where-are-butterfly-knives-illegal

Where are Butterfly Knives Illegal? Quick Answer

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There is a common myth about the legislative status of butterfly knives. The general perception is that butterfly knives are illegal, not true at all. Different states have own law regarding balisongs, or butterfly knives. Where are butterfly knives illegal, and why?

where-are-butterfly-knives-illegal

Let’s discover together!

Why Butterfly Knives or Balisongs are Illegal?

Let’s not brag about the structural status of balisongs. All of us know how the concealed blade works and the functionality of double handles. These features have made balisongs knives the most lightweight weapons for crimes.  

Any knife can be a dangerous weapon if it is used to threaten someone. Butterfly knives are foldable, portable, and multipurpose. Understandably, it can be used as a potentially deadly weapon to threaten or harm someone due to its lethal specification.

These knives are banned in different regions of the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Germany, France, and Canada.

Where are Butterfly Knives Illegal?

Now, we will explore the countries where butterfly knives or balisongs are illegal in public places.

  • United Kingdom: UK government classified balisongs as lethal & offensive weapons in 1989. You can own butterfly knives in the UK but carrying them in public places is a serious crime. Moreover, you can not lend, hire, import, or sell any out-the-front knife.
  • Germany: Before 2003, all knives were legal to bring in any public place. But, after Erfurt Massacre, laws regarding weapons in Germany were thoroughly scrutinized. After July 2003, butterfly knives were banned from buying, selling, trading, importing, carrying, and crafting.
  • Switzerland: You can not carry a balisong in public places in Switzerland. Trading, importing, lending, and bringing these knives are prohibited in Switzerland by law.
  • Australia: The Australian law prohibits using any automatic knife that can be opened by gravity, button, centrifugal force, pressure, zip locks, or device. You will need a valid/lawful reason to carry or own a butterfly knife
  • Philippines: The law in the Philippines is interesting. If your balisong is less than a specific size, it will be considered a utility knife. First, there are two criteria if the blade size is less than palm, and the second is can’t be opened with one hand. The balisong with these two factors will be considered as a utility knife, not a weapon.
  • Canada: Like other western countries, butterfly knives are illegal to use unless exempted before the law. Canadian law classifies these knives as gravity knives and ban to use, own, trade, import, and carry. It can be used at home as a utility knife, though.

The US States Where Butterfly knives are illegal:

State laws are considered a legislative ordinance for knives. A butterfly knife is illegal or not in a specific state depends on the state’s law and jurisdiction. Let’s check out some of the American states where balisongs are illegal to carry in public places.

Q1#.Are butterfly Knives Illegal in Ohio?

Yes, In Ohio, concealed type of out the front knife is illegal. If your butterfly knife for household use, you can undoubtedly own them but even carry them. But, concealed-type butterfly knives are strictly prohibited.

Q2#.Are butterfly Knives Illegal in Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvanian state law on knife strict about using any sort of gravity, pen, pocket knives, device, centrifugal force knife of any kind. In this state, you cannot possess, sell, carry any balisongs.

Q3#.Are Balisongs Illegal in California?

According to California’s law, if the balisong blade’s size is more than 2 inches long, it’s illegal to carry these types of knives in public places.  

Q4#.Are Butterfly Knives Illegal in Wisconsin?

Balisongs knives are legal inside your property but not outside of your property. You can use a butterfly knife for domestic purposes only inside your home in Wisconsin; it’s illegal to carry a knife in a public place.

Q5#.Is a butterfly knife Illegal to possess in the state of Nevada?

In Nevada, concealed carry of Balisongs blade less than 3.5 inches are allowed to keep, trade, and carry. It’s legal in Nevada to buy, sell, trade, or own butterfly knives.

Knife Laws in Tennessee:

Tennessee Knife law permits the legal use of balisongs knives.

Hawaii Knife Laws

According to the Hawaii knife law, selling, carrying, manufacturing, trading, and lending is a punishable crime. Violation of this law may result in 3-5 years in prison.

New York Knife Law:

In New York state law, Balisongs fall into different categories than gravity knives and switchblade knives.  If you have a hunting or fishing license, you can own balisongs under these licenses. 

Utah Knife Law:

In Utah, you can carry a knife if it’s concealed.

Let’s check this complete table to find out the legal information for using butterfly knives and state laws for carrying a balisong. This table is for OTF knives, and in the last column of the table, you will find out whether this information/law is applicable for Balisongs and butterfly knives as well or not. 

StatesPossession legislationSale LawLaws Open CarryActs on Concealed CarryAre butterfly knives counted as the same thing?
US Federal LawLawful under legislative ordinanceCan be sold under state laws but can’t be imported outside the USALawful, no barrier on sizeLawfulYes
Alabama Knives LawLegal under state lawLawfulLawfulLawful 
Alaska Knife & Weapon LawLegal under state lawLawfulLawfulLawful 
Arizona State LawLegal under state lawLawfulLawfulLawful if over 21 years old 
Arkansas Law on Knives & BladesLegal under state lawAllowedAllowedAllowed 
California Laws on Knives & BladesAllowed if blade is less than 2″Allowed if blade is less than 2″Allowed if blade is less than 2″Allowed if blade is less than 2″Yes
Colorado Knives ruleAllowedAllowedAllowedAllowedNo
Connecticut Law on Balisongs Blade SizesAllowedAllowedAllowed if blade is not more than 1.5″Allowed if blade is not more than 1.5″No
Delaware Knife & Weapon actIllegal, regardless of usage and size of the bladeIllegalIllegalIllegalNo
District of Columbia Laws of Knives & BladesIllegal, regardless of usage and size of the bladeIllegalIllegalIllegalNo
Florida Knives LawAllowedAllowedLegalIllegal (if you have gun permit than its legal)N/A
Georgia Laws of KnivesLawfulLawful for adults (above 18 years)Lawful if blade is  not more than 5″ (any length with is Lawful with gun permit)Lawful if blade is not more than 5″ (any length is legal with gun permit) 
Hawaii Butterfly Knives lawIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalNo
Idaho Laws on weaponsLawfulLawfulLawfulLawful if blade is less than or equal 4″No
Illinois acts on KnivesLawful for people over 21 and have a valid FOID CardLawful for people over 21 and have a valid FOID CardLawful for people over 21 and have a valid FOID CardLawful for people over 21 and have a valid FOID CardYes
Indiana weapon LawsLawful under state lawLawful under state lawLawful under state lawLawful under state lawNo
Iowa Knives lawCompletely LawfulLawfulLawfulLawful if blade is not more than 5″No
Kansas Knives lawLawful under state lawLawful under state lawLawful under state lawLawful under state lawN/A
Kentucky Laws on knivesAllowed under state lawAllowedAllowedIllegalN/A
Louisiana State Knives lawAllowed under state lawAllowedAllowedAllowedN/A
Maine Knives regulationsAllowed under state lawAllowedAllowedAllowedYes
Maryland Pen knives LawsAllowed under state lawIllegalLegalIllegalNo
Massachusetts Regulation on KnivesLegal under state lawAllowedIllegalIllegalNo
Michigan Law for KnifeLegal under state lawLawfulLegalLegalNo
Minnesota Knife RegulationIllegal, regradless of useage and size of the bladeIllegalIllegalIllegalNo
Mississippi Knives LawLegal under state lawLegal regardless of sizeLegal regardless of sizeCompletely IllegalNo
Missouri State law for weapons & knivesLegal under state lawLawfulLawful regardless of sizeIllegalYes
Montana Knife lawLawful under state lawLawfulLawful regardless of sizeIllegalNo
Nebraska law for deadly knivesLawful under state lawLawfulLawful regardless of sizeLawful if blade is not more than 3.5″N/A
Nevada Laws for butterfly knivesLawful under state lawLawfulLawful regardless of sizeLawfulNo
New HampshireLawful under state lawLawfulLawful regardless of sizeLawfulNo
New Jersey Laws for Butterfly knivesIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalNo
New Mexico Knife LawIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalYes
New York Laws for Balisong knivesLawful w/ Valid Hunting and Fishing LicenseLawful w/ Valid Hunting and Fishing LicenseLawful w/ Valid Hunting and Fishing LicenseLawful w/ Valid Hunting and Fishing LicenseNo
North CarolinaLawful under state lawLawful under state lawLawfulIllegalNo
North DakotaAllowed under state lawAllowedAllowedIllegal 
Ohio Laws for knives & BalisongsLegal under state lawTotally IllegalAllowed IllegalNo
OklahomaLegal under state lawAllowedAllowedIllegalNo
Oregon Laws for KnivesLegal under state lawLegalAllowedIllegalYes
PennsylvaniaIllegal (ex. called Curio)Illegal (ex. called Curio)IllegalIllegalNo
Rhode IslandAllowed, No license requiredTotally AllowedAllowedAllowed if blade is under 3″No
South Carolina Knife LawsAllowed, No license requiredAllowed, regardless of sizeAllowedAllowedN/A
South DakotaAllowed, No license requiredAllowed, regardless of sizeAllowedAllowedN/A
TennesseeAllowed, No license requiredAllowed, regardless of sizeAllowedAllowedNo
TexasAllowed, No license requiredAllowed, completelyAllowed if blade is less than 5.5″Allowed if blade is less than 5.5″Yes
Utah Knife ActsAllowed, No license requiredAllowedAllowedSituational, VariabilityYes
Vermont Knives RegulationAllowed, No license requiredAllowed if blade length is 3″AllowedLegalNo
VirginiaIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalNo
WashingtonIllegalTotally IllegalIllegalIllegalNo
West VirginiaAllowed for people over 18AllowedAllowed for people over 18Completely IllegalNo
WisconsinAllowedAllowedAllowedAllowedYes
Wyoming Knife ruleAllowedAllowedAllowedSituational/VariesN/A

Conclusion

Now you know, where are butterfly knives illegal and why? This knife falls under weapon control policy in many states. To know the details, you may check out the Wikipedia page. 

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