State Law for OTF Knives
Posted by SwordsSwords on Jan 10th 2019
For the world of knife laws and deregulations, it has been quite busy. Work done by organizations like Knife Rights, many states have changed their ancient laws of knives and OTF knives. Because of these laws, we have been able to spread our reach wide. Knife Rights has done many things for us knife lovers. Here are the things that have come to light:
2017
- Assisted in the efforts of Ivory Ban Anti-Knife and Anti-Hunting/High Conservation Bills
- Repeal of Colorado Switchblade knife
- Repeal of Texas Ban on Illegal knives i.e. Blades over 5.5”
- Repeal of Switchblade ban in Michigan
- Repeal of Switchblade ban in Illinois
2018
- Switchblade ban repealed in Louisiana
OTS State Laws
Misconception #1
All knives, including OTF Knives, Switchblades and Automatic Knives are Illegal nationwide.Fact
Laws concerning non-firearms vary state from state. Very few of these laws exist at the Federal level. The only countrywide law about switchblade is stated in US Code Title 15, Chapter 29. This law is about the importation of such knives in the USA and their sale over the state lines. It does not affect the buying, owning and carrying of switchblades. These sort of bans are left to the state to decide. Many of the states allow ownership of switchblades. However, there are few who do not. Some states prohibit the sale of them and the majority of the laws are against carrying them in a concealed manner. States like Vermont and Utah have no restrictions on these knives. Following is the table that tells about the state laws concerning OTF knives. Is your OTF Knife legal in…? Are OTF Knives legal in…? Here are the answers:| State | Possession | Sale | Open Carry | Concealed Carry |
| US Federal Law | Legal | Illegal when sold over state lines or imported from outside the US | Legal | Legal |
| Alabama | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Alaska | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Arizona | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal if over 21 years old |
| Arkansas | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| California | Legal if blade is <2″ | Legal if blade is <2″ | Legal if blade is <2″ | Legal if blade is <2″ |
| Colorado | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Connecticut | Legal | Legal | Legal if blade is ≤1.5″ | Legal if blade is ≤1.5″ |
| Delaware | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| District of Columbia | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Florida | Legal | Legal | Legal | Illegal (Legal with gun permit) |
| Georgia | Legal | Legal (if over 18) | Legal if blade is ≤5″ (any length with gun permit) | Legal if blade is ≤5″ (any length with gun permit) |
| Hawaii | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Idaho | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal if blade is ≤4″ |
| Illinois | Legal (must be 21 and have valid FOID Card) | Legal (must be 21 and have valid FOID Card) | Legal (must be 21 and have valid FOID Card) | Legal (must be 21 and have valid FOID Card) |
| Indiana | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Iowa | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal if blade is ≤5″ |
| Kansas | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Kentucky | Legal | Legal | Legal | Illegal |
| Louisiana | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Maine | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Maryland | Legal | Illegal | Legal | Illegal |
| Massachusetts | Legal | Legal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Michigan | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Minnesota | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Mississippi | Legal | Legal | Legal | Illegal |
| Missouri | Legal | Legal | Legal | Illegal |
| Montana | Illegal (ex. Curio or blade is ≤1.5″) | Illegal (ex. Curio or blade is ≤1.5″) | Illegal | Illegal |
| Nebraska | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal if blade is ≤3.5″ |
| Nevada | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| New Hampshire | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| New Jersey | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| New Mexico | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| New York | Legal w/ Valid Hunting and Fishing License | Legal w/ Valid Hunting and Fishing License | Legal w/ Valid Hunting and Fishing License | Legal w/ Valid Hunting and Fishing License |
| North Carolina | Legal | Legal | Legal | Illegal |
| North Dakota | Legal | Legal | Legal | Illegal |
| Ohio | Legal | Illegal | Legal | Illegal |
| Oklahoma | Legal | Legal | Legal | Illegal |
| Oregon | Legal | Legal | Legal | Illegal |
| Pennsylvania | Illegal (ex. Curio) | Illegal (ex. Curio) | Illegal | Illegal |
| Rhode Island | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal if blade is ≤3″ |
| South Carolina | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| South Dakota | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Tennessee | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Texas | Legal | Legal | Legal if blade is <5.5″ | Legal if blade is <5.5″ |
| Utah | Legal | Legal | Legal | Situational |
| Vermont | Legal | Legal if blade is <3″ | Legal | Legal |
| Virginia | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Washington | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| West Virginia | Legal (if over 18) | Legal | Legal (if over 18) | Illegal |
| Wisconsin | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Wyoming | Legal | Legal | Legal | Situational |