any dirk knife
• It is illegal to carry concealed any butcher knife
• It is illegal to carry concealed any switchblade or automatic knife
• You may carry any knife concealed if it is concealed in your vehicle, and not on your person.
• You may carry any knife concealed if you are participating in a sports activity where such a knife is legitimately used.
• You can open carry any knife in Mississippi, unless you are a minor or a student on educational property.

Montana Knife Laws

What is Legal to Own
• It is legal to own a dirk, dagger, stiletto, or other push knife
• It is legal to own a Balisong, or butterfly knife
• It is legal to own a Bowie knife, or other large knife
• It is legal to own throwing knives or throwing stars
• It is legal to own disguised knives such as cane knives and lipstick knives

What is Illegal to Own

A switchblade knife is illegal to own in Montana unless you are a collector who is registered with the Sheriff in the county where your collection is kept.

Limits on Carry
• It is illegal to conceal carry a dirk
• It is illegal to conceal carry a dagger
• It is illegal to conceal carry any knife with a blade four inches long, or longer
• It is illegal to possess or carry any knife with a four inch blade or longer in a school building
• It is illegal to conceal carry any weapon while intoxicated
• It is illegal to conceal carry a weapon into a government office, bank or financial institution, or a place that sells alcohol for onsite consumption
• It is illegal to conceal carry any “deadly weapon”
• It is legal to open carry any knife that is legal to own in Montana
• It is legal to carry any knife that is legal to own in your vehicle, concealed or openly

Nevada Knife Laws

What is Legal to Own
• It is legal to own a dirk, dagger, or other stabbing knife
• It is legal to own a Balisong, or butterfly knife
• It is legal to own Bowie and other hunting knives
• It is legal to own throwing knives and throwing stars

What is Illegal to Own
• any knife which is made an integral part of a belt buckle
• switchblade knives

Restrictions on Carry
• It is illegal to possess or carry a dirk, dagger, or switchblade on school or childcare facility property or in a vehicle owned by a school or childcare facility
• It is illegal to conceal carry a dirk
• It is illegal to conceal carry a dagger
• It is illegal to conceal carry a machete
• It is illegal to conceal carry any knife which is made an integral part of a belt buckle
• It is illegal to conceal carry any knife which could be considered a dangerous or deadly weapon
• It is legal to conceal carry a pocketknife
• It is legal to open carry any knife that is legal to own

New Jersey Knife Laws

What is Legal to Own
• It is legal to own a Balisong, or butterfly knife
• It is legal to own disguised knives like lipstick knives
• It is legal to own a Bowie knife
• It is legal to won throwing stars and throwing knives
• Any weapon for which a person has an explainable lawful purpose for owning

What is Illegal to Own
• It is illegal to own any weapon, with the purpose to use it unlawfully against the person or property of another
• It is illegal for a person convicted of certain crimes (see below) to own a gravity knife, switchblade, dirk, dagger, stiletto, or other dangerous knife
• It is illegal for certain mentally ill people to own a gravity knife, switchblade, dirk, dagger, stiletto, or other dangerous knife
• It is illegal to own a gravity knife, switchblade, dirk, dagger, stiletto, or other dangerous knife with any explainable lawful purpose

A conviction for aggravated assault, arson, burglary, escape, extortion, homicide, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, bias intimidation, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of weapon for an unlawful purpose, manufacture or transport of a prohibited weapon, unlawful possession or sale of a controlled dangerous substance, or endangering the welfare of a child prevents a person from owning certain types of knives in New Jersey.

Oklahoma Knife Laws

What is Legal to Own
• It is legal to own a dirk, dagger, or other stabbing knife
• It is legal to own a bowie knife
• It is legal to own a switchblade or gravity knife
• It is legal to own a sword cane
• It is legal to own a Balisong, or butterfly knife as well as Balisong trainers
• It is legal to own a stiletto

What is Illegal to Own
• It is not illegal to own any kind of knife in Oklahoma.

Restrictions on Carry
• It is illegal to conceal or open carry a dagger
• It is illegal to conceal or open carry bowie knife
• It is illegal to conceal or open carry a dirk knife
• It is illegal to conceal or open carry a switchblade knife
• It is illegal to conceal or open carry a spring-assisted knife
• It is illegal to conceal or open carry a sword cane
• It is illegal to conceal or open carry a knife with a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring, or other device in the handle of the knife
• It is illegal to conceal or open carry any “offensive weapon”

As the no carry law states that it is illegal to carry a weapon, “upon or about” the person, Oklahoma’s no carry law extends to items carried in a vehicle, not just on a person.

Rhode Island Knife Laws

What is Legal to Own
• It is legal to own a dirk, dagger, or other stabbing knife
• It is legal to own a stiletto
• It is legal to own a sword cane
• It is legal to own a concealed knife, such as in a belt buckle or lipstick
• It is legal to own a Bowie knife
• It is legal to own a Balisong, or butterfly knife
• It is legal to own a switchblade

What is Illegal to Own
• It is not illegal to own any type of knife in Rhode Island, so long as you do not intend to use it unlawfully against another.

Restrictions on Carry
• It is illegal to conceal carry a dirk, dagger, or other stabbing knife
• It is illegal to conceal carry a stiletto
• It is illegal to conceal carry a sword cane
• It is illegal to conceal carry a bowie knife
• It is illegal to conceal carry any knife with a blade more than 3 inches in length
• It is legal to open carry any type of knife in Rhode Island

Tennessee Knife Laws

What is Legal to Own
• It is legal to own a Bowie knife
• It is legal to own a dirk, dagger, or other stabbing knife
• It is legal to own a disguised knife such as in a belt buckle or lipstick
• It is legal to own a stiletto

It may be legal to own a butterfly knife, however, one should check with an attorney first, as Tennessee’s definition of a switchblade could include a butterfly knife. Courts in most states would call a butterfly knife one that opens by “gravity or inertia”, which is how Tennessee defines a switchblade knife. However, other Courts have viewed butterfly knives, not as automatic or gravity knives, but as a type of pocketknife. As of June 2013, Tennessee’s Courts have yet to weigh in.

What is Illegal to Own

Tennessee Code § 39-17-1302 makes it illegal to own a switchblade knife or any other implement for the infliction of serious bodily injury or death, which has no common lawful purpose.

Restrictions on Carry
• It is illegal to open or conceal carry a switchblade
• It is illegal to open or conceal carry any knife with a blade exceeding four inches in length, with the intent to go armed.

Utah Knife Laws

What is Legal to Own
• It is legal to own a Balisong, or butterfly knife
• It is legal to own a dirk, dagger, or other stabbing knife
• It is legal to own a stiletto
• It is legal to own a bowie knife
• It is legal to own an automatic or gravity knife
• It is legal to own a disguised knife, such as a lipstick or belt buckle

What is Illegal to Own

Utah law creates two categories of people who may not own certain weapons, defined as “dangerous weapons”.

A category I restricted person is someone who:
• has been convicted of a violent felony under Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203.5
• is on probation or parole for any felony
• is on parole from a facility is under contract with the Division of Juvenile Justice Services, that provides 24-hour supervision and confinement for youth offenders who have been committed to the division for custody and rehabilitation
• has been adjudicated delinquent, within the last 10 years, for an offense that if committed by an adult would have been a violent felony under Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203.5
• is illegally or unlawfully in the United States

Vermont Knife Laws

What is Legal to Own
• It is legal to own a dirk, dagger, or other stabbing knife
• It is legal to own a stiletto
• It is legal to own a bowie knife
• It is legal to own a disguised knife, such as a lipstick or belt buckle
• It is legal to own throwing starts or knives

What is Illegal to Own
• It is illegal to own a switchblade with a blade that is 3 inches or longer

Restrictions on Carry
• It is illegal to carry openly or concealed a dangerous or deadly weapon with the intent of using it to harm another.
• It is illegal to carry openly or concealed a dangerous or deadly weapon onto school or government property.

Vermont law does not place any other restrictions on the carrying of knives. In 1903, in State v. Rosenthal, Vermont’s Supreme Court said that under the general laws, a person may carry a dangerous or deadly weapon, openly or concealed, unless he did it with the intent or avowed purpose of injuring another.

Washington Knife Laws

What is Legal to Own
• It is legal to own a dirk, dagger, or other stabbing knife
• It is legal to own bowie knife
• It is legal to own a stiletto
• It is legal to own a disguised knife, such as a lipstick or belt buckle
• It is legal to own throwing stars

What is Illegal to Own

It is illegal to own a switchblade or other spring blade knife in the state of Washington.

Restrictions on Carry
• It is illegal to conceal carry a dirk
• It is illegal to conceal carry a dagger
• It is illegal to conceal carry any dangerous weapon
• It is illegal to open or conceal carry any weapon into a Courtroom

It is also illegal to carry or display a dagger, sword, knife, or other cutting or stabbing instrument in a manner or under circumstances that would cause alarm or show an intent to intimidate another. In 1994, in State v. Spencer, the Supreme Court of Washington held that there must be a sufficient basis for the alarm, such that a reasonable person would be alarmed. Also in 1994, the Court held, in State v. Byrd, that because the display of a weapon in a manner that caused reasonable fear or alarm could be done without intent, a violation of the statute did not require intent. This means that one does not have to intend to cause alarm or fear in order to be guilty of a crime under the statute.

West Virginia Knife Laws

What is Legal to Own
• It is legal to own a dirk, dagger, or other stabbing knife
• It is legal to own a stiletto
• It is legal to own a switchblade
• It is legal to own a Balisong, or butterfly knife
• It is legal to own a Bowie knife
• It is legal to own a ballistic knife

What is Illegal to Own
West Virginia law does not prohibit the ownership of any type of knife.

Restrictions on Carry
• It is illegal to conceal carry a dirk, dagger, or other stabbing knife with a blade over 3 ½ inches
• It is illegal to conceal carry a switchblade, or any automatic knife
• It is illegal to conceal carry a gravity knife
• It is illegal to conceal carry a Balisong, or butterfly knife
• It is illegal to conceal carry any instrument capable of inflicting cutting, stabbing, or tearing wounds
• It is illegal to conceal carry any “deadly weapon”

Wisconsin Knife Laws

What is Illegal to Own
• It is illegal to own a switchblade knife
• It is illegal to own a gravity knife
• It is illegal to own a butterfly knife
• It is illegal to own any knife substantially similar to a switchblade, gravity knife, or butterfly knife

Restrictions on Carry
It is illegal in Wisconsin to carry a concealed and dangerous weapon.

Definition of Various Knives
A switchblade is defined as any knife having a blade which opens by pressing a button, spring or other device in the handle or by gravity or by a thrust or movement. In State v. Krause, the Appellate Court upheld Mr. Krause’s conviction for carrying a concealed dangerous weapon, finding that his knife, which had a blade that was serrated on one side, sharp on the other, and had a point at the end, was a switchblade. The blade was contained in two casings: the serrated blade fit into one of the casings and the cutting edge in the other. The casings were secured by a clasp, that when removed, allowed one casing to fall away from the other by the force of gravity, exposing the blade.

Neither the Wisconsin code nor its case law offers a definition of any other type of knife. When words or terms are not defined by the legislature, in the state code, Court’s use the ‘plain English meaning’ of the word, or that meaning provided in Webster’s dictionary.

Knowing the knife laws of the state you live in or are visiting is critical to staying on the right side of the law.

This is just a partial list that covers the states that have a lot of restrictions or their restrictions are fairly convoluted.

Don't assume you know your state's knife laws and if your state was not covered here, check out Survival Life for a full list of all state laws and an interactive map!