Can I ship or carry this knife?
Pick your state and knife type. A quick, informational summary with sources. Laws change and vary by city; this is not legal advice.
Select a state to see the result.
Informational summary compiled from public sources, last reviewed Oct 2026. Not legal advice; confirm with the current statute, local ordinances or an attorney. Sellers and buyers are each responsible for compliance.
All states at a glance
| State | Automatic | Balisong | Blade length | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Alaska | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no age for ordinary knives. One guide says under-16s need parental consent; unverified. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Arizona | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Arkansas | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| California | Restricted | Restricted | Switchblades with blade 2 in or more: no carry, vehicle possession or sale (Penal Code 21510). | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Colorado | Generally legal | Generally legal | One guide cites a 3.5 in concealed-carry limit; sources differ, verify locally. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Connecticut | Restricted | Restricted | Guides cite a 4 in carry limit and a 1.5 in limit for automatics; verify statute 53-206. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Delaware | Generally legal | Generally legal | Ordinary pocketknife exemption expanded from 3 to 3.75 in (2025, Knife Rights). | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| District of Columbia | Prohibited | Prohibited | One guide cites a 3 in limit; verify. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Florida | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Georgia | Generally legal | Generally legal | A 12 in carry limit without a license was repealed in 2022 per Knife Rights; some guides still cite it. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Hawaii | Varies, check locally | Varies, check locally | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Idaho | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Illinois | Restricted | Varies, check locally | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Indiana | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Iowa | Varies, check locally | Varies, check locally | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Kansas | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Kentucky | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Louisiana | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Maine | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Maryland | Varies, check locally | Varies, check locally | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Massachusetts | Varies, check locally | Varies, check locally | Older statute limits automatics to 1.5 in; struck down for carry in 2024. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Michigan | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Minnesota | Prohibited | Varies, check locally | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Mississippi | Restricted | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no age for ordinary knives. One guide says Mississippi restricts carry by under-18s and felons; verify. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Missouri | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Montana | Generally legal | Generally legal | 4 in or longer blades barred in school buildings. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Nebraska | Generally legal | Generally legal | Concealed carry cited at 3.5 in or less in several guides; permitless carry (2023) may affect this, verify. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Nevada | Generally legal | Generally legal | Guides cite a 2 in limit on school property only. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| New Hampshire | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| New Jersey | Restricted | Restricted | One guide cites 5 in as relevant to sales to minors. | Federal law sets no age for ordinary knives. A guide says NJ restricts sale of blades over 5 in to minors; verify. Many sellers require 18+. |
| New Mexico | Varies, check locally | Varies, check locally | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| New York | Prohibited | Varies, check locally | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| North Carolina | Restricted | Varies, check locally | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| North Dakota | Generally legal | Generally legal | One guide cites a 5 in threshold for dangerous-weapon rules. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Ohio | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Oklahoma | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Oregon | Restricted | Restricted | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Pennsylvania | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Rhode Island | Restricted | Restricted | Concealed carry cited as restricted over 3 in. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| South Carolina | Varies, check locally | Generally legal | Guides cite 2 in limit on school property. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| South Dakota | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Tennessee | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Texas | Generally legal | Generally legal | Blades over 5.5 in are location-restricted (schools, bars, etc.), not banned. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Utah | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Vermont | Generally legal | Generally legal | Former 3 in switchblade limit repealed in 2025. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Virginia | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Washington | Prohibited | Prohibited | One guide cites a 3.5 in limit for some situations; verify. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| West Virginia | Varies, check locally | Generally legal | One guide cites 3.5 in in some contexts. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Wisconsin | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no minimum age for ordinary knives; no state purchase age verified here. Many sellers require 18+. |
| Wyoming | Generally legal | Generally legal | No statewide carry length limit found in sources; local rules and sensitive places (schools, courthouses) still apply. | Federal law sets no age for ordinary knives. One guide says concealed carry in WY requires age 21+; verify. Many sellers require 18+. |
Questions
Can I ship an automatic knife across state lines?
The federal Switchblade Knife Act (15 U.S.C. 1241 to 1245) generally prohibits introducing automatic knives into interstate commerce, with exceptions such as for military and certain individuals and manufacturers. Many states add their own restrictions. This is informational, not legal advice.
Are balisongs (butterfly knives) legal?
It depends on the state. A number of states restrict or prohibit them, some treat them like switchblades or gravity knives, and others treat them like ordinary folding knives. Check the state result above and the cited statutes.
Is the age limit for buying knives 18 or 21?
Federal law has no general minimum age for ordinary knives, but many states and sellers set limits, commonly 18. Ricochet requires users to be 18 or older.