Knives and pepper spray in the United States (2026)
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026
In short: Carrying rules for knives and pepper spray are set by each state and by the District of Columbia. Federal law restricts switchblade knives in interstate commerce and within federal territories, Indian country and the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|
Related pages
United States: rules by state or province
| State | Folding pocket knives | Locking or one-handed knives | Fixed-blade knives | Pepper spray | Exceptions and legitimate reasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Firearms only; no knife carry offence read | No separate rule | No sale to minors; no carry offence read | No carry ban read; use in a crime is a felony | School ban exempts police, school officers, permit holders |
| Alaska | Excluded from concealed-weapon offences | Under 16 needs consent; no sale under 18 | Concealed: tell officer (21+); banned under 21 | Excluded from concealed rules; no sale under 18 | Under 21: defence at home or when hunting or fishing |
| Arizona | Concealed pocket knife not an offence | No separate rule; 'pocket knife' not defined | Concealed: offence only if felony, lying or under 21 | ⚠ Not yet verified | Under 21: not an offence at home or own land |
| Arkansas | Offence only with purpose to use it unlawfully | Same rule; switchblades named in definition | Same rule; 3 in or longer counts as a knife | ⚠ Not yet verified | Home, business, journey, officers on duty |
| California | Dagger only if blade exposed and locked | Switchblade of 2 in or more banned; thumb-stud OK | Concealed carry banned | Allowed for adults: aerosol, max 2.5 oz | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Colorado | Concealed: banned over 3.5 in blade | Only ballistic knives banned outright | Concealed: banned over 3.5 in blade | ⚠ Not yet verified | OK at home or business, or in a private vehicle |
| Connecticut | Banned at 4 in or more of edge | Banned if blade over 1.5 in | Banned: dirk, stiletto or edge of 4 in or more | ⚠ Not yet verified | Exempt: licensed hunting, moving, repair, shows |
| Delaware | Closed pocketknife up to 3.75 in is not a deadly weapon | Deadly weapon; separate offence repealed 2025 | Concealed without licence: class G felony | Not an offence to carry concealed (s. 1443) | Defence: lawful purpose, no intent to harm |
| District of Columbia | No folding rule; 'dangerous weapon' ban applies | Switchblade: possession banned | Banned with unlawful intent; 'dangerous weapon' ban | Allowed: aerosol, labelled and dated | Exceptions cover firearms only; none for knives |
| Florida | Common pocketknife is not a 'weapon' | Only ballistic knives banned outright | Concealed: OK if licence-eligible, else misdemeanour | Allowed: up to 2 oz, for self-defence | No offence when evacuating; schools restricted |
| Georgia | Blade of 12 in or less: not a 'knife' | No separate rule | Over 12 in: lawful weapons carrier only | ⚠ Not yet verified | Home, vehicle, business; hunting and fishing |
| Hawaii | ⚠ Not yet verified | Switchblade or butterfly knife: concealed carry banned | Concealed carry banned | ⚠ Not yet verified | Defence: lawfully in own home |
| Idaho | Blade 6 in or less is not a 'deadly weapon' | No separate rule; 6 in blade limit | Concealed: allowed for most adult US citizens | Not a 'deadly weapon' | Home, own property, outside cities, plain view, vehicle |
| Illinois | Only with intent to use unlawfully | Banned unless FOID holder or trade | Only with intent to use unlawfully | Allowed 18+ if designed solely for personal defence | FOID holders and the knife trade exempt from switchblade ban |
| Indiana | No general ban; school property barred | No separate rule | Barred on school property | No carry offence; can be a 'deadly weapon' by use | School authorisation; secured in vehicle |
| Iowa | Only an offence if used in a crime | Ballistic knife: class D felony; switchblade listed | Only an offence if used in a crime | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Kansas | Only with intent to use unlawfully | No switchblade or locking-knife rule | Only with intent to use unlawfully | ⚠ Not yet verified | Police, prison staff and armed forces on duty |
| Kentucky | Ordinary pocket knife: not a deadly weapon | No separate rule; "ordinary pocket knife" test | Concealed: only if 21+ or licensed | Not listed as a deadly weapon | Own property; 21+ may carry without licence |
| Louisiana | Not named; concealed "dangerous weapon" banned | No separate rule; dangerous-weapon rule applies | Concealed carry of a dangerous weapon is an offence | ⚠ Not yet verified | Concealed handgun permit holders exempt |
| Maine | Concealed 'dangerous' knives barred; folding not named | Former "dangerous knife" ban repealed (2015) | Concealed bowie knife, dirk, stiletto barred | Concealed carry allowed; misuse is a crime | — |
| Maryland | Penknife without switchblade is not a "weapon" | Listed weapon; sale or display is banned | Concealed banned; open only if no intent to injure | Allowed; not with intent to injure unlawfully | Reasonable precaution against apprehended danger |
| Massachusetts | Not named unless locking or spring-release | Locking-draw devices banned; switchblade ban void | Banned: dagger, dirk, stiletto, double-edged | 18+ no permit; under 18 need a permit | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Michigan | Not named; "dangerous weapon" concealed is banned | Former mechanical-opening ban repealed (2017) | No concealed carry (felony); hunting knife excepted | Allowed (OC up to 18%); no sale to minors | Home, business, own land; hunting knife |
| Minnesota | Ordinary folding knives not named | Automatic switch blade knives banned | No general ban; school ban and unlawful-use offence | Allowed if aerosol, labelled, dated; under 16 need consent | — |
| Mississippi | Concealed carry of listed knives is an offence | Switchblade: no concealed carry | Concealed carry banned; visible sheath not concealed | ⚠ Not yet verified | Home, business, vehicle; sports activity |
| Missouri | Concealed carry banned only in restricted areas | ⚠ Not yet verified | Concealed ban only in restricted areas | ⚠ Not yet verified | — |
| Montana | Carry offence covers firearms only | No section on automatic knives listed | No offence for carrying fixed blades listed | ⚠ Not yet verified | — |
| Nebraska | Concealed ban only for under-21s, prohibited persons | ⚠ Not yet verified | Concealed ban only for under-21s, prohibited persons | ⚠ Not yet verified | — |
| Nevada | Not named; concealed "dangerous weapon" banned | Banned on school and child care property | No concealed carry without sheriff's permit | Allowed (aerosol up to 2 fl oz) | Sheriff's permit; officers exempt |
| New Hampshire | Knives not named in the carry offence | Not named in the carry offence | No carry ban; courthouse ban applies | No carry restriction; criminal use punished | — |
| New Jersey | Not listed; "manifestly appropriate" test | Banned without explainable lawful purpose | Dagger, dirk, stiletto banned without lawful purpose | 18+, one pocket-sized device up to 3/4 oz | Explainable lawful purpose; military and officers exempt |
| New Mexico | Concealed deadly weapon barred; knives not named | Auto-opening knives barred | Concealed carry of deadly weapon barred | ⚠ Not yet verified | Home, vehicle, officers, licence; school list |
| New York | Not listed; offence only with unlawful intent | Switchblades banned; gravity knives not listed | Offence only with intent to use unlawfully | Allowed 18+ (pocket-sized spray, no prior felony) | — |
| North Carolina | Ordinary closed pocket knife exempt | Spring-opened knives are not "ordinary pocket knives" | No concealed carry except on own premises | Self-defence allowed if no felony conviction | Own premises; officers and military |
| North Dakota | Not named if blade under 6 in | Switchblade/gravity knives named | Dangerous weapon; licence for concealed | Excluded from dangerous weapons | Licence (18+) or exemption |
| Ohio | Not a weapon unless used as one | ⚠ Not yet verified | Offence only if used as a weapon | ⚠ Not yet verified | Defences: work risk, fear of attack, home |
| Oklahoma | Knives not listed; proper use allowed | ⚠ Not yet verified | Not listed; proper use allowed | ⚠ Not yet verified | Self-defence, hunting, fishing, recreation |
| Oregon | Not named in concealed-carry ban | Concealed spring/gravity blade banned | Concealed dirk or dagger banned | Carrying in public places, Court facilities: Counts as weapon in court facilities | Only peace officers exempt |
| Pennsylvania | Not named in 908 | Not named in 908 | Only if no common lawful purpose | ⚠ Not yet verified | Defences: curio, performance, found |
| Rhode Island | Concealed: 3 in blade limit | ⚠ Not yet verified | Concealed over 3 in: offence | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| South Carolina | No general rule; limits at schools | No separate rule | Felony at schools if blade over 2 in | Self-defence only; max 50 cc | Secured in vehicle: allowed |
| South Dakota | Only concealment with felony intent | ⚠ Not yet verified | Dangerous weapon includes some knives | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Tennessee | Knives no longer in the go-armed offence (2014) | No separate rule; knives deleted from (a)(1) in 2014 | Knives no longer in the go-armed offence (2014) | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Texas | No carry ban for blades up to 5.5 in | No separate rule | Over 5.5 in: listed places; under-18s need supervision | Small commercial dispensers excluded | School authorisation |
| Utah | Concealed-carry offence covers firearms | No separate rule | Offence at schools (class B misdemeanour) | ⚠ Not yet verified | Permit holders 21+, own property, approval |
| Vermont | Offence only with intent to injure | ⚠ Not yet verified | Offence only with intent to injure | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Virginia | Concealed list; folding knife not named | Not named; "like kind" clause | Concealed carry: Class 1 misdemeanour | Use for protection not barred | Home and own business exempt |
| Washington | Allowed unless intimidating or alarming | Spring blade banned; assisted opening not | Furtive concealed dagger or dirk: offence | 18+ (14+ with parental consent) | Home, business, self-defence |
| West Virginia | Allowed; 18+ for concealed | Switchblade/gravity: 18+ may carry concealed | Over 3.5 in counts; sport/tool knives excluded | Not a deadly weapon if only for self-defence | 18+, citizen or resident, not prohibited |
| Wisconsin | Knives excluded from concealed-carry ban | Any knife excluded | Any knife excluded | Allowed; under 18 forfeiture | Self-defence use exempt |
| Wyoming | No knife rule; concealed deadly weapon offence | No knife-specific rule | Concealed deadly weapon offence | ⚠ Not yet verified | Officers, permit holders, permitless conditions |
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.