OTF Knife Laws and Legality
Are OTF Knives Legal?
As it turns out, ignorance of the law is not a good enough excuse to get out of breaking the law.
As your favorite knife brand, we can’t have our valuable customers in hot water over not knowing the law. Here are some frequently asked questions about your state and the laws they have on OTF Knives.
–> What States is it legal for me to simply own an OTF knife? (Private Ownership)
–> What states is it legal for me to open carry an OTF Knife? You know, carry it in a way where others can see I have one? (Open Carry)
–> What states is it legal for me to conceal my OTF Knife? Carry it in a way others do not know I have one? (Concealed Carry)
See Chart for Answers
| State | Private Ownership | 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 | Legal if blade is <2″ | Legal if blade is <2″ | Legal if blade is <2″ |
| Colorado | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal if blade is <3.5″ |
| 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 with FOID Card | Legal | Legal with FOID Card | Legal with 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 (Legal with gun permit) |
| Louisiana | Legal | Legal | Legal | Illegal |
| Maine | Legal | Legal | Legal | Illegal |
| Maryland | Legal | Illegal | Legal | Illegal |
| Massachusetts | Legal | Legal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Michigan | Legal | Legal | Vague1 | Vague* |
| Minnesota | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Mississippi | Legal | Legal | Legal | Illegal |
| Missouri | Legal | Legal | Legal | Illegal (Legal with gun permit) |
| Montana | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| 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 | Illegal2 | Illegal* | Illegal* | Illegal* |
| North Carolina | Legal | Legal | Legal | Illegal |
| North Dakota | Legal | Legal | Legal | Illegal |
| Ohio | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Oklahoma | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Oregon | Legal | Legal | Legal | Illegal |
| Pennsylvania | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| 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 | Legal |
| 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 | Legal | Legal | Legal if over 21 years old |
| Wisconsin | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal (if one legally can possess a firearm) |
| Wyoming | Legal | Legal | Legal | Situational |
OTF Knife Laws Map
Do your own research
We highly suggest you do your own research and talk with local law enforcement or lawyers to fully understand your rights and state laws. Below are some great links for your further reading:
**Above information is sourced from the links below
American Knife & Tool Institute
https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/
Knife Rights
https://kniferights.org/about/accomplishments/
Weaponlaws.wikidot
http://weaponlaws.wikidot.com/us-switchblade-laws/
