OTF State Laws


The following states do NOT prohibit auto-open (also referred to as automatic, switchblade or switch knife) for non-law enforcement citizens.  Check State Knife Laws for specific details on possession, carry, manufacturer or sale as some restrictions may apply in a specific state.  See the list below for blade length restrictions. Data is compiled by the nonprofit association, American Knife and Tool Institute, and can be found here.
  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 per Massachusetts 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 – see New York Knife Laws)
  33. North Carolina  (concealed carry not recommended – see North Carolina Knife Laws)
  34. North Dakota (maximum 5″ blade length limitation)
  35. Ohio (effective April 12, 2021 – see Ohio 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 Oregon (repealed 1985)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 South Dakota (repealed 1975)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*

Check out FAQs Understanding Knife Laws
For information on the Federal Switchblade Act, click here.
Read Don’t Believe the Myths About Automatic Knives

*These states never enacted “switchblade” restrictions. 

As stated in our Terms of Service, OTF Knives provides this information as a courtesy, but we do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Laws vary by state and municipality, and it is the customer’s sole responsibility to comply with all applicable laws.